Celebration (The Game song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Celebration

| cover = Gamecelebration.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Game featuring Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa and Lil Wayne

| album = Jesus Piece

| released = {{Start date|2012|09|02}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = West Coast hip-hop

| length = 4:49

| label = {{hlist|DGC|Interscope}}

| writer = {{hlist|Jayceon Taylor|Christopher Brown|Michael Stevenson|Dwayne Carter|Cameron Thomaz|J. King}}

| producer = {{hlist|SAP|Cool & Dre}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = The Game

| type = Single

| prev_title = Pot of Gold

| prev_year = 2011

| title = Celebration

| year = 2012

| next_title = All That (Lady)

| next_year = 2013

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Chris Brown

| type = Single

| prev_title = Algo Me Gusta de Ti

| prev_year = 2012

| title = Celebration

| year = 2012

| next_title = Ready

| next_year = 2013

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Tyga

| type = Single

| prev_title = Gold

| prev_year = 2012

| title = Celebration

| year = 2012

| next_title = Live It Up

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Lil Wayne

| type = Single

| prev_title = Ice

| prev_year = 2012

| title = Celebration

| year = 2012

| next_title = No Worries

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Wiz Khalifa

| type = Single

| prev_title = Work Hard, Play Hard

| prev_year = 2012

| title = Celebration

| year = 2012

| next_title = Remember You

| next_year = 2012

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|6ki21aILhoI|"Celebration"}}}}

}}

"Celebration" is a song by American rapper Game featuring fellow American rappers Tyga, Wiz Khalifa, & Lil Wayne and American singer Chris Brown, released as the lead single from the former's fifth studio album Jesus Piece. "Celebration" premiered on Los Angeles' Power 106 on August 22, 2012. The song samples Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's hit single "1st of tha Month", which in return samples the Chapter 8 and Anita Baker song "I Just Want to Be Your Girl".

Production and recording

Celebration was written by Game (credited as Jayceon Taylor), Lil Wayne, Tyga, Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa. Production of the song was handled by Cool & Dre and their protégé SAP. Celebration samples Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's hit 1st of tha Month produced by DJ U-Neek. Game said, "I grew up in Compton, California, and I'm a huge fan of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. This is my fifth album, and my whole career I've been trying to figure out how to flip '1st of Tha Month' and I finally did it... I wanted to keep the feel of the song without taking too much of the original."{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692687/game-celebration-music-video.jhtml |title=Game's 'Celebration' Video Adds A 'Bit More Swag' To Dr. Dre Classic - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV.com |date=2012-08-28 |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214052749/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692687/game-celebration-music-video.jhtml |archive-date=2013-12-14 |url-status=dead }}

In an early version of the song, Game says he's "scoopin' up Drake and hittin' the freeway" instead of "scoopin' up Chris."{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5tVqVd4_Kc?t=30|title=The Game - Celebration on YouTube|publisher=youtube.com|date=2012-08-29}} "Drake" was replaced with "Chris" on the album version due to the feud between the two artists that had erupted a few months after the song was recorded. This version of the song also does not have a verse from Wiz Khalifa.

Critical reception

David Jeffries from Allmusic wrote: "The breezy and nostalgic closer "Celebration" feels more like a Sunday picnic than a Sunday sermon."{{cite web |author=David Jeffries |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-piece-mw0002444295 |title=Jesus Piece - Game {{pipe}} Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2012-12-11 |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201105446/http://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-piece-mw0002444295 |archive-date=2016-02-01 |url-status=live }} Pitchfork called this song "catchy Bone Thugs redux."{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17469-jesus-piece/ |title=The Game: Jesus Piece {{pipe}} Album Reviews |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2012-12-12 |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204032054/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17469-jesus-piece/ |archive-date=2013-12-04 |url-status=live }} Jon Dolan called this song "redemptive."{{cite web |author=Jon Dolan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/jesus-piece-20130102 |title=Jesus Piece {{pipe}} Album Reviews |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2013-01-02 |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317224212/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/jesus-piece-20130102 |archive-date=2014-03-17 |url-status=live }} USA Today listed this song in Download This list.{{cite web |author=Steve Jones, USA TODAY 9:48 p.m. EST December 10, 2012 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/reviews/2012/12/10/listen-up-spotlight-games-jesus-piece/1759663/ |title=Game takes the wraps off 'Jesus' |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2012-12-10 |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014091548/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/reviews/2012/12/10/listen-up-spotlight-games-jesus-piece/1759663/ |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |url-status=live }} XXL was positive: "Most instrumentals on the record are, appropriately, soulful but not identical, as highlights more thump, such as the album's first single "Celebration."{{cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2012/12/game-jesus-piece-review/ |title=Game, Jesus Piece Review - XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2012-12-12 |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014032346/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2012/12/game-jesus-piece-review/ |archive-date=2013-10-14 |url-status=live }}

Chart performance

"Celebration" managed to attain chart success, debuted and peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 22 on US Rhythmic chart and number 24 on the Hot Hip-Hop/R&B chart. Lil Wayne's contribution earned him his 109th chart entry, surpassing Elvis Presley's record for the most chart entries. It re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of November 22, 2012 at number 100. The song spent a total of 12 weeks on the Hot 100 and 20 weeks on the Hip-Hop/R&B chart.

Music video

The music video was directed by Matt Alonzo and produced by Tara Razavi, Michael Busalacchi and KeElviyn Craver. Game told MTV news that fans could expect a similar feel and visual from his mentor Dr. Dre's hit single Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg).

"The concept of the video is Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang my videos, I don't like them to be fake or feel like anybody gotta act, so we're really having a barbecue out here," Game said. "It's real food, it ain't no prop food, it's real water guns — everything real."

Game, Chris Brown, Tyga, Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa all appear in the video performing their part of the song. Game's son Harlem and Warren G are cameos in the video. The music video was released on September 18, 2012.

As of April 2021, the video has over 60 million views on YouTube. {{cn|date=July 2022}}

Remix

Shortly before their set at Rock the Bells' San Francisco Bay area on Sunday night, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony said they were appreciative of Game's new single which samples both their music and stylings.

"I feel like any song that we do that someone remixes we may have looked at as being disrespectful back when we were young and getting in the game," Wish Bone said from the tour stop in Mountain View, California. "But us being in the game for 20 years and younger cats coming up behind us doing our style, a style that we invented, that's kind of a compliment."

Game posted a picture on his Twitter showing the word "bone" structured with cannabis.{{cite web |url=http://instagram.com/p/O7_YOpmol8/ |title=Instagram |publisher=Instagram |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115609/http://instagram.com/p/O7_YOpmol8/ |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url-status=live }} Game later confirmed that he is working in the studio with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony on a remix for "Celebration". On October 28, an official remix, featuring all five members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony was released by Game. It was positively received by the critics. The Game and the Bone Thugs filmed a music video for the track on November 14, 2012 in Los Angeles.{{cite web | title = On Set of Game and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's 'Celebration' Remix Video | url = http://www.rap-up.com/2012/11/15/on-set-of-game-and-bone-thugs-n-harmonys-celebration-remix-video/ | access-date = 16 November 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130516020127/http://www.rap-up.com/2012/11/15/on-set-of-game-and-bone-thugs-n-harmonys-celebration-remix-video/ | archive-date = 16 May 2013 | url-status = live }}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

Chart (2012–13) ! Peak position
class="wikitable sortable"
{{singlechart\|Billboardhot100\|81\|artist=Game\|artistid=635871\|access-date=2012-09-27}}
{{singlechart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|24\|artist=Game\|artistid=635871\|access-date=2012-09-27}}
{{singlechart\|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay\|30\|artist=The Game\|access-date=December 19, 2023}}
{{singlechart\|Billboardrhythmic\|22\|artist=Game\|artistid=635871\|access-date=2013-01-19}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable"
scope="col"\|Chart (2013) !scope="col"\|Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=9\|title=2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|access-date=December 13, 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217123951/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=9\|archive-date=December 17, 2013\|url-status=live}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|100

class="wikitable"

scope="col"|Chart (2013)

!scope="col"|Position

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=9|title=2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217123951/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=9|archive-date=December 17, 2013|url-status=live}}

| style="text-align:center;"|100

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The Game|title=Celebration|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2012|access-date=December 25, 2024|certyear=2023|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=yes|noshipments=yes}}

Credits and personnel

;Sample

Contains elements from the composition "1st of tha Month" written by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and produced by DJ U-Neek.

Radio and release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\|Country !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format !scope="col"\|Label
scope="row"\|Canada \|rowspan="2"\|September 2, 2012{{cite web\|title=Celebration (feat. Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa & Lil Wayne) - Single by Game\|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/new-day-feat-dr-dre-alicia-keys-single/1444890963\|work=iTunes Store\|date=January 2012 \|publisher=Apple\|access-date=August 3, 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823010118/http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/new-day-feat.-dr.-dre-alicia/id548885750\|archive-date=August 23, 2012\|url-status=live}} \|rowspan="2"\|Digital download \|rowspan="5"\| DGC/Interscope
scope="row"\|United States
scope="row" rowspan="3"\|United States \|rowspan="2"\|September 2, 2012{{cite web\|title=Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases \|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases \|work=AllAccess \|publisher=AllAccess Music Group \|access-date=August 3, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810204003/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases \|archive-date=August 10, 2012 \|url-status=dead }}{{cite web\|title=Urban/UAC Future Releases \|url=http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases \|work=AllAccess \|publisher=AllAccess Music Group \|access-date=August 3, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810204611/http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases \|archive-date=August 10, 2012 \|url-status=dead }} \| Rhythmic contemporary radio
Urban contemporary radio
September 2, 2012{{cite web\|title=Top 40/M Future Releases \|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases \|work=AllAccess \|publisher=AllAccess Music Group \|access-date=September 2, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820182259/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases \|archive-date=August 20, 2012 \|url-status=dead }} \| Contemporary hit radio

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"|Country

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format

!scope="col"|Label

scope="row"|Canada

|rowspan="2"|September 2, 2012{{cite web|title=Celebration (feat. Chris Brown, Tyga, Wiz Khalifa & Lil Wayne) - Single by Game|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/new-day-feat-dr-dre-alicia-keys-single/1444890963|work=iTunes Store|date=January 2012 |publisher=Apple|access-date=August 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823010118/http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/new-day-feat.-dr.-dre-alicia/id548885750|archive-date=August 23, 2012|url-status=live}}

|rowspan="2"|Digital download

|rowspan="5"| DGC/Interscope

scope="row"|United States

scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States

|rowspan="2"|September 2, 2012{{cite web|title=Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases |url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases |work=AllAccess |publisher=AllAccess Music Group |access-date=August 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810204003/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Urban/UAC Future Releases |url=http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases |work=AllAccess |publisher=AllAccess Music Group |access-date=August 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810204611/http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| Rhythmic contemporary radio

Urban contemporary radio

September 2, 2012{{cite web|title=Top 40/M Future Releases |url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |work=AllAccess |publisher=AllAccess Music Group |access-date=September 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820182259/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |archive-date=August 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| Contemporary hit radio