Wet the Bed

This article is about the song by Chris Brown. For the disorder commonly known as "bedwetting", see Nocturnal enuresis.

"Wet the Bed"
Single by Chris Brown featuring Ludacris
from the album F.A.M.E.
Released	September 13, 2011 (airplay)
Recorded	2010 The Record Plant (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	R&B
Length	4:26 (album version)
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Chris Brown Kevin McCall Muni Long Andre Merritt Joseph Bereal Stanley Kubie Derrick Baker Christopher Bridges
Producer(s)	Derrick "Bigg D" Baker
Chris Brown singles chronology
"Better with the Lights Off" (2011) "Wet the Bed" (2011) "International Love" (2011)
Ludacris singles chronology
"Little Bad Girl" (2011) "Wet the Bed" (2011) "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" (2012)
Audio video
"Wet the Bed" on YouTube

"Wet the Bed" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring American rapper Ludacris, originally released as a track from the former's fourth studio album F.A.M.E. (2011), before It was written the artists alongside Kevin McCall, Muni Long (who provides additional vocals), Andre Merritt, Lonny Bereal, and producer Derrick "Bigg D" Baker.^[1] Lyrically, the song sees Brown and Ludacris exploring ways to leave a woman satisfied. "Wet the Bed" received mixed reviews from most music critics, who were ambivalent towards its lyrics. It reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified platinum by the RIAA. The song has been performed live at the album's listening party, as well as on Brown's F.A.M.E. Tour.

Background and composition

It was recorded and mixed by Brian Springer at The Record Plant—a studio in Los Angeles, California.^[1] "Wet the Bed" is a slow-tempo R&B song.^[2] The song begins with keys laced over a beat of dripping sound effects.^[2][3] It also makes use of acoustic guitar.^[3] According to Brad Wete from Entertainment Weekly, the song "rival[s] the bump-'n'-grind heights of '90s Casanova crew Jodeci."^[4] Ludacris opens the song proclaiming: "Hear the sound of your body drip, drip, drip / As I kiss both sexy lip, lip, lips."^[2] Using "blatant sexual metaphors", Brown then sings: "I ain't afraid to drown, if that means I deep up in your ocean yeah / Girl I'll drink you down, sipping on your body all night."^[2]

Live performances

Brown and Ludacris performed the song live for the first time at a listening party for Brown's album F.A.M.E on March 18, 2011.^[5] For the performance, Brown wore navy pants and a blue hoodie reading "F.A.M.E.", while Ludacris wore sunglasses, a black shirt and jacket, and grey pants.^[5] In April 2011, Brown embarked on his F.A.M.E. Tour in Australia, where he performed "Wet the Bed" as part of the concert's setlist.^[6]

Critical reception

Critics praised Brown's vocal performance but criticized the oversexual lyrics. Steve Jones from USA Today called the song "salacious" and wrote that Brown is "taking it to the next phase."^[7] Joanne Dorken from MTV UK felt "rather apprehensive" of the song, and noted it "sees Breezy exploring ways to er, leave a woman satisfied."^[8] Nick Levine from BBC Music wrote that "Brown's identity crisis is betrayed most blatantly by the sequencing of "Wet the Bed.""^[9] Hannah Ash from The Harber Herald criticized the song's lyrics for being "kind of a gross-out and really don't need to be paid attention to", but praised Brown's "beautiful vocals, so that makes up for it."^[10] Eric Henderson from Slant Magazine criticized the song's opening verse, as well as Ludarcris' verse, "Women call me the Super Soaker and Ima soak your bed to death", as "some new form of jizz torture."^[11] Calling the song an "over-the-top hyper-sexual", Chad Grischow from IGN wrote that it is the "kind of excessively crude sludge that would have made 12 Play era R. Kelly blush."^[3] Cristin Maher from PopCrush wrote that "it is almost shocking to hear the unbelievably lustful lyrics projecting from Brown as he sings the song".^[2]

Chart performance

In the issue dated July 30, 2011, "Wet the Bed" debuted at number 89 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,^[12] and peaked at number nine in the issue dated October 8, 2011.^[13] On the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song debuted at number 96 in the issue dated September 24, 2011 and peaked at number 77.^[14]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes for F.A.M.E..^[15]

Derrick "Bigg D" Baker – songwriter, guitar, producer Steven "Q-Beatz" Kubie aka "The Kid" – programming, keys, engineering, songwriter Joseph Bereal – songwriter Chris Brown – songwriter, lead vocals Iain Findlay – assistant mixer David Anderson – additional keyboards Eric Manco – engineer Ryan Coplan – assistant engineer

Ludacris – songwriter, featured vocals Kevin McCall – songwriter Andre Merritt – songwriter Brian Springer – recorder, mixer Amber Streeter – songwriter, featured vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2011) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100[16] 77 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 6 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[18] 39

2020s chart performance for "Wet the Bed" Chart (2022) Peak position Philippines (Billboard)[19] 5 Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[20] 49 Chart (2012) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[21] 87

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio add dates

Country	Date	Format
United States[23]	September 13, 2011	Urban contemporary radio

References

1. F.A.M.E. (Booklet). Chris Brown. Jive Records. 2011.
2. Maher, Cristin (March 22, 2011). "Chris Brown Feat. Ludacris, 'Wet the Bed' – Song Spotlight". PopCrush. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
3. Grischow, Chad (March 21, 2011). "Chris Brown: F.A.M.E. Review". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
4. Wete, Brad (March 9, 2011). "F.A.M.E. Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
5. Michelle (March 18, 2011). "Chris Brown x Ludacris perform "Wet The Bed" at F.A.M.E. listening party, Atlanta (Video)". Soulculture.co.uk. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
6. Skinner, Briony (April 30, 2011). "Synced or not, Chris Brown sex appeal wins Brisbane's hearts". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
7. Jones, Steve (March 22, 2011). "Listen Up: Chris Brown, The Strokes, more". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
8. Dorken, Joanne (March 16, 2011). "Chris Brown 'F.A.M.E.' – Track By Track Review". MTV UK. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
9. Levine, Nick (March 21, 2011). "Music – Review of Chris Brown – F.A.M.E." BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
10. Ash, Hannah (April 25, 2011). "Chris Brown F.A.M.E. review". The Harber Herald. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
11. Henderson, Eric (March 24, 2011). "Chris Brown: F.A.M.E. | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
12. "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of July 30, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 30, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
13. "R&B/Hip Hop Songs: Week of October 8, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 8, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
14. "Hot 100: Week of September 14, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
15. "Chris Brown – F.A.M.E. (Deluxe Edition)" (PDF). Assets.sonymusic.com. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
16. "Chris Brown Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
17. "Chris Brown Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
18. "Chris Brown Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
19. "Chris Brown Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
20. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012.
21. "Best of 2012 – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
22. "American single certifications – Chris Brown – Wet the Bed". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
23. "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011.