| "Are You That Somebody?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Aaliyah | ||||
| from the album Dr. Dolittle | ||||
| Released | May 26, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1998 | |||
| Studio | Capitol (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:26 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
| Aaliyah singles chronology | ||||
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| Timbaland singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio sample | ||||
"Are You That Somebody?" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack (1998). It was written by Static Major and Timbaland, with the latter producing it, in addition to performing a guest rap. It was sent to urban contemporary radio stations in the United States on May 26, 1998, by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records. Musically, it is an R&B, pop, and avant-funk song with hip hop influences. Its production also incorporates other instrumentals such as staccato guitars, beatboxing, and drum and bass. Lyrically, it is about the narrator (Aaliyah) keeping an intimate relationship a secret due to her celebrity status.
Upon its release, the song received critical acclaim from music critics, with them praising its off-beat innovative production. In 1999, Aaliyah earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song. Initially, it was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, mainly because it was an airplay single not commercially released to retail stores. In December 1998, Billboard changed its policy to allow airplay-only songs to chart on the Hot 100, and the song eventually peaked at number 21. Internationally, the song achieved even greater commercial success, peaking at number one in New Zealand and number three in the Netherlands. It also peaked at number 11 in Canada and the United Kingdom.
An accompanying music video for "Are You That Somebody?" was directed by Mark Gerard. It is a dance-heavy video that depicts Aaliyah and other dancers all dancing in a cave before a backdrop that features clips of the Dr. Dolittle motion picture. The video received acclaim from the music industry, receiving Best R&B Video and Best Video from a Film nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. The video also earned a nomination for Outstanding Music Video at the NAACP Image Awards. Throughout the years, critics have praised the video for its choreography, with many highlighting the flamenco routine depicted in the final scene.