Right Now (Na Na Na)

"Right Now (Na Na Na)"
Single by Akon
from the album Freedom
Released	September 23, 2008
Length	4:01 3:24 (UK radio edit)
Label	Konvict Muzik Universal Motown
Songwriter(s)	A. Thiam
Producer(s)	Akon Giorgio Tuinfort (co.)
Akon singles chronology
"Wake It Up" (2008) "Right Now (Na Na Na)" (2008) "I'm So Paid" (2008)
Music video
"Right Now (Na Na Na)" on YouTube

"Right Now (Na Na Na)" is the lead single from Akon's third studio album, Freedom. The song contains elements from "Remember" by Summer Love.^[1] The song was added to the U.S. Mainstream Top 40 radio airing on September 23, 2008, and also became available for digital download on iTunes that day.^[2] The song was intended to have a Euro-club feel.^[3]

History

In 2009, Dutch producers Maurice Huismans and Jorrit ter Braak started a lawsuit against Akon and his co-writer Giorgio Tuinfort, claiming that "Right Now" stole from an earlier song of theirs, "Remember" by the act Summer Love which was a hit in Europe in 2001 and later covered by the Underdog Project and Spanish singer David Tavare as the song "Summerlove".

In 2010, the Dutch plagiarism committee approved this claim and all parties settled afterwards.

Official versions

Several remixes of the track exist. The official remix of the track features additional vocals by Kat DeLuna. Further remixes include "Mañana (Na Na Na)", featuring vocals from Jayko, and an International Remix, featuring Canadian singer Danny Fernandes.

Music video

The official music video for the track was directed by Anthony Mandler and released on November 6, 2008. It premiered in Germany on the TV show Viva Live. In the video, Akon plays an agent that is on a mission, he has to find a girl (the same from his video "Don't Matter") that has secret information. He remembers the good times that he spent with his ex-girlfriend, played by Jamaican model Cindy Wright, but he sleeps with the girl from "Don't Matter", gets the information and ends the video alone. The actual track begins one minute after the video begins, making the video over 5 minutes in length.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2008–2009) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 17 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 38 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 7 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[9] 6 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[10] 4 Denmark (Tracklisten)[11] 14 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[12] 9 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] 15 France (SNEP)[14] 8 Germany (GfK)[15] 44 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[16] 7 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 18 Italy (FIMI)[18] 35 Israel (Media Forest)[19] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 30 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 5 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[23] 10 Scotland (OCC)[24] 22 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[25] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 48 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 15 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 6 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[29] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[30] 8 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[31] 73 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[32] 9 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[33] 3 Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[34] 4

Year-end charts Chart (2008) Position CIS (TopHit)[35] 130 France (SNEP)[36] 60 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[37] 120 UK Singles (OCC)[38] 59 Chart (2009) Position Australia (ARIA)[39] 82 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40] 35 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[41] 23 Brazil (Crowley)[42] 45 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[43] 54 France (SNEP)[44] 70 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[45] 27 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[46] 134 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 77 UK Singles (OCC)[48] 117 US Billboard Hot 100[49] 56 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[50] 31

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51]	4× Platinum	280,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[52]	Diamond	250,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[53]	Gold	7,500^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54]	Gold	7,500^*
United Kingdom (BPI)[55]	Platinum	600,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[56]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^*
United States (RIAA)[57] Mastertone	Platinum	1,000,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Asking Alexandria cover

"Right Now (Na Na Na)"
Single by Asking Alexandria
from the album Punk Goes Pop 3
Released	September 29, 2010
Recorded	2010
Genre	Electronicore
Length	4:20
Label	Sumerian Records, distributed through Fearless Records
Songwriter(s)	A. Thiam
Asking Alexandria singles chronology
"Final Episode (Let's Change the Channel)" (2009) "Right Now (Na Na Na)" (2010) "A Prophecy" (2010)

British rock band Asking Alexandria covered the track for the compilation album Punk Goes Pop 3, which was released on November 2, 2010. It was available for digital download on September 29, 2010.^{[58][non-primary source needed]}

Other versions

A Tagalog parody version, entitled "Banana (Ba Na Na)", was recorded by Filipino rapper Blank Tape. Another Malaysian parody or remake was also performed by Kelantanese singers Man Khan and Rosalinda, entitled "Dok Mano" released at the near end of 2012 sung in the Kelantanese dialect of the Malaysian language.

Olivia O'Brien sampled this song on her single "Now". Released on September 18, 2020. O’Brien’s lyrics juxtaposes Akon’s from the female’s point of view.^[59]

References

1. "Akon's 'Right Now (Na Na Na)' – Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
2. "Top 40/mainstream Future Releases". Retrieved September 19, 2008.
3. "Akon: Free at last". Bluesandsoul.com. December 1, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
4. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
6. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
7. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in French). Ultratop 50.
8. "Akon Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
9. Akon — Right Now (Na Na Na). TopHit. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
10. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 03. týden 2009 in the date selector.
11. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Tracklisten.
12. "Hits of the World: Euro Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 1. January 10, 2009. p. 54. See last week column.
13. "Akon: Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
14. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in French). Les classement single.
15. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
16. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
18. "History – FIMI". fimi.it.
19. "Media Forest Week 2, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 52, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
21. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
22. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Top 40 Singles.
23. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Dec 4, 2008". TopHit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
25. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200912 into search.
26. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Singles Top 100.
27. "Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Swiss Singles Chart.
28. "Akon: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
29. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
30. "Akon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
31. "Akon Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
32. "Akon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
33. "Akon Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
34. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. February 21, 2009. Archived from the original on January 19, 2009.
35. "Популярные хиты 2008" [Popular hits 2008] (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
36. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2008" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
37. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2008". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
38. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
39. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
40. "Jaaroverzichten 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
41. "rapports annuels 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
42. "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2009". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
43. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
44. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2009" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
45. "Éves összesített listák – MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz.
46. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2009". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
47. "2009 Year End Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Music Charts. 2009. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
48. "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
49. "Year End Charts – Year-end songs – The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
50. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
51. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
52. "Brazilian single certifications – Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
53. "Guld og platin i august" (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
54. "New Zealand single certifications – Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
55. "British single certifications – Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
56. "American single certifications – Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Recording Industry Association of America.
57. "American ringtone certifications – Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na)". Recording Industry Association of America.
58. "Punk Goes... | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
59. Wass, Mike (September 18, 2020). "Idolator". Olivia O’Brien’s Hot Streak Continues With “NOW”.