Peak
14
Weeks
25
Score
3,959
Chart Year
2001
Scores & Rankings
Chart Performance
Peak Position14
Peak DateNov 24, 2001
Weeks at Peak3
Weeks Charted25
Weeks in Top 4022
Weeks in Top 100
Weeks at #20
Weeks at #10
Scoring
Summary Calc1,407
Weekly Calc2,552
Total Score3,959
Rankings
Year Ranking#46
Decade Ranking#432
Billboard Year#38
Top 5000#2,002
Details
- Album
- Aaliyah
- Label
- Blackground Records
- Genre
- Rhythm & Blues
- Composer(s)
- Stephen "Static Major" Garrett;Eric Seats;Rapture Stewart
- Entered Chart
- Sep 8, 2001
- Peak Date
- Nov 24, 2001
- Released
- August 21, 2001
- Recorded
- 2001 Studio Manhattan Center (New York City)
- Catalog #
- Blackground Album Cut
- B-Side
- "We Need a Resolution"
Music Video
Preparation for shooting “Rock the Boat” began weeks in advance, with director Hype Williams contacting Aaliyah's stylist and choreographer "separately to discuss his vision for the video".[56] According to Aaliyah's former choreographer Fatima Robinson, "The whole concept was Hype’s ,The song has such a wonderful, sensual, sexual vibe to it, and we wanted to play along with that. The beautiful beach, the idea of dancing on the yacht, were all Hype’s idea. We just wanted to have this really beautiful, classy, elegant video.”[56] Speaking about the filming locations, Derek Lee Aaliyah's former stylist stated, "He said, we’re shooting here, here, and here, and that’s all, Back then, when you worked with an artist all the time, directors didn’t really say too much. They were just like, do what you do. Make sure it works within the framework.”[56] On August 21, 2001, Aaliyah appearered on BET's 106 & Park, and announced that the accompanying music video for "Rock the Boat" was to be directed by Hype Williams and that filming would begin the following day.[57][58] The video's dance routine was choreographed by Aaliyah's close friend Fatima Robinson and dancers in the video included Carmit Bachar, Denosh Bennett, Nadine Ellis and Electrik Red members Binkie and Lesley.[59] There wasn't a lot of time to rehearse choreography and they rehearsed three days before production began in a Miami dance studio.[56] Robinson stated, "We only did a few days, it wasn’t long at all, But [Aaliyah] was an amazing dancer, and caught on really fast. Sometimes, she felt like she couldn’t get it, but I would push her a little harder, [and say,] ‘You got this.”[56] Recalling her experience with Aaliyah Ellis said, “Aaliyah was there for all the rehearsals, “She came in and learned along with us, hung out with us, and was very, very cool. That’s the memory of her that stands out for me. There have been artists who, when they don’t have to be around the dancers, will step into another room or will get there with just enough time to learn the choreography and move on with their day. But she really wanted to be there. It just reminded me how much of a girl she still was.”[56] Aaliyah shown swimming underwater in the ocean, with bright clouds above. On August 22, she filmed both the underwater and green screen scenes for the video in Miami, Florida.[60][56] Ellis, "had been cast as Aaliyah’s “mirror” for the green screen portion—a dance partner who reflected Aaliyah's “hip swivels".[56] The idea for the mirror dance moves "stemmed from Robinson’s natural meshing with Aaliyah when they danced together, which she likened to synchronized swimming."[56] After filming the green screen portion, "the crew decamped for a hotel swimming pool", where Aaliyah was filmed underwater.[56] The following day, Aaliyah and employees of Virgin Records America flew to the Bahamas on two flights using a Fairchild Metro III, chartered through Sky Limo.[61] Nearly 60 people worked on the video in the Bahamas.[61] Upon her Arrival to the Bahamas, Aaliyah began filming very early on the beach by 6:30 AM on August 24.[56] On the final shoot day, Aaliyah and her dancers filmed the yacht portion of the video.[56] "The dancers loaded onto the catamaran in the morning, then changed into their all-white costumes to film choreography", which differed from the look and feel of the green screen dance moves.[56] “Miami was really technical, because you had to be within certain parameters, making sure you were on your mark and that all the spacing was right,” But when we got to The Bahamas, it was definitely more of a free space. We just got to flow", says Ellis.[56] Aaliyah was scheduled to leave the Bahamas on August 26, but chose to leave the day before since she had finished early. Williams recalled: "Aaliyah left mid-production, so we were still shooting when she left".[62] When discussing working with Aaliyah on the video, Williams stated: "Those four days were very beautiful for everyone. We all worked together as a family." Williams said that the camaraderie on the set was a refreshing change from the usual shoot, adding: "The last day, Saturday, was one of the best I've had in this business. Everyone felt part of something special, part of her song."[63] Due to the tragedy surrounding Aaliyah's death, there was an uncertainty about the release date for the video. In a press release, a spokesperson for Blackground Records said it was too soon to say what would become of the footage.[63] The music video made its world premiere on BET's Access Granted on October 9, 2001.[64] BET producer Kevin Taylor, who was in the Bahamas filming the video, described it as "gorgeous and sensual
Notes
This is a very sexual song, using various nautical terms as metaphors for sex ("I love your stroke," "Let's take this overboard"). It was popular on the "Quiet Storm" and "Late Night Love" R&B radio programs. The Hype Williams-directed video was shot in the Bahamas, and after the shoot, Aaliyah and eight others were killed when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff. She was just 22 years old. >> Williams counts the video shoot among some of the best times in his career due to the camaraderie on set and Aaliyah's charismatic personality. The veteran hip-hop director told MTV News: "Some stars have a unique way of capturing their audience without saying a word. That comes from charisma, it comes from charm. A lot of it comes from someplace else. I can't really define it, but I'm always able to recognize it. She had that 'magic,' for lack of a better word." The words were written by Static Major and the music by the Key Beats production duo of Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart. Static didn't take long to pen the chorus. Seats recalled to Fuse TV: "Static heard it through my headphones. I took a break and went to the rest room, and by the time I got back he had already written a hook." Stewart continued, "I wouldn't say it was an accident, but we weren't vibing with it as much. It was one of those things like if he had came ten minutes later, he probably would've never heard it." This was released as the third single from Aaliyah in January 2002 in the United States. It also was Aaliyah's favorite song on the album to record. "'Rock the Boat' hit her real hard," Rapture Stewart recalled to Fuse TV. "She was the one advocating to make that a single, because [the label] was trying to make sure whatever Timbaland produced were up to be singles. But she gave them hell and refused to let them do things. Even Timbaland loved it."
Boy, you know you make me float
Boy, you really get me high (ooh)
I feel like I'm on dope
'Cause you, you serve me on a regular (you serve me on a regular)
Boy, we need to tie this rope
Before we drift any deeper (before we drift any deeper)
There now hold me close
Boy, let's take this overboard now
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (yeah)
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New positions, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Ooh, baby, I love your stroke
'Cause you, 'cause you get me where I'm going
('Cause you get me where I'm going, yeah)
And truly you'll get my vote
'Cause I believe
I believe you know just what you're doing now
Baby, now we can coast (let's coast, let's coast)
Let's don't get in a hurry (no, no)
That's too slow (hey, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Go ahead and put that thing in overdrive
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (hey)
Work it in the middle (work it, baby, work it, baby)
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (hey)
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle (hey, hey)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me (yeah)
Stroke it for me
Hmm, stroke it, baby, stroke it, baby
Hmm, work it it, baby, work it, baby
Ooh, stroke it
There is something I want you to do for me
I want you to use yourself (hey)
Like you never ever used it before (never)
To explore my body (explore it, baby)
Until you reach the shore (yeah)
You'll be calling, calling for more (callin')
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
(Work it, baby, work it, baby)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me (baby)
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle (work it, yeah)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position (change)
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me (yeah), stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work the middle, work the middle
Work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boatChart History (25 weeks)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 8, 2001 | 57 | 69 |
| 2 | Sep 15, 2001 | 45 | 81 |
| 3 | Sep 22, 2001 | 28 | 98 |
| 4 | Sep 29, 2001 | 25 | 101 |
| 5 | Oct 6, 2001 | 23 | 103 |
| 6 | Oct 13, 2001 | 23 | 103 |
| 7 | Oct 20, 2001 | 23 | 103 |
| 8 | Oct 27, 2001 | 22 | 104 |
| 9 | Nov 3, 2001 | 21 | 105 |
| 10 | Nov 10, 2001 | 18 | 108 |
| 11 | Nov 17, 2001 | 15 | 111 |
| 12 | Nov 24, 2001 | 14 | 112 |
| 13 | Dec 1, 2001 | 14 | 112 |
| 14 | Dec 8, 2001 | 21 | 105 |
| 15 | Dec 15, 2001 | 19 | 107 |
| 16 | Dec 22, 2001 | 17 | 109 |
| 17 | Dec 29, 2001 | 16 | 110 |
| 18 | Jan 5, 2002 | 14 | 112 |
| 19 | Jan 12, 2002 | 18 | 108 |
| 20 | Jan 19, 2002 | 18 | 108 |
Weeks 1–20 of 25
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