Finally (Fergie song)
Encyclopedia
"Finally" is a song by American recording artist Fergie, taken from her debut studio album The Dutchess
(2006). The song was written by Fergie and Stefanie Ridel, and co-written and produced by John Legend
. The R&B
ballad features John Legend on the piano. The song was sent to radio on February 26, 2008 and released as the sixth and final single from The Dutchess on March 18.
, Stacy Ferguson and Stefanie Ridel
. Written as a pop-soul song, it is set in common time composed in a moderate tempo
of 84 beats per minute
, with a main key of C major
with a vocal range from the tone of G3
to the note of E5
.
. "Finally" failed to debut on the Hot 100 because its sales and airplay were relatively weak. It also ended Fergie's streak of top five Hot 100 hits, as all of her previous singles had peaked at #5 or higher on the chart. It can be noted however, that "Finally" did not have a music video like Fergie's prior singles to help promote it. The song did find moderate success on the US Pop 100
and Canadian Hot 100
, where it peaked at #67 and #61 respectively.
. Fergie performed the track multiple times on television, most notably on 2008's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and The Tyra Banks Show
. Fergie performed the song with John Legend at the Idol Gives Back
show on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Fergie has also performed the song in an episode of Nickelodeon's "Dance on Sunset
".
with director Marc Webb
. The music video shoot took place at the former Hollywood Hills home of Frank Sinatra and featured several male models from Wilhelmina Models
as part of the shoot.
The Dutchess
The Dutchess is the debut and only studio album by American recording artist Fergie, who is a member of The Black Eyed Peas. The album was released on September 19, 2006. As of 2008, the album has sold more than six million copies worldwide...
(2006). The song was written by Fergie and Stefanie Ridel, and co-written and produced by John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
. The R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
ballad features John Legend on the piano. The song was sent to radio on February 26, 2008 and released as the sixth and final single from The Dutchess on March 18.
Composition
"Finally" was written by John StephensJohn Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, Stacy Ferguson and Stefanie Ridel
Stefanie Ridel (singer)
Stefanie Jill Ridel , is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was a member of the girl group Wild Orchid, and was a co-host of the television show Great Pretenders. She is best known for her involvement with Wild Orchid with Fergie.-Early life:Stefanie Jill Ridel was born in Hollywood,...
. Written as a pop-soul song, it is set in common time composed in a moderate tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 84 beats per minute
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
, with a main key of C major
C major
C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
with a vocal range from the tone of G3
G (musical note)
Sol, So, or G is the fifth note of the solfège starting on C. As such it is the dominant, a perfect fifth above C.When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle G note is approximately 391.995 Hz...
to the note of E5
E (musical note)
E or mi is the third note of the solfège.When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle E is approximately 329.628 Hz. See pitch for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.-Designation by octave:...
.
Chart performance
"Finally" peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart (somewhat equivalent to 101 on the Hot 100), becoming Fergie's first single to fail to make the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. "Finally" failed to debut on the Hot 100 because its sales and airplay were relatively weak. It also ended Fergie's streak of top five Hot 100 hits, as all of her previous singles had peaked at #5 or higher on the chart. It can be noted however, that "Finally" did not have a music video like Fergie's prior singles to help promote it. The song did find moderate success on the US Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
and Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
, where it peaked at #67 and #61 respectively.
Live performances
Fergie and Legend performed the song together at the 50th Grammy Awards50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,...
. Fergie performed the track multiple times on television, most notably on 2008's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...
. Fergie performed the song with John Legend at the Idol Gives Back
Idol Gives Back
Idol Gives Back is the name of a charitable campaign that spanned two episodes of American Idol during its sixth season. A second Idol Gives Back concert and fundraiser occurred on April 9, 2008, during the seventh season of the show. Idol Gives Back was not held in 2009 due to the ongoing...
show on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Fergie has also performed the song in an episode of Nickelodeon's "Dance on Sunset
Dance on Sunset
Dance on Sunset is a dance and music series hosted by Quddus on Nickelodeon that featured dance routines, called the "Fresh-Squeezed Dance", designed to be performed by its pre-teen and teen-age viewers. Choreographer Tony Testa and the show's dance troupe, the Nick 6, demonstrated each routine...
".
Music video
Fergie filmed a music video for the song in March 2008 in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with director Marc Webb
Marc Webb
Marc Preston Webb is an American music video, short film and major motion picture director. He directed the 2009 romantic comedy-drama Days of Summer and is currently directing the 2012 Spider-Man reboot The Amazing Spider-Man.-Life and career:Webb was born in Bloomington, Indiana, the son of...
. The music video shoot took place at the former Hollywood Hills home of Frank Sinatra and featured several male models from Wilhelmina Models
Wilhelmina Models
Wilhelmina Models is a modeling agency founded in 1967 by the model Wilhelmina Cooper and her husband Bruce Cooper in Manhattan Starting in 2010, Wilhelmina Models started a sub-brand called "Digital Empire Modeling" for new digital-era modeling talents....
as part of the shoot.
Credits and personnel
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Stacy Ferguson - Producer - John LegendJohn LegendJohn Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, Ron FairRon FairRon Fair is a veteran A&R executive, record producer arranger, recording engineer and songwriter. In a career that has spanned over 30 years at major record labels he has produced and arranged hits for several artists, but he is best known as a "guru/mentor", guiding the careers of unknown artists... - Vocal recorders - Stefanie RidelStefanie Ridel (singer)Stefanie Jill Ridel , is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was a member of the girl group Wild Orchid, and was a co-host of the television show Great Pretenders. She is best known for her involvement with Wild Orchid with Fergie.-Early life:Stefanie Jill Ridel was born in Hollywood,...
, Ron Fair - Engineers - Josh Chervokas, "Angry" Mike Eleopoulus
- Mixed by - Allen Sides
- WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
s - John StephensJohn LegendJohn Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, Stacy Ferguson and Stefanie Ridel - PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- John Legend - ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s - Bruce Duvok, Natalie Leggett, Sarah Thornblade, Julie Gigante, Josefina Vergara, Tammy Hatwan, Sid Page, Katia Popov, Roberto Cani, Phillip Levy, Songa Lee, Anatoly, Rosinsky, Michele Richards, Liane Mautner, Helen Nightengale, Tiffany Hu, Becky Bunnell, Shoshana Claman - ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
s - Brian Dembow, Vicky Misckolczy, Thomas Diener, Andrew Duckles - Cello - Larry Corbett, David Low, Suzie Katayama, Tim Loo
- BassesBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Nico Abondold, Mike Valerio
Track listing
Digital download- "Finally" (Radio Version) (featuring John LegendJohn LegendJohn Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
) – 3:45
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
61 |
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot Canadian Digital Singles |
41 |
| US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Billboard Pop 100 | 67 |
| US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 34 |