"ABCDEFU" (also known by its radio-edited 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 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 Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The song marks the first single release since the Nashville-based singer signed with Atlantic Records/Arthouse Records in 2021.[8] 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.[9] 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".[10] 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?!'"[11] 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.[12]
The song achieved mainstream success within a few months after release, surpassing over 500 million global streams as of March 2022.[13] Gayle has since released different versions of the song, including the demo, a "chill version", and an "angrier version".[14] The original song reached 1 billion streams on July 9, 2023.[15]
Music videoedit
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.[10][16]
Compositionedit
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 G♯3 to C♯5.[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".[8]
Critical receptionedit
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".[11]
Track listingedit
Digital download and streaming (Nicer version)[19]
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^ ab"Gayle shares new single 'abcdefu'". milkymilkymilky.com. August 17, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^Fowler, Kate (February 11, 2022). "Atlantic Records denies claims 'abcdefu' TikTok start was marketing ploy". Newsweek. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
^ abDefoor, Emily (September 26, 2021). "Exclusive interview: Gayle says what we are all thinking in 'abcdefu' and we got to ask her all about it!". The Honey Pop. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^ abBredael, April (September 15, 2021). "Interview: Gayle". Tongue Tied Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^"GAYLE on Instagram: "had fun dislocating my middle finger last night"". March 31, 2021. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
^"Gayle releases acoustic video of "abcdefu" emotional stripped down version of her Atlantic Records debut streaming here now". Guitar Girl Magazine. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^"Interview: Gayle Talks New Single "abcdefu"". Poternative. September 29, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^"Gayle – abcdefu" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
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^"Crowley Charts: Top 10 Pop Internacional – Reference Week: February 28, 2022 - March 4, 2022 (28/02/2022 - 04/03/2022)" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Crowley Broadcast Analysis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
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^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202149 into search. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
^"Gayle – abcdefu". Tracklisten. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
^"Gayle: abcdefu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
^"GAYLE's 'abcdefu' Hits No. 1 on Both Billboard Global Charts". Billboard. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
^"Billboard Global 200 Chart: Week of January 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
^"IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
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^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
^"Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
^"IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 13th December 2021 - Week 49 of 52". Indian Music Industry. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
^"Indonesia Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
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^"Mexico Airplay". Billboard. April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
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