Forever (Chris Brown song)

Infobox Single
Name = Forever


Artist = Chris Brown
from Album =
B-side =
Released = Start date|2008|4|15 (U.S.)
Format = CD single, music download
Recorded = 2008
Village Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre = Dance-pop, electropop
Length = 4:38
Label = Jive, Zomba
Writer = Chris Brown, J. Jones, B. Kennedy, A. Merritt, Rob Allen
Producer = Polow da Don
Certification = Platinum (Media Traffic, ARIA, RIAA, RIANZ)
Last single = "Take You Down"
(2008)
This single = "Forever"
(2008)
Next single = "Dreamer"
(2008)Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = single


Lower caption = European single cover

"Forever" is a song by American R&B singer Chris Brown. Produced by Polow da Don, it is the first single from the repackaged "Exclusive: Forever Edition", and is the fifth overall single by Brown from his second studio album "Exclusive"Shaheem Reid, Jasmine Dotiwala (March 25, 2008). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584056/20080325/brown__chris__18_.jhtml Chris Brown readies deluxe Edition Of Exclusive] "MTV". Accessed March 25, 2008.] with backing uncredited vocals from Keri Hilson.

Following the worldwide success of the previous hit single "With You", "Forever" continued the chart-topping success worldwide, being a top 10 hit in various countries.

It was announced that the song was initially created to be used for "Doublemint" gum.

ong information

Writing and recording

It's very fortunate, my label wants me to repackage the album and release some new records. I've been recording a lot of new records as well as having some songs that haven't been released yet that I can put on my repackaging.

—Chris Brown, MTV News

"Forever" is one out of four new songs Brown recorded for the re-release of his second studio album "Exclusive". He recorded the song using an autotune effect, as he did in one of his previous singles, Kiss Kiss. [ [http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2008/06/09/080609crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=all The Gerbil’s Revenge: Musical Events: The New Yorker] Accessed July 23, 2008]

Originally, the plan was to follow up his current single, "With You," with the Kanye West-featuring "Down," but the new material won out. [ [http://video.accesshollywood.com/player/?id=216398 Grammy After Party 08] Accessed July 11, 2008] The song was penned by Brown and his songwriting team, the Graffiti Artists (besides Chris, Rob Allen and Andre Merritt comprise the crew). "We went into the studio, Polow gave me a beat, and I just started writing. His record is more of a European, techno, house-type feel," Brown recalled. "We wanted to give it that other side of crossover, and go a little bit to that pop realm. Hopefully, [I'll] be the Prince of Pop. I don't want to say I'm the King; I just hopefully can be the Prince of Pop."

Wrigley's Doublemint commercial

It was announced by "The Wall Street Journal" that "Forever" is actually an extended version of a commercial jingle for Doublemint gum, commissioned by an advertising company working for Wrigley. Brown first created the short version for the commercial, then extended and amended it into a full song, during a recording session in February 2008, which was paid for by the gum company. Although the label initially was reluctant to release "Forever" as a single, the song was so "potent and strong" that it overruled any hesitations regarding its commercial connections.Ethan Smith, Julie Jargon (July 28, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121721123435289073.html Chew on This: Hit Song Is a Gum Jingle] . "The Wall Street Journal". Accessed July 29, 2008.]

Critical reception

Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song four and a half stars, and said it as one of Brown's best to date. [http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/chrisbrownfor.htm Chris Brown - "Forever"] "About.com". Accessed June 19, 2008.] "Billboard" stated that the single "is really a love song but bangs with electrified production from Polow Da Don to ignite dancefloors."Menachem, Michael. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3id5f52df31901946cc6e2d5c411bfe19f Single Reviews: Forever] . "Billboard". Retrieved August 13, 2008.]

Music video

The two-days shoot took place in Los Angeles, California, April 4, 2008. It was directed by the acclaimed Joseph Kahn. The video premiered on "TRL" on April 30, 2008 and on BET's "106 & Park" on May 5, 2008. The video reached number one on the MTV Online Chart. [ [http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvbase/video MTV Base] "MTV UK". Accessed May 11, 2008.]

The music video starts off with Brown driving into a club (where he chews a fresh stick of Doublemint Gum), and people are seen dancing while Brown starts to sing the first verse. Brown is also seen singing with light effects circling him. During the choruses, Brown and his background dancers start to dance on the empty dance floor. In the second verse, Brown is walking outside the club following his love interest. Later he is seen performing a 540 crescent kick in front of a water fountain. During the bridge, Brown is seen in the top roof with his love interest; the girl falls off the roof and Brown jumps to catch her. The two land safely, and after the final chorus, Brown drives out of the club.

According to the "Billboard", the song's video is "digital dream about sharing with one who makes your world stop."

The video was popular in American television. The video for "Forever" debuted on BET's "106 & Park" at number 10 on July 21, 2008 before finally reach number 2 and has stayed in the countdown for nine days. The video also has reached number 2 on for 8 days MTV "TRL", behind Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl", and has stayed in the countdown for 29 days.

The video for "Forever" was also popular enough across Asia, by debuting at number 13 on MTV Asia program, "Chart Attack", which count 20 most popular video in Asia and so far has peaked at number 1 replacing Mariah Carey's "Bye Bye". "Forever" also debuted at number 7 on MTV Hip Hop Countdown; MTV Asian program which count 10 most popular urban video in the region and has reached number 1 for six consecutive weeks. [ [http://www.mtvasia.com/Onair/Shows/HipHopCountdown/ MTV Hip Hop Countdown Chart] "MTV Asia". Accessed July 3, 2008.] In UK, it has reached number 1 on MTV Base. It also has peaked at number 1 on the MTV Online Chart for several weeks. [ [http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvbase/video MTV Base] "MTV UK". Accessed April 17, 2008.]

At the beginning of the video, Brown is seen unwrapping and chewing Doublemint gum then during the chorus he sings "Double your pleasure, Double your fun", part of a former Wrigley's slogan.

The video is up for three nominations in the "Best Dancing in a Video", "Best Choreography" and "Video of the Year" categories 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

Chart performance

The song debuted at number six on the "Billboard" Hot Digital Songs on May 10, 2008, selling 113,072 digital downloads on its first week. Due to its high digital sales, "Forever" debuted at number nine on the "Billboard" Hot 100, making it the highest debut of that week along with Jesse McCartney's "Leavin'" which debuted at number fourteen; it became Brown's ninth top ten single. The song also debuted at number nine on the Canadian Hot 100 based only on digital sales and has peaked there for 3 non-consecutive weeks, before finally jumped into number two. So far, it has sold 1,761,238 in digital sales in the US alone and has peaked at number two on "Billboard" Hot 100 for two weeks. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. It also has stayed in the top ten for amazing 15 weeks so far.

"Forever" began receiving airplay on pop and rhythmic radio stations across the U.S. while urban radio stations still playing his previous single, "Take You Down". The song has finally been added to Urban radio stations in the week of July 7, 2008 and made a debut at number ninety-five on the "Billboard" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at number seventy-two. "Forever" debuted at number sixty-three on the "Billboard" Hot 100 Airplay, and is currently sitting at number-one on the Hot 100 Airplay for three weeks so far.

So far "Forever" has entered various "Billboard" Charts including number one the Hot 100 Airplay, Pop 100, Pop 100 Airplay, Hot 100,Rhythmic Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40, and the top ten on the Hot 100, Hot Digital Songs, Hot Digital Tracks, Hot RingMasters, iLike Libraries: Most Added and iLike Profiles: Most Added.

"Forever" also became a hit across Oceania. "Forever" debuted at number-forty on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart, and in its second week ascended to number-five before reaching its peak at number-one, due to high digital sales. "Forever" has officially become Brown's eighth top ten hit in the country. It currently sits at number-one on the official RIANZ Singles Chart for eight weeks so far, keeping Rihanna's "Take a Bow" from taking the top spot for five weeks. It became his fifth number one single in New Zealand, after "Run It!", "Kiss Kiss", "With You" and "No Air". It has been certified Platinum by RIANZ for sales in excess of 15,000. "Forever" debuted at number twenty-nine on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and the following week rose to number-sixteen following its physical release. "Forever" has since peaked at number seven. "Forever" has not only become the third consecutive top ten hit from "Exclusive", but has also surpassed the success of "Kiss Kiss" to become the album's second most successful single.

The song also become very successful across Europe. In the UK, the song charted on June 1, 2008 at #17 on downloads alone. The following week it moved up to #11, and a week later, to #8 (still on downloads alone). "Forever" was physically released on June 16, 2008 and on the chart dated June 29, 2008 reached its peak position at #4, becoming Chris Brown's second highest charting solo single in the UK, behind Run It (#2). It has so far sold 179,625 copies and has stayed in the top ten for 6 weeks so far, becoming his third highest-selling single there after "With You" (209,900 copies) and "No Air" (262,305 copies). In Ireland, "Forever" debuted at number nine, and the two weeks later peaked at number six. In the next week, for the issue dated 22 June, "Forever" knocked Rihanna's 'Take A Bow' off the top spot on the Irish Singles Chart, becoming his first number one single in that country, and stayed at number one for two non-consecutive weeks. The song also has reached number 12 on Eurochart Hot 100, becoming his third highest-charting single there.

So far, "Forever" has reached number one in Ireland, Brazil and New Zealand, and the top ten in Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Republic of Turkey, USA and UK.

In other media

On July 16, 2008, Comfort Fedoke & Stephen "Twitch" Boss from the US television reality program and dance competition "So You Think You Can Dance", danced to "Forever" as the part of the competition, although Fedoke was in the bottom four of that night. Because of the performance, "Forever" climbed back both in US and Canadian iTunes Top 100 Songs, peaking at number three and number two.

Track listing

US Promo CD

# "Forever" (Main) - 4:40
# "Forever" (Instrumental) - 4:40

UK & Ireland CD single

# "Forever" (Main)
# "Forever" (23 Deluxe Remix)

Australian CD single

# "Forever" (Main)
# "Forever" (23 Deluxe Remix)
# "Forever" (Cahill Club Mix)
# "Forever" (Bobby Bass & J Remy Club Mix)
# "Forever" (video)

Credits and personnel

* Vocals: Chris Brown, Keri Hilson (background)
* Writers: C. Brown, J. Jones, B. Kennedy, R. Allen, A. Merritt
* Producers: Polow da Don for Zone 4 Inc.
* Recording: Jason Scweitzer at Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA & Doug Fenske for Real Records, LLC at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA
* Mixing: Phil Tan for Riotproof Productions at Soapbox Studios, Atlanta, GA
* Assistant: Josh Houghkir
* Mastered by: Chris Athens at Sterling Sound, New York, New York

Charts

References

External links

* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=X2IExa2A198 Chris Brown - "Forever" music video]