Chris Brown’s single “Forever” was released to radio on April 19, 2008, via his record label, Jive Records/Zomba Music Group.
Background on “Forever”
The song was co-written by Brown, as well as Jamal Jones, Brian Kennedy, Andre Merritt, and Rob Allen. It was co-produced by Kennedy and Polow da Don.
Brown’s upbeat “Forever” was the first single from the re-release of his sophomore album Exclusive. It features R&B sensation Keri Hilson on background vocals.
According to Billboard Magazine's official website, “Forever” reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for the week of August 16, 2008; moreover, it held three nonconsecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Pop charts, beginning August 23, 2008.
Music Video for “Forever”
The song’s music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, is equally fun and captivating. It includes special effects and showcases Brown’s superb dancing skills on the dance floor. It has been viewed over 77.5 million times on Brown's official YouTube page.
The “Forever” video was well-received by Brown's fans and peers alike, especially since it garnered him three nominations at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) for the coveted “Video of the Year” category, as well as for “Best Choreography in a Video” and “Best Dancing in a Video.”
“Forever” Performed on “American Idol”
American Idol Season 9 ninth place finalist Andrew Garcia performed Brown’s “Forever” during R&B/Soul week in the competition, thus bringing thist song to an even wider audience.
Under the direction of celebrity guest mentor Usher, Garcia performed an acoustic version of the tune which received positive reviews from all four judges at the time, Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell. It was praised as one of Garcia’s strongest vocals since his rendition of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up.”
The Verdict
“Forever” is one of the greatest vocal performances of Chris Brown’s music career, along with his hit single “With You,” and his collaboration with former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks for their Grammy-nominated duet “No Air.”
It is one of those songs that once you hear it on radio, it is difficult to get its addicting melody out of your head, and it motivates the listener to get up and dance.
For more information on Chris Brown and his music, be sure to check out his official website.
Source
- Billboard Hot 100 Charts. August 16, 2008, issue.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
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