Skate

"Skate" by Silk Sonic (the duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) is a feel-good, flirtatious song that uses the imagery and metaphor of roller skating to convey a message of smooth, joyful courtship. The song is essentially an invitation from the singers to a woman who has caught their eye, asking her to "skate" over to them and give them a chance to get to know her. The act of skating symbolizes a carefree, gliding, and effortless movement, which they hope their romantic interaction will emulate. It's about taking a chance on a new connection and enjoying the smooth, exhilarating ride of new love.

The lyrics are filled with compliments and playful lines aimed at seducing the woman. Phrases like "In a room full of dimes, you would be a hundred dollars" and "If being fine was a crime, girl, they'd lock your lil' fine ass up in a tower" are hyperbolic and charming in their delivery, setting a lighthearted and adoring tone. The song promotes an active and confident approach to romance, encouraging making the first move and enjoying the pursuit. It eschews complex emotional depth for a celebration of pure, unadulterated attraction and the joy of the chase.

The song opens with an admirer's lavish praise for a woman who stands out with exceptional beauty. He playfully suggests that her level of fineness is so extraordinary it should be considered a crime, one that would get her locked away. Her movements are described as effortless and professional, as if she does it for a living. The singer is captivated, urging her to show off her skills with a spin, comparing her to an athlete competing for a victory.

The central theme of the song is an invitation, a persistent and charming plea for this captivating woman to come closer. The narrator expresses a desire to 'roll,' 'ride,' 'float,' and 'glide' with her, using the metaphor of skating to represent a smooth, joyful, and carefree romantic connection. He reassures her, telling her not to be shy and to simply take his hand and hold on tight. The repeated chorus, "Skate to me, baby," acts as the song's primary hook, reinforcing this earnest and enthusiastic invitation to get to know each other on a deeper level.

The second verse continues the stream of compliments, appealing to more senses. He paints a picture of her with her hair blowing in the wind and her skin glistening, noting her sweet perfume. In a quirky and memorable line, he declares she smells "better than a barbecue." He positions himself as her biggest fan and offers himself as the man she might be looking for, presenting himself as an eager and available suitor. This section further builds the image of the narrator as someone completely smitten and determined to win her affection.

A bridge section shifts the emotional tone slightly, revealing a moment of vulnerability. The singer admits that he's not one to typically fall for someone, but tonight, she has him 'falling for you.' This confession adds a layer of sincerity to his otherwise suave and playful advances. He's reaching out with the hope that she will reciprocate his feelings, creating a moment of tender anticipation. This emotional peak is followed by an expression of pure joy and infatuation, with the singer exclaiming 'My oh my,' capturing his overwhelming feelings for her. The song concludes by returning to the central invitation, a final, enthusiastic call for her to 'skate' his way and start a new connection.

"Skate" was released on July 30, 2021, as the second single from Silk Sonic's debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic. The song was written by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak along with a team of collaborators including Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Domitille Degalle, and JD Beck. Mars and D'Mile also handled the production.

Bruno Mars revealed that the song's concept originated from a "thought exercise" in the studio. He and the team imagined what a song performed in the middle of a roller rink would sound like, considering how the bass, guitar, and drums would feel in that environment. Mars specifically wanted to play the congas on the track, which became a key part of its percussive texture. The goal was to create a song that made everyone feel like they were "floating and gliding, slipping and sliding." The track was recorded at Shampoo Press & Curl studios. The music video, released simultaneously with the song, was directed by Mars, Florent Déchard, and co-directed by Philippe Tayag, and features the duo playing instruments while women roller-skate around them, perfectly visualizing the song's core concept.

The rhythm of "Skate" is one of its most defining features, creating a feel-good, danceable groove. The song has a tempo of approximately 112 beats per minute, a moderate pace that is perfect for its roller-skating theme. The drum work by Anderson .Paak provides a strong, infectious backbeat, while the congas played by Bruno Mars add a layer of Latin percussion that enhances the track's rhythmic complexity and vintage feel. The interplay between the drums, congas, bass, and guitar creates a tight, funky pocket that propels the song forward.

The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, often employing couplets (AABB) within its verses to create a catchy and memorable flow. For example, in the first verse, "dollars" rhymes with "tower" (a slant rhyme) and "livin'" with "win." The lyrical rhythm is conversational and syncopated, especially in Anderson .Paak's verses, which contrasts with the more melodic, stepwise motion of the pre-chorus and the segmented, hook-driven chorus. This dynamic interplay between lyrical and musical rhythm contributes to the song's overall sense of effortless cool and makes it incredibly engaging for the listener.

"Skate" is a masterclass in recreating the sonic palette of 1970s funk, soul, and disco. Musically, the song is built on a foundation of lush, seventh chords, which are characteristic of the R&B and soul genres of that era. The harmonic language is sophisticated, notably avoiding the tonic F major chord throughout the entire song, which creates a feeling of continuous, unresolved forward motion. The arrangement is rich and layered, featuring a prominent string section that adds a touch of classic disco elegance, rhythmic guitars, a driving bassline, congas played by Bruno Mars, and drums by Anderson .Paak. The production is pristine and polished, giving the retro sound a modern clarity.

Vocally, Mars and .Paak employ smooth, harmonized deliveries, particularly on the upbeat refrain. Their performance is characterized by what has been described as "vintage vocal exhortations." Mars handles the crooning on the bridge, while .Paak contributes with a raspier, more conversational delivery in the verses. Lyrically, the song uses a direct, second-person address, speaking directly to the love interest. This creates an intimate and invitational atmosphere. The use of playful, slightly boastful, yet charming compliments is a key stylistic choice that defines the song's flirtatious tone.

"Skate" was released to widespread critical acclaim, with many praising it as a perfect summer jam and a loving tribute to 1970s funk and soul music. It continued the retro aesthetic established by Silk Sonic's debut single, "Leave the Door Open." Commercially, "Skate" performed well, though it didn't reach the chart-topping success of its predecessor. In the United States, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also achieved top 20 positions in Canada and New Zealand.

The song's music video was highly praised for its "pitch-perfect" vintage visuals, which perfectly complemented the track's feel-good, nostalgic vibe. The video, depicting the duo performing in a sun-drenched street party surrounded by roller skaters, became a key part of the song's identity. "Skate" solidified Silk Sonic's brand of immaculately produced, retro-inspired R&B and funk, contributing to the massive anticipation and eventual critical success of their album, An Evening with Silk Sonic. The song was a staple in their popular Las Vegas residency, where its upbeat energy made it a crowd favorite.

The central metaphor in "Skate" is the act of roller skating itself, which symbolizes a smooth, carefree, and joyful approach to love and attraction. The repeated invitation to "skate to me, baby" is a call for the woman to effortlessly glide into the singer's life, suggesting a romance that is free of friction and complications. This metaphor extends to the feeling the singers want to evoke, one of "floating and gliding," which captures the exhilarating and weightless sensation of new infatuation.

The lyrics also employ other forms of figurative language. The line "In a room full of dimes, you would be a hundred dollars" is a hyperbole that elevates the woman's value far above everyone else. Another playful exaggeration is, "If being fine was a crime, girl, they'd lock your lil' fine ass up in a tower," which emphasizes her stunning appearance. The lyric "Smell better than a barbecue" is a quirky simile meant as a high compliment, comparing her appealing scent to something universally loved. Even the admission, "I never fall, but tonight you got me fallin' for you," uses the physical act of falling (a risk in skating) as a metaphor for the emotional risk of falling in love, suggesting a surrender of control.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "Skate" is the titular invitation, "Skate to me, baby." This line functions as the song's central hook and encapsulates its core theme of a smooth, effortless connection. Its repetition in the chorus makes it highly memorable and reinforces the song's primary message. It is often followed by the equally catchy, "Slide your way on over," which further emphasizes the gliding, easygoing nature of the requested romantic advance.

Another significant recurring lyrical motif is the phrase "I'm trynna..." followed by a series of verbs related to movement: "roll," "ride," "float," and "glide." This motif, appearing in the pre-chorus, builds anticipation for the main hook and uses a cluster of related images to describe the desired feeling of the romantic encounter. The exclamatory phrase "My oh my" also recurs, acting as an expression of the singers' overwhelming admiration and infatuation. Musically, the song is built on recurring harmonic progressions and instrumental licks, particularly the lush string arrangements and the funky guitar riffs, which create a consistent and cohesive vintage soundscape.