Tip Toe (feat. French Montana)

"Tip Toe" is a straightforward and energetic dance track centered on the theme of physical attraction and admiration for a woman's dancing abilities. The lyrics, delivered by both Jason Derulo and French Montana, are a direct address to a woman on the dance floor. The song's meaning revolves around their captivation with her body and the provocative way she moves. The phrase "tip toe" is used as a metaphor for a dance style that is both delicate and sensual, comparing her movements to the grace of a ballerina while simultaneously encouraging her to "shake something." The song is unapologetically sexual, with numerous lines praising the woman's curvaceous figure and her ability to dance in a way that is mesmerizing and arousing. French Montana's verse continues this theme, using more direct language and metaphors to express his appreciation for her physique and dancing. Ultimately, the song is a high-energy party anthem designed for clubs, celebrating sensuality, dancing, and female beauty in a very explicit and physical manner.

The song opens with Jason Derulo expressing his admiration for a woman's captivating dance moves, particularly the alluring way she moves her spine. He is immediately taken by her physical appearance, describing her as a 'big fat thang, overflowin'' that her 'skinny tight dress couldn't hold.' Her body is so striking that he compares it to being 'swollen' and acknowledges that she is well aware of her own attractiveness. When she dances, dropping low, he loses all focus. The way her body moves is an added bonus, and he finds her 'cake' or posterior incredibly appetizing. He uses the metaphor of a 'backpack full' to describe her curves, calling it a 'crisis' in a flirtatious way.

The central plea of the song is for her to bring her body his way, as the image of her is stuck in his mind. He compares her graceful movements to ballet, which leads into the main hook of the chorus. He tells her to 'hold tight when you tip toe' and 'shake something when you tip toe.' This imagery suggests a controlled yet provocative style of dancing. He encourages her to dance without restraint, moving 'left, right, do it just like that.' The phrase 'tip toe' is repeated, emphasizing this specific, delicate yet sensual movement.

French Montana enters with his verse, echoing Derulo's admiration. He playfully blesses her from behind and uses a football metaphor, 'one hand up like the Heisman,' to signify a victory or a prize. He promises her a 'first-class seat when ya ridin',' a double entendre referring to both luxury and a sexual position. He compliments her fluid dancing, telling her to 'wind that thing like ya spineless.' He then breaks down the movement to 'left cheek, right cheek,' creating a rhythmic chant that is both instructional and appreciative. His verse reinforces the song's focus on the woman's dancing and her posterior.

The pre-chorus and chorus repeat, reinforcing the central theme. Derulo is captivated, unable to get her off his brain, and continues to draw the parallel between her dancing and the grace of ballet. The recurring instruction to 'hold tight' and 'shake something' on her tip-toes serves as the song's memorable and catchy motif. The track is an ode to a woman whose dancing is both powerful and mesmerizing, a blend of raw energy and graceful precision that completely enthralls the singers.

"Tip Toe" was released on November 10, 2017. The song was written by Jason Derulo (Jason Desrouleaux), French Montana (Karim Kharbouch), Soaky Siren, Johnny Mitchell, Philip 'Pip' Kembo, and Tinashe Sibanda. The production was handled by Pip Kembo and Bantu. Soaky Siren also provided uncredited backing vocals on the track. The song followed Derulo's successful formula from his previous hit "Swalla," blending pop, R&B, and hip-hop with a dance-focused, reggae-style beat. It was intended to be a single from Derulo's then-forthcoming album, which was reportedly titled 777. However, the song was later included on his fifth studio album, Nu King, which was released in February 2024. A lyric video was released simultaneously with the single, followed by an official music video on December 7, 2017, which was co-directed by Derulo himself.

The song's structure is built around a driving, mid-tempo dance beat. The rhythm is a key element, designed to be easily danceable with a clear, steady pulse. The lyrical rhythm often follows a simple, repetitive pattern, especially in the chorus, which enhances its catchiness. The rhyme scheme is generally simple, using couplets and straightforward end rhymes (e.g., "overflowin'" / "swollen" / "know it"; "focus" / "bonus"). This uncomplicated structure makes the lyrics easy to follow and remember. French Montana's verse introduces a more complex, syncopated rap flow that provides rhythmic contrast to Derulo's sung melodies. He uses internal and slant rhymes within his lines to add texture. The interplay between the main reggae-infused beat and the vocal rhythms creates the song's signature energetic and danceable quality.

"Tip Toe" employs several techniques to create its catchy, dance-oriented feel.

• Musical Style: The song is built on a "bouncy island flavored cut" with a reggae-style beat blended with pop and electro sounds, typical of urban radio hits of the time. This fusion of genres creates an infectious and danceable rhythm.
• Vocal Delivery: Jason Derulo uses his signature smooth, melodic vocal style, which contrasts with French Montana's more rhythmic, laid-back rap verse. The song also features uncredited, higher-pitched female backing vocals from Soaky Siren, adding another layer to the sonic texture.
• Repetitive Hook: The chorus is highly repetitive and rhythmic, with the phrase "tip toe" acting as a memorable hook. The simple, instructional-like lyrics ("Left, right, do it just like that") make it easy to sing along to and enhance its club-friendly nature.
• Direct Address: The lyrics are written in a direct address to the woman, using phrases like "Whine fa me darlin'" and "Girl, you're too bad and you know it," which creates an intimate and seductive atmosphere.

"Tip Toe" achieved significant chart success internationally upon its release in late 2017. It peaked at number 5 in the United Kingdom, number 11 in Germany, and reached the top 20 in Ireland, Finland, and Switzerland. In Canada, it reached number 50. The song was seen as a continuation of the successful formula Jason Derulo employed with his earlier hit "Swalla," blending pop with dancehall and hip-hop elements for radio and club appeal. The official music video, co-directed by Derulo, garnered significant attention for its elaborate choreography and diverse visual settings, including a jungle and a snowy Japanese-style scene. The video was also a point of discussion, with some critics finding the depiction of women to be sexually exploitative. The song was performed live by Derulo at the German Echo Music Prize in 2018. It remains a well-known track in Derulo's discography, representative of his output in the late 2010s.

The song uses vivid, if straightforward, metaphors to describe a woman's body and dancing.

• Tip Toe / Ballet: The central metaphor compares the woman's sensual dancing to the controlled, graceful movements of a ballerina on her tiptoes. This creates a juxtaposition between elegance and raw sexuality, suggesting she is both a skilled and provocative dancer. The lyric "Look like you do ballet, yeah" reinforces this comparison.
• Cake / Backpack: The lyrics use slang to describe the woman's posterior. "Mmm, that cake looking appetizing" is a direct metaphor comparing her buttocks to a desirable dessert. Similarly, "Backpack full, that's a crisis" metaphorically portrays her curves as being so substantial they are like an overstuffed bag, creating a 'crisis' of attraction for the singer.
• Heisman: French Montana uses the football metaphor "One hand up like the Heisman (touchdown)" to signify scoring or winning a prize, in this context, the attention and affection of the woman he is admiring.

The most prominent recurring motif is the phrase "tip toe." It appears repeatedly in the chorus ("Hold tight when you tip toe, Shake something when you tip toe") and serves as the song's central hook and title. Its repetition emphasizes the specific, graceful yet provocative dance move that has captivated the singers. Another recurring lyrical idea is the direct admiration of the woman's body, with phrases like "Big fat thang, overflowin'" and references to her posterior as "cake." The directive to dance, encapsulated in lines like "Left, right, do it just like that" and "No breaks when you push that back," is also a recurring theme, reinforcing the song's function as a high-energy dance track. Musically, the song is built around a recurring bouncy, island-flavored beat that underpins the entire track.