ABCDEFU explained
ABCDEFU |
Type: | single |
Cover: | Gayle - ABCDEFU (higher resolution).png |
Alt: | An x-ray style image of a hand reveals the bones of the middle finger bent out of place. |
Artist: | Gayle |
Ep: | A Study of the Human Experience Volume One |
Genre: |
|
Length: | 2:48 |
Label: |
|
Producer: | Pete Nappi |
Prev Title: | Oscar Nominated |
Prev Year: | 2021 |
Next Title: | Ur Just Horny |
Next Year: | 2022 |
"ABCDEFU" (also known by its radio-edited title "ABC (Nicer)"; stylized in all lowercase) is the major-label debut single by American singer Gayle,[3] [4] released on August 13, 2021, through Atlantic and Arthouse Records. It was co-written by Gayle with Sara Davis and David Pittenger, and produced by Pete Nappi.[5] The song is the lead single from Gayle's debut EP A Study of the Human Experience Volume One.[6]
"ABCDEFU" reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 and, in the United States, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the US, "ABCDEFU" topped the charts in 16 countries.[7]
In 2022, the song was nominated for Song of the Year for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.[8]
Background and promotion
The song marks the first single release since the Nashville-based singer signed with Atlantic Records/Arthouse Records in 2021.[9] On her TikTok account, Gayle uploaded a video where she stated "I'm out of [song] ideas" and asked followers to comment song ideas. "Comment anything and I'll try my best to turn it into a song." Nancy Berman, a marketing manager at Atlantic Records, commented, asking for a song that incorporates the alphabet.[10] Within a few days, Gayle uploaded another video of her strumming the chorus of the song.
According to Gayle, the song "came from a place of trying so hard to be the nice, respectful ex-girlfriend, to the point where it was negatively affecting me".[11] In an interview with Tongue Tied Mag, Gayle explained the inspiration behind the song: "After the breakup, I was trying really, really hard to be a nice person—like, overcompensating for it—like, the week after we broke up, I called him and was, like, 'Hey, bud!' and 'What's up, my friend?!'"[12] On March 31, 2021, Gayle stated on Instagram that she had dislocated her middle finger, and the X-ray scan from the hospital was used for the single's cover art.[13]
The song achieved mainstream success within a few months after release, surpassing over 500 million global streams as of March 2022.[14] Gayle has since released different versions of the song, including the demo, a "chill version", and an "angrier version".[15] The original song reached 1 billion streams on July 9, 2023.
Music video
The accompanying music video was released alongside the single. The video was shot via a camcorder at a low resolution to evoke early 2000s home videos. In the music video, the singer and her friends visit and look around her ex's home.[16]
Composition
According to the digital sheet music published at musicnotes.com by Warner Music Publishing, "ABCDEFU" is written in the key of E major with a tempo of 122 beats per minute, with Gayle's vocals ranging from G3 to C5.[17] The song's title and lyrical content are a play on words incorporating the first six letters of the alphabet with the addition of the twenty-first, to form an initialism for the profane phrase "Fuck yoU".
Sonically, the song is characterized by "minimalistic sonics" and "jagged guitar work", while it "reaches its climax with a massive sing-a-long chorus".
Critical reception
Gayle's song has been a viral hit on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Emily Zemler of Rolling Stone praised the passion of Gayle's live renditions of the piece.[18] April Bredael of Tongue Tied Magazine thought the song "adds to a growing list of accomplishments" of the singer with tracks that are "authentic, honest, and unapologetic".[12]
Track listing
Digital download and streaming (Nicer version)[19]
- "ABC" – 2:48
- Digital download and streaming (Demo version)[20]
- "ABCDEFU" – 2:35
Digital download and streaming (Chill version)[21]
- "ABCDEFU" – 2:56
Digital download and streaming (Angrier version)[22]
- "ABCDEFU" – 2:39
Digital download and streaming (featuring Royal & the Serpent)[23]
- "ABCDEFU" – 2:49
Digital download and streaming ABC (The Wild Remix)[24]
- "ABC" – 3:02
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
Notes and References
- Web site: Gayle - ABCDEFU Musikfreitag. Musikfreitag. de. November 22, 2021. November 25, 2021.
- Web site: Who is Gayle? The 17 year old teen tearing up the charts with debut smash abcdefu. Official Charts Company. December 22, 2021.
- Trust . Gary . January 10, 2022 . GAYLE's 'abcdefu' Hits No. 1 on Both Billboard Global Charts . Billboard.
- Web site: Ainsley . Helen . January 14, 2022 . GAYLE scores breakthrough UK Number 1 single with abcdefu . Official Charts.
- Web site: abcdefu - Gayle Credits AllMusic. AllMusic. November 25, 2021.
- Web site: Gayle announces debut EP A Study of the Human Experience Volume One. Official Charts Company. Griffiths. George. February 24, 2022. February 25, 2022.
- Including Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
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- Web site: Gayle shares new single 'abcdefu'. milkymilkymilky.com. August 17, 2021. November 25, 2021.
- Web site: Fowler . Kate . February 11, 2022 . Atlantic Records denies claims 'abcdefu' TikTok start was marketing ploy . April 4, 2022 . Newsweek . en.
- Web site: September 26, 2021 . Exclusive interview: Gayle says what we are all thinking in 'abcdefu' and we got to ask her all about it! . Defoor . Emily . November 25, 2021 . The Honey Pop.
- Web site: Interview: Gayle. Bredael. April. Tongue Tied Magazine. September 15, 2021. November 25, 2021.
- Web site: GAYLE on Instagram: "had fun dislocating my middle finger last night" . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/gayle/2541661882189049356_2541661877835195709 . December 25, 2021 . registration. March 31, 2021. December 8, 2021.
- Web site: Gayle releases acoustic video of "abcdefu" emotional stripped down version of her Atlantic Records debut streaming here now. Guitar Girl Magazine. October 6, 2021. November 25, 2021.
- Web site: Interview: Gayle Talks New Single "abcdefu". Poternative. September 29, 2021. November 25, 2021.
- Web site: November 30, 2021 . Okay so is the 'abcdefu' audio on TikTok a real song? . Venn . Lydia . February 15, 2022 . The Tab.
- Web site: David. Pittenger. Sara. Davis. Gayle. Rutherford, Taylor. GAYLE. December 6, 2021. abcdefu. December 18, 2021. Musicnotes.com.
- Zemler. Emily. January 6, 2022. Watch Gayle Perform Breakout Hit 'Abcdefu' on Fallon. January 8, 2022. Rolling Stone. en-US.
- Web site: abc (nicer) - Single by GAYLE. December 13, 2021. Apple Music (US). August 14, 2021.
- Web site: abcdefu (demo) - Single by GAYLE. December 13, 2021. Apple Music (US). September 10, 2021.
- Web site: abcdefu (chill) - Single by GAYLE. December 15, 2021. Apple Music (US). September 17, 2021.
- Web site: abcdefu (angrier) - Single by GAYLE. December 15, 2021. Apple Music (US). September 24, 2021.
- Web site: abcdefu (feat. Royal & the Serpent) - Single by GAYLE. December 13, 2021. Apple Music (US). November 19, 2021.
- Web site: abc (The Wild Remix) - Single by GAYLE. January 9, 2022. Apple Music (US). December 31, 2021.
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- GAYLE's 'abcdefu' Hits No. 1 on Both Billboard Global Charts. Billboard. January 10, 2022. January 11, 2022.
- Billboard Global 200 Chart: Week of January 15, 2022. Billboard. January 11, 2022.
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- Versions of "ABCDEFU" released on CDs:
- Web site: abcdefu CD. January 9, 2022. Warner Music Store. January 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220128212033/https://store.warnermusic.com/atlantic-records/artists/gayle/abcdefu-cd.html. dead.
- Web site: abc (nicer) CD. January 9, 2022. Warner Music Store. January 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044644/https://store.warnermusic.com/atlantic-records/artists/gayle/abc-nicer-cd.html. dead.
- Web site: abcdefu (demo) CD. January 9, 2022. Warner Music Store. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121055304/https://store.warnermusic.com/atlantic-records/artists/gayle/abcdefu-demo-2.html. dead.
- Web site: abcdefu (chill) CD. January 9, 2022. Warner Music Store. January 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044648/https://store.warnermusic.com/atlantic-records/artists/gayle/abcdefu-chill-cd-1.html. dead.
- Web site: abcdefu (angrier) CD. January 9, 2022. Warner Music Store. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121054703/https://store.warnermusic.com/atlantic-records/artists/gayle/abcdefu-angrier-cd.html. dead.
- Web site: abcdefu (feat. Royal & the Serpent) CD. January 9, 2022. Warner Music Store. January 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044638/https://store.warnermusic.com/atlantic-records/artists/gayle/abcdefu-feat-royal-the-serpent-cd.html. dead.