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"Is Anybody Out There?"
Single by K'naan featuring Nelly Furtado
from the album More Beautiful Than Silence and Country, God or the Girl
Released	January 24, 2012
Recorded	2011
Length	3:58
Label	A&M/Octone Wrasse
Songwriter(s)	Keinan Warsame Edwin Serrano Nelly Furtado Melanie Hallim Denarius Motes Hasham Hussain
Producer(s)	Sham and Motesart
K'naan singles chronology
"Summer Paradise" (2011) "Is Anybody Out There?" (2012) "Hurt Me Tomorrow" (2012)
Nelly Furtado singles chronology
"Night Is Young" (2010) "Is Anybody Out There?" (2012) "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)" (2012)
Music video
"Is Anybody Out There?" on YouTube

"Is Anybody Out There?" is a song co-written and performed by Somalia-born rapper K'naan, featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, from his first extended play More Beautiful Than Silence. The song was first released as a digital download in the United States on January 24, 2012, before being physically issued in Germany on March 30. The single made its chart debut on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 67 and peaked at number 14. It was most successful in New Zealand, where it reached the top of the RIANZ chart on the week of March 12, 2012; it was Furtado's fourth number-one single in New Zealand.

Background

"Is Anybody Out There?" was produced by Sham & Motesart. Lyrically, the track speaks about self-assurance, separation, and loneliness. K'naan raps about the character Mary, comparing her to American actress Cameron Diaz; "Something ’bout Mary, never won a pageant / Never felt pretty, never looked like Cameron / Diaz was her last name, always been abandoned / Keep your head up baby girl, this your anthem." It is the second time the duo have collaborated, the first being "Going Away". The video for "Is Anybody Out There?" was directed by Chris Robinson in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the first week of February. The plot follows two characters named Mary and Adam. K'naan narrates their journeys through rap. Mary struggles with her appearance and being judged by her peers the video begins with her getting kicked out of a mini mart for loitering. Adam struggles with drugs and a father who is never there for him. K'naan and Furtado are shot in a separate scene located in the desolate woods.

Critical reception

"Is Anybody Out There?" obtained mixed reviews by its critics. The track received negative reviews by Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone. Rosen gave the collaboration a mere one and a half out of five stars, criticizing the song's lyrical content.

Track listing

• Digital download

1. "Is Anybody Out There?" — 3:58

• CD single

1. "Is Anybody Out There?" — 3:58
2. "Is Anybody Out There?" (Cutmore Radio Edit) — 3:27

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

1. ^ "Archived copy". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2015-03-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. ^ "Is Anybody Out There". Amazon Germany.
3. "Track Review: K'NAAN, 'Is Anybody Out There'". Billboard.
4. Scott Shetler (25 January 2012). "K'naan, 'Is Anybody Out There' Feat. Nelly Furtado – Song Review". PopCrush.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
5. "News - Entertainment, Music, Movies, Celebrity". Archived from the original on January 26, 2012.
6. "Nelly Furtado Daily". Archived from the original on 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
7. "Is Anybody Out There | Song Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rrollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
8. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
9. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
10. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?" (in French). Ultratip.
11. "K'naan Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
12. "Nelly Furtado Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
13. "Nelly Furtado Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
14. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 11. týden 2012 in the date selector.
15. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
16. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
18. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
19. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?". Top 40 Singles.
20. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201208 into search.
21. "K'naan feat. Nelly Furtado – Is Anybody Out There?". Swiss Singles Chart.
22. "K'naan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
23. "K'naan Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
24. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
25. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
26. "Canadian single certifications – K'naan – Is Anybody Out There?". Music Canada. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
27. "New Zealand single certifications – K'naan – Is Anybody Out There?". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.

External links

• "Is Anybody Out There?" official music video on YouTube

• K'naan songs
• 2012 singles
• Songs written by Nelly Furtado
• Number-one singles in New Zealand
• Music videos directed by Chris Robinson (director)
• Nelly Furtado songs
• Songs written by Lil' Eddie
• Songs written by K'naan
• 2012 songs
• A&M Octone Records singles
• Songs about bullying
• Songs about drugs
• Songs about loneliness