Editing Right Now (Mary J. Blige song)

{{Infobox song
| name       = Right Now
| cover      = Right Now (Mary J. Blige song).png
| alt        =
| border     = yes
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Mary J. Blige]]
| album      = [[The London Sessions (Mary J. Blige album)|The London Sessions]]
| released   = {{Start date|2014|10|27}}
| recorded   = 2014
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = * [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[UK garage]]
* [[deep house]]
| length     = 3:49
| label      = *[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
*Matriarch
| writer     = * Mary J. Blige
* [[Disclosure (band)|Guy Lawrence]]
* [[Disclosure (band)|Howard Lawrence]]
* [[Jimmy Napes|James Napier]]
* [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]]
| producer   = [[Disclosure (band)|Disclosure]]
| prev_title = [[Therapy (Mary J. Blige song)|Therapy]]
| prev_year  = 2014
| next_title = [[Whole Damn Year]]
| next_year  = 2014
| misc       = {{External music video|{{Youtube|_Hajlc-pGQg|"Right Now"}}}}
}}
"'''Right Now'''" is a song recorded by American singer [[Mary J. Blige]] from her twelfth studio album, ''[[The London Sessions (Mary J. Blige album)|The London Sessions]]'' (2014). It was written by Blige, [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]], [[Jimmy Napes]], and [[Disclosure (band)|Disclosure]], featuring production from the latter. Musically, "Right Now" is a mid-tempo [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] song, with [[deep house]] and [[UK garage]] influences. Lyrically, it exudes a displeased woman letting her lover know that she is fed up with his ways, and is planning on making changes. The song was released as the album's second single on October 27, 2014.

"Right Now" peaked at number one on the US [[Dance Club Songs]] chart, becoming Blige's fifth song to do so. Numerous remixes and cover versions of the song were made, most notably reworks by [[Basement Jaxx]] and [[Simon Neale]]. Blige performed the song on several television and award show ceremonies, such as ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'', ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'', and [[BBC Radio 1Xtra]].

==Conception and release==
"Right Now" was written by Blige and English musicians [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]], [[Jimmy Napes|James Napier]], and brothers [[Disclosure (band)|Guy]] and [[Disclosure (band)|Howard Lawrence]] from electronic music duo [[Disclosure (band)|Disclosure]].<ref name=linernotes/> Production of the song was helmed by Disclosure, while American record producer [[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]] was consulted for vocal production.<ref name=linernotes/> "Right Now" was recorded at [[Metropolis Studios]] and at MusicBox Studios in [[London]].<ref name=linernotes/> Production of the song was motivated by "[[F for You]]", the fourth single from Disclosure's debut studio album, ''[[Settle (album)|Settle]]'' (2013).<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|first=Tom |last=Horan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/31/mary-j-blige-interview-uk-london-sessions|title=Mary J Blige interview: 'The UK is a better place to make music than the States'|publisher=TheGuardian.co.uk|work=The Observer|date=2014-08-31|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref> In late 2013, Blige saw the duo's single their [[Vevo]] video site, and got in touch with them about covering the song.<ref name="guardian"/> The resulting duet, largely composed by Blige, became a top ten hit on the [[UK Dance Chart]].<ref name="guardian"/> Inspired by its response, Blige initially hoped to record an [[extended play]] with the duo,<ref name="rs">{{cite web|first=Cady|last=Drell|title=Behind Mary J. Blige's Dance-Music Makeover|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/mary-j-blige-dance-makeover-london-sessions-20141028#ixzz3IrZiF3cR|accessdate=2014-11-13|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=2014-10-28}}</ref> though her label encouraged her to enhance recording overseas and soon it was announced that Blige would move to [[London]] to experiment with a new sound with a host of young British acts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/mary-j-blige-new-album-london-sessions|title=Mary J. Blige To Record New Album 'The London Sessions'|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/29/mary-j-blige-mitch-winehouse-gave-me-the-chance-to-hug-amy-through-him|title=Mary J Blige: Mitch Winehouse 'gave me the chance to hug Amy through him'|author=Harriet Gibsone|work=the Guardian}}</ref>

With "Right Now", Howard Lawrence approached Blige with some chords he had made on songwriter James Napier's piano. His brother Guy further helped in the production of the song, adding [[drums]] that gave "it a Disclosurey feel".<ref name="guardian"/> Blige joined production during the vocal writing which resulted in a friendly "dog-fight".<ref name="guardian"/> While much of "Right Now" was written within two and half hours, the duo spent a lot of time [[Audio engineer|editing and polishing]] the track. Commenting on the creation process, Howard commented: "That's how Guy and me work. We'll write a whole song very roughly, then go in and proof-read it for a long, long time and change it so much that you wouldn't even recognise it from when you started".<ref name="guardian"/>

==Composition==
Musically, the song consists of a shuffling [[beat (music)|back-beat]],<ref name="Idolator1">{{cite web|first=Bradley|last=Stern |url=http://www.idolator.com/7533867/mary-j-blige-disclosure-right-now-listen|title=Mary J Blige And Disclosure Team Up For "Right Now": Listen|publisher=Idolator.com|work=Idolator|date=2014-09-05|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref> throbbing [[synthesizer]]s,<ref name="fuse">{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Benjamin|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2014/09/mary-j-blige-right-now-sam-smith-disclosure|title=Mary J. Blige Straddles R&B & Electronica on Disclosure-Produced "Right Now"|publisher=Fuse.tv|work=Fuse|date=2014-09-05|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref> dramatic [[string instrument|strings]],<ref name="Idolator1"/> and a glitchy, uptempo [[percussion]].<ref name="Billboard1">{{cite web|first=Elias|last=Leight|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6259350/mary-j-blige-performs-therapy-right-now|title=Watch Mary J. Blige Perform New Songs 'Therapy' & 'Right Now'|publisher=Billboard.com|work=Billboard|date=2014-09-24|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref> It merges [[deep house]] and [[UK garage]] with [[contemporary R&B]],<ref name="ewise">{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Reilly|url=http://www.entertainmentwise.com/reviews/158801/review-mary-j-blige-itunes-festival-london|title=REVIEW: Mary J. Blige, iTunes Festival London|publisher=Entertainmentwise.com|date=2014-09-26|accessdate=2015-03-17|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402210930/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/reviews/158801/review-mary-j-blige-itunes-festival-london|archivedate=2015-04-02}}</ref> while elements of [[hip hop music]] are also present.<ref name="ewise"/> Many contemporary critics viewed "Right Now" as a clear influence of Disclosure's signature sound.<ref name="Billboard1"/> Nick Murray from ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine found elements of [[London]]'s "woozy, late-[[1990s in music|1990s]] [[UK garage|garage music]]" and American record producer [[Timbaland]]'s "early-aughts pop bangers" and further went on to describe its production as "a smooth, syncopated retro-sex sound".<ref name="rs1">{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Murray|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/mary-j-blige-right-now-20140926#ixzz3UfyUb8Yp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927042950/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/mary-j-blige-right-now-20140926#ixzz3UfyUb8Yp |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2014 |title=Right Now|publisher=RollingStone.com|work=Rolling Stone|date=2014-09-26|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref>

==Music video==
The music video for "Right Now" was directed by [[Mike Ho]]. It marked his second collaboration with Blige after their video for "[[Suitcase (Mary J. Blige song)|Suitcase]]".<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew |last=Listermann |url=http://www.videostatic.com/watch-it/2014/10/23/mary-j-blige-right-now-mike-ho-dir|title=Mary J. Blige "Right Now" (Mike Ho, dir.)|publisher=Videostatic.com|date=2014-10-24|accessdate=2014-11-03}}</ref> The visuals video feature Blige being chauffeured in a black [[Bentley]] while enjoying the night views of the city, intercut with footage of her singing to the camera in a yellow dress.<ref>{{cite web|first=Joey|last=DeGroot  |url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/13270/20141023/mary-j-blige-shares-second-music-video-right-now-featuring-disclosure-watch.htm|title=Mary J. Blige Shares Second Music Video for 'Right Now' Featuring Disclosure|publisher=MusicTimes.com|date=2014-10-23|accessdate=2014-11-03}}</ref> After her arrival at the London nightclub, she takes off her fur coat and throws it on the ground before performing the track in front of an excited crowd.<ref>{{cite web|first=Esther|last=Jang|url=http://www.latinpost.com/articles/24431/20141025/mary-j-blige-songs-singer-embraces-london-music-scene-new.htm|title=Mary J. Blige Songs: Singer Embraces London Music Scene With New 'Right Now' Music Video |publisher=LatinPost.com|date=2014-10-25|accessdate=2015-10-03}}</ref>

==Credits and personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''The London Sessions''.<ref name=linernotes>{{cite AV media notes|title=The London Sessions|others=[[Mary J. Blige]]|year=2014|publisher=[[Columbia Records]]}}</ref>
{{Div col}}
*[[Music production|Production]]: Disclosure 
*Vocal production: [[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]], Disclosure
*Background vocals: [[Disclosure (band)|Howard Lawrence]], [[Jimmy Napes|James Napier]], [[Sam Smith (singer)|Sam Smith]]
*[[Music recording|Recording]]: Trehy Harris, James Napier
*Recording assistance: Alex Robinson, Gus Pirelli
*[[audio mixing (recorded music)|Mixing]]: Disclosure
{{Div col end}}

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (2015)
! Peak<br>position
|-
{{singlechart|CIS|191|artist=Mary J. Blige|song=Right Now|songid=59766|rowheader=true| access-date=2021-09-21}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|100|date=20141109|rowheader=true|access-date=2021-09-21}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrandb|15|date=20141109|rowheader=true|access-date=2021-09-21|refname=ukrandb}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Mary J. Blige|accessdate=2015-03-15|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}

==Release history==
{|class=wikitable
|-
! Region
! Date
! Format
! Label
|-
| United States
| November 24, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/right-now-zed-bias-remix-single/id940758277|title=Mary J. Blige — Right Now|publisher=[[iTunes]] (US)|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref>
| [[Music download|Digital download]]
| [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
|}

==See also==
* [[List of number-one dance singles of 2015 (U.S.)]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{AllMusic|id=mt0051029717|class=song|tab=lyrics|title="Right Now" lyrics}}

{{Mary J. Blige singles}}

[[Category:2014 singles]]
[[Category:Mary J. Blige songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mary J. Blige]]
[[Category:2014 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jimmy Napes]]
[[Category:Songs written by Sam Smith (singer)]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
[[Category:Deep house songs]]
[[Category:UK garage songs]]