Skate

### Songwriter(s)

Domitille Degalle, JD Beck, James Fauntleroy, Dernst Emille II, Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars

## Music video

“**Skate**” is Silk Sonic's second single, following up nearly four months after their hit debut single, “*Leave The Door Open*.”

## Background and release

In a July 28 Instagram post, Bruno Mars addressed an invitation to Silk Sonic’s Summertime Jam on July 29, 2021. However, the post went uncaptioned and didn’t confirm the actual release of a new single. The song premiered alongside a music video very similar to “Leave The Door Open,” where Bruno, Anderson .Paak and the rest of Silk Sonic sing and play their instruments as they serenade the women around them.

## Commercial performance

"Skate" debuted at number 14 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 with 13,000 downloads, 13.4 million streams and 6.9 million radio impressions on its first tracking week. The song also debut at its peak of number four on the *Billboard* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It peaked at number 16 on the Adult Top 40, number 15 on the Rhythmic chart, and at number 18 on the Mainstream Top 40. The song debuted at number 11 on the US Rolling Stone Top 100. "Skate" entered and peaked at number 19 on the Canadian Hot 100 on the week of August 11, 2021. It also peaked at number 14 on Canada Hot AC and at number 19 on Canada AC.

"Skate" debuted at number 12 on the New Zealand Singles Chart on the week of August 9, 2021. In Australia, the song debuted at its peak of number 32 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In Belgium, the single peaked at number 17 on the Ultratop 50 in Flanders and number 34 in Wallonia. It also peaked at number 24 on the on the Dutch Top 40 chart. On the Japan Hot 100, the track reached number 27 and number 29 in Singapore. "Skate" reached the top spot in Israel on the week of August 8, 2021. The track peaked at number 17 on the *Billboard* Mexico Airplay. "Skate" peaked at number 18 on the *Billboard* Global 200, spending six weeks on the chart.

## Music video

The music video was released alongside the song release on July 30, and was directed by Mars, Florent Déchard, and co-directed by Philippe Tayag. The music video features "vintage visuals", depicting Mars and Paak playing drums backed by a band in an impromptu street party in a tropical location outdoors. At the same time, young women in shorts rollerskate around them. One of the roller-skaters featured in the music video, Cierra Chérie, didn't know who the video they were filming for was until the day of the shoot. She affirmed, “I learned a new level of excellence from Bruno Mars and Andy as well as some of the other roller skaters". Chérie continued, "they were on the whole time...they were ready to perform, they were high energy."

*Variety*'s Aswad dubbed the video as "pitch-perfect" adding the music video is "a carefree welcome tonic in a tough time." Thomas from *Vibe* felt the music video has "an high energy appeal". Legaspi from *Rolling Stone* called the video, "nostalgic, feel-good". Walker from *HipHopDX* also described the video as "feel-good". Writing for *American Songwriter*, Tina Benitez-Eves, affirmed that the "vintage visuals fit the blissed-out funk and soul of Silk Sonic". *USA Today*'s Jenna Ryu said the music video shows the "'70s feel-good nostalgia", so that people "feel as if they're gliding, slipping and sliding into the summer." Sabrina Park from *Harper's Bazaar* said the video takes us "into summer with its warm and inviting hues, harboring the familiar feel-good disco-R&B nostalgia with its '70s-inspired fashion and cinematographic moments."

## Lyrics

**[Intro: Anderson .Paak]**

Oh my, oh my

**[Verse 1: Anderson .Paak]**

In a room full of dimes

You would be a hundred dollars

If bein' fine was a crime

Girl, they'd lock your lil' fine ass up in a tower

The way you move like you do

Ooh, it's like you do it for a livin'

Do a lil' spin, do it again

Shit, look like you playin' for the win, oh, baby

**[Pre-Chorus: Bruno Mars & *Anderson .Paak*]**

I'm tryna roll, I'm tryna ride

I'm tryna float, I'm tryna glide

*No, no, don’t be shy, just take my hand and hold on tight*

**[Chorus: Bruno Mars]**

Oh, skate to me baby (Skate)

Slide your way on over (Slide your way on over)

Oh, skate to me baby (Skate)

I wanna get to know ya (I wanna get to know ya)

Come on

Oh my, oh my

**[Verse 2: Bruno Mars]**

Got your hair in the wind and your skin glistenin'

I can smell your sweet perfume

Mmm, you smell better than a barbecue

Oh, superstar is what you are

I'm your biggest fan

If you're lookin' for a man, sugar, here I am

Ooh

**[Pre-Chorus: Bruno Mars *with Anderson .Paak*]**

I'm tryna roll, I'm tryna ride (I'm tryna vibe with ya darlin')

I'm tryna float, I'm tryna glide

*Oh, no, no, don’t be shy, just take my hand and hold on tight*

**[Chorus: Bruno Mars]**

Oh, skate to me baby (Skate)

Slide your way on over (Slide your way on over)

Oh, skate to me baby (Skate)

Uh, I wanna get to know ya (I wanna get to know ya)

**[Bridge: Anderson .Paak & *Bruno Mars*]**

I never fall, but tonight you got me fallin' for you

And only you, you

*I'm reachin' out in hopes that you reach for me too*

*Girl, let’s groove*

*Girl, you got me singin' "Ooh"*

*My, oh my, my, oh my*

*My, oh my, my, oh my*

**[Chorus: Bruno Mars]**

Oh, skate to me baby (Skate)

Come on, slide your way on over (Slide your way on over)

Oh, skate to me, baby (Skate)

Ah, I wanna get to know you, girl (I wanna get to know ya)

Skate to me, my baby (Skate)

Just slide your way on over (Slide your way on over)

Oh, skate to me, my baby (Skate)

I wanna get to know ya (I wanna get to know ya)

## References

1. ↑ [1]Instagram post - *Instagram*
2. ↑ [2]Skate Music Video - *YouTube*

 Released