No More Drama (song)

"No More Drama" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige, taken from her fifth studio album of the same name (2001). It was released as the album's second single worldwide (third single in some European markets). The Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced track became another hit for Blige, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 in the UK. The single was released on the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America, which saw the collapse and destruction of the original World Trade Center buildings in New York City.

"No More Drama"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album No More Drama
Released	September 11, 2001
Recorded	2000
Genre	R&B hip hop soul
Length	5:26
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Barry Vorzon Perry Botkin
Producer(s)	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Dance for Me" (2001) "No More Drama" (2001) "Rainy Dayz" (2002)

The song famously samples "Nadia's Theme", currently used as the theme music for the American soap opera The Young and the Restless. In the song, Blige calls herself "young and restless" in a further nod to the music sample. The video for the song won Blige her first MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. The song was also used as a background theme for both Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?. Perry Botkin Jr., one of the song's original composers, who had never heard of Blige prior to this was delighted to get a writing credit, saying: "I woke up one morning and I’m on the cutting edge of R&B,” says the composer, who now specializes in electronic music. ”These days, I’m completely removed from pop music — except when [royalty] checks arrive."

Music video

The video features cameos by Mariah Carey and P. Diddy who had both recently experienced their own very publicized 'dramas', Mariah Carey's personal and professional problems following her movie and album Glitter, and Diddy's legal troubles following a night club shooting. They appear, individually, on televisions stacked in a store front window, in front of which Blige is singing. The video contains images of a depressed man that is struggling to overcome drugs (played by actor David Venafro), a gang member who lost a friend in a shooting and a woman who is verbally and physically abused by her partner. While the theme of the video is dramatic, it ends on an encouraging note as the gang member decides to end the cycle of killing by leaving his gang; the drug addict is seen to be headed for a rehab clinic to combat his addiction and the woman finding the strength to leave her abusive lover behind and start a new life. It was directed by Sanji.

Cover versions

Joshua Ledet performed this song during the eleventh season of American Idol. James Arthur also performed this song, during the ninth series of The X Factor. He would later win the series. The line "so tired, tired of all the drama" was briefly sampled in the 2013 Azealia Banks single "Yung Rapunxel". La'Porsha Renae, runner-up of American Idol (season 15), performed this song during the show's last season and it gained a lot of praise from the public and brought judge Jennifer Lopez to tears, moved by La'Porsha's story of an abusive relationship, which inspired her performance. Wé McDonald covered the song on The Voice season 11 in the Knockout Round. Sam Lavery sang the song in the sing-off of The X Factor 2016 in week 6 before being sent home.

Formats and track listings

CD 01

1. "No More Drama" (Radio Edit)
2. "No More Drama" (P. Diddy/Mario Winans Remix LP Version)
3. "No More Drama" (Twin Disco Experience Remix)
4. "No More Drama" (Video)

CD 02

1. "No More Drama" (Radio Edit)
2. "Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
3. "Everything" (Album Version)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001–2002) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[1] 30 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[2] 34 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[3] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 31 France (SNEP)[5] 42 Germany (Official German Charts)[6] 47 Ireland (IRMA)[7] 24 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 15 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 38 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[11] 94 Scotland (OCC)[12] 20 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 29 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 17 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 9 UK R&B (OCC)[16] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 15 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[18] Thunderpuss Remixes 1 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[19] Thunderpuss Remixes 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 16 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 18 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[22] 23

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 79 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24] 184 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 79 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 68

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 2002 (U.S.)

References

1. "Australian-charts.com – Mary J Blige – No More Drama". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
2. "Ultratop.be – Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
3. "Ultratop.be – Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
4. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20 no. 21. May 18, 2002. p. 8. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
5. "Lescharts.com – Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mary J Blige – No More Drama". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – No More Drama". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mary J Blige" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
10. "Charts.nz – Mary J Blige – No More Drama". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
11. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 20, saptamina 20.05–26.05, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 15, 2005. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
13. "Swedishcharts.com – Mary J Blige – No More Drama". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
14. "Swisscharts.com – Mary J Blige – No More Drama". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
16. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
17. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
18. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
19. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
20. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
21. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
22. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
23. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
24. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
25. "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
26. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2020.