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"Rocketeer" is the second single from Far East Movement's 2010 album Free Wired. The track features Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. It was produced by Stereotypes and The Smeezingtons. It peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Rocketeer" shares similarities with Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love", which the Stereotypes have also produced. Far East Movement revealed this via their Twitter account when the similarities started causing misconception. "Rocketeer" was produced first while "Somebody to Love" actually uses samples of their song.

"Rocketeer" was co-written by Bruno Mars and his production team, The Smeezingtons. There were two different versions of the song with Bruno Mars and Ryan Tedder each singing the chorus. Ryan Tedder's version was the one selected for the album.

Malaysian-based low-cost airline AirAsia used the song for their "Awesome" campaign.

Far East Movement performed "Rocketeer" on the NBA All-Star Weekend 2011 and an episode of the Disney Channel TV program So Random!, with Miguel (North America only) or Teenage Fairytale Dropouts voice actors Katherine Cohn Beck (the voice of Fury) and Simon Kennedy (the voice of Jeremiah) (Europe and Oceania only) singing the chorus instead of Ryan Tedder.

The music in part of the chorus was later reused for Daughtry's Waiting for Superman.

Background

Speaking about the song in March 2011 to noted UK urban writer Pete Lewis - Assistant Editor of Blues & Soul - group member Kev Nish stated: "'Free Wired' was basically a slang-word we came up with back in the day, that we'd use whenever we'd do something that was outside the box, that was original, that was fresh, and that mashed-up things that maybe SHOULDN'T be mashed-up! Which is why, when it came to titling this latest album, it made so much SENSE!... You know, we'd basically go in the studio and take hip hop-style drums, electronic synths, alternative-style hooks and just - as I say - mash it all UP! Which in turn became the inspiration behind a track like 'Rocketeer'... And, by featuring Ryan Tedder on the song, we were then also able to cover that credible, alternative ROCK base."

Music video

Directed by Marc Klasfeld, the music video for the song premiered on Vevo and YouTube on October 29, 2010 and has a cameo appearance by DJ Quik. The skateboarder in the video is Samuel Tan, a high school student from California. Steve Terada and Victor Kim from the dance group Quest Crew also makes brief appearances. Famous YouTube personalities Philip Wang and Wesley Chan from Wong Fu Productions make a short cameo posing for a picture. It shows of Samuel trying to get parts all around to make a jet pack to travel to his girlfriend who went to Japan for a job. The video features also a cameo of princess Ai Co-created by Courtney Love and D.J. Milky, Princess Ai was written and illustrated by Misaho Kujiradou and featured character designs by Ai Yazawa.

Track listing

Digital download

1. "Rocketeer" (feat. Ryan Tedder) – 3:31

CD single (Germany)

1. "Rocketeer" (feat. Ryan Tedder) - 3:31
2. "Rocketeer" (Frankmusik Remix) - 3:23

Rocketeer Remixes

1. "Rocketeer" (Chew Fu Remix) - 5:34
2. "Rocketeer" (Frankmusik Remix) - 3:23
3. "Rocketeer" (DJ Enferno Remix) - 4:33
4. "Rocketeer" (Ruxpin Remix) - 4:39
5. "Rocketeer" (Z-Trip Afterburner Dub Remix) - 3:12
6. "Rocketeer" (DJ Spider & Mr. Best Remix) - 5:21

Rocketeer Live At Cherrytree House

1. "Rocketeer" (Live At Cherrytree House) - 3:47

Credits and personnel

• Lead vocals – Far East Movement, Ryan Tedder
• Producers – Stereotypes, The Smeezingtons
• Lyrics/Music  – Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Jae Choung, James Roh, Kevin Nishimura, Virman Coquia, Jonathan Yip, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus
• Label: Cherrytree Records / Interscope Records

Charts and certifications

References

1. Praxis Media. "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads". Radio1.gr. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
2. "Response". Far East Movement.
3. Far East Movement feat. Bruno Mars - Rocketeer
4. Far East Movement interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' March 2011
5. "Far East Movement - Rocketeer ft. Ryan Tedder". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
6. CD single
7. iTunes - Music - Rocketeer (Remixes) (feat. Ryan Tedder) - EP by Far East Movement
8. "Top 50 Singles Chart 14/3/2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
9. "Far * East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic – Rocketeer" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
10. "Far * East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic – Rocketeer" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
11. "Far East Movement Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
12. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 11. týden 2011 in the date selector. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
13. "Japan Hot 100: Week of April 09, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
14. "Far * East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic – Rocketeer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
15. "Far * East Movement feat. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic – Rocketeer". Top 40 Singles.
16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
17. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Gaon Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
18. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201111 into search. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
19. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
21. "Far East Movement Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
22. "Far East Movement Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
23. "Far East Movement Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
24. "Far East Movement Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
25. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
26. THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
27. "Best of 2011: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-09.

External links

• Template:MetroLyrics song

• 2010 singles
• Far East Movement songs
• Songs written by Bruno Mars
• Songs written by Philip Lawrence (songwriter)
• Song recordings produced by The Smeezingtons
• Rhythm and blues ballads
• Singles certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association
• Music videos directed by Marc Klasfeld
• 2010 songs
• Cherrytree Records singles
• Pop ballads