Whole Damn Year

"Whole Damn Year" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Emeli Sandé and Knox Brown for her twelfth studio album The London Sessions (2014), featuring production from the latter. "Whole Damn Year" is a R&B song, with a neo soul influence. The song was released as the album's third single on December 1, 2014. It peaked in the top five on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

"Whole Damn Year"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album The London Sessions
ReleasedDecember 1, 2014
Length3:48
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Knox Brown
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Right Now"
(2014)		 "Whole Damn Year"
(2014)		 "Doubt"
(2015)
Music video
"Whole Damn Year" on YouTube

Background

"Whole Damn Year" was written by Blige along with producer Knox Brown and musician Emeli Sandé. Commenting on its creation, Sandé stated: “I wrote this song and I love this song, but I didn’t think that it was a song for me for some reason [...] And as soon as Mary heard it and connected to it, it really felt like the song had found its natural and true home.”[1]

Chart performance

On September 22, 2014, Blige debuted second single "Whole Damn Year" on Power 105's The Breakfast Club.[2] The song debuted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at number 27 and US Adult R&B Songs chart as greatest gainer of the week at number 15.[3] The song was eventually released on October 21, 2014 as a digital download.

Music video

The music video for "Whole Damn Year" was directed by Mike Ho and Alexandre Moors and released on December 2, 2014.[4] Shot in black and white, it dramatizes the violence in Blige's words, including scenes of domestic abuse and bullying. In the end, the couples seem to hug and make up.[4]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The London Sessions.[5]

  • Mary J. Blige – vocals, writer
  • Knox Brown – producer, writer
  • Matt Champlin – engineer
  • Maddox Chhim – mixing assistance
  • Trehy Harris – recording
  • Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins – mixing, vocal producer
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • Ryan Kaul – mixing assistance
  • Alex Robinson – recording
  • Emeli Sandé – writer

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[6] 39
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[7] 21

References
  1. "Premiere: Watch Mary J. Blige Create Your Ex-Girl's Next Break-Up Anthem". Vibe. 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  2. "Rap-Up.com -- New Music: Mary J. Blige – 'Whole Damn Year' + 'Therapy'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  3. "Chart Highlights: Taylor Swift Tops Adult Pop Songs, Sam Smith Rules Adult R&B". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  4. "Watch Mary J. Blige's Violent Video for 'Whole Damn Year'". Billboard. December 1, 2014.
  5. Blige, Mary J. (2014). The London Sessions (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. Capitol Records.
  6. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  7. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
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