Jump to content

Family Affair (Mary J. Blige song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Family Affair"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album No More Drama
B-side
ReleasedJuly 24, 2001 (2001-07-24)
Recorded2000–2001
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 4:25
  • 4:04 (radio edit)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dr. Dre
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"911"
(2001)
"Family Affair"
(2001)
"No More Drama"
(2001)
Music video
"Family Affair" on YouTube

"Family Affair" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, her brother Bruce Miller, Camara Kambon, Michael Elizondo, and producer Dr. Dre for her fifth studio album, No More Drama (2001).

The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks starting from November 3, 2001, becoming Blige's first and only Hot 100 number-one single as well as her first top-10 single in five years. It was the 12th-biggest song of the 2000s decade in the US and the 99th-biggest song of all-time in the country as of 2018. Rolling Stone ranked it number 95 on their list of 100 Best Songs of the 2000s decade.[4] Outside the United States, the song reached number one in France and the top 10 in 14 additional countries across Europe and Oceania, peaking at number two on the Eurochart Hot 100.

Background

[edit]

Dr. Dre created an initial version of the musical portion of "Family Affair" in studio on September 13, 2000, using a bass player and a keyboard player.[5] His studio engineers entitled this version of the song "Fragile" for record-keeping purposes.[5] Near the end of 2000, he sent Blige the instrumental track.[5]

Blige recorded vocals over the music based on lyrics penned by Miller, Kambon and Elizondo.[5] Several weeks later, on January 10, 2001, a near-final but non-lyrical portion of "Fragile" was transferred from digital to analog format and renamed "Family Affair".[5] In late May or early June 2001, at Dr. Dre's suggestion, Blige added a bridge to the song, for which she alone crafted the lyrics.[5] A remix featuring rappers Jadakiss and Fabolous appears on the US CD single.[6]

Composition

[edit]

Sheet music for "Family Affair" sets the key of G minor with a moderate tempo of 94 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression Cm–Gm7–Cm–Gm7, and the vocals span from G3 to B4.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Family Affair" received critical acclaim. Alexis Petridis from The Guardian declared the song one "of the all-time great pop-R&B party bangers. Everything about "Family Affair" is perfection: Dr Dre’s simple but devastatingly effective production; Blige’s economical, understated vocal; the fact that every melody line sounds like a hook."[8] Billboard critic Chuck Taylor called "Family Affair" a "finger-poppin' jam" as well as a "smash waiting to happen." He found that "[Blige] sashays over Dr. Dre's muscular funk groove with notable confident ease. She's not even breaking a sweat by screaming big, overblown notes; rather she opts for an authoratative, guttural growl that is countered by layers of sleek, deep-voiced harmonies."[9] Sal Cinquemani, writing for Slant Magazine, remarked that "the song is the latest in a recent slew of club-ready superstar anthems, celebrating the joy and unity of dance. “Let’s get crunk ‘cause Mary’s back,” she sings. Mary’s back, indeed, in full form for the first time since 1997’s Share My World."[10]

Da'Shan Smith from uDiscoverMusic found that "Family Affair "was a "reminder that [Blige] could still get down" and that "she started a new era that summer by inviting fans to her dancerie and reminding them they "don’t need no hateration, holleration," over Dr. Dre’s G-Funk production."[11] Stereogum editor Tom Breihan noted that Dr. Dre's "beat is an absolute product of its time, and it also sounds like it’s always existed. The track hits hard, all churning strings and booming drum-sounds and the staccato pianos that Dre loved at the time. It sounds expensive and somehow warlike — the type of thing that should soundtrack a movie scene of military forces mobilizing. In its majestic stomp, “Family Affair” sounds vaguely stressful."[12] Entertainment Weekly's Craig Seymour wrote: "Lyrically, the song celebrates such party virtues as dressing up and hitting the dance floor. But Blige’s bluesy vocal grit adds depth to the track, hinting at the everyday hardships that make partying so rejuvenating and worthwhile."[13] BET.com wrote of the song: "This momentous Dr. Dre-produced banger may have been the first time that Mary really let her hair down and just had fun (you'd have to be having fun to come up with words like "dancery" and "hateration")."[14] Vibe found that "Family Affair" combines a "funky mix of R&B and hip-hop as well as some interesting vocabulary with listeners being told about a “dancery” where “holleration” and “hateration” would not be tolerated."[15]

Music video

[edit]

The accompanying music video was directed by Dave Meyers.[citation needed] The video begins with Blige at a nightclub, wearing skin-revealing outfits. The video was filmed at the nightclub in 2001.

Live performances

[edit]

On September 6, 2012, Blige performed the song at the last night of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ten years later, she also performed it in the Super Bowl LVI halftime show.

Track listings

[edit]
US CD single[6]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (LP version)4:31
2."Family Affair" (remix featuring Fabolous and Jadakiss)4:03
3."Family Affair" (instrumental)4:29
4."Family Affair" (acapella)4:11
5."Checkin' for Me" (LP version)3:05
US 12-inch single[16]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (radio edit)4:02
2."Family Affair" (instrumental)4:28
3."Family Affair" (LP version)4:28
4."Family Affair" (acapella)3:51
UK CD single[17]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (radio edit)3:35
2."Family Affair" (album version)4:25
3."Your Child" (Chucky Thompson's Late Nite mix)3:12
4."Family Affair" (video) 
UK 12-inch single[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (radio edit)3:35
2."Family Affair" (album version)4:25
3."Your Child" (Chucky Thompson's Late Nite mix)3:12
UK cassette single[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (radio edit)3:35
2."Your Child" (Chucky Thompson's Late Nite mix)3:12
European CD single[20]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (radio edit)4:02
2."Family Affair" (instrumental)4:28
Australasian and Japanese CD single[21][22]
No.TitleLength
1."Family Affair" (radio edit)4:02
2."Family Affair" (album version)4:28
3."Your Child" (Chucky Thompson's Late Nite mix)3:12
4."Your Child" (video)3:43

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are taken from the No More Drama album booklet.[23]

Studios

  • Recorded at Record One (Sherman Oaks, California) and Quad Recording Studios (Manhattan, New York)
  • Mixed at Record One (Sherman Oaks, California)
  • Mastered at The Hit Factory (New York City)

Personnel

  • Mary J. Blige – writing, all vocals
  • Bruce Miller – writing
  • Dr. Dre – writing (as Andre Young), production, mixing
  • Camara Kambon – writing, keyboards
  • Mike Elizondo – writing, bass
  • Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri – engineering
  • Chris Ribando – engineering
  • Tom Sweeney – assistant engineering
  • Kin Bengoa – assistant engineering
  • Larry Chatman – project coordination
  • Herb Powers – mastering

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Family Affair"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[88] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[89] Gold 25,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[90] Gold 30,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[91] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[92] Gold 250,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[93] Gold 5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[94] Gold 15,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[95] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[96] Platinum 600,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Family Affair"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 24, 2001 MCA [97]
Australia August 6, 2001 CD [98]
Japan August 18, 2001 [99]
United States September 11, 2001 Contemporary hit radio [100]
United Kingdom September 24, 2001
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[101]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rolling Stone Staff (June 17, 2011). "100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 4, 2022. The self-proclaimed (and universally recognized) Queen of Hip-Hop Soul delivers a perfect dance song about the spiritual bliss of perfect dance songs.
  2. ^ Santa (January 28, 2022). "Mary J. Blige pourrait interpréter son classique 'Family Affair' pour le spectacle du Super Bowl LVI 2022" [Mary J. Blige could perform her classic 'Family Affair' for the 2022 Super Bowl LVI show] (in French). Hip Hop Corner. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Pepe, Nicole (July 15, 2022). "David Guetta drops nostalgic heater 'Family Affair (Dance For Me)'". We Rave You. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  4. ^ "100 Best Songs of the Aughts: Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. June 17, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Jones v. Blige 558 F.3d 485 (6th Cir. 2009)". USC Gould School of Law. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Family Affair (US CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. 088 155 894-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "Family Affair by Mary J. Blige – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. September 11, 2001. MN0040425.
  8. ^ Petridis, Alexis (July 14, 2022). "Mary J Blige's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Seymour, Craig (July 28, 2001). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (August 20, 2001). "Review: Mary J. Blige, No More Drama". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Smith, Da'Shan (January 11, 2024). "Best Mary J. Blige Songs: 20 Essentials From The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Number Ones: Mary J. Blige's "Family Affair"". Stereogum. October 3, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Seymour, Craig (July 27, 2001). "Mary J. Blige: Family Affair". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mary J. Blige's 50 Best Songs – MJB's What's the 411? was released 22 years ago today". BET.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Olds, Lela (June 22, 2019). "Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul And Hits: 15 Of Mary J. Blige's Best Songsy". Vibe. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Family Affair (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. 088 155 859-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Family Affair (UK CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. MCSTD 40267, 155 889-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Family Affair (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. MCST 40267, 155 889-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Family Affair (UK cassette single sleeve). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. MCSC 40267, 155 888-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Family Affair (European CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. 155 862-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Family Affair (Australasian CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. 155 863-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Family Affair (Japanese CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. UICC-5005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ No More Drama (US CD album booklet). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. 088 112 616-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  25. ^ "Issue 633" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  27. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  28. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  29. ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  30. ^ "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  31. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on November 9, 2001. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  32. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". Tracklisten. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  33. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 42. October 13, 2001. p. 11. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  34. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  35. ^ "Mary J. Blige – Family Affair" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  36. ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  37. ^ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on February 22, 2002. Retrieved June 28, 2020. See Best column.
  38. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  39. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  40. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Family Affair". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  41. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". Top Digital Download. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  42. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  43. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  44. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  45. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". VG-lista. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  46. ^ "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 50/2001". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  47. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  48. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  49. ^ "Mary J Blige – Family Affair". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  50. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  51. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  52. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  53. ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  54. ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  55. ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  56. ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  57. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  58. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  59. ^ "Rapports annuels 2001" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  60. ^ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 26, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  61. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. December 22, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  62. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2001" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  63. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  64. ^ "Ireland – Top Singles for 2001". Allcharts. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  65. ^ "Laarlijsten 2001". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  66. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  67. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  68. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2001" (in German). Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  69. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  70. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2001" (PDF). Music Week. January 19, 2002. p. 26. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  71. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  72. ^ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-44.
  73. ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  74. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2001" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 48. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  75. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002". ARIA. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  76. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004.
  77. ^ "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  78. ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2–3. January 11, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  79. ^ "End of Year Charts 2002". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  80. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  81. ^ "Most Broadcast Of 2002 – Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 31. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  82. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  83. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  84. ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 10. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  85. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 20. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  86. ^ "The Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 Hits of the 2000s". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  87. ^ "Hot 100 60th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  88. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  89. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2001". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  90. ^ "Brazilian single certifications" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  91. ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  92. ^ "French single certifications – Mary J Blige – Family Affair" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  93. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Mary J. Blige – Family Affair". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  94. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  95. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Family Affair')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  96. ^ "British single certifications – Mary J. Blige – Family Affair". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  97. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1411. July 20, 2001. pp. 98, 111. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  98. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. August 6, 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  99. ^ "新譜発売日一覧 8月分" [New Release Date List for August] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on January 4, 2002. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  100. ^ "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1418. September 7, 2001. p. 62. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  101. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting September 24, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 22, 2001. p. 35. Retrieved August 16, 2021.