Forever More (Puff Johnson song)

"Forever More" is a song by American singer Puff Johnson, released on April 30, 1996, as the first single from her only studio album, Miracle (1996). The ballad[1] was written by Johnson along with Sally Jo Dakota and Narada Michael Walden, while production was helmed by the latter, with Louis Biancaniello credited as associate producer.

"Forever More"
Single by Puff Johnson
from the album Miracle
ReleasedApril 30, 1996 (1996-04-30)
Length5:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Narada Michael Walden
Puff Johnson singles chronology
"Forever More"
(1996)
"Over and Over"
(1996)

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard remarked that Johnson "effortlessly glides through this pop-sweetened R&B ballad", produced "with recognizable flair" by Walden. He added, "The song itself is a tad predictable but pleasantly executed. It is easy to imagine love-struck young girls swaying and singing along to this."[2] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, writing, "Columbia's smooth soul diva follows up her huge Over & Over with another seductive, Whitney-esque smoocher, which she penned with Narada Michael Walden and Jermaine Dupri. Radio will lap it up."[3] The magazine's Alan Jones commented, "Puff Johnson is a fine vocalist, rather like Whitney Houston without the frills, and this image is even more strongly evoked by Puff's majestic new single Forever More, which was co-authored by Narada Michael Walden, architect of many of Whitney's early career triumphs. It is a sonically soothing and memorable R&B ballad, lovingly embraced by Puff's tender vocals. It's one of those records that could hang around for a long time."[4]

Chart performance

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In the United States, "Forever More" peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 22 on the Rhythmic Songs chart.[5][6][7] "Forever More" charted the highest in New Zealand, where it peaked at number five on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[8] Elsewhere, the song became a top-30 hit in both Australia and the United Kingdom, peaking at number 29 in both countries.[9][10] It also charted in the Netherlands, peaking at number 91.[11]

Music video

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The song's accompanying music video was directed by Greg Masuak.[12] On his website, Masuak writes that the video was heavily edited to become a strictly African-American love story, although it was intended to be a multi-racial tribute to love.[13] In parts of the music video, Puff is seeing playing with an elephant.

Track listings

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Australian CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Forever More" (Single Version)
Walden4:07
2."Forever More" (Album Version)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
Walden5:08
3."I Like It"Soulshock & Karlin4:52
4."Never Loved Nobody"
4:10
European CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Forever More" (Radio Version)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
Walden4:07
2."Forever More" (Classic Mix)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
7:09
3."Forever More" (Sandman Club Mix)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
  • Walden
  • Love to Infinity[b]
7:17
4."All Because of You"
  • Dupri
  • So-Lowe[c]
3:31
European maxi-single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Forever More" (Album Version)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
Walden5:07
2."Forever More" (Eyernity Mix)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
6:11
3."Forever More" (Mystro's R & B Groove Mix)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
  • Walden
  • Love to Infinity[b]
4:25
4."Forever More" (Classic Mix)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
  • Walden
  • Love to Infinity[b]
7:07
5."Forever More" (Sandman Club Mix)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
  • Walden
  • Love to Infinity[b]
7:15
US single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Forever More" (Single Version)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
Walden4:01
2."Forever More" (Album Version)
  • Johnson
  • Dakota
  • Walden
Walden5:05

Notes

  • ^a denotes associate producer
  • ^b denotes additional producer
  • ^c denotes co-producer

Credits and personnel

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Credits lifted from the liner notes of Miracle.[14]

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States April 9, 1996 Rhythmic contemporary radio Work [19]
April 30, 1996 CD [20]
May 7, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [21]
Japan June 21, 1996 Mini-CD Sony [22]
United Kingdom March 31, 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
Columbia [23]

References

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  1. ^ "Work Group's Puff Johnson Creating a Romantic 'Miracle'" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 16. April 20, 1996. p. 22. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (April 6, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 96. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 22, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Jones, Alan (April 12, 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Puff Johnson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. ^ a b "Puff Johnson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  7. ^ a b "Puff Johnson Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  8. ^ a b "Puff Johnson – Forever More". Top 40 Singles.
  9. ^ a b "Puff Johnson – Forever More". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ^ a b "Puff Johnson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ a b "Puff Johnson – Forever More" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. ^ "Production Notes". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 12. March 23, 1996. p. 85. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  13. ^ "Adventures in Music Videos". Masuak.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  14. ^ Miracle (booklet). Puff Johnson. Work Group. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  17. ^ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32.
  19. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1140. April 5, 1996. p. 39. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "Forever More". Amazon. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  21. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1144. May 3, 1996. p. 35. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "フォーエバー・モア | パフ・ジョンソン" [Forever More | Puff Johnson] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 29, 1997. p. 41. Retrieved August 13, 2021.