"Beautiful"
Single by Akon featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall
from the album Freedom
ReleasedJanuary 6, 2009 (2009-01-06)
Recorded2008
GenreDance-pop
Length5:12 (album version)
3:51 (radio edit)
3:19 (UK radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Akon
  • Jaylien
Akon singles chronology
"What's Love"
(2008) 		"Beautiful"
(2009) 		"Day Dreaming"
(2009)
Colby O'Donis singles chronology
"Don't Turn Back"
(2008) 		"Beautiful"
(2009) 		"I Go Crazy"
(2009)
Kardinal Offishall singles chronology
"Numba 1 (Tide Is High)"
(2008) 		"Beautiful"
(2009) 		"Put Your Drinks Up"
(2009)
Music video
"Beautiful" on YouTube
Beautiful (Brazilian edition)
by Akon featuring Negra Li
Beautiful (Mexican edition)
by Akon featuring Dulce María
Negra Li singles chronology
"Ainda Gosto Dela"
(2008) 		"Beautiful"
(2009) 		"Tudo de Novo"
(2012)
Dulce María singles chronology
"El Regalo Más Grande"
(2009) 		"Beautiful"
(2009) 		"Verano"
(2009)

"Beautiful" is the third single from Akon's third studio album, Freedom. The song features American pop singer Colby O'Donis and a rap verse from Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall. "Beautiful" was released to radio on January 6, 2009. The song has also been released in other three international versions, with different featured artists replacing both Colby's vocals and Kardinal's rapping: in Portuguese with Brazilian singer Negra Li, in Dutch with Dutch singer Brace, and in Spanish with Mexican singer Dulce María. The original version peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, the original version peaked within the top ten of the charts in Israel and the United Kingdom.

Different versions

The song has also been recorded in three international versions: in Portuguese, with Brazilian singer and actress Negra Li, in Dutch, with Dutch singer Brace, and in Spanish, with Mexican singer/actress/songwriter Dulce María. The rap from the original was removed, and Colby O'Donis' vocals were also removed in favor of the other singers.

The Spanish version was first performed in an event at Mexico, on April 1, 2009. On the next day, it was leaked for airing and on the internet. The Portuguese version was leaked two days before.

The music videos in Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish were released at YouTube on June 2, 8 and 9, respectively.

Track listing

UK and Europe CD single[1]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall) - 5:13
  2. "I'm So Paid" (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy) - 4:29
Brazil CD single[2]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) - 4:07
  2. "Beautiful" (featuring Negra Li) [Dance Mix] - 4:01
Mexico CD single[3]
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring Dulce Maria) - 4:06
Korea CD single
  1. "Beautiful" (featuring BoA) - 4:06

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 42
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 38
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[7] 3
Bulgaria (BAMP)[8] 5
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 16
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[10] 18
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[11] 29
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 34
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[13] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 13
Israel (Media Forest)[15] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[19] 16
Romania (Romanian Radio Airplay)[20] 9
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[21] 10
Scotland (OCC)[22] 16
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[23] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 34
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[27] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 11
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] 61
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[31] 5
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[32] 4

Monthly charts

Chart (2009) Position
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)[33]
Original version 		76
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)[33]
Remix featuring Negra Li 		37

Year-end charts

Chart (2009) Position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 65
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[35] 45
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[36] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 88
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 46
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[39] 106
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 96
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 49
US Billboard Hot 100[42] 54
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[43] 29

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[45] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[46] Gold 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[49] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Akon Featuring Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis - Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  2. ^ "Akon featuring Negra Li – Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  3. ^ "Akon featuring Dulce María – Beautiful (CD) at Discogs". discogs. April 9, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "NMC Airplay Top 10 Week12 (16.03.2009 - 22.03.2009)". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Akon Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200915 into search.
  11. ^ "Akon – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Akon. [dead link]
  12. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  13. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Akon featuring Colby O'Donis & K Offishall". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  15. ^ "Media Forest Week 12, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  17. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Top 40 Singles.
  19. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". VG-lista.
  20. ^ "Media Forest – Weekly Charts. Media Forest. Retrieved July 7, 2009. Note: Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
  21. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: May 21, 2009". TopHit. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200909 into search.
  24. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Singles Top 100.
  25. ^ "Akon feat. Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis – Beautiful". Swiss Singles Chart.
  26. ^ "Akon: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  27. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  28. ^ "Akon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Akon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Akon Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Akon Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Akon Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  33. ^ a b "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay (Set 21, 2009)". Billboard Brasil. No. 1. BPP Promoções e Publicações. October 2009. p. 79.
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  35. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  36. ^ "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz.
  37. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  38. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  39. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2009". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  40. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  41. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  42. ^ "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  43. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  45. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Akon – Beautiful" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  46. ^ "Danish single certifications – Akon, Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall – Beautiful". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  47. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. August 21, 2011. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  48. ^ "British single certifications – Akon Ft K Offishall/C O'Donnis – Beautiful". British Phonographic Industry.
  49. ^ "American single certifications – Akon – Beautiful". Recording Industry Association of America.
Categories