Just Fine
2007 single by Mary J. Blige
title: "Just Fine" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2007-singles", "mary-j.-blige-songs", "music-videos-directed-by-chris-applebaum", "songs-written-by-mary-j.-blige", "songs-written-by-the-dream", "songs-written-by-tricky-stewart", "song-recordings-produced-by-tricky-stewart", "song-recordings-produced-by-kuk-harrell", "song-recordings-produced-by-jazze-pha", "songs-written-by-jazze-pha", "2007-songs", "geffen-records-singles"] description: "2007 single by Mary J. Blige" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Fine" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 2007 single by Mary J. Blige ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Just Fine |
| cover | Mary J. Blige - Just Fine.JPG |
| type | single |
| artist | Mary J. Blige |
| album | Growing Pains |
| released | |
| length | 4:02 |
| label | Geffen |
| prev_title | We Ride (I See the Future) |
| prev_year | 2006 |
| next_title | Work That |
| next_year | 2007 |
| :: |
| name = Just Fine | cover = Mary J. Blige - Just Fine.JPG | alt = | type = single | artist = Mary J. Blige | album = Growing Pains | released = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | length = 4:02 | label = Geffen | writer =
- Mary J. Blige
- Christopher Stewart
- Terius Nash
- Phalon Alexander | producer =
- Jazze Pha
- Tricky Stewart | prev_title = We Ride (I See the Future) | prev_year = 2006 | next_title = Work That | next_year = 2007 | misc =
"Just Fine" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart for her eighth studio album, Growing Pains (2007), while production was helmed by Pha and Stewart. It was released as the album's lead single on October 16, 2007. The song peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, while also topping the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Critically acclaimed, "Just Fine" was nominated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 2008, as well as the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 51st Grammy Awards in February 2009. In addition, the song was ranked 41st on ''Rolling Stone'''s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.
Background
"Just Fine" was written by Mary J. Blige along with The-Dream, Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart, while production was helmed by Pha and Stewart, with Kuk Harrell serving as a vocal producer. Initially presented as an incomplete song to Blige, Nash, Pha, and Stewart finished much of the "upbeat" dance pop song within 24 hours. It became one of the first songs which Blige recorded for parent album Growing Pains and would set much of the tone for the remaining material. Blige commented on the sound of the song: "When I heard the beat, I was like, 'OK, this is hot. This is making my body move, and I'm having fun."
A cheerful, feel-good jam "about uplifting yourself and having hope for your future, whatever your future is," Blige tried to "make the song about how I appreciate the good days I do have and where I'm at right now, even though I still have challenges." In a 2007 interview with MTV News, she further elaborated: "That song was written based on me having a good day. You know, I can have 20 bad days. I can have as many bad days as anyone. But I choose to say, "I'm just fine." Right now. So it's OK to have those days. So instead of coming with something ungrateful to the universe, how about I come with something first that's says, 'You know what? It's OK. Enjoy this day if you're having a great day."
Critical reception
"Just Fine" earned generally positive reviews from music critics. Da'Shan Smith from uDiscoverMusic found that "there can’t be a wedding, office party, cookout, or family reunion function without hearing this gem from Mary [...] Channeling the funk groove of Marvin Gaye and the disco beat of Michael Jackson circa Off the Wall, "Just Fine" is a quintessential throwback party anthem." Alexis Petridis from The Guardian wrote: "Blige in gleeful party-starting mode, complete with opening get-on-the-dancefloor monologue. "Just Fine"s rhythm track was apparently inspired by Michael Jackson’s "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." Its sparse-but-urgent sound and Blige’s exuberance are both completely irresistible." Similarly BET.com wrote of the song: "This 2007 hit cheerfully channels Off the Wall MJ, perfectly encapsulating new-millennium Mary's hard-earned transformation into a persevering, you-go-girl optimist who declares, "I like what I see when I'm looking at me when I'm walking past the mirror"."
Year-end lists
::data[format=table title="Year-end lists for "Just Fine""]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. | Rolling Stone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The 100 Best Songs of 2007 | 41 | |||
| :: |
Accolades
::data[format=table title="Awards and nominations for "Just Fine""]
Remixes
The official remix was called "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)" (which samples "Treat 'Em Right" by Chubb Rock) and features a verse from Lil Wayne, and production handled by Swizz Beatz, who also provides background vocals. There are four versions of this remix: The main remix version has Lil Wayne's verse on the beginning after the intro, the second remix version features a verse by Precise, along with Lil Wayne, the third remix version has Lil Wayne's verse on the near end of the song, and the fourth remix version is a no rap version, omitting Lil Wayne's verse.
The second official remix of "Just Fine" features Lil' Mama, which was a pre-order only track on iTunes when the album was released. An alternate music video for this remix was produced.
Music video
A music video for "Just Fine" was directed by Chris Applebaum and produced by John Hardin for Reactor Films. It was released online on October 8, 2007 and premiered simultaneously on BET, iTunes, VH1 and MTV's TRL on October 25, 2007. In the visuals, Blige "radiates with positive energy as she enters a mirrored room and begins her own personal fashion show." Billboard found that the clip pays homage to the Michael Jackson in the colorful visual. Entertainment Weekly noted that "groundbreaking CGI it ain’t, but all three MJBs [versions] look fabulous."
On September 7, 2008, the video was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, though it eventually lost to Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" (2008). The video also was nominated for Video of the Year at the BET Awards 2008, Best R&B Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, and Outstanding Music Video at the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
Track listings
| headline = Digital single | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Just Fine | writer1 = | extra1 = | length1 = 4:10
| title2 = Work That | writer2 = | extra2 = | length2 = 3:30 | headline = Lil Mama Remix | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Just Fine | note1 = Remix featuring Lil Mama | writer1 = | extra1 = | length1 = 3:44 | headline = Treat 'Em Right Remix | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Just Fine | note1 = Treat 'Em Right Remix featuring Lil Wayne | writer1 = | extra1 = | length1 = 5:09 Notes
- denotes a vocal producer
- denotes a co-producer Sample credits
- "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)" samples from the song "Treat 'Em Right" by Chubb Rock.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the Growing Pains liner notes.
- Mary J. Blige – vocals, writer
- André Bowman – bass
- Dwayne Dugger – horns
- Kuk Harrell – vocal producer
- Jaycen Joshua – mixing engineer
- James King – horns
- Alex Newell – additional recording
- Dave Pensado – mixing engineer
- Jazze Pha – producer, programming, writer
- Omar Phillip – persuccions
- Jaye Price – horns
- Omar Renya – recording assistance
- Tricky Stewart – producer, programming, writer
- The-Dream – writer
- Corey Williams – additional recording
Charts
Weekly charts
::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "Just Fine""] | Chart (2007–2008) | Peak position | Euro Digital Songs (Billboard) | Japan (Japan Hot 100) | Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 16 | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | 14 | | | | | ::
Year-end charts
::data[format=table title="Year-end chart performance for "Just Fine""]
| Chart (2008) | Position | UK Singles (OCC) | UK Urban (Music Week) | US Billboard Hot 100 | US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156 | ||||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 82 | ||||||
| 45 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| :: |
Certifications
Release history
::data[format=table title="Release dates and formats for "Just Fine""]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version(s) | Label(s) | Ref. | United States | United Kingdom | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 16, 2007 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Original | Geffen | |||||
| January 28, 2008 | CD | |||||||
| February 19, 2008 | Digital download | Treat 'Em Right Remix | ||||||
| :: |
References
References
- [http://www.popcrunch.com/rolling-stone-magazine-the-100-best-songs-of-2007/ Rolling Stone Magazine The 100 Best Songs Of 2007] {{Webarchive. link. (July 26, 2010 Popcrunch. Retrieved September 18, 2013)
- Graff, Gary. (December 12, 2007). "No 'Pains,' No Gains: Mary J. Blige".
- (November 26, 2007). "Mary J Blige: "Just Fine", Behind The Scenes".
- (October 23, 2007). "Mary J. Blige Says She's 'Just Fine' With Her New Album, Losing 'Umbrella' To Rihanna".
- Smith, Da'Shan. (January 11, 2024). "Best Mary J. Blige Songs: 20 Essentials From The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul".
- Petridis, Alexis. (July 14, 2022). "Mary J Blige's 20 greatest songs – ranked!".
- "Mary J. Blige's 50 Best Songs – MJB's What's the 411? was released 22 years ago today".
- (June 24, 2008). "Awards 2008 | BET Awards". BET.
- Leeds, Jeff. (9 February 2008). "Allowed In, Winehouse Chooses to Stay Home". [[The New York Times]].
- (February 9, 2009). "Plant/Krauss, Lil Wayne Win Big At 51st Grammys".
- "Kanye West, Gnarls Barkley, White Stripes Clips Pick Up VMAs In 2008 'Professional Categories'". MTV News.
- "MTV Video Music Awards Japan – 2008 Awards".
- Lyons, Margaret. (February 13, 2009). "NAACP Image Awards: Winners list".
- Gottlieb, Steven. (November 15, 2007). "NEW RELEASE: Mary J. Blige "Just Fine"".
- Penrose, Nerisha. (November 30, 2017). "Mary J. Blige's 10 Best Post-Breakup Anthems: Critic'-s Picks".
- Greenblatt, Leah. (November 2, 2007). "Music video double-vision".
- "Just Fine – Single".
- "Just Fine (International Version)".
- "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix)".
- Blige, Mary J.. (2007). "Growing Pains". Geffen Records.
- "Mary J. Blige – Chart history (Euro Digital Songs)".
- "Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2008/01/16 公開]". [[Billboard Japan]].
- "week 4 (26 januari 2008)". [[Dutch Top 40]].
- "Official Singles Chart 2008". [[UKChartsPlus]].
- (January 10, 2009). "Urban Top 20 Of 2008".
- "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2008".
- "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2008".
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2008".
- "Available For Airplay".
- (January 26, 2008). "Music Upfront".
- (February 19, 2008). "Just Fine (Treat 'Em Right Remix) [feat. Lil Wayne]". [[Geffen Records]].
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