ABCDEFU

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"ABCDEFU"
Gayle - ABCDEFU.png
Single by Gayle
from the EP A Study of the Human Experience Volume One
ReleasedAugust 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)
Genre
Length2:48
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pete Nappi
Gayle singles chronology
"Oscar Nominated"
(2021) 		"ABCDEFU"
(2021) 		"Ur Just Horny"
(2022)
Music video
"ABCDEFU" on YouTube

"ABCDEFU" (stylized in all lowercase, also known by its radio edit censored title "ABC") 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 was included on Gayle's debut EP A Study of the Human Experience Volume One.[6]

Commercially, "ABCDEFU" has topped the Billboard Global 200 and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, "ABCDEFU" has topped the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, coming in number 2 in countries like Australia, Belgium, Lithuania, Poland and Singapore, while peaking within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, India, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal and South Korea. It has also landed inside the top 20 in Hungary, South Africa and Vietnam, as well as the top 40 in Spain.

The official radio edit uses its censored title, although some radio stations instead use the original title and replace "fuck" with "F" instead of "Forget" or "Get lost" wherever sung, while the rest of the lyrics are from the official radio edit.

Background and promotion[]

The song marks the first single release since the 17-year-old Nashville-based singer signed with Atlantic in 2021.[7] On her TikTok, 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." One user commented asking for a song that incorporates the alphabet. Within a few days, she uploaded another video of her strumming what became 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".[8] 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?!'".[9] On March 31, 2021, Gayle revealed on Instagram that she had deliberately broken her middle finger, and the X-ray scan from the hospital was used for the single's cover art.[10]

The song achieved mainstream success within a few months after release, surpassing over 500 million global streams as of March 2022.[11] The singer has since released different versions of the song, including the demo, a "chill version", and an "angrier version".[12]

Music video[]

The accompanying music video was released on August 13, 2021. The video was shot via a camcorder with 4:3 aspect ratio at a low resolution to evoke an early 2000s home video feel.[8][13]

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.[14] 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 a profane phrase i.e. 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".[7]

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.[15] 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".[9]

Track listing[]

Digital download and streaming[16]

  1. "ABCDEFU"  – 2:48

Digital download and streaming (Nicer version)[17]

  1. "ABC" (nicer)  – 2:48
Digital download and streaming (Demo version)[18]
  1. "ABCDEFU" (demo)  – 2:35

Digital download and streaming (Chill version)[19]

  1. "ABCDEFU" (chill)  – 2:56

Digital download and streaming (Angrier version)[20]

  1. "ABCDEFU" (angrier)  – 2:39

Digital download and streaming (featuring Royal & the Serpent)[21]

  1. "ABCDEFU" (featuring Royal & the Serpent)  – 2:49

Digital download and streaming (The Wild Remix)[22]

  1. "ABC" (The Wild Remix)  – 3:02

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Certifications for "ABCDEFU"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[80] Platinum 30,000double-dagger
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[81] 2× Platinum 80,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada)[82] 2× Platinum 160,000double-dagger
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[83] Gold 45,000double-dagger
France (SNEP)[84] Platinum 200,000double-dagger
Germany (BVMI)[85] Gold 200,000double-dagger
Italy (FIMI)[86] Platinum 100,000double-dagger
New Zealand (RMNZ)[87] Platinum 30,000double-dagger
Poland (ZPAV)[88] Gold 25,000double-dagger
Portugal (AFP)[89] Gold 5,000double-dagger
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[90] Gold 30,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[91] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[92] Platinum 1,000,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Release history for "ABCDEFU"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various August 13, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Original Atlantic [16]
August 14, 2021 Nicer [17]
September 10, 2021 Demo [18]
September 17, 2021 Chill [19]
September 24, 2021 Angrier [20]
November 19, 2021 Royal & the Serpent remix [21]
Italy November 26, 2021 Radio airplay Original Warner [93]
United States December 7, 2021 Contemporary hit radio Atlantic [94]
Various December 31, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 The Wild remix [22]
February 18, 2022 CD single
  • Original
  • Nicer
  • Demo
  • Chill
  • Angrier
  • Royal & the Serpent remix
  • Atlantic
  • Warner
 [95]

References[]

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  95. ^ Versions of "ABCDEFU" released on CDs:
    1. "abcdefu CD". Warner Music Store. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
    2. "abc (nicer) CD". Warner Music Store. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
    3. "abcdefu (demo) CD". Warner Music Store. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
    4. "abcdefu (chill) CD". Warner Music Store. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
    5. "abcdefu (angrier) CD". Warner Music Store. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
    6. "abcdefu (feat. Royal & the Serpent) CD". Warner Music Store. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
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