What Do Rihanna and Magic Mike Have In Common? You Might Be Surprised...
From the '90s to today, Ginuwine reflects on the enduring power of "Pony."
When it comes to sexy R&B jams from the '90s that have been adopted by male strippers around the globe, Ginuwine's "Pony" tops the list. And, it's still just as recognizable in 2018 as it was when it was released in 1996. Co-written by the singer, along with Static Major and Timbaland (the latter also produced the track), the song was a hit when it hit the streets 22 years ago, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. And, it has never really left the pop culture conversation in the years since. And, while Ginuwine has a catalogue of songs that aren't just "Pony," he's more than OK with that being the track he's most recognized for.
"I love that fact that if I say, 'Name a song,' that's what they'll say. And I'm cool with that. I'm real cool with that. The day I'm not cool with that is the day I don't want no more checks," he told The Daily Dish recently about the song when he stopped by our offices to chat about his new series, Your Husband Is Cheating On Us.
In the video above, Ginuwine further reflects on his iconic track's legacy, which definitely saw a major resurgence back in 2012. That was the year that Channing Tatum graced the big screen as a male stripper with big dreams and great abs — and who danced his way into our hearts to just that song in Magic Mike.
"He's made me stay out there," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "He's allowed people to continue to know who I am. I'm grateful for that. I'm not sure if it was his idea to use ['Pony'] in the movie, but it's been a great experience. I wrote the song in 1993. It came out in 1996. To see it sustain this amount of power for so long, it's a great thing."
By the way, 2012 was also the year that Rihanna sampled her Unapologetic track, "Jump." "Well I think it was a universal type song anyway, but you can just flip it just like I know she did it," he told MTV News about the feisty singer referencing him and gender-bending the song. "If anybody in the business can capture the spirit of 'Pony,' it would have to be Rihanna."
In the years since, the singer has definitely stayed hot — thanks to a LOL-worthy ongoing plotline on Parks and Recreation, which, of course, culminated in a performance of "Pony." And may we never forget Jenna Dewan-Tatum's flawless recreation of the Magic Mike dance sequence back in 2016 on Lip Sync Battle, which also so happens to be Ginwuine approved. He later told Decider about Jenna's killer spin on that sequence, "Yes, I did see that one! She did a great job."
When Ginuwine spoke to The Daily Dish recently, he noted just how epic and impactful that song was — and remains — to his career: "That was my Billy Jean."
Below, he opens up a bit more about his career.
