Party People

Album: Brass Knuckles (2008)
Charted: 14 40
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This features Fergie. It was originally intended to be a track on the Black Eye Peas vocalist's next solo album, but after the song's producer Polow Da Don played it to Nelly he snapped it up. Fergie explained to MTV News what happened: "'Party People' started as a song that Polow Da Don and I did back when I did 'London Bridge' and 'Glamorous.' Basically, it was almost done. Trina did a verse on it; that's why you hear me say her name on the song. Everyone thought it was too street for me at the time. [Laughs.] So that's why they didn't want to put it on The Dutchess. It was left off, and I was gonna put it on my next album. Polow played it in the studio for Nelly, and he flipped out and turned the song around and made it into a major club banger, brought his energy, and it just became this monster. He played it for me. I told Polow, 'You know I was saving this song for my next album. But I can't hate on it, because it's good! I like it! I like this version.' And all the label heads loved this version. And Nelly called me like, 'It's crazy!'"
  • Nelly told MTV News that he and Polow had already recorded 10 songs for the album when the producer played him the music for "Party People." The St Louis rapper thought "I'll take it." He added: "I kind of reconstructed it a little bit, put some Nelly in it, rearranged it some more, and it came out to be the song you hear today."
  • Nelly immediately knew that this would be a single release. He told MTV News: "As soon as I heard it, I knew it was Nelly. It had everything that I really wanted. The beat is infectious. The feel of it is right where it needs to be - right what I want to do as far as killing it over the summer. It was perfect."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.