Informer (song)
"Informer" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Snow | ||||
from the album 12 Inches of Snow | ||||
Released | August 1992 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:28 | |||
Label | EastWest | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | MC Shan | |||
Snow singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Informer" on YouTube |
"Informer" is a song by Canadian reggae musician Snow, released in August 1992 by East West Records as the first single from his debut album, 12 Inches of Snow (1993). The song is well known for the line "a licky boom boom down"[1] and for Snow's fast toasting and often unintelligible lyrics.
Produced by
In 2019, Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and rapper Daddy Yankee released a new version of "Informer" as "Con Calma" together with Snow, who recorded new parts. The Spanish-language remake topped the charts of 20 countries and reached the top 10 of 10 others. The song is written of key A-flat Minor.
Background and content
Snow grew up as Darrin O'Brien in Toronto, Canada. He was raised on classic rock, but after Jamaicans moved into his neighborhood, due to then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's revised immigration policies, reggae became a huge part of his life.[3]
"That's a jail song. It's not, 'Baby, I love you.' I wrote that song in jail about informers. But people didn't know what I was singing."
In 1992, while on vacation with DJ Marvin Prince in
The song is based on a separate 1989 incident when Snow was charged with two counts of attempted murder.[4] At the time, he was detained for a year in Toronto before the charges were reduced to aggravated assault, and he was eventually acquitted and freed.[4] In a 1999 interview, he referred to his criminal history as "a couple of bar fights."[4]
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Ron Wynn called the song "patois-laced", noting further that it "shattered the myth that pop audiences wouldn't embrace any tune whose lyrics weren't in pristine English; when his video was released, it included a rolling translation at the bottom."[5] M.R. Martinez from Cashbox felt it demonstrate Snow's "unique delivery which sounds less imitative than some dancehallers or rappers from the bonafide hood."[6] Havelock Nelson from Entertainment Weekly declared the song as "slippery and tuneful".[7] Swedish Expressen described it as "hard-boiled Jamaican crime fiction".[8] Katrine Ring from Danish Gaffa viewed it as an "excellent pop-number".[9] Dennis Hunt from Los Angeles Times felt "he adds a nifty dimension to dancehall by smoothly integrating pop textures."[10] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton concluded that it "must surely be a contender for No.1 within a week or two."[11]
Alan Jones from
Chart performance
"Informer" peaked at number one on the singles chart in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as on the
"Informer" was awarded with a gold record in Austria and the Netherlands, a silver record in the UK, and a platinum record in Germany, New Zealand and the US. In Australia, it received a double-platinum record.
Music video
Directed by George Seminara, the accompanying music video for the song shows Snow entering a jail cell. His producer and friend, MC Shan, is also featured in the video; he explains how he got into prison by not turning informer. DJ Marvin Prince is seen enjoying a sauna with a couple of women. There are bikini clad women throughout and Snow is accompanied by female dancers glossed in black and white. When first shown, the video had no subtitles, but they were added because few people could comprehend what Snow was saying.[citation needed] Later, "Informer" was made available on YouTube in 4K remaster in 2019 and had generated more than 47 million views as of early 2024.[19]
Awards and recognition
"Informer" won a
Legacy
Many reggae purists viewed the song, along with the works of Ini Kamoze, Diana King, Shaggy and Shabba Ranks, as another example of "watered down" commercial reggae that rose to international popularity in the 1990s.[23] This song was later re-imagined into Daddy Yankee's hit single Con Calma released in 2019.
Track listings
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|
Personnel
- Text: Darrin O'Brien, Edmund Leary, Shawn Moltke
- Producer: MC Shan
- Executive producer: David Eng, EZ Steve Salem
- Co-producer: Edmund Leary, John "Jumpstreet" Ficarotta
- Photography: Melanie Nissen
- Informer remixer and editor: Rick the Mexican Huerta
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[58] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[75] | Gold | 25,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[76] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[77] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] | Silver | 200,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[81] | Platinum | 1,300,000[80] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | August 1992 |
|
EastWest | [citation needed] |
United Kingdom | March 1, 1993 |
|
[82] | |
Japan | July 25, 1993 | Mini-CD | [83] |
References
- ^ "Snow's "Informer": How A Stop Snitching Anthem Became A No. 1 Pop Hit". Genius. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "Staff Lists". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ a b Browne, David (May 21, 2019). "Winter Is Here: Inside the Return of 'Informer' Rapper Snow". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g LeBlanc, Larry (May 22, 1999). "Snow Looks For Warmer Reception". Billboard. pp. 49, 52.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Snow - 12 Inches of Snow". AllMusic. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ^ Martinez, M.R. (January 23, 1993). "Rap/Dance Music" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 11. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ Nelson, Havelock (February 26, 1993). "12 Inches of Snow". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Expressen. April 15, 1993.
- ^ Ring, Katrine (June 1, 1993). "Groove". Gaffa (in Danish). p. 19. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (February 28, 1993). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Masterton, James (March 14, 1993). "Week Ending March 20th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Alan (March 6, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ Cermak, Wendi; Ross, Randy (November 27, 1992). "Hot Crossover: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 45. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ "'Informer' Still Champ - Chart Action Stays Slow - Orlando Sentinel". Orlando Sentinel. DeKnock, Jan. April 23, 1993. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: 12 Inches of Snow". People. March 29, 1993. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^ Hamilton, James (March 6, 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (February 19, 1993). "Snow". The Sentinel.
- ^ a b "Snow: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Snow - Informer (Official Music Video) [4K Remaster]". YouTube. September 13, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ Juno Awards list, "JUNO Awards". Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2011. (Retrieved January 6, 2011).
- ^ "Latest Music News - VH1". VH1 News. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Kevin O'Brien Chang and Wayne Chen, Reggae Routes: The Story of Jamaican music (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1998), 6–8.
- ^ "Snow – Informer". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Snow – Informer" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Snow – Informer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 13. March 27, 1993. p. 55.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1739." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1764." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. May 8, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 20. May 15, 1993. p. 23. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 15. April 10, 1993. p. 9. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. May 8, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- Les classement single.
- ^ "Snow – Informer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 24. June 12, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- Dagblaðið Vísir(in Icelandic). April 21, 1993. p. 37. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Informer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 26. June 26, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Snow" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
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- ^ "Snow – Informer". VG-lista.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Snow – Informer". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Snow – Informer". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 27, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ "Snow Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 29. March 27, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^ a b "1993 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1993" (in German). Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved September 27, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved September 27, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. December 18, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. p. 17. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Retrieved September 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Snow – Informer" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snow; 'Informer')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Dutch single certifications – Snow – Informer" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Informer in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1993 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Snow – Informer". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ "British single certifications – Snow – Informer". British Phonographic Industry.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "American single certifications – Snow – Informer". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 27, 1993. p. 19.
- ^ "インフォーマー | スノー" [Informer | Snow] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 16, 2023.