Just a Fool
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Just a Fool
| cover =
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton
| album = Lotus
| released = {{Start date|2012|12|04}}
| format =
| recorded = 2012
| studio =
- Northern Sky Music (London, UK){{cite AV media notes|others=Christina Aguilera|title=Lotus|year=2012|type= inlay cover|publisher= RCA Records|page=iTunes Digital Booklet}}
- The Red Lips Room (Beverly Hills, CA){{cite AV media notes|others=Christina Aguilera|title=Lotus|year=2012|type= inlay cover|publisher= RCA Records|page=iTunes Digital Booklet}}
- Luminous Sound (Dallas, TX){{cite AV media notes|others=Christina Aguilera|title=Lotus|year=2012|type= inlay cover|publisher= RCA Records|page=iTunes Digital Booklet}}
| venue =
| genre = Country pop
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=13}}
| label = RCA
| writer = {{flat list|
}}
| producer = {{flat list|
- Robson
- Aguilera (vocals)
- Kelly}}
| chronology = Christina Aguilera
| prev_title = Your Body
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Feel This Moment
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Blake Shelton
| type = singles
| prev_title = Over
| prev_year = 2012
| title = Just a Fool
| year = 2012
| next_title = Sure Be Cool If You Did
| next_year = 2013
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|Eeu0I65v2Dg|"Just a Fool"}}|header=Audio video}}
}}
"Just a Fool" is a duet recorded by American singer songwriters Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton for Aguilera's seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). The track was written by Claude Kelly, Wayne Hector, and its producer Steve Robson. "Just a Fool" was sent to contemporary hit and hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States by RCA Records as the second and final single from the album on December 4, 2012. The song is a country pop ballad which discusses the pain of a break-up.
Following its release, "Just a Fool" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the track's sound. Commercially, the single peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 on the Canadian Hot 100, also reaching number one in Ukraine, and number four in Iceland. As of 2015, the single has sold 802,000 digital copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6553387/christina-aguilera-hot-country-songs-debut | title = Christina Aguilera Makes First Appearance on Hot Country Songs Chart | author = Trust, Gary | magazine = Billboard | date = April 30, 2015 | access-date = May 1, 2015}} To promote Lotus and the song, Aguilera and Shelton performed "Just a Fool" on the third season of American television singing contest The Voice on November 19, 2012, and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on December 7, 2012.
Background and release
Following the release of her sixth studio album, Bionic (2010), which failed to generate impact on charts worldwide,{{cite news|last=Bain|first=Becky|url=http://idolator.com/6836852/christina-aguilera-your-body-single-listen|title=Christina Aguilera's Demo Of New Single 'Your Body' Surfaces: Listen|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=August 23, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2012|archive-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404133911/http://www.idolator.com/6836852/christina-aguilera-your-body-single-listen|url-status=dead}} Aguilera filed for divorce from her husband Jordan Bratman, starred in the film Burlesque and recorded the accompanying soundtrack.{{cite magazine|last=Hampp|first=Andrew|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474983/christina-aguilera-billboard-cover-story|title=Christina Aguilera: Billboard Cover Story|magazine=Billboard|date=September 21, 2012|access-date=September 23, 2012}} She then became a coach on NBC's singing competition show The Voice and appeared as a featured artist on Maroon 5's single "Moves Like Jagger" (2011), which spent four weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite magazine|last=Schneider|first=Marc|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/496285/christina-aguilera-cee-lo-hit-the-studio|title=Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Hit the Studio|magazine=Billboard|date=April 11, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2012}} Following these events, Aguilera announced her plans to begin production of her seventh album, stating that she wanted high quality and "personal" songs for the record. Regarding the creative direction, she revealed that the album would be a "culmination of everything I've experienced up until this point ... I've been through a lot since the release of my last album, being on ('The Voice'), having had a divorce ... This is all sort of a free rebirth for me."{{cite news|last=Elber|first=Lynn|url=http://music.yahoo.com/news/christina-aguilera-album-rebirth-121427390.html|title=Christina Aguilera: New album is a 'rebirth'|work=Yahoo! Music|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=September 14, 2012|date=August 28, 2012}} She further said "I'm embracing many different things, but it's all feel-good, super-expressive [and] super-vulnerable." Aguilera continued to say that the album would be about "self–expression and freedom" because of the personal struggles she had overcome during the last couple of years.{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Gerrick D.|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-christina-aguilera-readies-new-album-lotus-20120913,0,6597387.story|title=Christina Aguilera readies new album 'Lotus'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 13, 2012|access-date= October 5, 2012}}
Speaking about her new material during an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2012, Aguilera said that the recording process for Lotus was taking a while because "I don't like to just get songs from producers. I like them to come from a personal place ... I'm very excited. It's fun, exciting, introspective, it's going to be great".{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a373459/christina-aguilera-new-album-is-quality-over-quantity.html|title=Christina Aguilera: 'New album is quality over quantity'|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=May 27, 2012|access-date= October 5, 2012}} Recorded at Northern Sky Music by Sam Miller, "Just a Fool" was written by Steve Robson, Claude Kelly and Wayne Hector, with production handled by Steve Robson. Aguilera's vocals were recorded at The Red Lips Room in Beverly Hills, California, while Shelton's vocals were recorded at Luminous Sound in Dallas, Texas. The duo's vocals were recorded by Oscar Ramirez, and Aguilera produced them with Kelly. Robson also carried out programming and keyboards, arranging, and guitars. Following the release of Lotus, "Just a Fool" managed to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, prompting RCA Records to release the song as a single. On December 4, 2012, the label sent the track to contemporary hit and hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States as the second and final single from the album. On February 18, 2013, the single was released to adult contemporary radio in the US.
Development
{{multiple image
| footer = At first, "Just a Fool" was intended for Pink (right), but later the song was given to Aguilera (center) for her album Lotus (2012). Aguilera's colleague from The Voice, American recording artist Blake Shelton (left), is featured on the track.
| image1 = BlakeSheltonApr10.jpg
| alt1 = A man with black curvy hair smiling on a microphone
| width1 = 99
| image2 = Christina Aguilera Sanremo.jpg
| alt2 = A woman with long blonde hair singing with a microphone
| width2 = 115
| image3 = Pink 3.jpg
| alt3 = A woman with short blonde hair singing with her microphone while playing a guitar
| width3 = 145
}}
Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera both served as coaches on the NBC's American reality talent show The Voice and became good friends during production. During an interview, Aguilera said, "He's my big brother, I'm the closest to him of all the guys. Blake is just a rockstar; he's great. He's so playful, so fun and down to earth. He's got a lot of heart".{{cite web
|url=http://www.rttnews.com/2002974/christina-aguilera-and-blake-shelton-duet-just-a-fool-released.aspx?type=ent
|title=Christina Aguilera And Blake Shelton Duet 'Just A Fool' Released
|work=RTT News
|date=November 10, 2012
|access-date=November 21, 2012
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605192227/http://www.rttnews.com/2002974/christina-aguilera-and-blake-shelton-duet-just-a-fool-released.aspx?type=ent
|archive-date=June 5, 2013
}} The whole idea for the duet between Christina and Blake came into being when Christina started a performance with a snippet of his song "Hillbilly Bone".{{cite news|title=Christina Aguilera Wants To Team Up For A Country Duet With Blake Shelton|url=http://www.countrymusicrocks.net/2012/04/christina-aguilera-wants-to-team-up-for-a-country-duet-with-blake-shelton.html|access-date=November 21, 2012|work=Country Music Rocks|date=April 18, 2012|archive-date=June 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622104003/http://www.countrymusicrocks.net/2012/04/christina-aguilera-wants-to-team-up-for-a-country-duet-with-blake-shelton.html|url-status=dead}} Blake tweeted he was speechless, and Christina tweeted back, "Now we need to team up for a country duet Blake!! I'm down!!".{{cite magazine|last=Schmitt|first=Brad|title=Blake and Christina Aguilera Really Do Cut a Duet|url=http://www.countryweekly.com/news/blake-and-christina-aguilera-really-do-cut-duet|access-date=November 21, 2012|magazine=Country Weekly|date=October 18, 2012}} In an interview with Rolling Stone, Aguilera commented about teaming up with her colleagues,
"I'm one that likes to collaborate. I love feeding off the creative energy, and it only makes me better. I'm on a continual path both personally and professionally. All-around, it's my goal to better myself as a person and an artist, and the show is one of those contributing factors and the guys are great friends at this point. It's fun collaborating with them at this point".{{cite news|last=Baltin|first=Steven|title=Christina Aguilera on Pairing With Billie Joe Armstrong on 'The Voice'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/christina-aguilera-pairs-with-mentor-billie-joe-armstrong-on-the-voice-20120814|access-date=November 21, 2012|newspaper=Rolling Stone|date=August 14, 2012}}
Aguilera also revealed that Shelton "busted his [butt]" to "make the time" to record the song with her.{{cite news|last=Garibaldi|first=Christina|title=Christina Aguilera Previews Five Songs From Lotus, Her 'Labor Of Love'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696891/christina-aguilera-lotus-preview.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109231647/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696891/christina-aguilera-lotus-preview.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2012|access-date=December 9, 2012|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|date=November 6, 2012}} On October 16, 2012, it was announced that the duet was called "Just a Fool" and the track would be included on Aguilera's album Lotus (2012).{{cite news|title=Blake Shelton Among Guest Artists On Christina Aguilera's "Lotus"|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/10/16/blake-shelton-among-guest-artists-on-christina-aguileras-lotus/|access-date=November 21, 2012|work=CBS|publisher=CBS Corporation|date=October 16, 2012}} According to Steve Robson–the main writer of the song–at first, "Just a Fool" was initially pitched to Pink, but later Adam Lambert recorded a version of the track.{{cite news|url=http://idolator.com/7394822/christina-aguilera-just-a-fool-adam-lambert-morning-mix|title=Christina Aguilera's "Just a Fool" Was First Recorded by Adam Lambert: Morning Mix|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|first=Carl|last=Williott|date=January 18, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Finally, Aguilera and Shelton recorded "Just a Fool" after the song was scrapped from Lambert's album Trespassing (2012) "at the last minute".
Composition
{{Listen
|filename = 13 Just a Fool.ogg
|title = "Just a Fool" (2012)
|pos = left
|description = A 25 second sample of "Just a Fool", featuring Aguilera and Shelton singing the chorus over a country pop production.
}}
"Just a Fool" was written by Steve Robson, Claude Kelly and Wayne Hector, with production done by Robson. The song is a country pop ballad{{cite web|last=Copsey|first=Robert|title=Christina Aguilera's new album 'Lotus': First listen|url=https://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a435214/christina-aguileras-new-album-lotus-first-listen.html|access-date=November 2, 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=November 2, 2012}} with elements of pop rock. The track is also Aguilera's first country song.{{cite news|url=https://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/21/christina-aguilera-going-country-with-the-voice-co-star-blake-shelton|title=Christina Aguilera goes country with 'The Voice' co-star Blake Shelton|date=October 21, 2012|newspaper=Toronto Sun|publisher=Sun Media|access-date=June 20, 2013}} It lasts for a duration of {{duration|m=4|s=13}} (four minutes and 13 seconds).{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/lotus-deluxe-version/id571725689|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722041144/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/lotus-deluxe-version/id571725689|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 22, 2013|title=iTunes – Music – Lotus (Deluxe Edition)|work=iTunes Store (GB)|publisher=Apple Inc|access-date=June 17, 2013}} "Just a Fool" was composed in the key of G major, with a moderate slow tempo of 56 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0112282&|title=Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton – "Just a Fool" Music Sheet|work=Musicnotes.com|date=14 December 2012 |publisher=Alfred Publishing Co., Inc|access-date=June 17, 2013}} Many instruments were featured on the track, including keyboards, guitars and strings.{{cite news|last=Zaleski|first=Annie|url=https://www.avclub.com/christina-aguilera-lotus-1798174946|title=Christina Aguilera: Lotus|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion, Inc|location=Chicago|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=November 17, 2012}} It starts with a simple guitar riff and a toe-tapping mid-tempo drum beat. Chris Youne of 4Music described the song as a "pop-meets-rock-meets-country" song. Lyrically, "Just a Fool" talks about the pain of a break-up.{{cite news|last=Younie |first=Chris |title=News: Review: Christina Aguilera - Lotus |url=http://www.4music.com/news/news/6712/Review-Christina-Aguilera-Lotus |access-date=November 2, 2012 |work=4Music |publisher=Channel 4 |date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109120630/http://www.4music.com/news/news/6712/Review-Christina-Aguilera-Lotus |archive-date=November 9, 2012 }} Aguilera takes the first verse singing about sitting alone in a bar late at night, "Another shot of whisky please bartender, keep it coming till I don't remember". At the second verse, Blake sings in his raspy country tones and the two unite for the chorus. Robert Cospey of Digital Spy described the chorus of the track as a "sing-songy" one.
Critical reception
"Just a Fool" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. In a track-by-track review, Robert Copsey of Digital Spy wrote that the song "looks obligatory on paper but fortunately isn't so bad in reality [...] Truth be told, we suspect there's a good reason why this has been saved for the back-end of the album". Chris Younie of 4Music praised the song, writing that "It's mature, sophisticated and unlike anything else we've heard on the album. If you want variety, you got it". Andrew Hammp for Billboard was also positive toward the track, commenting that the song has an "epic" chorus that only increases in volume as the song progresses.{{cite magazine|last=Hampp|first=Andrew|title=Christina Aguilera, 'Lotus': Track-By-Track Review|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066766/christina-aguilera-lotus-track-by-track-review|access-date=November 10, 2012|magazine=Billboard|date=November 12, 2012}} In an extremely positive review, Glenn Gamboa of Newsday wrote that Aguilera and Shelton "empty their broken hearts in a magnificently sung breakup song". She also praised "Just a Fool" as Aguilera's career signature which should "stand next to 'Beautiful'".{{cite web|last=Gamboa|first=Glenn|title=Christina Aguilera's 'Lotus' review: nice comeback|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/christina-aguilera-s-lotus-review-nice-comeback-1.4206863|access-date=November 12, 2012|work=Newsday|date=November 9, 2012}} Mike Wass of Idolator called "Just a Fool" is a "gorgeous" country ballad,{{cite news|last=Wass|first=Mike|title=Christina Aguilera's 'Lotus': Album Review|url=http://idolator.com/7001572/christina-aguilera-lotus-album-review#comment-13419012|access-date=November 13, 2012|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=November 13, 2012}} while Jon Caramanica of The New York Times described it as a "surprisingly warm duet"{{cite news|last1=Caramanica|first1=Jon|last2=Pareles|first2=Jon|author-link2=Jon Pareles|last3=Ratliff|first3=Ben|date=November 13, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/arts/music/albums-by-christina-aguilera-soundgarden-and-brian-eno.html?_r=0|title=Albums by Christina Aguilera, Soundgarden and Brian Eno|page=34|work=The New York Times|location=New York|access-date=November 17, 2012}} and Molly Lambert of Grantland named it "a monster-ballad".{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Molly|title=Lotus and the Glorious Return of Christina Aguilera|url=https://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/61731/lotus-and-the-glorious-return-of-christina-aguilera|access-date=December 18, 2012|work=Grantland.com|publisher=Bill Simmons|date=November 13, 2012}} That Grape Juice praised "Just a Fool" as an "emotive anthem" and an "unexpected gem".{{cite web|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2022/11/10-years-christina-aguileras-underrated-lotus-album-tgjs-top-5-songs/|work=That Grape Juice|publisher=Townsquare Music|title=10 Years of Christina Aguilera's Underrated 'Lotus' Album: TGJ's Top 5 Songs|date=November 13, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=January 4, 2023|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230104100114/https://thatgrapejuice.net/2022/11/10-years-christina-aguileras-underrated-lotus-album-tgjs-top-5-songs/|url-status=bot: unknown}}
Sarah Godfrey of The Washington Post called it a "straightforward country-pop piece",{{cite news|last=Godfrey|first=Sarah|title=Album review: 'Lotus,' by Christina Aguilera|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/album-review-lotus-by-christina-aguilera/2012/11/12/e471e08e-2cf2-11e2-9ac2-1c61452669c3_story.html|access-date=November 12, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 12, 2012}} while Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic named it "a slow, bluesy closer".{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Lotus – Christina Aguilera – Reviews|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lotus-mw0002427099|access-date=November 14, 2012|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}} Christina Garibaldi of MTV News praised Shelton's "smooth" and country vocals on the "hearbreaking" ballad, which fits nicely with Aguilera's "booming" ones. Melinda Newman of HitFix analyzed that Aguilera's voices on "Just a Fool" sounded like former longtime producer Linda Perry as she sings "yeah, yeah, yeah", but Shelton's sounds "rose to the occasion" and plays the "perfect partner".{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Melinda|title=Album Review: Christina Aguilera blooms on 'Lotus'|url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/album-review-christina-aguilera-blooms-on-lotus|access-date=November 13, 2012|work=HitFix|date=November 12, 2012|archive-date=December 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220001431/http://www.hitfix.com/news/album-review-christina-aguilera-blooms-on-lotus|url-status=dead}} Michael Galluci of PopCrush praised Aguilera's "great" "throaty rasp" on the track.{{cite news|last=Galluci|first=Michael|title=Christina Aguilera, 'Lotus' – Album Review|url=https://popcrush.com/christina-aguilera-lotus-album-review/|access-date=November 21, 2012|work=PopCrush|date=November 7, 2012}} Jim Farber of New York Daily News provided a mixed review, writing that "[Shelton] sings with measured resolve while [Aguilera] nearly suffocates him. It's certainly a powerful approach, but it comes at the cost of communicating genuine soul".{{cite news|last=Farber|first=Jim|title=Album review: Christina Aguilera's 'Lotus'|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/album-review-christina-aguilera-lotus-article-1.1200755?localLinksEnabled=false|access-date=November 13, 2012|work=New York Daily News|date=November 13, 2012}} Negatively, Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it "an out-of-place country-pop duet with Blake Shelton, who feels like a cheap cash-in",{{cite web|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=November 4, 2012|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/christina-aguilera-lotus/2912|title=Christina Aguilera: Lotus|work=Slant Magazine|access-date=November 17, 2012}} while Annie Zaleskie for The A.V. Club criticized its "schmaltzy" sound. Idolator's Mike Wass ranked "Just a Fool" at number thirty-two on his list of Aguilera's forty best songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7916756/christina-aguileras-40-best-songs|title=Christina Aguilera's 40 Best Songs|work=Idolator|first=Mike|last=Wass|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2023}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Chart performance
Music-related website That Grape Juice noted that at the time of its release, the song was "growing into a burgeoning hit". The single debuted at number 92 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of November 18, 2012.{{cite news|last=Grein|first=Paul|title=Week Ending Nov. 18, 2012. Songs: Rihanna Ties Madonna|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-nov-18-2012-songs-rihanna-ties-213422610.html;_ylt=AgWw914k8dwZJglRgLHL2DgPwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYTZnZmZkBG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3|access-date=November 21, 2012|work=Yahoo! Music|publisher=Yahoo!|date=November 21, 2012}} During the following week, it climbed to number 71, which became its peak position on the chart.{{cite news|last=Grein|first=Paul|title=Week Ending Nov. 25, 2012. Songs: Phillip Phillips Is "Home"|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-nov-25-2012-songs-phillip-phillips-031437247.html;_ylt=AgIaY_CTxoXWQh8tos7VGcUPwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYTZnZmZkBG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUJsb2dJbmRleA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3|access-date=November 29, 2012|work=Yahoo! Music|publisher=Yahoo!|date=November 28, 2012}} On the Adult Pop Songs chart, "Just a Fool" debuted at number 40 during the week of December 29, 2012{{cite magazine|title=Chart Highlights: Phillip Phillips Makes History On Adult Pop Songs|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/1481346/chart-highlights-phillip-phillips-makes-history-on-adult-pop-songs|access-date=December 22, 2012|magazine=Billboard|date=December 17, 2012}} and peaked at number 28.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=christina aguilera|chart=Adult Pop Songs}}|title=Christina Aguilera – Chart history: Adult Pop Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 17, 2013}} On February 25, 2013, the single debuted at number 27 on the Adult Contemporary{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/1549881/chart-highlights-phoenix-returns-brings-entertainment-to-rock|title=Chart Highlights: Phoenix Returns, Brings 'Entertainment' To Rock Radio|magazine=Billboard|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=February 25, 2013|access-date=June 17, 2013}} and peaked at number 23 shortly after.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=christina aguilera|chart=Adult Contemporary}}|title=Christina Aguilera – Chart history: Adult Contemporary|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 17, 2013}} The song stayed a total of 12 weeks on the chart. As of April 2015, "Just a Fool" has sold over 802,000 copies in United States becoming Aguilera's tenth best selling digital single there, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In Canada, the single peaked at number 37 on the country's singles chart and remained there for 20 weeks. On the 49th week of 2012, "Just a Fool" debuted and peaked at number 45 in Slovakia. It reached Top 5 in Iceland, where its peak was number four.{{cite web|url=http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/542/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719153007/http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/542/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 19, 2013|title=Netlistinn viku 16, 2013|work=Tonlist|language=is|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
Live performances and cover versions
File:CharicePempengco00.jpg covered the song on the show Kris TV.]]
On November 19, 2012, Aguilera and Shelton performed "Just a Fool" for the first time on the third season of The Voice, an American television singing competition on which she is serviced as a coach.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/reality-check/474076/christina-aguilera-blake-shelton-unveil-just-a-fool-on-the|title=Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton Unveil 'Just a Fool' on 'The Voice'|magazine=Billboard|first=Jeff|last=Benjamin|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=June 18, 2013}} Wearing "sharp in dark", "semi-casual" outfits, the couple sang the first verse at opposite sides of the stage, and then came together onstage and shared the second one. During the performance, Aguilera kept belting to a minimum. The duo ended their singing with a hug. Caila Ball from Idolator wrote, "Clumsy cross-promotions and hyperbole aside, it was a night of stellar performances, kicked off by Coaches Christina and Blake making the world debut of 'Just a Fool'".{{cite news|url=http://idolator.com/7285632/the-voice-christina-aguilera-blake-shelton-perform-just-a-fool|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111005258/http://idolator.com/7285632/the-voice-christina-aguilera-blake-shelton-perform-just-a-fool|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 11, 2013|title=The Voice: Christina Aguilera & Blake Shelton perform 'Just a Fool'|first=Caila|last=Ball|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=June 18, 2013}} She continued to praise the performance, commenting, "It was a refreshingly stripped down performance from Legendtina – who uncharacteristically took the stage in jeans. Blake, on the other hand, looked a little awkward up there without a guitar and a stool". On December 7, 2012, Aguilera and Shelton performed "Just a Fool" again on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.{{cite news|last=Lansky|first=Sam|title=Christina Aguilera Performs "Just A Fool" On Ellen, Talks Hillary Clinton Chemistry: Watch|url=http://idolator.com/7318622/christina-aguilera-just-a-fool-interview-ellen-degeneres-hillary-clinton|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125185419/http://idolator.com/7318622/christina-aguilera-just-a-fool-interview-ellen-degeneres-hillary-clinton|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2013|access-date=December 22, 2012|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=December 7, 2012}} Sam Lansky from Idolator praised the performance, writing that the performance featured "typically dramatic" vocals and a lot of "spectacular runs", which helped the duo sound great.
During the semi-finals of the twelfth season of American television singing contest American Idol, contestant Paul Jolley chose "Just a Fool" as the song to sing on the show.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_12/season_12_performances/paul-jolley-performs-just-a-fool|title=Paul Jolley Performs "Just a Fool"|work=Americanidol.com|publisher=American Idol|access-date=June 18, 2013}} On May 7, 2013, Filipino singer Charice Pempengco also made a cover of the song on the show Kris TV with her girlfriend Alyssa Quijano.{{cite web|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/entertainment/07/05/13/charice-sings-christina-aguilera-hit-just-fool-gf|title=Charice sings Christina Aguilera hit 'Just A Fool' with GF|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|access-date=August 11, 2013|date=May 7, 2013}} Kelly Clarkson covered the song in her own talk show on February 12, 2021.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9525896/kelly-clarkson-christina-aguilera-blake-shelton-cover-just-a-fool/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213151544/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9525896/kelly-clarkson-christina-aguilera-blake-shelton-cover-just-a-fool/|title=Kelly Clarkson Brings Back a 'Voice' Classic by Covering This Christina Aguilera & Blake Shelton Duet|magazine=Billboard|first=Heran|last=Mamo|date=February 12, 2021|archive-date=February 13, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}} Blake Shelton performed the song with Wendy Moten during the finale of the 21st season of The Voice.{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2021/12/14/the-voice-recap-girl-named-tom-wins-season-21-finale-top-5-results/|title=The Voice Finale Recap: Which of That Terrific Top Five Won Season 21?|work=TVLine|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|first=Charlie|last=Mason|date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211215105628/https://tvline.com/2021/12/14/the-voice-recap-girl-named-tom-wins-season-21-finale-top-5-results/|archive-date=December 15, 2021|access-date=December 15, 2021}}
Credits and personnel
;Recording
- Recorded at Northern Sky Music.
- Vocals recorded at The Red Lips Room, Beverly Hills, California {{small|(Aguilera's vocals)}}; Luminous Sound, Dallas, Texas {{small|(Shelton's vocals)}}.
;Personnel
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- Songwriting – Steve Robson, Claude Kelly, Wayne Hector
- Producing – Steve Robson
- Programming & keyboards – Steve Robson
- Arranging – Steve Robson, Pete Whitfield
- Guitars – Luke Potashnick, Steve Robson
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- Violins – Pete Whitfield, Sarah Brandwood-Spencer, Alex Stemp, Julian Cole
- Celli – Simon Turner, Ruth Owens
- Recording – Sam Miller
- Vocal recording – Oscar Ramirez
- Vocal producing – Christina Aguilera, Claude Kelly
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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Lotus, RCA Records.{{cite AV media notes|others=Christina Aguilera|title=Lotus|year=2012|type= inlay cover|publisher= RCA Records|page=iTunes Digital Booklet}}
Charts
Release history
References
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{{good article}}
{{Christina Aguilera songs}}
{{Blake Shelton songs}}
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Category:Christina Aguilera songs
Category:Songs written by Claude Kelly
Category:Songs written by Steve Robson
Category:Songs written by Wayne Hector
Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Robson