Pharrell Can’t Find His Words, Speechless Over Huge Nomination

The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams is getting 2014 started off on the right foot after recently joining Columbia Records by now landing an Oscar nomination.

According to reports, the Virginia native is up for an Academy award in the “Best Original Song” category.

U2, Pharrell Williams and Karen O are all in the runnings for this year’s Oscars. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O is nominated in the Best Song catergory for The Moon Song, a song she wrote with Spike Jonze for his film Her. Pharrell also picks up a nomination his No 1 single Happy, a track recorded for Despicable Me 2. They will compete against U2’s track Long Walk To Freedom, from the film Mandela. The Irish band were previously nominated for an Oscar in 2003 for The Hands That Built America, a song written for Gangs of New York. (The Guardian)

The hitmaker was at a loss for words when asked for a reaction to the nomination.

The producer-rapper-singer’s “Happy,” from the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack, is nominated for best original song. “Uh, speechless,” Pharrell said in an interview Thursday after the nominations were announced. “Man, I am over the moon.” He was then speechless, trying to recall what he was doing when he got the news. “Man, I’m sorry, I don’t know,” he said. Pharrell was writing a “thank you” speech to radio stations for playing the upbeat song, which jumped 42 spots to No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. The song is a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, France, Germany and Switzerland. (ABC News)

According to reports, Williams will release his next solo album through Columbia Records later this year.

Today, Columbia Records announced via press release it has signed recent Complex digital cover star Pharrell to a record deal that will bring a solo album in 2014. According to the label, “Happy”–the song from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack that recently had an innovative 24 hour video–will be featured on that forthcoming record, which does not yet have a release date more specific than “next year.” Pharrell, of course, has had a monster 2013, ruling the pop charts all summer with “Get Lucky” and “Blurred Lines” while also producing rap hits for 2 Chainz and Nelly and album tracks for worshipers Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator. He also features prominently on Beyoncé’s new album. (Complex)

Last month, Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller revealed plans to link with Pharrell for a joint project.

Miller now reveals the Mac-Pharrell project is back on. “We actually just talked a couple days ago,” he tells Rolling Stone. “I’m going to go see him [in Miami] and we’re going to finish it and put it out. Because the sh*t’s ill and people want it. We both had pretty wild years. We gotta do it!” The rapper anticipates Pink Slime will drop by the end of 2014. “All we gotta do it sit down for a few days and knock out songs,” he says. Recording at Williams’ studio in Miami, he adds, is a reward in itself. “It’s refreshing,” Miller explains. “[In L.A.] I’m in this dungeon, my little cave that’s this weird-ass looking place that I just live in. And then to go to Miami, it’s just so nice to see natural light and a pool and happy things. It’s good.” (Rolling Stone)

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