"4 Minutes" is a song by American singer-songwriter
Madonna from her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. It was released
as the lead single from the album on March 17, 2008 by Warner Bros.
Records. Initially known as "4 Minutes to Save the
World", the song's development was motivated by a sense of
urgency to save the planet from destruction, and how people can
enjoy themselves in the process. According to Madonna, the song
inspired her to produce the documentary I Am Because We Are. The
song features vocals by American musicians Justin Timberlake and
Timbaland. An uptempo dance song with an urban, hip hop style, it
also incorporates Timbaland's bhangra beats. The
instrumentation used in the song includes brass, foghorns and cow
bells. The song's lyrics carry a message of social awareness,
inspired by Madonna's visit to Africa and the human suffering
she witnessed. "4 Minutes" has been praised by many
contemporary critics. Some have noted, however, that Madonna rather
than Timberlake appeared as more of a featured artist in the song.
"4 Minutes" achieved worldwide success by topping the
charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and other European
nations.
