A Public Affair (song)

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"A Public Affair" lasts for three minutes and 21 seconds. Musically, it is a synth-pop song with a moderate dance groove.{{cite news|first= Kelefa |last= Sanneh |author-link= Kelefa Sanneh |title= Beyoncé, Aguilera, Jackson, Simpson and Jewel: Seeking Another Turn in the Spotlight |newspaper= The New York Times |date= June 29, 2006 |accessdate= January 2, 2016 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/arts/music/29sann.html}}{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0054683|title=A Public Affair by Jessica Simpson - Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com |date=November 12, 2012 |accessdate=June 4, 2013}} The song was noted by critics as reminiscent of the Madonna song "Holiday" (1983).{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57929/ask-billboard |title=Answers to readers' questions about the Simpson sisters and the Verve Pipe. |publisher=Billboard |date=June 28, 2006 |accessdate=June 4, 2013 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926042913/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57929/ask-billboard |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PhYEAAAAMBAJ&q=jessica+simpson+a+public+affair+billboard+release&pg=PA53|title=A Public Affair Spotlight|publisher=Billboard |date=July 1, 2006 |accessdate=June 4, 2020}} The song contains a retro percussion breakdown and a springy, rubbery bassline.{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/jsimpsonpa.htm|title=Jessica Simpson - A Public Affair|publisher=About.com|date=June 28, 2006|accessdate=June 4, 2013|archive-date=May 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512190240/http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/jsimpsonpa.htm|url-status=dead}} At the end of the song, the background vocalists sing a few lines of "Aaah-Aaah-Aaah" which is a line borrowed from the Diana Ross's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of D major. It follows a chord progression of G–A–F{{Sharp}}m–Bm, and the song is set in common time with a tempo of 124 beats per minute.{{Cite web|url=https://songbpm.com/jessica-simpson/public|title=BPM for 'public' by jessica simpson {{!}} songbpm.com|website=songbpm.com|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807024453/https://songbpm.com/jessica-simpson/public|url-status=dead}} Simpson's breathy vocals recall Janet Jackson, spanning from a low note of A₃ to a high note of B₄.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0054683 |title=Unsupported Browser or Operating System |date=October 3, 2006 |publisher=Musicnotes.com |accessdate=March 6, 2012}}

Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine called the song's production "wildly adventurous" and "maddeningly catchy", and the song itself "A perfect record."Chuck Taylor, [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929123828/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/login/login_subscribe.jsp?vnu_service_id=124&vnu_content_id=1002727366 review of "A Public Affair"], Billboard.com. About.com's Bill Lamb gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, saying that is "one of the best pop singles of her career" and citing that the song "follows a classic disco game plan even including a retro percussion breakdown. The icing on the cake is a line borrowed from the Diana Ross version of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. As it is, 'A Public Affair' is perfect for early evening party play. With some beefing up, it can easily become a peak hour dance hit".{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/jsimpsonpa.htm|title=Jessica Simpson - A Public Affair Review|publisher=About.com|date=November 12, 2012|accessdate=June 4, 2013|archive-date=May 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512190240/http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/jsimpsonpa.htm|url-status=dead}} Teen People called the song a fun, frothy dance track reminiscent of early Madonna. Some criticized the song because of its similarity to Madonna's "Holiday".{{cite magazine |last1=Slezak |first1=Michael |title=Happy 26th, Jessica Simpson |url=https://ew.com/article/2006/07/10/happy_26th_jess/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=August 20, 2023 |date=July 10, 2006 |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520200145/https://ew.com/article/2006/07/10/happy_26th_jess/ |url-status=live }} "A Public Affair" received numerous comparisons to Janet Jackson, considered to reference "classic Janet" for its "breathy vocals, cheery, almost sickeningly sweet melody," and "mid-song giggle."{{cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/jessica-simpson-a-public-affair|title=Jessica Simpson: A Public Affair - Music Review - Slant Magazine|work=Slant Magazine|author=Cinquemani, Sal|date=August 25, 2006|accessdate=February 7, 2014}} Newsday also described it as "channeling Janet-era Jackson."{{cite web|url=http://m.daily-journal.com/entertainment/showtime-briefs/article_ca3d4121-0ba4-5f3e-850b-2025d511712a.html?mode=jqm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140215224554/http://m.daily-journal.com/entertainment/showtime-briefs/article_ca3d4121-0ba4-5f3e-850b-2025d511712a.html?mode=jqm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2014|title=Showtime Briefs - Entertainment - Daily-Journal.com Mobile|work=Newsweek|publisher=Gamboa, Glenn|date=June 29, 2006|accessdate=February 7, 2014}}

The Yahoo! Music download of the song gained media attention because it was made available in MP3 format, without digital rights management, which is normally used to restrict copying of commercially released singles. However, the price to download the song was $1.99, higher than the $0.99 norm for most DRM-restricted tracks. The increased price was rationalized not by the DRM-free format, but by offering users the ability to "personalize" the song with a specific name.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/yahoo-sells-jessica-simpson-single-sans-drm/|title=Yahoo sells Jessica Simpson single sans DRM|publisher=CNET|accessdate=November 8, 2022}} The single was released in North America and Australia in 2006. Later the song was released in Europe in February 2007.

In the United States, the single debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated July 15, 2006.Clover Hope, [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57918/furtado-remains-no-1-with-promiscuous "Furtado Remains No. 1 With 'Promiscuous'"], July 6, 2006]. On August 12, 2006, the single peaked at number 14 and was awarded the honor of that week's Greatest Gainer Digital.{{cite magazine |date=August 12, 2006 |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA80 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |page=80 |volume=118 |issue=32 |issn=0006-2510 |accessdate=April 25, 2013}} The single became Simpson's sixth top 20 single in the US and her third song to reach number 14 tied with "With You" (2004) and "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (2005).{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jessica simpson|chart=Hot 100}} |title=Jessica Simpson - The Hot 100 Chart |publisher=Billboard |date=August 12, 2006 |accessdate=April 25, 2013}} The single stayed on the chart for twelve weeks. The song also peaked at number 16 on Billboard Pop Songs chart and was her fifth top 20 on the chart, since "Take My Breath Away" (2004). The single was certified Gold by RIAA for selling 500,000 copies.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=with%20you&artist=jessica%20simpson&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153900/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=with%20you&artist=jessica%20simpson&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Gold & Platinum |publisher=RIAA |date=July 20, 2007 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 }} The song is her third best selling digital single with 890,000 copies sold.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/ask_bb/index.jsp?JSESSIONID=X9wJKpfGF5tYq1pjmwGSPN3GSyK5s11v62hJc1Ymjq2vQ3x2hVtQ!-109943000 |title=Billboard.com - Ask Billboard |publisher=Billboard |date=November 12, 2012 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} "A Public Affair" was also a success on the club charts. On Hot Dance Club Play chart, the single peaked at number one on the issues dated October 7, 2006.{{cite magazine|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=_A4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53|title =Hot Dance Club Play - October 7, 2006|magazine =Billboard|publisher =Nielsen Business Media, Inc|page =53|volume =118|issue =40|issn =0006-2510|date =October 7, 2006|accessdate =April 25, 2013}} It was her first number one on the chart.

In Canada, "A Public Affair" became Simpson's third top ten single after "Take My Breath Away" (2004), peaking at number eight in July 2006. In Australia, the single debuted at number 18 on the ARIA Charts for the week of August 13, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?year=2006&date=20060813&cat=s|title=ARIA Charts - SINGLES TOP 50 13/08/2006|publisher=ARIA Charts|accessdate=April 30, 2013}} The next week, it peaked at number 17 and stayed on the chart for ten weeks. The single became her seventh top 20 single in that country.

"A Public Affair" was released in Europe in early 2007. In Sweden, the single peaked at number 36. In Ireland, the song debuted and peaked at number nine on the issue dated February 8, 2007. It was her second highest peak in the country after "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (2005).{{cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jessica+Simpson|title=Irish Charts - DISCOGRAPHY JESSICA SIMPSON|publisher=IRMA|accessdate=April 30, 2013}} In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 20 on the issue dated February 17, 2007. The single stayed on the chart for four weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/jessica%20simpson/|title=Official Charts Company - Jessica Simpson|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=April 30, 2013}}

Image:APublicAffairVideo.png

The song's music video was shot on June 23, 2006, and the late evening of June 24, 2006, at the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, California. It features appearances by Christina Applegate, Christina Milian, Eva Longoria, Maria Menounos, Andy Dick and Ryan Seacrest. It introduces Australian Reshad Strik, whose participation precipitated many comments on his resemblance to Nick Lachey, Simpson's ex-husband, and Menounos, who resembled Vanessa Minnillo, who was dating Lachey at the time Simpson split with her ex-husband. The video was directed by Brett Ratner.Jonathan Cohen, [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58011/simpson-owns-up-to-public-affair "Simpson Owns Up To 'Public Affair'"], Billboard.com, June 26, 2006. According with MTV, the music video was heavily influenced by Olivia Newton-John's "Xanadu" and some Madonna's videos like "Sorry" and "Music" taking references to choreographed roller-skating and celeb making a cameo as the star's chauffeur, respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3ek330/jessica-simpson-finally-goes-public-with-longoria-seacrest-in-ratner-directed-video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120081632/https://www.mtv.com/news/3ek330/jessica-simpson-finally-goes-public-with-longoria-seacrest-in-ratner-directed-video|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2022|title=Jessica Simpson Finally Goes 'Public' With Longoria, Seacrest In Ratner-Directed Video|website=MTV|accessdate=April 14, 2023}}

On July 19, Simpson visited MTV's Total Request Live to premiere the video.[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/nervous%20simpson%20debuts%20video%20on%20minnillos%20show_1002980 "Nervous Simpson Debuts Video on Minnillo's Show"], Contactmusic.com, July 20, 2006. The following day the video entered the TRL countdown at number six, the highest debut for any Simpson video; on its third day on the countdown, it reached number two.[http://www.absolutetrl.net/records/recaparchive/2006_07.html Popfusion - TRL Archive - July 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812172115/http://www.absolutetrl.net/records/recaparchive/2006_07.html |date=August 12, 2006 }}. The video spent a total of 28 days on the TRL countdown. The video reached number eight on Canada's MuchMusic chart.

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• Jessica Simpson – vocals, songwriting
• Lester Mendez – production, songwriting
• Johntá Austin – songwriting
• Greg Kurstin – songwriting

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• Sam Watters – songwriting
• Louis Biancaniello – songwriting
• Nickolas Ashford – songwriting
• Valerie Simpson – songwriting

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Credits adapted from A Public Affair liner notes.{{Cite web |title=Jessica Simpson |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jessica-simpson/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

• Australian CD single

1. "A Public Affair" (radio edit)
2. "A Public Affair" (extended version)
3. "A Public Affair" (karaoke version)

• Maxi CD single

1. "A Public Affair" (radio edit)
2. "A Public Affair" (extended version)
3. "A Public Affair" (instrumental version)
4. "A Public Affair" (remix)
5. "A Public Affair" (video)

• UK and German CD single

1. "A Public Affair"
2. "A Public Affair" (Alex Greggs Remix)

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|nocert=yes|region=United Kingdom|artist=Jessica Simpson|title=A Public Affair|award=|number=|type=single|relyear=2006|access-date=June 9, 2017|salesamount=25,800|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/5-random-chart-facts-of-the-week-that-might-amaze-you__19736/| title=5 random chart facts of the week that might amaze you | publisher=Official Charts Company| access-date=July 21, 2017|date=July 21, 2017|first=Justin|last=Myers}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2006|certyear=2007|title=A Public Affair|artist=Jessica Simpson|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=July 24, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

• List of number-one dance singles of 2006 (U.S.)

{{Reflist}}

{{Jessica Simpson singles}}

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Category:2006 singles

Category:2006 songs

Category:Jessica Simpson songs

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:American synth-pop songs

Category:Music videos directed by Brett Ratner

Category:Songs written by Nickolas Ashford

Category:Songs written by Valerie Simpson

Category:Songs written by Lester Mendez

Category:Songs written by Sam Watters

Category:Songs written by Louis Biancaniello

Category:Songs written by Johntá Austin

Category:Song recordings produced by Lester Mendez

Category:Songs written by Greg Kurstin