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"Pound the Alarm" is a song by Nicki Minaj. It serves as the eleventh track on her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, released on April 2, 2012. The song was later released as the albums second international single and fourth single overall on June 12, 2012. It was released on UK radios on July 2, 2012. It was officially added to US Mainstream Radio on July 17, 2012, and Rhythmic Radio on July 31, 2012. A music video was filmed for the song on July 4, 2012, and premiered on July 31, 2012, on VEVO.

Background[]

A poll was posted on Minaj's official website, on May 24, 2012, asking the fans to choose the next singles. The poll is divided into three categories. The third category asks the fans to choose between "Pound the Alarm", "Whip It", and "Va Va Voom". "Va Va Voom" had the most votes and won the poll, second was "Whip It", and third was "Pound the Alarm".[1]

On June 6, Minaj discussed with her fans which song should be released as a single: "Va Va Voom" or "Pound the Alarm". She later confirmed that "Pound the Alarm" would be released as a single, instead of "Va Va Voom".[2][3][4]

"Pound the Alarm" was officially released at UK radio stations on July 2, 2012,[5] and it was officially added to US Mainstream Radio on July 17,[6] and Rhythmic Radio on July 31.[7] It was released in Germany on August 17.

Commercial sucess[]

It is one of the fastest-rising singles in UK chart history, released by an artist of any genre and rising 118 spots in 14 days.[8] The song has made Nicki Minaj the highest chart female rapper along with "Starships" with two Top 10 songs from the same album. It peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance/Club Play Songs chart making it Nicki's first #1 song on that chart as a solo act. Her official 1st song to top the chart was "Turn Me On" shared with David Guetta. It was the most added song to the radio during the week of the single release. It is the second most successful single from Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, reaching the top 40 in 17 countries, the top 10 in 9 countries, and reaching the #1 spot on the US Hot Dance Club Songs Chart.

The song has been certified 2x Platinum in Australia, Platinum in Norway and the US, and Gold in New Zealand and the UK. It is also certified Gold in Denmark based on streaming.

Artwork[]

The cover artwork for "Pound the Alarm" is a shot taken from the Starships photo shoot that features the face of Nicki, with the words "Nicki Minaj" in green and pink color fonts on the left side of the cover, and the word "Pound the Alarm" underneath in grey font color. It is from the promotional remixes CD of the song released exclusively for United States.[9][10]

Music video[]

The music video was supposed to filmed sometime in June 2012, but Nicki filmed the video for "Pound the Alarm" in Trinidad on July 4, 2012[11] and ended the same day later that night.[12][13] It took about 16 hours to complete filming the video.[14] The video was directed by Benny Boom.[15]

Nicki told her fans on Twitter that the message of the video is "There's no place like home."[16] The video was supposed to premiere on VEVO on July 30 or July 31, 2012.[17][18] The long-waited video was finally released on July 31, 2012. [19]

Behind the scenes[]

Live performances[]

"Pound the Alarm" was performed live for the first time at BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend on June 23, 2012. The song was also performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 13, 2012.[20] She also performed the song on The Today Show's summer concert series. It was in the setlist of Minaj's Pink Friday Tour.

Credits[]

Recording:

  • Recorded at Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA
  • Mixed at Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Personnel:

  • Writers: O. Maraj, N. Khayat, C. Falk, R. Yacoub, B. Hajji, A. Jannusi
  • Producers: RedOne, Carl Falk, and Rami for RedOne Productions
  • Recorded by: Trevor Muzzy & Ariel Chobaz
  • Recording Assistant: Jon Sher
  • Mixed by: Carl Falk, Rami, and Trevor Muzzy for RedOne Productions
  • Vocal Editing by: Trevor Muzzy
  • Background Vocals by: Jeanette Olsson, RedOne, Bilal The Chef and AJ Junior • *All Instruments by: RedOne, Carl Falk, and Rami

The credits for "Pound the Alarm" are adapted from the liner notes of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.[21]

Lyrics[]

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Oh-oh-oh, come fill my glass up a little more
We 'bout to get up and burn this floor
You know we getting hotter, and hotter
Sexy, and hotter, let's shut it down

[Verse 1: Nicki Minaj]
Uh, yo, what I gotta do to show these girls that I own 'em?
Some call me Nicki, and some call me Roman
Skeeza, pleeza, I'm in Ibiza (Whoo)
Giuseppe Zanotti, my own sneaker
Sexy, sexy that’s all I do
If you need a bad bitch, let me call a few
Pumps on, and the little mini-skirts is out
I see some good girls, I'ma turn 'em out
Okay, bottle, sip, bottle, guzzle
I'm a bad bitch, no muzzle (What?)
Bottle, sip, bottle, guzzle
I'm a bad bitch, no muzzle, let's go

[Pre-Chorus:]
Music makes me high

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Oh-oh-oh, come fill my glass up a little more
We 'bout to get up and burn this floor
You know we getting hotter, and hotter
Sexy, and hotter, let's shut it down

[Post-Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Pound the alarm!
Pound the alarm!

[Verse 2: Nicki Minaj]
I wanna do it for the night, night
So, get me now, and knock this over
I wanna do it like you like, like
Come get me, baby, we're not getting younger
I just want you tonight, night
Baby, we won't do it for life, life, oh-oh

[Pre-Chorus:]
Music makes me high

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Oh-oh-oh, come fill my glass up a little more
We 'bout to get up and burn this floor
You know we getting hotter, and hotter
Sexy, and hotter, let's shut it down

[Post-Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Pound the alarm!
Pound the alarm!

[Bridge: Nicki Minaj]
Alarm!
Alarm!
Alarm!
Alarm!

[Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Oh-oh-oh, come fill my glass up a little more
We 'bout to get up and burn this floor
You know we getting hotter, and hotter
Sexy, and hotter, let's shut it down

[Post-Chorus: Nicki Minaj]
Pound the alarm!
Pound the alarm!

[Outro: Nicki Minaj]
Pound the alarm!


Release history[]

Region Date Format
Australia June 12, 2012 Radio release[22]
United Kingdom July 2, 2012 Radio release[5]
United States July 17, 2012 Top 40/Mainstream radio[6]
July 31, 2012 Rhythmic radio[7]
Germany August 17,2012 Radio release[23]

Trivia[]

  • The line "I'm a bad bitch, no muzzle" is also used in "Go Hard".

References[]

  1. MyPinkFriday.com Take the Poll & Pick Nicki's Next Single! Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  2. Maraj, Onika. (@NICKIMINAJ). "Looks like France has chosen ‪#poundthealarm‬ for the win as well barbz. ‪#sorryvavavoomers‬." June 6, 2012. 4:26 PM. Tweet.
  3. Maraj, Onika. (@NICKIMINAJ). "Oop. Just got word that radio 1 in the uk and nova & 2day fm in australia are runnin w/ ‪#poundthealarm‬ due to the amount of requests." June 6, 2012. 4:11 PM. Tweet.
  4. Nicki Minaj Confirms 'Pound The Alarm' As New Single Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  5. 5.0 5.1 UK New Songs Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Top 40/Mainstream > Future Releases Retrieved October 20, 2012 from Wikipedia.
  7. 7.0 7.1 FMQB: Rhythmic Release (July) Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  8. ThatGrapeJuice.Net. "Record Breaker: Nicki Minaj Single Rises 118 Spots In 14 Days." Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  9. NICKY MINAJ 'POUND THE ALARM' RARE OFFICIAL U.S 5 REMIX CD PROMO Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  10. Universal music - Germany: Nicki Minaj - Presseblinder Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  11. Maraj, Onika. (@NICKIMINAJ). "Just wrapped an amazing video on an amazing island. ‪#Trinidad‬ ‪#poundthealarm‬." July 4, 2012. 9:55 PM. Tweet.
  12. Maraj, Onika. (@NICKIMINAJ). "Rise and shine Trinidad!!!!!!! Time to shoot ‪#poundthealarm‬." July 4, 2012. 8:52 AM. Tweet.
  13. Maraj, Onika. (@NICKIMINAJ). "Always bitter sweet when I have to leave my country. Had the best time of my life shooting this video. Thank you Trinidad! Next Stop: PARIS." July 5, 2012. 8:06 AM. Tweet.
  14. Twitter: About 16hrs > RT @punkk22: @NICKIMINAJ how many hours were u up filming tho video? #PoundTheAlaramVideo Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  15. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a391959/nicki-minaj-films-new-video-pound-the-alarm-in-trinidad-watch.html Nicki Minaj films new video 'Pound the Alarm' in Trinidad - watch Published Friday, Jul 6 2012, 6:06am EDT By Colin Daniels of Digital Spy. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  16. Maraj, Onika. (@NICKIMINAJ). "TheresNoPlaceLikeHOME ----> RT @Rebecca_Forbes: @NICKIMINAJ ‪#PoundTheAlarmVideo‬ what was the message to the video?" July 13, 2012. 1:23 PM. Tweet.
  17. Twitter: Yes. > RT @Ratchet_nika: i have a question @NICKIMINAJ is the pta video going to premiere on Vevo or ?? Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  18. Twitter: #poundthealarmvideo cmng soon barbz :) Monday/Tuesday. Promise ;p Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  19. Twitter: RT @VEVO: WE GOIN' TO THE CARNIVAL! @NICKIMINAJ #PoundTheAlarmVideo is here! http://vevo.ly/M8L8G0#VEVOPremiere … RT! Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  20. The Tonight Show, Episode guide (Week July 9-13) Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  21. Digital booklet of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
  22. auspOp: MOST ADDED
  23. WebCite query result


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