"No More Drama"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album No More Drama
ReleasedOctober 30, 2001 (2001-10-30)
GenreR&B
Length5:26
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Family Affair"
(2001) 		"No More Drama"
(2001) 		"Dance for Me"
(2002)

"No More Drama" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige, taken from her fifth studio album of the same name (2001). It was released as the album's second single in the United States on October 30, 2001, and as the third single in certain European markets, where "Dance for Me" served as the second single instead. The Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced track became another hit for Blige, peaking at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine in the United Kingdom.

The song famously samples "Nadia's Theme", currently used as the theme music for the American soap opera The Young and the Restless. In the song, Blige calls herself "young and restless" in a further nod to the music sample. The video for the song won Blige her first MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. The song was also used as a background theme for both Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?. Perry Botkin Jr., one of the song's original composers, who had never heard of Blige prior to this was delighted to get a writing credit, saying: "I woke up one morning and I'm on the cutting edge of R&B. These days, I'm completely removed from pop music — except when [royalty] checks arrive."[citation needed] It was performed by Blige in the Super Bowl LVI halftime show on February 13, 2022.[1]

Music video

The video features cameos by Mariah Carey and P. Diddy who had both recently experienced their own very publicized 'dramas', Mariah Carey's personal and professional problems following her movie and album Glitter, and Diddy's legal troubles following a night club shooting. They appear individually on televisions stacked in a store front window, in front of which Blige is singing. The video contains images of a depressed man that is struggling to overcome drugs (played by actor David Venafro), a gang member who lost a friend in a shooting and a woman who is verbally and physically abused by her partner. While the theme of the video is dramatic, it ends on an encouraging note as the gang member decides to end the cycle of killing by leaving his gang; the drug addict is seen to be headed for a rehab clinic to combat his addiction and the woman finding the strength to leave her abusive lover behind and start a new life. It was directed by Sanji.

Cover versions

Joshua Ledet performed this song during the eleventh season of American Idol. James Arthur also performed this song, during the ninth series of The X Factor. He would later win the series. The line "so tired, tired of all the drama" was briefly sampled in the 2013 Azealia Banks single "Yung Rapunxel". La'Porsha Renae, runner-up of American Idol (season 15), performed this song during the show's last season and it gained a lot of praise from the public and brought judge Jennifer Lopez to tears, moved by La'Porsha's story of an abusive relationship, which inspired her performance. Wé McDonald covered the song on The Voice season 11 in the Knockout Round. Sam Lavery sang the song in the sing-off of The X Factor 2016 in week 6 before being sent home.

Track listings

All versions of the P. Diddy/Mario Winans remix feature P. Diddy.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 30, 2001
MCA [40]
November 6, 2001 Urban radio [41]
United Kingdom April 29, 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
 [42]
May 6, 2002 12-inch vinyl [43]
Australia June 3, 2002 CD [44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mary J. Blige On Why She Chose to Perform 'No More Drama' at Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, Dr. Dre's Involvement". Atlanta Black Star. February 18, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  2. ^ No More Drama (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2001. 088 155 929-1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ No More Drama (UK CD1 liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2002. MCSTD 40281, 155950-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ No More Drama (UK CD2 liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2002. MCSXD 40281, 155951-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ No More Drama (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2002. MCST 40281.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ No More Drama (UK cassette single sleeve). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2002. MCSC 40281.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ No More Drama (European CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2002. 155 945-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ No More Drama (Australasian CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 2002. 155 946-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  10. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 21. May 18, 2002. p. 8. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  14. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – No More Drama". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mary J Blige" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  17. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  19. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 20, saptamina 20.05–26.05, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 15, 2005. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  22. ^ "Mary J Blige – No More Drama". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  24. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  25. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  28. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  30. ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  31. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  32. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 32. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  34. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-52.
  36. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  37. ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 12.
  38. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 22.
  39. ^ "British single certifications – Mary J Blige – No More Drama". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1425. October 26, 2001. pp. 45, 54.
  41. ^ "Urban: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1426. November 2, 2001. p. 59.
  42. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 29 April 2002: Singles". Music Week. April 27, 2002. p. 31.
  43. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 6 May 2002: Singles". Music Week. May 4, 2002. p. 30.
  44. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd June 2002" (PDF). ARIA. June 3, 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 26, 2002. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
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