Don't Matter

"Don't Matter"
Single by Akon
from the album Konvicted
Released	January 18, 2007 (2007-01-18) (see Release history)
Format	CD, digital download
Genre	Reggae fusion, folk, contemporary R&B
Length	4:53
Label	Konvict/UpFront/SRC/Universal
Writer(s)	Thiam, Lawson
Producer	Akon
Certification	3x Platinum (RIAA) Platinum (RIANZ)
Akon singles chronology
"I Wanna Love You" (2007) "Don't Matter" (2007) "Mama Africa" (2007)

"Don't Matter" is a Reggae fusion–R&B song recorded by Akon for his second studio album Konvicted (2006). The song was released as the album's third single in early 2007. In April 2007, it became Akon's first solo U.S. number-one single and second number-one overall. A crucial part of the chorus takes from Bob Marley's 1979 classic "Zimbabwe". The bridge also borrows the melody from R. Kelly's song "Ignition (Remix)". This song was #31 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.^[1] This song was also #81 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007.^[2]

Chart performance

"Don't Matter" was released in the U.S. in mid-January 2007. The song made its debut at number seventy-nine on the Hot 100 and reached number one after ten weeks on the chart, in large part due to its substantial airplay, the song topping the Hot 100 Airplay chart for two weeks. In the UK, it debuted on the singles chart at number forty-five, based solely upon downloads, and late peaking at number three following a physical release. Following the song's debut inside the top ten on the singles chart in Canada, it peaked at number one for a period of three weeks. As of January 2008, the song has been certified 3 times platinum for 3,000,000 digital sales. Bizzy Bone made a remix with this song, so did Candace Jones, Jadiel and Nivea. As of 2011 the song has sold 5,600,000 copies both in the US and Internationally.

Covers

Fall Out Boy performed a cover of "Don't Matter" for their live album, ****: Live in Phoenix. They also performed the song at their June 12, 2007 concert, the night after their bassist Pete Wentz got in a fight with a fan. Canadian singer Lights often covered the song for her live shows. Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte did a cover of "Don't Matter" live in Festival de Verão Salvador with Akon in January 2010.

Music video

The video was directed by Gil Green and starts with Akon picking up his date at a location. As he leaves with this date, an old man (presumably a relative of the date) is shown both reading a magazine about Akon partying at local clubs and staring at the two with an angry look. The video continues with Akon singing "Don't Matter" throughout the course of his date. It is set in a Caribbean beach style community at social places such as the beach, village market, and a dance. A scene in the video where Akon photographs his date actually removing her brassire has led to extremely shocking controversy. Notably, in the video's final scene, the music becomes much more lively, with a Caribbean style rhythm playing under the songs chorus. It has a cameo appearance by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. The music video is one of the most viewed videos on YouTube.

Tracklisting

UK CD Single / European CD Single #1

1. "Don't Matter" - 4:09
2. "Shake Down" (Remix) (Feat. Red Cafe) - 4:28

European CD Single #2^[3]

1. "Don't Matter" (Konvict Remix) - 5:46
2. "Don't Matter" (Calypso Remix) - 5:38
3. "Don't Matter" (Original Radio Edit) - 4:09
4. "Don't Matter" (Video) - 4:15

Australian CD Single

1. "Don't Matter" (Radio Edit) - 3:02
2. "Shake Down" (Remix) (Feat. Red Cafe) - 4:28
3. "Easy Road" - 3:59
4. "Don't Matter" (Video) - 4:15

Release history

Region	Date
United States	January 19, 2007 (2007-01-19)
Australia	June 30, 2007 (2007-06-30)
United Kingdom	October 15, 2007 (2007-10-15)

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[4]	9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[5]	31
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6]	4
Czech Republic (IFPI)[7]	9
Denmark (Tracklisten)[8]	18
European Hot 100 Singles[9]	6
France (SNEP)[10]	6
Germany (Media Control AG)[11]	29
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[12]	1
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[13]	26
Ireland (IRMA)[14]	1
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[15]	23
New Zealand (RIANZ)[16]	1
Norway (VG-lista)[17]	7
Slovakia (IFPI)[18]	3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19]	23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20]	19
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[21]	3
US Billboard Hot 100[22]	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23]	5
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[24]	3

See also

• List of Canadian number-one singles of 2001–07
• List of number-one singles of 2007 (Ireland)
• List of number-one singles from the 2000s (New Zealand)
• List of number-one singles in Romania
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2007 (U.S.)

References

1. ^ No byline (December 11, 2007). "The 100 Best Songs of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-21
2. ^ MTV Asia. "Top 100 Hits List". Retrieved 2007-12-27
3. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Akon-Dont-Matter-Remixes/release/2393321
4. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Akon – Don't Matter". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
5. ^ "Akon – Don't Matter – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
6. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
7. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200735 into search.
8. ^ "Akon – Don't Matter Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten. IFPI Danmark & Nielsen Music Control.
9. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" European Hot 100 for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
10. ^ "Lescharts.com – Akon – Don't Matter" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
11. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
12. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
13. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
14. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Akon – Don't Matter" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
16. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Akon – Don't Matter". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
17. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Akon – Don't Matter". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
18. ^ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200728 into search.
19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Akon – Don't Matter". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
20. ^ "Akon – Don't Matter – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
21. ^ "Chart Stats – Akon – Don't Matter" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
22. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
23. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
24. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.