Just Fine

Last updated

"Just Fine"
Mary J. Blige - Just Fine.JPG
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album Growing Pains
ReleasedOctober 16, 2007 (2007-10-16)
Length4:02
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"We Ride (I See the Future)"
(2006)		"Just Fine"
(2007)		"Work That"
(2007)
Music video
"Just Fine" on YouTube

"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.

Contents

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. [1]

Background

"Just Fine" was written by Mary J. Blige along with The-Dream, Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart, [2] while production was helmed by Pha and Stewart, with Kuk Harrell serving as a vocal producer. [2] Initially presented as an incomplete song to Blige, Nash, Pha, and Stewart finished much of the "upbeat" dance pop song within 24 hours. [3] 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. [4] 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." [3]

A cheerful, feel-good jam "about uplifting yourself and having hope for your future, whatever your future is," [3] 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." [3] 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." [5]

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." [6] 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." [7] 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"." [8]

Year-end lists

Year-end lists for "Just Fine"
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Rolling Stone The 100 Best Songs of 200741
[9]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Just Fine"
OrganizationYearCategoryResultRef.
BET Awards 2008 Video of the Year Nominated [10]
Grammy Awards 2008 Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Nominated [11]
2009 Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical Nominated [12]
MTV Video Music Awards 2008 Best Hip Hop Video Nominated [13]
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2008 Best R&B VideoNominated [14]
NAACP Image Awards 2008 Outstanding Music Video Nominated [15]

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. [16] It was released online on October 8, 2007 and premiered simultaneously on BET, iTunes, VH1 and MTV's TRL on October 25, 2007. [3] In the visuals, Blige "radiates with positive energy as she enters a mirrored room and begins her own personal fashion show." [17] Billboard found that the clip pays homage to the Michael Jackson in the colorful visual. [17] Entertainment Weekly noted that "groundbreaking CGI it ain’t, but all three MJBs [versions] look fabulous." [18]

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). [13] The video also was nominated for Video of the Year at the BET Awards 2008, [10] Best R&B Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, [14] and Outstanding Music Video at the 40th NAACP Image Awards. [15]

Track listings

Digital single [19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Fine"
4:10
2."Work That"
  • Feemster
  • Garrett [b]
3:30
Lil Mama Remix [20]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Fine" (Remix featuring Lil Mama)
  • Stewart
  • Pha
  • Harrell [a]
3:44
Treat 'Em Right Remix [21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Fine" (Treat 'Em Right Remix featuring Lil Wayne)
  • Stewart
  • Pha
  • Harrell [a]
5:09

Notes

Sample credits

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Growing Pains liner notes. [2]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Just Fine"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Just Fine"
RegionDateFormat(s)Version(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesOctober 16, 2007 Rhythmic contemporary radio Original Geffen
United KingdomJanuary 28, 2008 CD
United StatesFebruary 19, 2008 Digital download Treat 'Em Right Remix

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References

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  19. ↑ "Just Fine – Single". Spotify . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Just Fine (International Version)". Spotify . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)". Spotify . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
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