Hey Ya!

André 3000 wrote "Hey Ya!" in 2000 and began work on recording it in December 2002 at Stankonia Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.{{cite web| url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-168326-the-making-of-outkast-s-aquemini| title=The Making of Outkast's Aquemini| last=Carmichael| first=Rodney| work=Creative Loafing| date=June 24, 2010| access-date=May 20, 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484730/making-outkasts-hey-ya.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121035753/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484730/making-outkasts-hey-ya.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 21, 2011 | title=Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Outkast's 'Hey Ya!' | publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks | date=February 2, 2004 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Moss, Corey}} He used an acoustic guitar for accompaniment, inspired by bands such as the Ramones, Buzzcocks, the Hives,[https://www.stereogum.com/3252/hives_show_inspired_hey_ya/news/ Hives Show Inspired "Hey Ya!"] via Stereogum and the Smiths.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596025/hey_ya | title=Hey Ya! | publisher=Wenner Media | magazine=Rolling Stone | access-date=May 27, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413230618/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596025/hey_ya | archive-date=April 13, 2010}}

André recorded the introduction, the first verse, the hook, and the vocals around the same time, using several dozen takes. He returned to work on the song several evenings later, with session musician Kevin Kendricks performing the bassline on the synthesizer. Months later, André 3000 worked with Pete Novak at the Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles. They experimented with various sound effects, including singing through a vocoder, and did 30 to 40 takes for each line.

"Hey Ya!" is a song in G major. Each cadential six-measure phrase is constructed using a change of meter on the fourth measure (creating a song with 22 quarter note beats per phrase) and uses a I–IV–V–VI chord progression. G major and C major chords are played for one and two {{music|time|4|4}} measures, respectively. André 3000 then uses a deceptive cadence after a {{music|time|2|4}} measure of the dominant D major chord, leading into two {{music|time|4|4}} measures of an E major chord (against a G note in the melody implying E minor). The song moves at a tempo of 159 beats per minute, and André's vocal range spans more than an octave and a half, from B₃ to G₅.Sheet music for "Hey Ya!" Hal Leonard Corporation. 2009.

The song opens with three pick-up beats as André 3000 counts "one, two, three, oh" (with the "oh" on beat 1) and then leads into the first verse. The lyrics begin to describe the protagonist's concerns and doubts about a romantic relationship. He wonders if they are staying together just "for tradition", as in the lines "But does she really wanna [mess around] / But can't stand to see me / Walk out the door?" André 3000 commented, "I think it's more important to be happy than to meet up to...the world's expectations of what a relationship should be. So this is a celebration of how men and women relate to each other in the 2000s".{{cite web | url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1480271/20031107/outkast.jhtml | title=OutKast: Two is the Magic Number | publisher=VH1. Viacom Media Networks | date=November 7, 2003 | access-date=May 27, 2013 |author1=Ives, Brian |author2=Bottomley, C. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020185035/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1480271/20031107/outkast.jhtml | archive-date=October 20, 2012}} The song then leads into the chorus, which consists of the line "Hey ya!" repeated eight times, accompanied by a synthesizer performing the bassline.

During the second verse, the protagonist gets cold feet and wonders what the purpose of continuing the relationship is, pondering the question, "If they say nothing is forever...then what makes love the exception?" After repeating the chorus, the song leads into a call and response section. André 3000 jokes, "What's cooler than being cool?", and the "fellas'" response, an overdubbed version of his vocals, is "Ice cold", a reference to one of André Benjamin's stage names.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/sep/18/popandrock.outkast | title='I'm addicted to creating' | publisher=Guardian Media Group | work=The Observer | date=September 18, 2005 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Vernon, Polly}} He then calls to the "ladies", whose response is overdubbed from vocals by Rabeka Tuinei, who was an assistant to the audio engineer.

The song's breakdown coined the phrase "shake it like a Polaroid picture", a reference to a technique used by some photographers to 'allegedly' expedite drying of damp instant film photos taken with film made by the Polaroid Corporation. It is an ongoing urban myth that shaking photos taken by the instant camera, dried faster.{{cite web |title=Polaroid warns buyers not to 'shake it' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/02/17/polaroid.warns.reut/ |website=CNN |access-date=August 9, 2020 |date=February 18, 2004}} The breakdown also namechecks singer Beyoncé and actress Lucy Liu, in a turn of phrase alluding to the song "Independent Women Part I", which was performed by Destiny's Child for the 2000 film adaptation of Charlie's Angels, in which Liu starred. Though the line "now all Beyoncés and Lucy Lius" is meant to mean "now all the independent women", André 3000 says he included the lyric because the music video for "Independent Women Part I" was playing on his TV as he wrote "Hey Ya!".{{cite web |title=The History Of 'Hey Ya!', As Explained By André 3000|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hey-ya-history_n_3682470|access-date=January 30, 2020 |date=September 12, 2013}} The song closes by repeating the chorus and then gradually fading out.

"Hey Ya!" received widespread acclaim from music critics. PopMatters described the track as "brilliantly rousing" and "spazzy with electrifying multiplicity".{{cite magazine | url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/outkast-speakerboxxx/ | title=OutKast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | magazine=PopMatters | date=October 17, 2003 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Fuchs, Cynthia}} Entertainment Weekly highlighted it as the catchiest song on the double album,{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/2003/09/15/speakerboxxxthe-love-below/ | title=Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003) | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=September 15, 2003 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Hermes, Will}} and Stylus Magazine identified it as one of the best songs in OutKast's history.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1341 | title=Outkast – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below – Review | magazine=Stylus Magazine | date=September 23, 2003 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Southall, Nick | archive-date=November 6, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106053618/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1341 | url-status=dead }} "Hey Ya!" topped the 2003 Pazz & Jop list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by Robert Christgau, with 322 mentions, beating runner-up Beyoncé and Jay-Z's "Crazy in Love" by 119.{{cite web | url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres03.php | title=The 2003 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll | publisher=Voice Media Group | work=The Village Voice | date=February 17, 2004 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} It was listed at number 15 on Blender{{'}}s 2005 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born",{{cite journal | title=The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 11-50 | journal=Blender |date=October 2005 | publisher=Alpha Media Group}} and Pitchfork included it in its collection of The Pitchfork 500.{{cite book |editor1-last=Plagenhoef |editor1-first=Scott |editor2-last=Schreiber |editor2-first=Ryan |date=November 2008 |title=The Pitchfork 500 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |page=179 |isbn=978-1-4165-6202-3 }}

The song's unusual arrangement drew comparisons to artists from a variety of genres. Pitchfork referred to it as the apex of the album and added that it successfully mixed Flaming Lips-style instrumentation with the energy of Prince's 1983 single "Little Red Corvette".{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11796-speakerboxxxthe-love-below/ | title=OutKast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | publisher=Pitchfork Media | date=September 22, 2013 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=DiCrescenzo, Brent}} Marcello Carlin of Uncut described the song as "Andre going power pop with overtones of early-'80s electro; The Knack meet side one of The The's Soul Mining."{{cite magazine|date=December 1, 2003|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/divide-and-rule-19098/|title=Divide and Rule|magazine=Uncut|access-date=September 11, 2020}}

Subsequently, Pitchfork gave it the number two slot in its "The Top 100 Singles of 2000–2004" feature in January 2005, bested only by OutKast's own "B.O.B".{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5949-the-top-100-singles-of-2000-04-part-one/10/ | title=Staff Lists: The Top 100 Singles of 2000-04 | publisher=Pitchfork Media | date=January 31, 2005 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Bowers, William}} Blender described it as a mix of soul music by Ike Turner and new wave music by Devo{{cite journal | title=OutKast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | journal=Blender |date=November 2003 | issue=118 | publisher=Alpha Media Group | author=Ex, Kris}} and later as an "electro/folk-rock/funk/power pop/hip-hop/neo-soul/kitchen sink rave-up". Rolling Stone compared André 3000's vocals to those of "an indie-rock Little Richard" and the backing arrangement to the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road,{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/outkast/albums/album/290754/review/6068251/speakerboxxxthe_love_below | title=Outkast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | publisher=Wenner Media | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=September 24, 2013 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Caramanica, Jon | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525091116/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/outkast/albums/album/290754/review/6068251/speakerboxxxthe_love_below | archive-date=May 25, 2009}} later ranking it at number 182 in their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and ranking it at number four on their 2011 list of the "100 Best Songs of the Aughts".{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/outkast-hey-ya-20110616 | title=100 Best Songs of the 2000s: OutKast, 'Hey Ya' | publisher=Wenner Media | magazine=Rolling Stone | access-date=May 27, 2013}}

New York also likened it to the Beatles and found it to be one of the best singles of 2003.{{cite web | url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/pop/reviews/n_9274/ | title=Dynamic Duo | publisher=New York Media | work=New York | date=October 16, 2003 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Brown, Ethan}} AllMusic described it as an "incandescent" mix of electro, funk, and soul music.{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/speakerboxxx-the-love-below-mw0000226528 | title=Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast | publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas | author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}} NME likened trying to classify the song as "akin to trying to lasso water" and described it as "a monumental barney between the Camberwick Green brass band, a cruise-ship cabaret act, a cartoon gospel choir and a sucker MC hiccuping {{'}}Shake it like a Polaroid pic-chaaaa!{{'}} backed up by the cast of an amateur production of The Wizard of Oz. Sort of."{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/outkast/7235 | title=Outkast: Hey Ya | publisher=IPC Media | work=NME | date=September 12, 2005 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} In 2011, they placed it at number three on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/15 | title=150 Best Tracks Of The Past 50 Years (10–01) | publisher=IPC Media | work=NME | date=October 6, 2011 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} In 2013, the sports website Grantland named it the best song of the millennium after a March Madness style bracket of 64 songs. The music video of the same name was likewise well received by critics, who regarded it as a contemporary piece of post-industrial performance art. In 2014, NME ranked the song at number 18 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time,{{cite magazine | url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-100-1/330996/1/1#83 | title= OutKast, Hey Ya! (2003) — The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time: 100-1 | magazine=NME | access-date=February 10, 2014 }} and in 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 10 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/outkast-hey-ya-4-1225328/ | title= 500 Best Songs of All Time: 50-1 | magazine=Rolling Stone | access-date=September 15, 2021 }}

"Hey Ya!" was successful in North America, first charting on the week ending October 18, 2003, at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, three weeks after "The Way You Move" featuring Sleepy Brown debuted; which was at number 25 at the time.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jxEEAAAAMBAJ |title=October 18, 2003 Billboard Issue |date=October 18, 2003 |access-date=October 14, 2014}} It topped the Hot 100 for nine weeks, from December 13, 2003, to February 7, 2004.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2003-12-13/hot-100 | title=The Hot 100: December 13, 2003 | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | magazine=Billboard | access-date=May 27, 2013}}{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XREEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 | title='Remember' Jackson? He's Back Atop Country | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=February 7, 2004 | volume=116 | issue=6 | page=64 | issn=0006-2510 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} The digital sales topped the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks for 17 consecutive weeks.{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 | title=OutKast 'Moves' Past Itself To Claim No. 1 | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=February 7, 2004 | volume=116 | issue=7 | page=64 | issn=0006-2510 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} The song's time at number one bridged two eras, ending Casey Kasem's second tenure as host of American Top 40 and beginning Ryan Seacrest's tenure as host. The song performed well in urban contemporary markets, topping the Rhythmic Top 40 chart and reaching number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. It was also successful in mainstream music, topping the Top 40 Mainstream and Top 40 Tracks and reaching number 13 on the Adult Top 40. The song also crossed over to modern rock radio, and peaked at number 16 on Billboard{{'s}} Alternative Songs chart in December 2003. In 2004, André 3000 performed the song at The 2004 Kids' Choice Awards and the song won the award for Favorite Song. Later in the year, the song appeared on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 16. It also appeared on the album Now That's What I Call Music! Number 1's in 2006 as well as the Now That's What I Call Party Hits! album in 2007.{{cite magazine |title=OutKast: Alternative songs chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/outkast/chart-history/mrt/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 13, 2020}}

"Hey Ya!" was the first song on Apple's iTunes to reach one million downloads{{Cite web|date=October 21, 2019|title="Hey Ya" By OutKast Was The First Song On ITunes To Reach One Million Downloads {{!}} DailyRapFacts|url=https://dailyrapfacts.com/8318/hey-ya-by-outkast-was-the-first-song-on-itunes-to-reach-one-million-downloads/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=dailyrapfacts.com|language=en-US}} and in September 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single platinum for shipping one million copies. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, the song won Best Urban/Alternative Performance and was nominated for Record of the Year, but lost to Coldplay's "Clocks".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/topics/g/grammy/2004/nominees/ |title=2004 Grammy Winners |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks |access-date=May 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040220141343/http://www.mtv.com/news/topics/g/grammy/2004/nominees/ |archive-date=February 20, 2004 }}

The song also performed well in Europe. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number three after 12 weeks, remaining on the chart for a total of 21 weeks. "Hey Ya!" topped the Norwegian singles chart for seven weeks, and it reached the top in Sweden for the first week of 2004. It performed well across the continent, reaching the top ten in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. "Hey Ya!" debuted at number 17 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, and later topped the chart for two consecutive weeks. The song remained on the chart for 16 weeks and was certified 11× platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The song charted at number 61 for the 2003 end of year chart and was listed at number 15 on the 2004 chart and number five on the 2004 urban chart. It was also successful in New Zealand, reaching number two and staying on the RIANZ Singles Chart for 23 weeks.

The lyric "shake it like a Polaroid picture", along with the song's commercial success, helped to temporarily revitalize the Polaroid Corporation, which had declared bankruptcy in 2001. Because modern Polaroid film is sealed behind a clear plastic window, casually waving the picture has no effect on the film's development. Vigorously shaking the film may actually distort the image by causing the film to separate prematurely and creating blobs in the final image.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/02/17/polaroid.warns.reut/index.html | title=Polaroid warns buyers not to 'shake it' | publisher=CNN. Time Warner | date=February 18, 2004 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} Nevertheless, Polaroid sought to capitalize on the allusion, hiring Ryan Berger of the Euro RSCG advertising agency.{{cite web | url=http://www.nypost.com/p/industry_riddles_bind_ad_clan_65jzRgDx4ksWqsh10awLnN | title=Industry Riddles Bind Ad Clan | publisher=News Corporation | work=New York Post | date=September 24, 2006 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Sanders, Holly M.}} Polaroid sponsored parties for OutKast at which Euro RSCG distributed Polaroid cameras.{{cite web | url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/06/28/374369/index.htm | title=Why The Scooters Have Polka Dots Target and others embrace stunts to cut through the clutter. | work=Fortune | date=June 28, 2004 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Leonard, Devin}} OutKast also made a deal to hold Polaroid cameras during some of its performances. While Polaroid did not release sales figures, its public image, which was in decline with the growing popularity of digital cameras, was bolstered by the song.{{cite web | url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2001869006_polaroid02.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615204251/http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2001869006_polaroid02.html | archive-date=June 15, 2013 | title=Hip-hop, Polaroid form unlikely commercial deal | publisher=Tribune Company | work=The Baltimore Sun | date=March 2, 2004 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Walker, Andrea K.}} However, despite the welcome exposure, Polaroid eventually discontinued the sale of original Polaroid cameras and film, and again declared bankruptcy in 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=afOdWSvgMXtM&refer=home|title=Polaroid in Bankruptcy Again, Cites Petters Charges (Update3)|last=Larson|first=Erik|date=2008-12-19|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2022-08-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613163056/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087|archive-date=2010-06-13}}

The song was used as the namesake of Pocoloco’s Stand ability in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, part seven, “Steel Ball Run,” which debuted in 2004.

The song's music video, directed by Bryan Barber, is conceptually similar to the video for former Beatle Paul McCartney's song "Coming Up", but is also based on the Beatles' landmark appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. However, it sets the action in London.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479158/outkasts-hey-ya-ran-dre-into-ground.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106161838/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479158/outkasts-hey-ya-ran-dre-into-ground.jhtml |archive-date=2012-11-06 |title=Outkast's 'Hey Ya!' Clip Ran Andre 3000 Into The Ground: VMA Lens Recap |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks |date=September 19, 2003 |access-date=May 27, 2013 |author=Kaufman, Gil}} The beginning and end of the video blend with those of "The Way You Move" so that the two can be watched in either order,{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1475811/08062003/outkast.jhtml |title=Outkast's Big Boi Shoots 'Artsy Fartsy' Clip With Magical Hottie Mechanics |publisher=VH1. Viacom Media Networks |date=August 6, 2003 |access-date=May 27, 2013 |author=Moss, Corey |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114030005/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1475811/08062003/outkast.jhtml |url-status=dead }} and a "The Way You Move/Hey Ya!" video combining both clips with a bridging sequence was released on the OutKast: The Videos DVD.{{cite AV media notes |year=2003 |title=The Videos |publisher=Arista Records |id=82876-54643-9}}

After listening to the song, Barber was inspired to create a video around the Beatles' appearance on Sullivan's show based on the song's musical structure, but André 3000 had never seen this footage. Barber showed the footage to André 3000 and came up with the idea of reversing the British Invasion, by having the American band the Love Below becoming popular on a British television program. The music video was filmed using motion control photography in two days in August 2003 on a sound stage at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California. The cast included more than 100 women. Each of André 3000's parts was shot several times from different angles, and he performed the song 23 times during the course of filming. Because releasing "Hey Ya!" as a single was a last-minute decision, André did not have time to choreograph the parts, and all of the dancing was improvised. Ice Cold 3000's sequences were the first filmed, resulting in the character's energetic performance, and Johnny Vulture's were the last, so André, exhausted from the previous takes, sat on a stool for those sequences.

File:Hey Ya! (Outkast music video - screenshot).jpg' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show]]

In the video, André 3000 plays all eight members of the fictional band The Love Below: keyboardist Benjamin André, bassist Possum Aloysius Jenkins, vocalist André "Ice Cold" 3000, drummer Dookie Blossom Gain III, three backing vocalists the Love Haters, and guitarist Johnny Vulture.

The video opens with the band's manager Antwan (Big Boi) talking to Ice Cold and Dookie backstage. Meanwhile, the television presenter, portrayed by Ryan Phillippe (another version featured an energetic Phillippe), tries to calm a crowd of screaming girls on a show being broadcast live in black-and-white. Afterwards, he introduces the band and they start performing. While the girls in the audience scream loudly, one girl is carried off by security after rushing the stage, and another faints. A family is shown dancing to the broadcast at home. When Ice Cold instructs listeners to "shake it like a Polaroid picture", some of the girls begin taking pictures and shaking them. Ice Cold dances with one of the girls on stage, and the video closes with several friends of the band watching and discussing the performance.

The video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live on September 5, 2003, at number 10.{{cite web | url=http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/db.html | title=The TRL Archive – Debuts | publisher=Popfusion | access-date=May 28, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328230909/http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/db.html | archive-date=March 28, 2007}} It topped the countdown for 19 days{{cite web | url=http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/no.html | title=The TRL Archive – Number Ones | publisher=Popfusion | access-date=May 28, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329045652/http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/no.html | archive-date=March 29, 2007}} and retired at number eight on November 24, having spent 50 days on the program.{{cite web | url=http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/rd.html | title=The TRL Archive – Hall of Fame | publisher=Popfusion | access-date=May 28, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235336/http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/rd.html | archive-date=September 27, 2007}} At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won four awards for Video of the Year, Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Special Effects, and Best Art Direction.{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2004/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908111554/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2004/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 8, 2008 | title=2004 Video Music Awards | publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks | access-date=May 27, 2013}} It was also nominated for Best Direction but lost to Jay-Z's "99 Problems". "Hey Ya!" was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at the 46th Grammy Awards, but it lost to Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt". In Canada, the video topped MuchMusic's Countdown for the week beginning January 30, 2004,{{cite web | url=http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/countdown/index2.asp | title=Countdown – For week beginning Friday, January 30, 2004 | publisher=MuchMusic. Bell Media | access-date=May 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040203093050/http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/countdown/index2.asp | archive-date=February 3, 2004}} and it won the award for Best International Video by a Group at the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards.{{cite web | url=http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva04/winners/ | title=MMVA 2004 | publisher=MuchMusic. Bell Media | access-date=May 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306074313/http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva04/winners/ | archive-date=March 6, 2012}} In 2006, Stylus Magazine listed it at number 72 on its "Top 100 Music Videos of All Time", comparing André 3000's dancing to James Brown's performances in the early 1970s.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-top-100-music-videos-of-all-time2.htm | title=Stylus Magazine's Top 100 Music Videos of All Time | magazine=Stylus Magazine | date=July 18, 2006 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | archive-date=September 28, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928060109/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/stylus-magazines-top-100-music-videos-of-all-time2.htm | url-status=dead }}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• American 7-inch vinyl single{{cite AV media notes | date=2004 | title=Hey Ya! | publisher=Arista Records | type=single | id=82876-61104-7}}

1. "Hey Ya!" (radio edit)
2. "Hey Ya!" (instrumental)

• Australian CD maxi single{{cite AV media notes | date=2003 | title=Hey Ya! | publisher=Arista Records | type=single | id=882876 558042}}

1. "Hey Ya!" (radio edit)
2. "GhettoMusick" (radio edit)
3. "GhettoMusick" (Benny Benassi remix)
4. "Hey Ya!" (Enhanced CD video)

• European CD single{{cite AV media notes | date=2003 | title=Hey Ya! | publisher=Arista Records | type=single | id=82876558032}}

1. "Hey Ya!" (radio edit)
2. "GhettoMusick" (radio edit)

• German CD maxi single{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.de/Hey-Ya-Outkast/dp/B0000C449C | title=Hey Ya! | publisher=Amazon.de | access-date=May 5, 2013 | language=de}}

1. "Hey Ya!" (radio edit)
2. "GhettoMusick" (radio edit)
3. "GhettoMusick" (Benny Benassi remix)
4. "Hey Ya!" (Enhanced CD video)

{{col-2}}

• UK 12-inch vinyl single{{cite AV media notes | date=2003 | title=Hey Ya! | publisher=Arista Records | type=single | id=82876 57953 1}}

1. "Hey Ya!" (radio edit)
2. "GhettoMusick"
3. "My Favourite Things"

• UK CD maxi single{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hey-Ya-CD-2-Outkast/dp/B0000VD3RG | title=Hey Ya! [CD 2] | publisher=Amazon.co.uk | access-date=May 5, 2013}}

1. "Hey Ya!"
2. "GhettoMusick" (radio edit)
3. "My Favourite Things"
4. "Hey Ya!" (Enhanced CD video)

{{col-end}}

The credits for "Hey Ya!" are adapted from the liner notes of Speakerboxx/The Love Below.{{cite AV media notes|year=2003|title=Speakerboxxx/The Love Below|title-link=Speakerboxxx/The Love Below|publisher=Arista Records|id=82876 52905 2}}

Recording

• Recorded at: Stankonia Studios and Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia; Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Personnel

• André 3000 – vocals, guitars, keyboards, production, audio programming
• Kevin Kendricks – keyboards
• John Frye – recording engineer
• Pete Novak – recording engineer
• Robert Hannon – recording engineer
• Mike Nicholson – recording engineer
• Josh Monroy – assistant recording engineer
• Warren Bletcher – assistant recording engineer
• Jared Robbins – assistant recording engineer
• Rabeka Tuinei – assistant recording engineer, additional vocals
• Neal Pogue – audio mixer
• Greg Price – assistant audio mixer

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Hey Ya!"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=11|access-date=February 26, 2022|relyear=2003|certyear=2023|refname=ARIA}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Hey Ya!|artist=OutKast|type=single|award=Gold|digital=true|access-date=May 27, 2013|relyear=2003|certyear=2007}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Hey Ya!|artist=OutKast|type=single|award=Platinum|id=9632|access-date=October 21, 2020|relyear=2003|certyear=2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=OutKast|title=Hey Ya!|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2003|certyear=2022|access-date=December 8, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|title=Hey Ya!|artist=Outkast|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2018|access-date=March 26, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Hey Ya!|artist=Outkast|type=single|award=Gold|id=2006-09-08|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=May 27, 2013|relyear=2003|certyear=2004}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|title=Hey Ya!|artist=OutKast|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=May 27, 2013|relyear=2003|certyear=2004|relmonth=9}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Hey Ya|artist=OutKast|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|id=11338-1847-1|access-date= September 7, 2024 |relyear=2003|certyear=2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Hey Ya!|artist=OutKast|type=single|award=Diamond|access-date=December 13, 2024|relyear=2003|certyear=2024|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

The rock influences of "Hey Ya!" have allowed many other artists to release cover versions of the song. In 2006, Mat Weddle, frontman of the unsigned folk band Obadiah Parker, performed an acoustic cover of the song at a local open mic night, and a friend of his posted a video of the performance on YouTube, which quickly became virally popular online.{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2006/08/outkasts-hey-ya-goes-acoustic/ | title=Outkast's 'Hey Ya' Goes Acoustic | publisher=Spin Media | work=Spin | date=August 21, 2006 | access-date=May 27, 2013}} Inspired by slowcore band Red House Painters, Weddle's version moves at a much slower tempo backed by a rhythmic guitar strum and converts the breakdown into a "staccato chime".{{cite journal | title=Acoustic Hey'day | author=Craven, Scott | journal=The Arizona Republic | publisher=Gannett Company | date=October 2, 2006 | issn=0892-8711}} The cover received international airplay and spawned many other copycat acoustic versions.{{cite web | url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-05-17/music/obadiah-parker/ | title=Obadiah Parker | publisher=Voice Media Group | work=Phoenix New Times | date=May 17, 2007 | access-date=May 27, 2013 | author=Dominic, Serene | archive-date=November 2, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102095714/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-05-17/music/obadiah-parker/ | url-status=dead }}

An acoustic cover of the song, sung by Sam Lloyd in his role as Ted Buckland appeared in the 2009 season 8 episode of Scrubs titled "My Soul On Fire, Part 2".{{Cite episode|title= My Soul On Fire, Part 2|episode-link=My Soul On Fire, Part 2|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEYcfHoWm2s|access-date= September 24, 2020|series= Scrubs|series-link= Scrubs (TV series)|network= ABC|date= April 15, 2009|season= 8|number= 15|time= 16:35}} In 2015, Postmodern Jukebox released a Scott Bradlee arrangement of "Hey Ya!" with a big band tempo and 1960s feel. Featuring Sara Niemietz on lead vocals, their version was featured in Billboard magazine,{{cite news|last1=Malorie McCall|first1=Malorie McCall|title=Postmodern Jukebox & Sara Niemietz Put a Retro Spin on Outkast's 'Hey Ya!': Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6708093/postmodern-jukebox-outkast-hey-ya-sara-niemietz|access-date=September 27, 2015|work=Billboard Magazine |date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927202411/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6708093/postmodern-jukebox-outkast-hey-ya-sara-niemietz|archive-date=September 27, 2015}} Time magazine online,{{cite news|last1=Grossman|first1=Samantha|title=Listen to Outkast's 'Hey Ya!' as a '60s Soul Song|url=https://time.com/4059926/hey-ya-soul-cover/|access-date=October 3, 2015|work=Time Magazine |date=October 3, 2015}} and the New York Daily News.{{cite news|title=Confidential: POSTMODERN TUNES ARE TIME TESTED |url=http://nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/tommy-mattola-thalia-celebrating-15th-anniversary-article-1.2434551 |access-date=November 14, 2015 |work=New York Daily News |date=November 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114195244/http://nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/tommy-mattola-thalia-celebrating-15th-anniversary-article-1.2434551 |archive-date=November 14, 2015 |url-status=live }}

English rock band Sleep Token released a cover in 2018 as a single. This version saw lead singer Vessel accompanied solely by piano and only included the first two verses and the chorus.{{cite web | url=https://www.tenhomaisdiscosqueamigos.com/2023/05/27/sleep-token-cover-hey-ya/|title=Sleep Token e a cover de "Hey Ya!" que revelou o verdadeiro significado do hit do Outkast|work=Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos|date=May 27, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2025|author=Rafael Teixeira}}

• List of highest-certified singles in Australia

{{Reflist}}

{{OutKast}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for "Hey Ya!"

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list1 =

{{BET Award for Video of the Year}}

{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Song}}

{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song}}

{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year}}

}}

{{Pitchfork}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2003 singles

Category:2003 songs

Category:2004 singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Canadian Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:American funk songs

Category:Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance

Category:MTV Video of the Year Award

Category:Music videos directed by Bryan Barber

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Number-one singles in the Czech Republic

Category:Number-one singles in Norway

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Outkast songs

Category:Songs written by André 3000