Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right”: A Deep Dive into the Hit Song
Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right”: A Look Back
“Get Right” is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez, recorded for her fourth studio album, Rebirth (2005). It was written by Rich Harrison, Usher Raymond, and James Brown, and produced by Harrison and Cory Rooney. An upbeat dance and R&B song with jazz, hip hop, and funk influences, “Get Right” marks a departure in Lopez’s musical style and has been called one of her most “memorable” songs by The New York Times. It is built around a sample of “Soul Power 74″ by Maceo and the Macks and was noted for its heavy use of saxophone and horn instrumentation. The song contains lyrics about dancing, sex, and drinking at a club. American rapper Fabolous is featured on a separate version of the song, which is present as a bonus track on Rebirth. “Get Right” was announced as the album’s lead single in November 2004.[1]
Critical Reception and Chart Performance
Music critics were generally favorable of the song’s production itself, though noted Lopez’s “talk-singing” lackluster vocals. “Get Right” gained immediate worldwide attention following its release, considering Lopez hadn’t released new material in over two years. It peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Outside the United States, the song topped the charts in Italy, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten in other international music markets, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, and Spain.
The Music Video
A music video for “Get Right,” directed by Francis Lawrence—who previously directed her iconic “Waiting for Tonight” music video—was released on the day of the song’s release. It featured Lopez playing eight different characters attending a nightclub; their short sub-storylines would all develop in the song’s duration. The clip became a widespread success, becoming one of MTV’s most played music videos internationally at one stage. It also received heavy airplay in the United States and received four MTV Video Music Award nominations.