Rumors (Lindsay Lohan song)
{{Short description|2004 single by Lindsay Lohan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Rumors
| cover = Rumours (Lindsay Lohan single - cover art).jpg
| alt = A red-headed woman poses with a hand covering her left eye front of a silver-colored background. The words "Lindsay Lohan" are written in white and are flipped to the vertical position, as is the word "Rumors" written in navy blue.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Lindsay Lohan
| album = Speak
| B-side = Over
| released = {{Start date|2004|09|27}}
| recorded =
| studio = {{plainlist|
- Poolhouse West (Encino, California)
- The Village (Los Angeles, California)
}}
| genre = Dance-pop{{cite web | title = CD Review: Lindsay Lohan - Speak | work = The Portland Mercury | date = December 16, 2004 | url = http://www.portlandmercury.com/music/cd-review/Content?oid=32745 | access-date = March 28, 2017 | archive-date = January 27, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220127015950/https://www.portlandmercury.com/music/cd-review/Content?oid=32745 | url-status = dead }}
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=16}}
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| writer = {{flatlist|
- Cory Rooney
- Lindsay Lohan
- Taryll Jackson
- T. J. Jackson
}}
| producer = Cory Rooney
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Over
| next_year = 2004
}}
"Rumors" is a song by American actress and singer-songwriter Lindsay Lohan from her debut studio album, Speak (2004). Originally titled "Just What It Is", the song was written and produced by Cory Rooney, while additional writing was done by Lohan, Taryll Jackson and T. J. Jackson. A dance-pop{{cite web | title = CD Review: Lindsay Lohan - Speak | work = The Portland Mercury | date = December 16, 2004 | url = http://www.portlandmercury.com/music/cd-review/Content?oid=32745 | access-date = March 28, 2017 | archive-date = January 27, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220127015950/https://www.portlandmercury.com/music/cd-review/Content?oid=32745 | url-status = dead }} song, its lyrics allude to the constant paparazzi and media backlash regarding Lohan. "Rumors" was released as Lohan's debut single, and lead single from Speak, on September 27, 2004, by Casablanca Records.
"Rumors" received generally mixed reviews from music critics; with statements like "infectious" or "unnecessary". Commercially, "Rumors" achieved moderate success worldwide, reaching Top 30 positions in Australia, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. In the United States, "Rumors" peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The accompanying music video for "Rumors" was directed by Jake Nava and depicts Lohan attending a nightclub, playing around with the paparazzi. It was nominated for Best Pop Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards and reached the top position on MTV's Total Request Live. In 2014, Billboard ranked "Rumors" in its "Top 50 Forgotten Gems from the Now! series", which list songs from the series that were underrated at the time of their release.{{cite web |author=Jason Lipshutz |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6077575/now-thats-what-i-call-music-50-forgotten-gems?page=0%2C1 |title=Top 50 Forgotten Gems From The Now! Series: JC Chasez, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Mumba & More |publisher=Billboard |date= |access-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108000527/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6077575/now-thats-what-i-call-music-50-forgotten-gems?page=0%2C1 |url-status=live }}
Background and composition
{{listen
| filename = Lindsay Lohan - Rumors.ogg
| title = "Rumors"
| description = A 20-second sample of the song's chorus features Lohan singing that she is "tired of rumors starting" and "sick of being followed", addressing the media and paparazzi.
| format = Ogg
| pos = left
}}
"Rumors" was originally titled "Just What It Is". The song was written by Cory Rooney, Lindsay Lohan, Taryll Jackson and T. J. Jackson. It was also produced by Rooney, who provided keyboards and background vocals. Peter Wade Keusch assisted the production, and was responsible along with Chris Avedon for Lohan's vocal recording, which occurred at Poolhouse West and The Village in Los Angeles. Audio mixing was done by Keusch at Sony Music Studios in New York City. Christopher J. Warner provided the guitar present in the song's composition. "Rumors" is in the style of R&B.{{cite web|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|title=Lindsay Lohan: Speak|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lindsay-lohan-speak/522|publisher=Slant Magazine|access-date=December 30, 2011|date=November 24, 2004|archive-date=April 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410172102/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lindsay-lohan-speak/522|url-status=live}} Lyrically, the song was written as a response to the paparazzi and media's backlash, both which are addressed in the chorus lines, where Lohan sings, "I'm tired of rumors starting/ I'm sick of being followed/ I'm tired of people lying/ Saying what they want about me/ Why can't they back up off me?/ Why can't they let me live?/ I'm going to do it my way/ Take this for just what it is."{{cite web|first=|title=For The Record: Quick News On Lindsay Lohan, Kevin Lyttle, Jennifer Lopez, Twista, Backstreet Boys, U2 & More – Music, Celebrity, Artist News|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490964/20040914/lohan_lindsay.jhtml|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|access-date=December 31, 2011|date=September 14, 2004|archive-date=February 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210040616/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490964/lindsay-lohan-changes-single-title.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Spence D. of IGN noted that Lohan's vocals are "driven by snarls, breathy croons, and emotionally restrained angst", while John Murphy of musicOMH considered it "a feisty dance anthem with intelligent lyrics attacking the paparazzi and press in general".
Critical reception
"Rumors" received generally mixed reviews from music critics, however, it has become one of Lohan's most recognized songs and has now been labeled as "cult pop treasure"^[By whom?]. Charles Merwin of Stylus Magazine thought that "Rumors" was not a good choice for a single, stating, "in fact, for a girl, that has been tagged as America’s next sweetheart by some media outlets, it might be the worst choice of subject matter for the opening statement from a girl that automatically has more to prove to audiences because of her stature as an actress. Unfortunately, 'Rumors' is about as good as it gets."{{cite web|last=Merwin|first=Charles|title=Lindsay Lohan – Speak – Review|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/lindsay-lohan/speak.htm|publisher=Stylus Magazine|access-date=December 30, 2011|date=December 7, 2004|archive-date=May 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510053209/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/lindsay-lohan/speak.htm|url-status=live}} Erik Missio of ChartAttack thought that the song "presented potential for a semi-palatable debut effort", but further added that it is a "crap of a spectacularly unspectacular level." Entertainment Weekly contributor Nicholas Fonseca, however, considered "Rumors" a guilty pleasure,{{cite magazine|last=Fonseca|first=Nicholas|title=Speak Review|url=https://ew.com/article/2004/12/06/speak/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=December 31, 2011|date=December 7, 2004|archive-date=February 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211094438/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,845681,00.html|url-status=live}} while Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic selected the song a Track Pick in the review of Speak.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r719491|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Speak – Lindsay Lohan|publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=December 31, 2011|date=December 7, 2004|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108000455/https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-mw0000263426|url-status=live}} IGN's Spence D. described it as "pervasively infectious, the kind of track that will no doubt keep the dance floors sweaty and steamy for a few months to come."{{cite web|title=Speak – Music Review|date=December 7, 2004|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/571/571768p2.html|publisher=IGN Entertainment|last=D.|first=Spence|access-date=December 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221831/http://music.ign.com/articles/571/571768p2.html|archive-date=June 28, 2011}} John Murphy of musicOMH praised "Rumors" as a departure from Speak{{'}}s soft rock genre.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=John|title=Lindsay Lohan – Speak|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/lindsay-lohan.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130081237/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/lindsay-lohan.htm|archive-date=January 30, 2009|publisher=musicOMH|access-date=December 31, 2011|date=April 4, 2005}}
Chart performance
"Rumors" achieved moderate commercial success worldwide. In the United States, the single peaked at number six on Billboard{{'}}s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and reached number 23 on the Mainstream Top 40 component chart. However, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in February 2005. In Australia, "Rumors" debuted at number 19 on the ARIA charts, peaking at number 10 six weeks later, while being certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The single also attained top 30 positions in Austria and Switzerland, and reached the top 40 in the Netherlands and Sweden. In Germany, "Rumors" debuted and peaked at number 14.
Music video
Casablanca Records commissioned a music video to be directed by British director Jake Nava, who previously worked in the same year with Britney Spears on her music video for "My Prerogative",{{cite news|url=http://www.britney.com/us/blog/earlier-filming-date-scheduled-britney-if-u-seek-amy-music-video-shoot|title=Earlier Filming Date Scheduled For Britney If U Seek Amy Music Video Shoot|date=February 4, 2009|access-date=March 19, 2010|author=Staff Reporter|publisher=Britney.com. RCA/Jive Label Group|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921104204/http://www.britney.com/us/blog/earlier-filming-date-scheduled-britney-if-u-seek-amy-music-video-shoot|archive-date=September 21, 2012}} between September 11 and the early hours of September 13, 2004.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqc-WUW6lJg |title=Lindsay Lohan - Rumors (Making The Video) - YouTube |website=YouTube |access-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214002243/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqc-WUW6lJg |url-status=live }} The music video for "Rumors" premiered on October 14, 2004, and October 20, 2004, through Disney Channel and MTV.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/lindsay-lohan/36678/rumors.jhtml|title=Lindsay Lohan – "Rumors"|date=October 14, 2004|access-date=March 28, 2012|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105061557/http://www.mtv.com/videos/lindsay-lohan/36678/rumors.jhtml|url-status=dead}}
=Synopsis=
In the beginning of the video, Lohan is followed by paparazzi as she is entering her car. It is revealed that this is a Lohan-look-alike and that the real Lohan is entering another car to go to a club. The car comes to a stop, and she then steps into an elevator and sings the first verse of the song, while she is filmed by a CCTV camera in the elevator. The next sequence shows her running through a hallway, dressed up, before getting into the club. There, she dances in the crowd, where she takes a picture of one of the paparazzi herself to get back at him. In the next sequence, she is walking slowly through the club where she finds the man who seems to be her boyfriend. She takes a seat next to her lover and they begin kissing and touching each other, all the while being constantly filmed by cameras in the club. While Lohan sings the second chorus, she is trapped in a cage in the middle of the club and the whole crowd is watching her. After this, Lohan is shown dancing in the club with her friends. At the end of the music video, Lohan and her friends enter the top of a high-rise and perform a dance routine while helicopters are circling around them. Finally, Lohan gets into a helicopter and escapes. In the end, she throws her camera away with all the pictures taken of her.
=Reception=
The music video for "Rumors" received very positive reviews from critics and viewers which eventually led to the video reaching the top position on the countdown of Total Request Live on the week of October 27, 2004,{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1493188/lindsay-lohan-released-from-hospital.jhtml|title=Lindsay Lohan Released From Hospital, Feeling 'Much Better'|last1=Vineyard|first1=Jennifer|last2=Moss|first2=Corey|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|date=October 27, 2004|access-date=March 28, 2012|archive-date=November 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104150131/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1493188/lindsay-lohan-released-from-hospital.jhtml|url-status=dead}} and was nominated on the category Best Pop Video during the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2005/|title=MTV Video Music Awards 2005|access-date=March 28, 2012|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|archive-date=April 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419023648/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2005/|url-status=dead}}
Live performances
Lohan performed "Rumors" on Good Morning America in December 2004. According to a MTV News staff report, "Lohan missed the cue to mouth along, forcing cameras to cut away when her mouth remained closed as she was heard singing, thanks to a backing track." A representative for Lohan, however, revealed that Lohan actually sang it live, and noted that Lohan only used a background track "to help make the song sound like it does on her album."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494588/lindsay-lohan-pulls-ashlee.jhtml|author=MTV News staff reporter|title=For The Record: Quick News On Lindsay Lohan, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Hilary Duff & More|date=December 7, 2004|access-date=March 28, 2012|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108000514/http://www.mtv.com/news/1494588/for-the-record-quick-news-on-lindsay-lohan-destinys-child-alicia-keys-snoop-dogg-hilary-duff-more/|url-status=dead}} On December 31, 2004, Lohan performed "Rumors" at MTV's Iced Out New Year's Eve 2005.
Legacy
Despite having only achieved moderate commercial success, "Rumors" has since become Lohan's most recognized song of her career and has received significant attention in the years following its release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7908688/should-have-been-bigger-lindsay-lohans-rebellious-rumors?chrome=1&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1|title=Should Have Been Bigger: Lindsay Lohan's Rebellious "Rumors"|access-date=January 3, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3162085/lindsay-lohan-back-to-me/|title=Lindsay Lohan Celebrates Her Resilience on Clubby New Song 'Back to Me'|website=MTV|access-date=January 3, 2021|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209082117/https://www.mtv.com/news/3162085/lindsay-lohan-back-to-me/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/miley-cyrus-karaoke-lindsay-lohan-rumors|title=Miley Cyrus is Tired of People Lyin', Sayin' What They Want About Her|date=January 30, 2019|access-date=January 3, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029204649/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/miley-cyrus-karaoke-lindsay-lohan-rumors|url-status=live}} In 2020, Billboard ranked the song as Lohan's best song of her career, noting that the defiant lyric, “I'm gonna do it my way / Take this for just what it is,” would "ultimately turn into Lohan’s mantra for years to come".{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9350777/lindsay-lohan-essential-songs-list|title = Lindsay Lohan's 10 Essential Songs, Ranked: Critic's Picks|magazine = Billboard|access-date = January 3, 2021|archive-date = April 17, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210417210859/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9350777/lindsay-lohan-essential-songs-list|url-status = live}} "Rumors" was also used during the opening of the 2020 Balmain Spring Fashion Show, in which Paper magazine noted that the song was finally getting recognition.{{Cite web|url = https://www.papermag.com/rumors-balmain-lindsay-lohan-pfw-2640656006.html?rebelltitem=5#rebelltitem5|title = Lindsay Lohan's 2004 Bop 'Rumors' Opened Balmain Spring 2020|date = September 27, 2019|access-date = January 3, 2021|archive-date = November 8, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211108000522/https://www.papermag.com/rumors-balmain-lindsay-lohan-pfw-2640656006.html?rebelltitem=5#rebelltitem5|url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nylon.com/balmain-lindsay-lohan-spears-runway|title=Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and NSYNC Soundtracked Balmain's Runway Show|access-date=January 3, 2021|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926213835/https://www.nylon.com/balmain-lindsay-lohan-spears-runway|url-status=live}} In January 2021, the song received significant social media attention after being used on the season 13 premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race in a Lip Sync for Your Life between contestants Gottmik and Utica Queen, resulting in Lohan's name becoming a trending topic on Twitter.{{Cite web|url = https://www.vulture.com/article/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-13-premiere-episode-1-the-pork-chop.html|title = RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Pair of Queens|date = January 2, 2021|access-date = January 3, 2021|archive-date = January 29, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210129235136/https://www.vulture.com/article/rupauls-drag-race-recap-season-13-premiere-episode-1-the-pork-chop.html|url-status = live}}
Track listing and formats
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- "Rumors" – 3:16
- "Rumors" (Full Phatt Remix) – 3:25
- CD maxi-single
- "Rumors" – 3:16
- "Rumors" (Full Phatt Remix) – 3:25
- "Rumors" (Full Phatt Club Mix) – 3:49
- "Rumors" (video) – 3:25
{{col-2}}
- Digital EP{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/br/album/rumors-ep/id40043912|title=Rumors EP by Lindsay Lohan|publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc|date=November 29, 2004|access-date=March 28, 2012|archive-date=March 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322111309/https://itunes.apple.com/br/album/rumors-ep/id40043912|url-status=dead}}
- "Rumors" – 3:16
- "Rumors" (Full Phatt Remix) – 3:25
- "Rumors" (Full Phatt Club Mix) – 3:50
{{col-end}}
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from Speak liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title =Speak|others =Lindsay Lohan |year =2004|publisher =Casablanca|type =liner notes|location =United States}}
Recording
- Recorded at Poolhouse West and The Village at Los Angeles, California.
- Mixed at Sony Music Studios in New York City, New York.
Personnel
- Songwriting: Cory Rooney, Lindsay Lohan, Taryll Jackson, T. J. Jackson
- Production: Cory Rooney, Peter Wade Keusch
- Recording: Peter Wade Keusch, Chris Avedon
- Mixing: Peter Wade Keusch
- Keyboards: Cory Rooney
- Guitar: Christopher J. Warner
- Background vocals: Lindsay Lohan, Cory Rooney
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Rumors" ! scope="col"| Chart (2005) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2005/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005|publisher=ARIA|access-date=June 13, 2021|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031520/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2005/singles-chart|url-status=live}}
| 65 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Germany (Media Control GfK){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2005|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2005|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509005509/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2005|url-status=live}}
| 94 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Rumors"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|access-date=April 9, 2012|refname="ARIA"}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Lindsay Lohan|title=Rumors|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|digital=true|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Rumors" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| United States
| September 27, 2004 | rowspan="4"| Casablanca |
| scope="row"| Japan
| January 26, 2005 | rowspan="3"| CD |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| Germany
| February 21, 2005 |
| April 18, 2005 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lindsay Lohan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rumors (Song)}}
Category:Music videos directed by Jake Nava
Category:Songs written by Cory Rooney
Category:Songs written by Lindsay Lohan
Category:Song recordings produced by Cory Rooney