A Public Affair (song)

"A Public Affair"
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album A Public Affair
Released June 29, 2006
Format Digital download
Genre Dance-pop, disco
Length 3:21
Label Epic
Writer(s) Jessica Simpson, Johntá Austin, Greg Kurstin, Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Lester Mendez, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Producer(s) Lester Mendez
Jessica Simpson singles chronology
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"
(2005)		 "A Public Affair"
(2006)		 "I Belong to Me"
(2006)

"A Public Affair" is a song recorded by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. It was co-written by Simpson and produced by Lester Mendez, for Simpson's fourth studio album of the same title. It was released as the album's first single (second overall) on June 29, 2006 by Epic Records. Musically, the song is a dance track with disco influences. It samples the melody of "Holiday" by Madonna and interpolates the Diana Ross classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and was also compared to Janet Jackson. Lyrically, the song speaks about having fun with friends.

"A Public Affair" received mixed reviews from critics, with many criticizing its close similarity with "Holiday". The song reached the top ten in Canada and Ireland and made the top twenty in US, Australia and UK. The song also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, becoming Simpson's first number one on the chart. The song ranked at number 51 on Top 100 Pop Songs of 2006 by About.com.[1]

Composition
Jessica Simpson "A Public Affair" (2006)
A sample of "A Public Affair"‍ '​ chorus.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"A Public Affair" lasts for three minutes and 21 seconds. Musically, it is a moderate dance-pop groove song with disco influences. It also exhibits elements of pop rock and teen pop genres.[2] The song features a melody, arrangement and instrumentation, the latter are reminiscent of the classic Madonna's song "Holiday" (1983).[3] The song also contains a retro percussion breakdown and a springy, rubbery bassline.[4] At the end of the song, the background vocalists sing a few lines of "Aaah-Aaah-Aaah" which is a line borrowed from the Diana Ross's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".[3][4] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of D major. The song is set in common time with 130 beats per minute. Simpson's breathy vocals recall Janet Jackson,[5] spanning from a low note of A3 to a high note of B4.[6]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine called the song's production "wildly adventurous" and "maddeningly catchy", and the song itself "A perfect record."[7] About.com's Bill Lamb gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, saying that is "one of the best pop singles of her career" and citing that the song "follows a classic disco game plan even including a retro percussion breakdown. The icing on the cake is a line borrowed from the Diana Ross version of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. As it is, 'A Public Affair' is perfect for early evening party play. With some beefing up, it can easily become a peak hour dance hit".[8] Teen People called the song a fun, frothy dance track reminiscent of early Madonna; some in the media have criticized the unoriginality of the song because of its strong similarity to Madonna's "Holiday". "A Public Affair" received numerous comparisons to Janet Jackson, considered to reference "classic Janet" for its "breathy vocals, cheery, almost sickeningly sweet melody," and "mid-song giggle."[5] Newsday also described it as "channeling Janet-era Jackson."[9]

Commercial release

The Yahoo! Music download of the song gained media attention because it was made available in MP3 format, without Digital Rights Management, which is normally used to restrict copying of commercially released singles. However, the price to download the song was $1.99, higher than the $0.99 norm for most DRM-restricted tracks. The increased price was rationalized not by the DRM-free format, but by offering users the ability to "personalize" the song with a specific name.[10] The single was released in United States, Canada and Australia in 2006. Later the song was released in Europe in February 2007.

Chart performance

North America

In the United States, the single debuted at number thirty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated July 15, 2006.[11][12] Simpson's second highest debut after "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". It had previously debuted at number 20 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which represents the 25 singles below the Hot 100's number 100 position that have not yet appeared on the Hot 100. Digital download sales were moderate until the release of the single's music video. On August 12, 2006 the single peaked at number fourteen and was awarded the honor of that week's Greatest Gainer Digital.[12][13] In that week, "A Public Affair" moved from 30 to 14, beating her sister Ashlee, who ascended seven places 28-21 with "Invisible", while Paris Hilton moved up one place 29-28 with "Stars Are Blind".[14] The single became Simpson's sixth top twenty single in the US and her third song to reached at number 14 tied with "With You" (2004) and "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (2005).[15] The single stayed on the chart for twelve weeks. The song also peaked at number sixteen on Billboard Pop Songs chart and was her fifth top twenty on the chart, since "Take My Breath Away" (2004).[16] Due the strong digital sales, the single was certified Gold by RIAA for selling 500,000 copies.[17] As the date, the song is her third best selling digital single with 890,000 copies sold.[18]

On the Hot Digital Songs chart, "A Public Affair" climbed from number sixteen to six in its fifth week on the chart, seeing a 100% increase in digital download sales of 58,000 units sold.[13][19][20] The single became her second-highest peak position on the chart after "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (2005). With this entry, "A Public Affair" joined Ashlee Simpson's song "Invisible" in the top ten on the U.S. iTunes Store's list of most popular songs, the first time in iTunes history that two siblings had different songs in the top ten.[19] "A Public Affair" was a successful on the club charts. On Hot Dance Club Play chart, the single peaked at number one by October 7, 2006.[21] It was her first number one on the chart.[22] The song also peaked at number six on the Hot Dance Airplay chart.[23][24] In Canada, "A Public Affair" became Simpson's third top ten single after "Take My Breath Away" (2004), peaking at number eight by July 2006, due its strong digital sales.

Oceania and Europe

In Australia, the single debuted at number eighteen on the ARIA Charts for the week of August 13, 2006.[25] The next week, it peaked at number seventeen and stayed on the chart for ten weeks. The single became her seventh top twenty single in that country.[26]

"A Public Affair" was released in Europe by early 2007. In Sweden, the single made its chart debut on the issue dated January 4, 2007, at number forty-three.[27] The next week peaked at number thirty-six.[28] In Ireland, the song debuted at number nine on the issue date February 8, 2007.[29] It's was her second highest peak in that country after "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (2005).[30]

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number twenty on the issue dated February 17, 2007.[31] The single stayed on the chart for four weeks. It became her sixth and last top twenty there.[32] Outside the United Kingdom, "A Public Affair" has also charted in other European countries including Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Germany.

Music video

The skating rink as shown in the music video.

The song's music video was shot on June 23, 2006 and the late evening of June 24, 2006 at the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, California.[33] It features appearances by Christina Applegate, Christina Milian, Eva Longoria, Maria Menounos, Andy Dick and Ryan Seacrest. It introduces Australian Reshad Strik, whose participation precipitated many comments on his resemblance to Nick Lachey, Simpson's ex-husband, and Menounos, who resembled Vanessa Minnillo, who was dating Lachey at the time Simpson split with her ex-husband. The video was directed by Brett Ratner.[34]

Yahoo! Launch had managed to make a "Fans Version Only" version of the video as well, which instantly reached number one.

On July 19, Simpson visited Total Request Live to world premiere the video.[35]

The following day the video entered the TRL countdown at number six, the highest debut for any Simpson video; on its third day on the countdown, it reached number two.[36]

The video spent a total of 28 days on the TRL countdown, making it her most successful video to date on TRL. The video reached number eight on Canada's MuchMusic chart.

In the chart Billboard Hot Videoclip Tracks peaked at the number 5.[37]

Track listings and formats

  1. "A Public Affair" (radio edit)
  2. "A Public Affair" (extended version)
  3. "A Public Affair" (karaoke version)
  1. "A Public Affair" (radio edit)
  2. "A Public Affair" (extended version)
  3. "A Public Affair" (instrumental version)
  4. "A Public Affair" (remix)
  5. "A Public Affair" (video)
  1. "A Public Affair"
  2. "A Public Affair" (Alex Greggs Remix)

Remixes and other versions

Release history

Region Date
Australia June 26, 2006
United States June 29, 2006
Canada June 29, 2006
Japan July 29, 2006
United Kingdom February 5, 2007
Germany February 16, 2007

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2006–07) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 17
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[38] 8
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[39] 19
European Hot 100 Singles[40] 63
Germany (GfK Entertainment)[41] 72
Hungary (Mahasz)[42] 32
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 9
Romania (Music & Media)[43] 67
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[44] 74
South Korea GAON (International Chart)[45] 111
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 36
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] 20
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 14
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 16
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[22] 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 36
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[47] 11

Year-end charts

Country Position
US Hot Dance Club Songs[48] 36
US Pop 100 Songs[49][50] 92

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[51] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Top 100 Pop Songs of 2006". Top40.about.com. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  2. ↑ "A Public Affair by Jessica Simpson - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Answers to readers' questions about the Simpson sisters and the Verve Pipe.". Billboard. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Jessica Simpson - A Public Affair". About.com. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cinquemani, Sal (2006-08-25). "Jessica Simpson: A Public Affair - Music Review - Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  6. ↑ "Unsupported Browser or Operating System". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  7. ↑ Chuck Taylor, review of "A Public Affair", Billboard.com.
  8. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - A Public Affair Review". About.com. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  9. ↑ "Showtime Briefs - Entertainment - Daily-Journal.com Mobile". Newsweek. Gamboa, Glenn. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  10. ↑ "Yahoo sells Jessica Simpson single sans DRM". CNET. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
  11. ↑ Clover Hope, "Furtado Remains No. 1 With 'Promiscuous'", July 6, 2006].
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Jessica Simpson Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc) 118 (32): 80. 2006-08-12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  14. ↑ "Fred discusses related chart entries, "American Idol" on the radio and Billboard chart eligibility with readers". Billboard. 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  15. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Jessica Simpson Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  17. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. 2007-07-20. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  18. ↑ "Billboard.com - Ask Billboard". Billboard. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Hot Digital Songs - August 12, 2006". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc) 118 (32): 81. 2006-08-12. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  20. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - Digital Songs Chart". Billboard. 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  21. ↑ "Hot Dance Club Play - October 7, 2006". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc) 118 (40): 53. 2006-10-07. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Jessica Simpson Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Jessica Simpson.
  23. ↑ "Hot Dance Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  24. ↑ "Hot Dance Airplay - September 2, 2006". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc) 118 (35): 83. 2006-09-02. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Charts - SINGLES TOP 50 13/08/2006". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Australian-charts.com – Jessica Simpson – A Public Affair". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  27. ↑ "SVERIGETOPPLISTAN - SINGLES TOP 60 2007-01-04". Sverigetopplistan. 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Swedishcharts.com – Jessica Simpson – A Public Affair". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Chart Track: Week 6, 2007". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  30. ↑ "Irish Charts - DISCOGRAPHY JESSICA SIMPSON". IRMA. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Archive Chart: 2007-02-17" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  32. ↑ "Official Charts Company - Jessica Simpson". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  33. ↑ "The Boots of Hazzard", The Sun, June 28, 2006.
  34. ↑ Jonathan Cohen, "Simpson Owns Up To 'Public Affair'", Billboard.com, June 26, 2006.
  35. ↑ "Nervous Simpson Debuts Video on Minnillo's Show", Contactmusic.com, July 20, 2006.
  36. ↑ Popfusion - TRL Archive - July 2006.
  37. ↑
  38. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  39. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 2007{{{week}}} into search. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ "Chartverfolgung Single – Simpson, Jessica – A Public Affair". GfK Entertainment (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  42. ↑ "Radios Top 40". Mahasz. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  43. ↑ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2006-10-23. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  44. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200710 into search. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  45. ↑ 가온차트와 함께하세요 (in Korean). GAON. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  46. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  47. ↑ "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. 2006-08-12. Archived from the original on 2006-11-24.
  48. ↑ "Billboard Year End Hot Dance Club Songs 2006". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  49. ↑ "Billboard Year End Pop 100 Songs 2006". Billboard.BIZ. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  50. ↑ "The Year in Music 2006: Pop 100 Songs". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc): YE-51. 2006-12-23. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  51. ↑ "American single certifications – Jessica Simpson – A Public Affair". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH