ABCDEFU
"ABCDEFU" (stylized in all lowercase, also known by its radio edited title "ABC") is the major-label debut single by American singer Gayle, released on August 13, 2021, through Atlantic and Arthouse Records. It was co-written by Gayle with Sara Davis and David Pittenger, and produced by Pete Nappi. The song is the lead single from Gayle's debut EP "A Study of the Human Experience Volume One". Commercially, "ABCDEFU" has topped the "Billboard" Global 200 and peaked at number three on the "Billboard" Hot 100. Additionally, "ABCDEFU" has topped the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Israel , Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, coming in number 2 in countries like Australia, Belgium, Lithuania, Poland, and Singapore, while peaking within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, India, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, and South Korea. It has also landed inside the top 20 in Hungary, South Africa, and Vietnam, as well as the top 40 in Spain. Background and promotion. The song marks the first single release since the 17-year-old Nashville-based singer signed with Atlantic in 2021. On her TikTok, Gayle uploaded a video where she stated  I'm out of [song] ideas and asked followers to comment song ideas. "Comment anything and I'll try my best to turn it into a song." One user commented asking for a song that incorporates the alphabet. Within a few days, she uploaded another video of her strumming what became the chorus of the song. After being accused of staging a marketing ploy, Atlantic Records later confirmed that the comment was left by Nancy Berman, a marketing manager at the label, stating that it was "simply a playful comment". According to Gayle, the song "came from a place of  trying so hard to be the nice, respectful ex-girlfriend, to the point where it was negatively affecting me". In an interview with "Tongue Tied Mag", Gayle explained the inspiration behind the song: "After the breakup, I was trying really, really hard to be a nice person—like, overcompensating for it—like, the week after we broke up, I called him and was, like, 'Hey, bud!' and 'What's up, my friend?!'". On March 31, 2021, Gayle revealed on Instagram that she had deliberately broken her middle finger, and the X-ray scan from the hospital was used for the  single's cover art. The song achieved mainstream success within a few months after release, surpassing over 500 million global streams as of March 2022. The singer has since released different versions of the song, including the demo, a "chill version", and an "angrier version". Music video. The accompanying music video was released on August 13, 2021. The video was shot via a camcorder with at a low resolution to evoke an early 2000s home video feel. In the music video, the singer and her friends visit and look around her ex's home. Composition. According to the digital sheet  music published at musicnotes.com by Warner Music Publishing, "ABCDEFU" is written in the key of E major with a tempo of 122 beats per minute. The song's title and lyrical content are a play on words incorporating the first six letters of the alphabet with the addition of the twenty-first to form an initialism for a profane phrase i.e. Fuck yoU. Sonically the song is characterized by "minimalistic sonics" and "jagged guitar work", while it "reaches its climax with a massive sing-a-long chorus". Critical reception. Gayle's song has been a viral hit on platforms such  as TikTok and Instagram. Emily Zemler of "Rolling Stone" praised the passion of Gayle's live renditions of the piece. April Bredael of "Tongue Tied Magazine" thought the song "adds to a growing list of accomplishments" of the singer with tracks that are "authentic, honest, and unapologetic". Track listing. Digital download and streaming Digital download and streaming (Nicer version) Digital download and streaming (Chill version) Digital download and streaming (Angrier version) Digital download and streaming (featuring Royal & the Serpent) Digital download and streaming (The Wild Remix)