Miami (Will Smith song)

"Miami" is a song by American rapper and actor Will Smith from his debut solo album, Big Willie Style (1997). It samples the Whispers's 1979 single "And the Beat Goes On". Released as a single on November 23, 1998, the song charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.

"Miami"
Single by Will Smith
from the album Big Willie Style
B-side
ReleasedNovember 23, 1998 (1998-11-23)
Length3:18
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Will Smith singles chronology
"Just the Two of Us"
(1998)
"Miami"
(1998)
"Wild Wild West"
(1999)
Music video
"Miami" on YouTube

"Miami" won a MTV VMA Best Male Video award. The video, which incorporates the first two verses and refrains of the selection's "radio edit" followed by the third verse and refrain of its "Miami Mix", features an early on-screen appearance of Smith's future Hitch co-star, Eva Mendes.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "Smith should have no problem maintaining the momentum of his current album, "Big Willie Style", with this third single, following the ubiquitous "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Just The Two Of Us". On "Miami", he talks us up with an ode to the heat, style, and hip factor of that city. This time around, Smith employs the instrumental hook of the Whispers' 1979 single "And The Beat Goes On", which adds a classic, string-filled disco backdrop as festive as the city itself. With Smith's record on the airwaves and at the box office, as well as his appeal with younger demographics, this really is a no-brainer, now isn't it?"[1]

Music video

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In the music video for the song, Smith and members of his band are freezing in Philadelphia, where it is −30 °F (−34 °C), causing a bandmate to curse Jack Frost. They hop on a plane to Miami, and are shown going around Miami in their car and various scenes morph into one another. The video ends with Will Smith and his band performing a concert. The video features samples from Gloria Estefan's hits "Conga" and "You'll Be Mine (Party Time)".

Track listings

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Charts

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Sales and certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[45] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[46] Platinum 90,000
Germany (BVMI)[47] Gold 250,000
Italy (FIMI)[48]
digital sales since 2009
Gold 50,000
Sweden (GLF)[49] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50]
digital sales since 2008
2× Platinum 1,200,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 6, 1998 Urban radio Columbia [51]
October 13, 1998 [52]
United Kingdom November 23, 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
[53]

References

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  1. ^ Flick, Larry (October 3, 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 24. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Miami (UK CD1 liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666678 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Miami (UK CD2 liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666678 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Miami (UK cassette single sleeve). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666678 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Miami (European CD single liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. COL 666488 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Miami (Australian CD single liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666488 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  8. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  9. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  10. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7472." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7465." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 7. February 13, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Will Smith: Miami" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  15. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  16. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  17. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 13. March 27, 1999. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  18. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.11–20.11. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 13, 1998. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Miami". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  21. ^ "Will Smith – Miami" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  22. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  23. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". VG-lista. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  24. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 50/1998" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 50. December 12, 1998. p. 23. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  26. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  27. ^ "Will Smith – Miami". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  28. ^ "Will Smith: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  29. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  30. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  31. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  32. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  33. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  34. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  35. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 16, 1999. p. 7.
  36. ^ "Rapports Annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  37. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 13, 1999. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  38. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 13, 1999. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  40. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  41. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  42. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  43. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1999" (in German). Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  44. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  45. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  46. ^ "Danish single certifications – Will Smith – Miami". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Will Smith; 'Miami')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  48. ^ "Italian single certifications – Will Smith – Miami" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  49. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  50. ^ "British single certifications – Will Smith – Miami". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  51. ^ "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1268. October 2, 1998. p. 56.
  52. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1269. October 9, 1998. pp. 54, 60.
  53. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 21, 1998. p. 23. Retrieved July 13, 2021.