| "Therapy" | ||||
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| Single byMary J. Blige | ||||
| from the albumThe London Sessions | ||||
| Released | September 23, 2014 | |||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
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| Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Therapy" onYouTube | ||||
"Therapy" is a song recorded by American singerMary J. Blige from her twelfth studio album,The London Sessions (2014). It was written by Blige, British singerSam Smith andEg White. Production was handled by White,Stephen Fitzmaurice,Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, andJimmy Napes. "Therapy" is anuptempopop song with strong influences fromdoo-wop andrhythm and blues. The song was released as album's lead single on September 23, 2014 and peaked at number 28 on the USAdult Contemporary chart.[1]
"Therapy" was written by Blige and English musiciansSam Smith andEg White.[2] The pair was among a host of young British acts commissioned to work with Blige inLondon following the success of her version of "F for You", a remake of English electronic music duoDisclosure's fourth single from their debut studio album,Settle (2013), and her duet version of Smith's "Stay with Me".[3] Initially composed for Smith's debut albumIn the Lonely Hour (2014), "Therapy" was already reference-vocaled when the White and Smith played it for Blige.[4] Upon hearing it, Blige felt inspired: "It was like, 'OK. This is it. This is the first moment. This is the one that says I'm doing something different.'[4] Slight lyrical and tonal changes were made to make it fit for her.[4] On the process, Blige later elaborated: "At the end of the day, I pictured myself singing it. I went and sang the song. And it was perfect, 'cause I just felt like the message was universal. Because I think everybody needs a little bit. And it's not, you know, literally sitting in front of a doctor all the time. It could be whatever your therapy is. What works for you."[4]
Musically, "Therapy" is anuptempopop song with strong influences fromdoo-wop andrhythm and blues.[5] Influences ofgospel genres were also found in the song.[6] It consists of a spaciousbeat,handclaps, aHammond organ and the multitrackedhumming of co-writer Sam Smith.[7] Theinstrumentation includes thumpingdrums,guitars,bass guitars, organs, and apiano.[2] Andy Kellman fromAllmusic magazine felt the song was "seemingly inspired more byAnthony Hamilton's Southern gospel-soul",[8] while many other contemporary critics viewed the retro-soul sound of "Therapy" as a relative of and an answer to late English singerAmy Winehouse and her 2006 song "Rehab" on which she talked about her refusal to enter arehabilitation clinic.[5][6]
Blige filmed the music video for "Therapy" with director Sarah McColgan in early-October. It remains unreleased yet.[9]
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofThe London Sessions.[2]
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USAdult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] | 28 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | September 23, 2014 | Digital download | Capitol | [11] |
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