Cardboard Box (song)

"Cardboard Box"
"Cardboard Box"
Single by Flo
from the EP The Lead
Released	24 March 2022
Genre	R&B; pop;
Length	2:41
Label	Island
Songwriters	Uzoechi Emenike; Jorja Douglas; Renee Downer; Savannah Jada; Stella Quaresma;
Producer	MNEK
Flo singles chronology
Music video
	"Cardboard Box" on YouTube
Happi remix cover
Happi singles chronology
Lyric video
	"Cardboard Box" (Happi Remix) on YouTube

"Cardboard Box" is the debut single by British girl group Flo from their debut EP, The Lead (2022). The group co-wrote the song alongside Savannah Jada and MNEK, the latter of whom also handled the song's production. The single was released for digital download and streaming through Island Records on 24 March 2022 as the lead single from the EP.^[1] A pop and R&B song, it features the group's harmonised vocals over a dancehall-inspired beat with elements of 2000s music.^[2] Lyrically, the song describes moving on from an unfaithful romantic partner.^[1]^[3] Upon its release, the song gained popularity through Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.^[4]

Background

After their formation in 2019, the group spent two years working on music with producers including MNEK. "Cardboard Box" was one of the first songs worked on during these sessions.^[1] The single was subsequently released on 24 March 2022.^[5] An accompanying music video was published to YouTube on 1 April 2022, which surpassed 900 thousand views within days.^[6] A Tweet containing a clip from the music video also attracted over 2 million views and 100 thousand likes on Twitter.^[3]

The single has been praised on social media by established artists including SZA, Missy Elliott, JoJo, and Victoria Monét.^[7]

"Cardboard Box" was featured as the lead single for their debut extended play, The Lead (2022).^[8] An acoustic version of the song was released to YouTube and streaming services on 27 May 2022.^[9]^[10] The group also performed the single for Vevo DSCVR, alongside the second single from The Lead, "Immature".^[11] The group made their television debut on 7 October 2022, performing the single on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! ^[12]

In August 2022, "Cardboard Box" started gaining popularity on the platform TikTok after an afrobeats version emerged, starting a new trend on the video-sharing app. The group officially released DJ Happi's remix as a single and premiered a lyric video on 6 October 2022.^[13]

Track listings

Streaming/digital download – remix^[14]

"Cardboard Box" (Happi Remix) – 2:30
"Cardboard Box" – 2:41

Streaming/digital download – versions^[15]

"Cardboard Box" (Sped Up) – 2:18
"Cardboard Box" (Acoustic) – 2:53
"Cardboard Box" (Studio Vocals) – 2:41
"Cardboard Box" (Instrumental) – 2:41

Accolades

Accolades for *Cardboard Box*
Publication	Accolade	Rank
Apple Music	Apple Music's 100 Best Songs of 2022	7^[16]
Amazon Music	Amazon Music's 50 Best Songs of 2022	40^[17]
Complex UK	Complex UK's 50 Best Songs of 2022	4^[18]
Esquire	Esquire's 45 Best Songs of 2022	12^[19]
PopBuzz	PopBuzz's 20 Best Songs of 2022	19^[20]
The Guardian	Guardian's 20 Best Songs of 2022	20^[21]
NME	NME's 50 Best Songs of 2022	32^[22]
Billboard	Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2022	85^[23]
The Fader	Fader's 100 Best Songs of 2022	99^[24]

Charts

Chart performance for "Cardboard Box"
Chart (2022–2023)	Peak position
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)^[25]	17
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[26]	19
UK Singles (OCC)^[27]	76

Certifications

Certifications for "Cardboard Box"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[28]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for *Cardboard Box*
Region	Date	Format(s)	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	24 March 2022	streaming digital download	Original	Island	^[29]
	27 May 2022		Acoustic		^[30]
	7 October 2022		Happi remix		^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Coffey, Cailean (24 March 2022). "London's newest girl band FLO kick cheating partners to the curb on debut single "Cardboard Box"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
^ Vigil, Dom (2022-05-06). "FLO Cardboard Box Acoustic". Prelude Press. Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
^ ^a ^b "Can FLO Make Girl Groups Big Again in the West?". MuuMuse. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
^ Irvin, Jack (15 July 2022). "FLO on Viral Hit 'Cardboard Box,' Reviving R&B and Striving to Go Down in 'Girl Group History'". People. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
^ Keith, James (4 April 2022). "UK R&B Trio FLO Step Out With MNEK-Produced "Cardboard Box"". Complex. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
^ Murray, Robin (5 April 2022). "UK Girl Group FLO Share 'Cardboard Box' Video". Clash. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
^ Valentina Cagna, Claudia (26 July 2022). "Getting To Know FLO, The UK R&B Outfit Co-Signed By Missy & SZA". Complex. Archived from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
^ Olaoya, Ezra (8 July 2022). "R&B Trio FLO's Debut Project, 'The Lead', Is An Essential Listen". Complex. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Kelly, Amelia (8 May 2022). "FLO share acoustic version of their debut "Cardboard Box"". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Logan, Philip (11 May 2022). "FLO Share 'Cardboard Box' Acoustic Video - WATCH HERE!". CelebMix. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
^ Folk, Antwane (9 August 2022). "FLO Performs 'Immature' and 'Cardboard Box' for Vevo's DSCVR Series". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
^ Butta (2022-10-07). "FLO Takes Their 'Cardboard Box' To 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' For Their First Television Performance". SoulBounce. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
^ ^a ^b "Cardboard Box (Happi Remix) by FLO, Happi". Apple Music. 2022-10-07. Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
^ "Cardboard Box - Happi Remix". Spotify. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
^ "Cardboard Box - Single by FLO". Spotify. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
^ "Apple Music's Best Songs Of 2022". Apple Music. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
^ "Amazon Music's Best Songs Of 2022". Amazon Music. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^ "Complex UK's Best Songs Of 2022". Complex. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^ "The 45 Best Songs of 2022". Esquire. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
^ "The 20 Best Songs of 2022". PopBuzz. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^ Bugel, Safi; D'Souza, Shaad; Snapes, Laura (2022-12-05). "The 20 best songs of 2022". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
^ "The 50 best songs of 2022". NME. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Billboard. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". The Fader. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of January 18, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
^ "British single certifications – FLO – Cardboard Box". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
^ Cardboard Box by FLO - Apple Music, 24 March 2022, archived from the original on 2022-08-22, retrieved 2022-08-22
^ Cardboard Box (Acoustic) by FLO - Apple Music, 27 May 2022, archived from the original on 2022-05-27, retrieved 2022-08-22

[thelineofbestfit-1] Coffey, Cailean (24 March 2022). "London's newest girl band FLO kick cheating partners to the curb on debut single "Cardboard Box"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[2] Vigil, Dom (2022-05-06). "FLO Cardboard Box Acoustic". Prelude Press. Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-08.

[:1-3] "Can FLO Make Girl Groups Big Again in the West?". MuuMuse. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-10-08.

[4] Irvin, Jack (15 July 2022). "FLO on Viral Hit 'Cardboard Box,' Reviving R&B and Striving to Go Down in 'Girl Group History'". People. Retrieved 2022-08-23.

[5] Keith, James (4 April 2022). "UK R&B Trio FLO Step Out With MNEK-Produced "Cardboard Box"". Complex. Retrieved 2022-08-23.

[:0-6] Murray, Robin (5 April 2022). "UK Girl Group FLO Share 'Cardboard Box' Video". Clash. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[7] Valentina Cagna, Claudia (26 July 2022). "Getting To Know FLO, The UK R&B Outfit Co-Signed By Missy & SZA". Complex. Archived from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-22.

[:3-8] Olaoya, Ezra (8 July 2022). "R&B Trio FLO's Debut Project, 'The Lead', Is An Essential Listen". Complex. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.

[9] Kelly, Amelia (8 May 2022). "FLO share acoustic version of their debut "Cardboard Box"". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.

[10] Logan, Philip (11 May 2022). "FLO Share 'Cardboard Box' Acoustic Video - WATCH HERE!". CelebMix. Retrieved 2022-08-23.

[11] Folk, Antwane (9 August 2022). "FLO Performs 'Immature' and 'Cardboard Box' for Vevo's DSCVR Series". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2022-08-22.

[12] Butta (2022-10-07). "FLO Takes Their 'Cardboard Box' To 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' For Their First Television Performance". SoulBounce. Retrieved 2022-10-08.

[:2-13] "Cardboard Box (Happi Remix) by FLO, Happi". Apple Music. 2022-10-07. Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-08.

[14] "Cardboard Box - Happi Remix". Spotify. Retrieved 29 July 2023.

[15] "Cardboard Box - Single by FLO". Spotify. Retrieved 29 July 2023.

[16] "Apple Music's Best Songs Of 2022". Apple Music. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

[17] "Amazon Music's Best Songs Of 2022". Amazon Music. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.

[18] "Complex UK's Best Songs Of 2022". Complex. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.

[19] "The 45 Best Songs of 2022". Esquire. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.

[20] "The 20 Best Songs of 2022". PopBuzz. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

[21] Bugel, Safi; D'Souza, Shaad; Snapes, Laura (2022-12-05). "The 20 best songs of 2022". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-02-12.

[22] "The 50 best songs of 2022". NME. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.

[23] "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Billboard. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.

[24] "The 100 Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". The Fader. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.

[25] "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of January 18, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 January 2023.

[26] "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.

[sc_UK_-27] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 January 2023.

[United_KingdomFLOCardboard_BoxsingleCertRef-28] "British single certifications – FLO – Cardboard Box". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 July 2024.

[29] Cardboard Box by FLO - Apple Music, 24 March 2022, archived from the original on 2022-08-22, retrieved 2022-08-22

[30] Cardboard Box (Acoustic) by FLO - Apple Music, 27 May 2022, archived from the original on 2022-05-27, retrieved 2022-08-22

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v t e Flo
Studio albums	Access All Areas
Extended plays	The Lead 3 of Us
Singles	"Cardboard Box" "Fly Girl" "In My Bag"
Concert tours	Flo Live Access All Areas Tour
Related	Accolades Discography
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