"The Man"
Single by Aloe Blacc
from the album Lift Your Spirit
ReleasedJanuary 21, 2014
Recorded2013
Genre
Length4:16 (album version)
3:29 (radio edit)
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)DJ Khalil, Dontae Winslow, Alex Finkin
Aloe Blacc singles chronology
"Wake Me Up"
(2013)		 "The Man"
(2014)		 "Here Today"
(2014)

"The Man" is a song by American vocalist Aloe Blacc. First included on his EP Wake Me Up, the song was later released as the second single from his third studio album, 2014's Lift Your Spirit, on Interscope Records. Blacc co-wrote the track with Sam Barsh, Daniel Seeff, and its producer DJ Khalil and Alex Finkin. The song interpolates "Your Song" by Elton John.

The song is Blacc's most successful single as a solo artist to date; it sold 2.5 million copies in the United States as of December 2014,[1] peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the United States, "The Man" topped the charts in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. On January 22, 2014, a remix of "The Man" featuring American rapper Kid Ink was released.

Music video

A lyric video to accompany the release of "The Man" was first released to YouTube on January 10, 2014.[2]

The song's official music video followed on March 3, 2014.[3] The video takes place in the 1960s and 1970s and gives tribute to figures and events significant to African American culture during that era.

Below is a list of tributes to people/events in the music video.

0:39 Marvin Gaye What's Going On album cover
0:39-0:54 Violence and racial injustice at the time
0:54-1:12 Civil Rights and Vietnam war protest
1:12-1:45 Louis Armstrong or Clifford Brown
1:45-2:25 Marvin Gaye
2:25-2:57 Muhammad Ali
2:57-3:05 Soul Train
3:19-3:37 Malcolm X
3:37-3:49 Martin Luther King Jr.
3:49---- Martin Luther King Jr. (continued until the end)
3:59---- Selma to Montgomery marches aka "Bloody Sunday"
4:18---- 1968 Olympics Black Power salute (back, right corner)

The song was featured in the end credits of the 2014 film Brick Mansions.

This song was also famously used in a video on TikTok that featured NBA player Patrick Beverley celebrating after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2022 NBA Play-In.

The song was featured in the end credits of the 2023 Netflix original stand-up comedy special Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer.

Commercials

In December 2013, "The Man" was used as the soundtrack for a series of Beats by Dre commercials promoting the company's "Hear What You Want" campaign, which featured several notable sports personalities, including NFL players Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks and Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, NBA player Kevin Garnett of the Brooklyn Nets, and Chelsea FC football player Cesc Fabregas, wearing Beats headphones to block out the sound of heckling from disgruntled fans.[4]

The song was used extensively at the 2014 NFL Draft, being played 108 times over the course of the three-day event.[5] MLB also used the song for its ads for the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. The ad shows different highlights and celebrations of possible All-Stars for 2014.

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56] Platinum 70,000^
Germany (BVMI)[57] Gold 150,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[58] Gold 15,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59] Gold 7,500*
Sweden (GLF)[60] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[62] Platinum 2,500,000[1]
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[63] 2× Platinum 5,200,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United States[64][65][66] January 21, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Interscope Records
Rhythmic contemporary radio
February 4, 2014 Urban adult contemporary radio
United Kingdom[67] March 28, 2014 Digital download
United States[68] June 10, 2014 Digital download (Draft Day mix)

References

  1. 1 2 "The Big 9 in 2014: Interscope". HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. December 10, 2014. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ AloeBlaccVEVO (January 10, 2014). "Aloe Blacc – The Man (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ AloeBlaccVEVO (March 3, 2014). "Aloe Blacc – The Man (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Yuscavage, Chris (December 11, 2013). "Colin Kaepernick's New Beats By Dre Commercial Has Seahawks Fans Super Heated". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Glasspiegel, Ryan (11 May 2014). "NFL ESPN Supposedly Played the "I'm the Man" Song 108 Times During NFL Draft". The Big Lead. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201417 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201423 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Hitlisten.NU – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 14, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  21. ↑ "{{{artist}}} – {{{song}}}". Top Digital Download. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2014" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man". VG-lista. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  28. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201418 into search. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  29. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201429 into search. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  30. ↑ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "South African Airplay Chart Top 10 - April 15, 2014". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Aloe Blacc – The Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Aloe Blacc Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  44. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  45. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2014: Urban" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  46. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts – Top Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2014" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2014". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2014" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2014". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  52. ↑ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  56. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Aloe Blacc; 'The Man')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  59. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Aloe Blacc - The Man" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  61. ↑ "British single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  62. ↑ "American single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Aloe Blacc – The Man". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  64. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  65. ↑ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  66. ↑ "Urban/UAC". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  67. ↑ "The Man – Single by Aloe Blacc". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  68. ↑ "The Man (Draft Day Mix) – Single by Aloe Blacc". iTunes Store (US). Apple. January 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
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