Just Be Good to Green

"Just Be Good to Green"
Single by Professor Green featuring
Lily Allen
from the album Alive Till I'm Dead
Released 25 June 2010
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded 2009
Genre Electronica, hip hop, pop[1]
Length

3:14 (clean version)

3:24 (explicit version)
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Stephen Manderson, Andrew Hughes, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
Producer(s) Semothy Jones, Future Cut
Professor Green singles chronology
"I Need You Tonight"
(2010)		 "Just Be Good to Green"
(2010)		 "Monster"
(2010)
Lily Allen singles chronology
"Back to the Start"
(2010)		 "Just Be Good to Green"
(2010)		 "5 O'Clock"
(2011)

"Just Be Good to Green" is a reworked cover of "Dub Be Good to Me"[2] by British recording artist Professor Green from his debut studio album, Alive Till I'm Dead. Featuring pop singer Lily Allen, the song was released as the second single by Virgin Records in Australia on 25 June 2010,[3] and in the UK on 11 July 2010.

Background and composition

The track was originally made back in 2007, when Professor Green was signed to The Beats. The song was composed and produced by Semothy Jones and, at the time, featured Neon Hitch on the chorus. Though when The Beats folded the track was put on hold.

In 2009, Professor Green stated that the collaboration between him and Allen started after a conversation on Facebook:

"We got chatting on Facebook and I mentioned the track, which turned out to be one of her favourite songs. She suggested her singing the chorus. I didn't take much persuading! Lily's wicked. She's straightforward and honest, you always know where you're at with her."[4]

However, the vocal's melody comes from the original song by The SOS Band, "Just Be Good to Me" (from the album On the Rise, 1983, Tabu Records). This vocal part has been since covered many times in different house tracks, such as Kandy Wesley (Airplay Records, 1999) and Dr Kucho! (Spinnin' Record, 2009). The bass line originally comes from the famous song by The Clash "The Guns of Brixton".

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song three out of five stars, stating "[Green's] rhymes aren't as ear-snagging as they were last time out, but Allen certainly does justice to that melody".[5]

Music video

Allen and Green on the conveyor belt, in the music video for "Just Be Good to Green".

The music video premiered on 21 May 2010 on Professor Green's official YouTube account. He commented,

"Lily is wicked. She's looking iconic, as she always does.[...] And there are girls everywhere who are not wearing much. Girls is the theme. There is also a conveyor belt which was nicked from The Price is Right set next door. The video has been great fun."[6]


Live performances

On Allen's tour, Green used to join her on stage to perform the song together. Green also performed it live on Big Brother.[7] On 23 June 2010, Camden Venue Proud Gallery celebrated its second birthday with Professor Green performing on the night. Though as he went through his set, Amy Winehouse unexpectedly joined him live on stage to sing Allen's part on "Just Be Good to Green".[8] The track was also supposed to be promoted on Scott Mills' Radio 1 Show and Alan Carr: Chatty Man, but Allen cancelled due to illness. Alan Carr responded by calling the singer "a fucking bitch" for pulling out two hours before the filming of the show, but it was unclear as to whether his comments were sarcastic or not.[9]

Track listings and formats

Digital download[10]
No. Title Length
1. "Just Be Good to Green" (Radio Edit) 3:14
2. "Just Be Good to Green" (Explicit) 3:23
3. "Just Be Good to Green" (Camo & Krooked remix) 5:17
4. "Just Be Good to Green" (Greenmoney's Colour Blind Remix) 6:19
5. "Just Be Good to Green" (Instrumental) 3:23
6. "Just Be Good to Green" (Video) 3:25
UK CD single
No. Title Length
1. "Just Be Good to Green"   3:24
2. "Just Be Good to Green" (Camo & Krooked remix) 5:17

Chart performance

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 49
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[12] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 95
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 32
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 5

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Silver 230,000[18]

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

References

  1. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Professor-Green-feat-Lily-Allen-Just-Be-Good-To-Green/master/271922 Professor Green feat. Lily Allen - Just Be Good to Green at Discogs
  2. ↑ "I had a Facebook convo with Lily Allen which spawned a remake of 90's classic 'Dub Be Good To Me' for my album". Official Myspace Blog. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  3. ↑ "Professor Green: Just Be Good to Green (feat. Lily Allen) - Single". Apple Inc. iTunes Store (Australia). 25 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  4. ↑ "Professor Green releasing single with Lily Allen after 'Facebook chat'". NME (United Kingdom: IPC Media). 10 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  5. ↑ Copsey, Robert. "Professor Green ft. Lily Allen: 'Just Be Good To Green'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  6. ↑ Smart, Gordon (29 May 2010). "Lily's a Green goddess". The Sun (Wapping: News International). Retrieved 2010-05-31.
  7. ↑ "Watch: Pro on Big Brother’s Big Mouth". official website. professorgreen.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  8. ↑ "Amy Winehouse Joins Professor Green On Stage | Amy Winehouse | News | MTV UK". MTV. Mtv.co.uk. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  9. ↑ "Lily Allen Cancels Promo With Professor Green". MTV. Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  10. ↑ "Just Be Good to Green (feat. Lily Allen) - EP". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  11. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Professor Green feat. Lily Allen – Just Be Good to Green". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. ↑ Illegal name entered Professor Green ft. Lilly Allen/Professor+Green+ft.+Lilly+Allen/chart?f=349 "Professor Green ft. Lilly Allen Album & Song Chart History" European Hot 100 for Professor Green ft. Lilly Allen.
  13. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 29, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  14. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Professor Green feat. Lily Allen – Just Be Good to Green" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Professor Green feat. Lily Allen – Just Be Good to Green". Top 40 Singles.
  16. ↑ "Professor Green feat. Lily Allen: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart.
  17. ↑ "British single certifications – Lily Allen – Just Be Good to Green". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Just Be Good to Green in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  18. ↑ Justin, Myers (03/05/2014). Lily Allen’s Official Top 20 Biggest Selling Tracks Revealed!. Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-01-05.

External links