Just Fine
{{Short description|2007 single by Mary J. Blige}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Just Fine
| cover = Mary J. Blige - Just Fine.JPG
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Mary J. Blige
| album = Growing Pains
| released = {{start date|2007|10|16}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 4:02
| label = Geffen
| writer =
- Mary J. Blige
- Christopher Stewart
- Terius Nash
- Phalon Alexander
| producer =
| prev_title = We Ride (I See the Future)
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Work That
| next_year = 2007
| misc =
{{External music video|{{YouTube|G6ZjBPXSmnE|"Just Fine"}}}}
}}
"Just Fine" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart for her eighth studio album, Growing Pains (2007), while production was helmed by Pha and Stewart. It was released as the album's lead single on October 16, 2007. The song peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, while also topping the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Critically acclaimed, "Just Fine" was nominated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 2008, as well as the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 51st Grammy Awards in February 2009. In addition, the song was ranked 41st on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.[http://www.popcrunch.com/rolling-stone-magazine-the-100-best-songs-of-2007/ Rolling Stone Magazine The 100 Best Songs Of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726104625/http://www.popcrunch.com/rolling-stone-magazine-the-100-best-songs-of-2007/ |date=July 26, 2010 }} Popcrunch. Retrieved September 18, 2013
Background
"Just Fine" was written by Mary J. Blige along with The-Dream, Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart, while production was helmed by Pha and Stewart, with Kuk Harrell serving as a vocal producer. Initially presented as an incomplete song to Blige, Nash, Pha, and Stewart finished much of the "upbeat" dance pop song within 24 hours.{{Cite web |first=Gary|last=Graff|title=No ‘Pains,’ No Gains: Mary J. Blige|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/no-pains-no-gains-mary-j-blige-1047156/|access-date=April 2, 2024|via=Billboard|date=December 12, 2007}} It became one of the first songs which Blige recorded for parent album Growing Pains and would set much of the tone for the remaining material.{{Cite web |title=Mary J Blige: "Just Fine", Behind The Scenes|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oOCitRw-Wo|access-date=April 2, 2024|via=YouTube}} Blige commented on the sound of the song: "When I heard the beat, I was like, 'OK, this is hot. This is making my body move, and I'm having fun."
A cheerful, feel-good jam "about uplifting yourself and having hope for your future, whatever your future is," Blige tried to "make the song about how I appreciate the good days I do have and where I'm at right now, even though I still have challenges." In a 2007 interview with MTV News, she further elaborated: "That song was written based on me having a good day. You know, I can have 20 bad days. I can have as many bad days as anyone. But I choose to say, "I'm just fine." Right now. So it's OK to have those days. So instead of coming with something ungrateful to the universe, how about I come with something first that's says, 'You know what? It's OK. Enjoy this day if you're having a great day."{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571625/20071010/blige_mary_j.jhtml|title=Mary J. Blige Says She's 'Just Fine' With Her New Album, Losing 'Umbrella' To Rihanna|last1=Rodriguez|first1=Jayson|last2=Hernandez|first2=Liz|date=October 23, 2007|access-date=April 28, 2008|website=MTV News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011015753/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571625/20071010/blige_mary_j.jhtml|archive-date=October 11, 2007}}
Critical reception
"Just Fine" earned generally positive reviews from music critics. Da'Shan Smith from uDiscoverMusic found that "there can’t be a wedding, office party, cookout, or family reunion function without hearing this gem from Mary [...] Channeling the funk groove of Marvin Gaye and the disco beat of Michael Jackson circa Off the Wall, "Just Fine" is a quintessential throwback party anthem."{{cite web|first=Da'Shan|last=Smith |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-mary-j-blige-songs/|title=Best Mary J. Blige Songs: 20 Essentials From The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul|website=udiscovermusic.com|date=January 11, 2024|access-date=March 5, 2024}}
Alexis Petridis from The Guardian wrote: "Blige in gleeful party-starting mode, complete with opening get-on-the-dancefloor monologue. "Just Fine"{{'}}s rhythm track was apparently inspired by Michael Jackson’s "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." Its sparse-but-urgent sound and Blige’s exuberance are both completely irresistible."{{cite web|first=Alexis|last=Petridis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/14/mary-j-blige-20-greatest-songs-ranked|title=Mary J Blige’s 20 greatest songs – ranked!|website=The Guardian|date=July 14, 2022|access-date=March 5, 2024}} Similarly BET.com wrote of the song: "This 2007 hit cheerfully channels Off the Wall MJ, perfectly encapsulating new-millennium Mary's hard-earned transformation into a persevering, you-go-girl optimist who declares, "I like what I see when I'm looking at me when I'm walking past the mirror"."{{Cite web |title=Mary J. Blige's 50 Best Songs – MJB's What's the 411? was released 22 years ago today|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/vzokma/mary-j-blige-s-50-best-songs/mviqtw|access-date=March 11, 2024|website=BET.com}}
=Year-end lists=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Year-end lists for "Just Fine" ! Publication ! Accolade ! Rank ! class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Rolling Stone
| The 100 Best Songs of 2007 | style="text-align:center;"| 41 |
|---|
Accolades
Remixes
The official remix was called "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)" (which samples "Treat 'Em Right" by Chubb Rock) and features a verse from Lil Wayne, and production handled by Swizz Beatz, who also provides background vocals. There are four versions of this remix: The main remix version has Lil Wayne's verse on the beginning after the intro, the second remix version features a verse by Precise, along with Lil Wayne, the third remix version has Lil Wayne's verse on the near end of the song, and the fourth remix version is a no rap version, omitting Lil Wayne's verse.
The second official remix of "Just Fine" features Lil' Mama, which was a pre-order only track on iTunes when the album was released. An alternate music video for this remix was produced.
Music video
A music video for "Just Fine" was directed by Chris Applebaum and produced by John Hardin for Reactor Films.{{cite web|first=Steven|last=Gottlieb |url=https://www.videostatic.com/content/new-release-mary-j-blige-just-fine|website=Videostatic|title=NEW RELEASE: Mary J. Blige "Just Fine"|date=November 15, 2007|accessdate=April 2, 2024}} It was released online on October 8, 2007 and premiered simultaneously on BET, iTunes, VH1 and MTV's TRL on October 25, 2007. In the visuals, Blige "radiates with positive energy as she enters a mirrored room and begins her own personal fashion show." Billboard found that the clip pays homage to the Michael Jackson in the colorful visual.{{cite web|first=Nerisha|last=Penrose|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/mary-j-blige-best-breakup-anthems-8054030/|website=Billboard|title=Mary J. Blige’s 10 Best Post-Breakup Anthems: Critic’-s Picks|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=April 2, 2024}} Entertainment Weekly noted that "groundbreaking CGI it ain’t, but all three MJBs [versions] look fabulous."{{cite web|first=Leah|last=Greenblatt|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/11/02/music-video-double-vision/|website=Billboard|title=Music video double-vision|date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=April 2, 2024}}
On September 7, 2008, the video was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, though it eventually lost to Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" (2008). The video also was nominated for Video of the Year at the BET Awards 2008, Best R&B Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, and Outstanding Music Video at the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
Track listings
{{Tracklist
| headline = Digital single{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/just-fine-work-that-single/1444590580|title=Just Fine – Single|website=Spotify|access-date=April 2, 2024}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Just Fine
| writer1 = {{hlist|Blige|Terius Nash|Christopher Stewart|Phalon Alexander}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Stewart|Pha|Kuk Harrell{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 4:10
| title2 = Work That
| writer2 = {{hlist|Blige|Theron Feemster|Sean Garrett}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Feemster|Garrett{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length2 = 3:30
}}
{{Tracklist
| headline = Lil Mama Remix{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/42w2tDMSAFWhrXACwjG7rh|title=Just Fine (International Version)|website=Spotify|access-date=April 2, 2024}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Just Fine
| note1 = Remix featuring Lil Mama
| writer1 = {{hlist|Blige|Nash|Stewart|Pha|Alexander|Niatia Kirkland}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Stewart|Pha|Harrell{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 3:44
}}
{{Tracklist
| headline = Treat 'Em Right Remix{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/7nc7vwEm7jwKY2l8HALSkS|title=Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)|website=Spotify|access-date=April 2, 2024}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Just Fine
| note1 = Treat 'Em Right Remix featuring Lil Wayne
| writer1 = {{hlist|Blige|Nash|Stewart|Pha|Alexander|Dwayne Carter, Jr.|Richard Simpson|Howard Thompson}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Stewart|Pha|Harrell{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 5:09
}}
Notes
- {{note|a|[a]}} denotes a vocal producer
- {{note|b|[b]}} denotes a co-producer
Sample credits
- "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)" samples from the song "Treat 'Em Right" by Chubb Rock.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the Growing Pains liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Growing Pains |others=Mary J. Blige |year=2007|first=Mary J.|last=Blige|author-link=Mary J. Blige |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Geffen Records }}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
- Mary J. Blige – vocals, writer
- André Bowman – bass
- Dwayne Dugger – horns
- Kuk Harrell – vocal producer
- Jaycen Joshua – mixing engineer
- James King – horns
- Alex Newell – additional recording
- Dave Pensado – mixing engineer
- Jazze Pha – producer, programming, writer
- Omar Phillip – persuccions
- Jaye Price – horns
- Omar Renya – recording assistance
- Tricky Stewart – producer, programming, writer
- The-Dream – writer
- Corey Williams – additional recording
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Just Fine" ! Chart (2007–2008) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadianhot100|84|artist=Mary J. Blige|song=Just Fine|artistid=43746|rowheader=true|access-date=January 4, 2013}} |
| scope="row"| Euro Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mary-j.-blige/chart-history/hsi/|title=Mary J. Blige – Chart history (Euro Digital Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 30, 2022}}
|align="center"|16 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite web |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2008&month=01&day=21|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2008/01/16 公開]|work=Billboard Japan|access-date=October 16, 2022}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 18 |
| scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2008/week-4|title=week 4 (26 januari 2008)|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=April 30, 2022}}
|align="center"|14 |
| {{single chart|Scotland|21|artist=Mary J Blige|song=Just Fine|songid=32122|rowheader=true|date=February 3, 2008}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|16|artist=Mary J Blige|song=Just Fine|artistid=3486|rowheader=true|access-date=January 3, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|2|artist=Mary J Blige|song=Just Fine|songid=32122|rowheader=true|date=February 3, 2008}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|22|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|access-date=January 4, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|access-date=January 4, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceairplay|6|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|3|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|access-date=January 4, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|35|artist=Mary J. Blige|access-date=April 30, 2022|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Just Fine"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Mary J Blige|title=Just Fine|award=Silver|relyear=2007|certyear=2021|id=17320-369-1|access-date=June 18, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|G6ZjBPXSmnE|"Just Fine" Music video}}
{{Mary J. Blige singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Chris Applebaum
Category:Songs written by Mary J. Blige
Category:Songs written by The-Dream
Category:Songs written by Tricky Stewart
Category:Song recordings produced by Tricky Stewart
Category:Song recordings produced by Kuk Harrell
Category:Song recordings produced by Jazze Pha