Pony (Ginuwine song)

Production

Timbaland, the song's producer, revealed in a MasterClass lecture that the song's instrumental was created in 1989, and that the song was written and recorded in 1994, two years prior to its release.

Critical reception

"Pony" was met with critical acclaim. Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "This sex jam, played out through horse-riding metaphors, is an even-metered gallop through lovely backing vocals and machine-generated music." He added, "While lead vocal elements are indistinguishable from several similar jams receiving heavy play, "Ginuwine" makes up for it with endearing style and funk. Added vocals run though a synthesizer provide a unique supplemental element to the bassline and act as an interesting refrain." The song received an A− from Matt Diehl for Entertainment Weekly, who said that its "irresistible funk grooves lope at an easy gait, seducing the listener with a velvety tenor and belching synthesizer hook". Tony Farsides from *Music Week'''s *RM'' Dance Update rated it five out of five, picking it as Tune of the Week. He noted that "given the downtempo mania that's dominated R&B in recent years, it's refreshing to hear a solid uptempo track instead. [...] All in all, a great track and hopefully a deserving hit as well."

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks from November 16, 1996, to November 30, 1996, and reached number six on Billboard's Hot 100 on November 23, 1996. Internationally, the song reached number three in Australia, peaked at number five in New Zealand, and charted within the top 40 in several European countries.

Music video

The official music video for the album version of the song, directed by Michael Lucero and filmed at the Cowboy Palace saloon in Chatsworth, California, depicts Ginuwine and his crew entering a Western bar as strangers and gradually gaining the favor of the cowboy-patrons. The music video for the remix version of the song (the "Ride It" mix) was directed by Christopher Erskin and shot in a factory.

Live performances

Ginuwine performed the song live on Soul Train on November 23, 1996.

Legacy

Along with his concurrent work for Aaliyah's One in a Million album, "Pony" and Ginuwine...the Bachelor marked the emergence of Timbaland as a successful R&B producer. The song experienced a resurgence in popularity after being featured in the 2012 film Magic Mike, its 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL, and its 2023 sequel Magic Mike's Last Dance. On November 2, 2019, the song was featured in the sketch "Hungry Jury" on Saturday Night Live.

The song was briefly featured in a sneak peek of the upcoming Marvel Studios film Thunderbolts* (2025).

In 2021, the duo Altégo posted a snippet of a mashup of "Pony" and Britney Spears's "Toxic" on TikTok, that quickly went viral. In January 2022, the mashup was completed and officially released through Sony Music Entertainment under the title "Toxic Pony", being credited to Altégo, Spears and Ginuwine. The mashup reached number 40 on the Billboard Pop Airplay chart.

In 2023, the alternative rock band Slothrust released a cover of the song on their album “I Promise”. This included an extended version, an a cappella version, and an instrumental version.

Track listings

• US and Australian single

1. "Pony" (album version) – 4:13
2. "Pony" (extended mix) – 5:20
3. "Pony" (instrumental) – 5:18
4. "Pony" (a cappella) – 3:48

• European CD single

1. "Pony" (album version) – 5:25
2. "Hello" – 4:06

• UK CD single

1. "Pony" (album version) – 4:13
2. "Pony" (extended mix) – 5:20
3. "Pony" (Ride It mix) – 5:05
4. "Pony" (Mad Love club mix) – 4:32
5. "Pony" (Mad Love beat mix) – 4:29
6. "Pony" (Black Market Slowride mix) – 4:31

• UK cassette single

1. "Pony" (album version edit) – 4:13
2. "Pony" (extended mix) – 5:20
3. "Pony" (Mad Love mix) – 4:32

• UK 12-inch single :A1. "Pony" (extended mix) – 5:20 :A2. "Pony" (Ride It mix) – 5:05 :A3. "Pony" (Mad Love club mix) – 4:32 :B1. "Pony" (Ronin mix) – 4:14 :B2. "Pony" (Mad Love beat mix) – 4:29 :B3. "Pony" (Black Market Slowride mix) – 4:31

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

"Pony (Jump on It)"

British house music duo Tough Love collaborated with Ginuwine and revamped the song, which was released on August 7, 2015, as their second single.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. . (). ["Song Origins: “Pony”"](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/timbaland-teaches-producing-and-beatmaking/chapters/song-origins-pony). *MasterClass*.
2. Flick, Larry. (August 17, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles".
3. Diehl, Matt. (November 8, 1996). "Music Single Review: 'Pony'".
4. Farsides, Tony. (December 14, 1996). "Hot Vinyl".
5. "R&B/Hip-Hop songs: Pony".
6. "Hot 100 songs: Pony".
7. "mvdbase.com - Ginuwine - "Pony [version 1]"". Music Video DataBase.
8. Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Ginuwine - "Pony [version 2: remix]"". Music Video DataBase.
9. (November 17, 2016). "Pony".
10. Simon, Rachel. (June 30, 2015). "Ginuwine's "Pony" Is Back In A Big Way".
11. (January 5, 2018). "Who is Ginuwine? The R&B star made famous by hit song Pony".
12. Spanos, Brittany. (June 22, 2015). "Ginuwine Takes Sexual Innuendo to Absurd Lengths".
13. "Magic Mike's Last Dance soundtrack: Songs and track list explored".
14. (November 4, 2019). "Unlike These 'SNL' Idiots, You Probably Can't Play 'Pony' With Your Hungry Belly".
15. (November 9, 2024). "''Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* D23 Brazil Special Look In Theaters May 2, 2025''".
16. (January 24, 2022). "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Purple Disco Machine, Years & Years, Joy Oladokun & More".
17. (2023-09-13). "Slothrust Announce New EP 'I Promise', Share Cover Of Ginuwine's "Pony": Listen".
18. (1996). "Pony". [[550 Music]].
19. (1996). "Pony". 550 Music.
20. (1996). "Pony". 550 Music.
21. (1997). "Pony". 550 Music, [[Epic Records]].
22. (1997). "Pony". 550 Music, Epic Records.
23. (1997). "Pony". 550 Music, Epic Records.
24. (1997). "Pony". 550 Music, Epic Records.
25. "Ginuwine Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)".
26. (February 8, 1997). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
27. (January 5, 1997). "Top Singles (Week 1, 1997)". [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
28. (February 21, 1997). "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.2. '97 – 26.2. '97)". [[DV (newspaper).
29. (February 22, 1997). "Major Market Airplay - Week 8/1997".
30. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996".
31. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996".
32. (December 27, 1996). "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles".
33. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
34. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997". [[GfK Entertainment]].
35. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". [[Dutch Top 40]].
36. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997".
37. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997".
38. (December 28, 1997). "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles".
39. (December 28, 1997). "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles".
40. (June 23, 2016). "Chart: Digital Songs". [[Nielsen Soundscan]].
41. (July 26, 1996). "Selected New Releases".
42. (1996). "Pony [Vinyl]". [[Amazon (company).
43. "Pony". Amazon.
44. "(僕の)わんぱくポニー {{!}} ジェニュウィン". [[Oricon]].
45. (January 11, 1997). "New Releases: Singles".
46. (January 22, 2022). "Toxic Pony – Single". [[Apple Music]].
47. Klemow, David. (July 11, 2015). "Genuwine and Tough Love's 'Pony' reboot gets four new remixes". [[Dancing Astronaut]].
48. (August 7, 2015). "Pony (Jump On It) [Radio Mix] [feat. Ginuwine] – Single by Tough Love on iTunes".
49. (August 7, 2015). "Pony (Jump On It) [Remixes] [feat. Ginuwine] – EP by Tough Love on Apple Music".
50. (August 7, 2015). "Pony (Jump On It) [Radio Mix] [feat. Ginuwine] - Single by Tough Love on iTunes".