Rebecca Black

Rebecca Black
Black in 2014
Background information
Birth name Rebecca Renee Black
Born (1997-06-21) June 21, 1997
Irvine, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2010–present
Labels

Rebecca Renee Black (born June 21, 1997[1][2]) is an American YouTuber and singer who gained extensive media coverage when the music video for her 2011 single "Friday" went viral on YouTube and other social media sites. "Friday" was derided by many music critics and viewers, who dubbed it "the worst song ever".[3][4][5] Black went on to release other songs including her Dave Days collaboration "Saturday". She currently uploads videos on her YouTube channel about various topics.[6]

Early life

Black was born in Irvine, California.[7] She is the daughter of John Jeffery Black and Georgina Marquez Kelly, both veterinarians.[8][9] Her mother is of Mexican descent, and her father, originally from Iowa,[10] is of English, Italian, and Polish descent.[11][12] Black attended private school from kindergarten to 6th grade, and moved to a public school due to bullying. She joined the school's musical theater program, where she felt she was "meant to be." In April 2011,[10] Black dropped out in favor of homeschooling, citing both a need to focus on her career[13] and a desire to avoid taunts from her former classmates.[14] Black has claimed that she was also failing English class due to her busy schedule.[10]

Career

2010–11: "Friday" and other music

Rebecca Black in 2011

In late 2010, a classmate of Black and music-video client of Los Angeles record label ARK Music Factory told her about the company.[15] Black's mother paid $4,000 for Ark Music to produce the music video while the Blacks retained ownership of both the master and the video.[8][16] The single, "Friday", written entirely by Ark, was released on YouTube and iTunes. The song's video was uploaded to YouTube on February 10, 2011, and received approximately 1,000 views in the first month. The video went viral on March 11, acquiring millions of views on YouTube in a matter of days, becoming the most discussed topic on social networking site Twitter,[17] and garnering mostly negative media coverage.[18] The single was released on March 14, with first-week sales estimated to be around 40,000 by Billboard.[19] On March 22, Black appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, during which she performed the song and discussed the negative reaction to it.[20] The song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 and the New Zealand Singles Chart at numbers 58 and 33, respectively.[21][22] In the UK, the song debuted at number 61 on the UK Singles Chart.[23] In response to the YouTube video of "Friday", Black began to receive phone and email death threats,[24] which were investigated by the Anaheim Police Department.[25] Black teamed up with Funny or Die on April Fool's Day 2011 (when the comedy site was renamed Friday or Die) for a series of videos, including one about the underage teens driving a car in her "Friday" video.[26] She signed to manager Debra Baum's DB Entertainment, reportedly with Ryan Seacrest's help.[27]

Black also stated that she is a fan of Justin Bieber, and expressed interest in performing a duet with him.[28] MTV selected Black to host its first online awards show, the O Music Awards Fan Army Party, in April 2011.[29] As an homage to "Friday", Black appeared in the music video for Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)",[30] in which Black plays alongside Perry as the hostess of a party Perry attends. A cover of "Friday" was performed on Glee in the second-season episode, "Prom Queen". When asked about why the song was covered on Glee, show creator Ryan Murphy replied, "The show pays tribute to pop culture and, love it or hate it, that song is pop culture."[31] Not long after the "Friday" video went viral on YouTube, Black and her mother, Georgina Kelly, got into legal issues with Ark Music over rights to the song. In a letter from Kelly's lawyer to Ark Music on March 29, 2011, it was alleged that Ark Music failed to fulfill the terms of their November 2010 agreement by not giving her the song and video's master recordings, by claiming Black as exclusively signed to the label, and by exploiting the song without permission – for example, selling a "Friday" ringtone. While Ark founder (and "Friday" co-writer) Patrice Wilson stated that Kelly "will get the masters and the song [...] [t]hey can have it all", and agreed that Black was not exclusive to Ark, his attorney claimed that Ark owns the copyright for the song and the November agreement is invalid.[32] In June 2011, Ark Music Factory started charging $2.99 to watch the music video on YouTube.[33] Later that month, "Friday" was removed as a result of the legal dispute; it was restored to YouTube on September 16, 2011, on Black's official channel.[34]

"Friday" was revealed as YouTube's No. 1 video of 2011, with Black hosting a short video called "YouTube Rewind" in the year-end recap.[35][36] The video received more than 167 million views and more than 3,190,000 "dislikes"[37] during its first four months, prior to its temporary removal.[38] After the fallout with Ark Music Factory, Black started an independent record label named RB Records.[39] She released a self-produced single titled "My Moment" on July 18, 2011, the first on her label, with an accompanying music video published to her YouTube channel the same day.[40] In the video, director Morgan Lawley features real life footage of Black from both before and after her fame.[41] In late October 2011, production began on the music video for Black's third single, "Person of Interest".[42] About the song, Black stated "The basis of it is that it's a love song but it's not a love song. It's about almost teenage crushes – when you're not in love yet but you really like a guy – which I'm really excited about because I don't think there are too many out like that. It's very much a dance type song. It will make you get up and dance and sing along in your car."[43] The single and its accompanying music video were released on November 15, 2011.[44] Black released two more singles in 2012: "Sing It" in May,[45] and "In Your Words" in November.[46][47][48] Black was planning to release her debut album in late 2011, which she said would include "a bunch of different kinds of stuff."[49] The album was being recorded at a studio belonging to music producer Charlton Pettus.[50] However, the album was never released. Black was featured in an ABC Primetime Nightline: Celebrity Secrets special entitled Underage and Famous: Inside Child Stars' Lives.[51]

2012–present: YouTube videos

In 2012, Black signed onto the Maker Studios YouTube network.[52] She was also brought to Australia by Telstra to promote the launch of their 4G service.[53] Zeitgeist, which sorted billions of Google searches to capture the year's 10 fastest-rising global queries, listed Black as "#1 Most Searched – Google". The searches for the teen singer topped even those of pop icons Lady Gaga and Adele.[54] In late 2013, Black released the song "Saturday". For her sequel to "Friday", she collaborated with Dave Days.[55][56] It became Black's second song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 55. While it reached a higher position than "Friday" (number 58), "Saturday" was on the chart only one week, compared to six for "Friday".[57] Aside from her original music, Black has been posting videos regularly on her YouTube channel, which include blogs (sometimes with other people on YouTube), question-and-answer videos, and occasional covers of songs by other artists.[58] This includes her versions of two Miley Cyrus songs from 2013. That July, Black collaborated with fellow YouTube personality Jon D in an acoustic cover of "We Can't Stop", for which lyrical changes were made.[59] Black followed with an acoustic version of "Wrecking Ball" in November.[60]

At VidCon 2015, Black revealed that she had been working on an album which she hoped to release by the end of 2015. According to her, the album will not be anything like her previous songs. She had been working on the album since releasing her song Friday; however, but it took her a while to be free from Ark Music Factory and find producers with whom she was comfortable.[61] However, no album or new original songs were released. Towards the end of 2015, Black performed a cover of "Wild" by Troye Sivan.[62] Black created a web video in January 2016 on Go90 called "Life After Friday". In the show, Black graduates from high school, tells her parents she is not going to college, and follows her adventures after moving to Los Angeles.[63][64]

On August 26, 2016, Black released a new single titled "The Great Divide", her first release of new material in almost three years.[65] This was followed by another single, "Foolish", on April 21, 2017. On September 1, 2017, she released the single "Heart Full of Scars", as well as the tracklist for her debut EP, RE / BL.

In June 2018, she appeared on BBC Radio 5 talking about cyberbullying and online abuse and the adverse effects on her and how cruel comments "stick with you forever" as she said.[66][67]

On June 4th, 2018, Rebecca released "Satellite" as the fourth single off her debut EP, RE / BL.

On National French Fry Day 2018,[68] YouTube personality Miranda Sings in collaboration with Dunkin Donuts, released an adapted version of Friday, as part of the Donut Fries marketing strategy. [69]

The Four: Battle for Stardom

On June 7, 2018, Black appeared as a contestant in season 2 of the reality television musical competition series The Four: Battle for Stardom, broadcast on Fox. The series is hosted by Fergie and judged by Sean Combs, Meghan Trainor and DJ Khaled. Black sang "Bye Bye Bye" from NSYNC for her audition, and received the go-ahead for the next round with "three blue rings" from all three judges. In the next round she picked contestant James Graham from the boy band Stereo Kicks as her opponent. Graham performed "A Song for You", followed by Black singing Ednaswap's "Torn". The audience voted on the two performances, preferring to save Graham, with Black being eliminated from the show.[70][71][72] After her appearance, she tweeted: "I am just blown away reading your comments and seeing so much support online,” she wrote. “Sending all of my love right back to you. Thank you for hearing me, for seeing me. This is just the beginning. Also I don’t think I’m gonna sleep at all tonight I’m way too excited."[73]

Filmography

Year Title Role Type Notes
2012 Katy Perry: Part of Me Herself Film Documentary
2013 Legend of a Rabbit Penny Film Voice (English dub)
2014 Fine Brothers Herself Web YouTubers React session (Season 3)[74]
2016 Life After Friday[63] Herself Web

Discography

Extended plays

Title Details
RE / BL
  • Released: September 15, 2017[75]
  • Label: Rebecca Black
  • Formats: CD / Digital download

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[76]
US
Heat

[77]
US
Dance

[78]
AUS
Digital

[79]
CAN
[80]
IRL
[81]
NZ
[22]
SCO
[82]
UK
[23]
"Friday" 2011 581406146334560 Non-album singles
"My Moment"
"Person of Interest"
"Sing It" 2012
"In Your Words"
"Saturday"
(with Dave Days)
2013 552
"The Great Divide" 2016 23 RE / BL
"Foolish" 2017
"Heart Full of Scars"
"Scream"[83]
(with Sondrey)
Non-album singles
"Satellite" 2018 RE / BL
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director Notes
"Friday" 2011 Patrice Wilson and Clarence Jey[84]
"Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" Marc Klasfeld[85] Guest appearance only; Katy Perry's music video
"My Moment" Morgan Lawley[86]
"Person of Interest" Mazik Self[87]
"Sing It" 2012 Ryan Pesecky[88][89]
"In Your Words"
"Saturday" 2013 Chris Grieder[90]
"The Great Divide" (Crash Cove Remix) 2016

Awards and nominations

  • In April 2011, the MTV O Music Awards, one of the annual awards established by MTV to honor the art, creativity, personality and technology of music into the digital space nominated "Which Seat Can I Take?" for "Favorite Animated GIF" that included footage by Rebecca Black featuring 50 Cent and Bert.[91]
  • Black was named "Choice Web Star" at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards in August 2011.[92]
Year Nominated work Event Award Result
2011 "Which Seat Can I Take?" MTV O Music Awards Favorite Animated GIF Nominated
2011 Herself 2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Web Star Won

References

  1. Rebecca Black [@MsRebeccaBlack] (March 22, 2011). "@RBeccaBlackFan June 21(:" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  2. Rebecca Black [@MsRebeccaBlack] (June 21, 2017). "Thank you for all of the birthday love. So far 20 feels real NICE 🌟🌟🌟" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  3. Whitworth, Dan (March 21, 2011). "'Worst song ever' gets 29m views after going viral". BBC. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  4. Pierce, Tony (March 18, 2011). "Rebecca Black, teen singer, admits she cried when her hit song was deemed 'Worst Song Ever'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  5. AFP (March 22, 2011). "'Worst song ever' tops 30 million views". ABC News Australia. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  6. by rebecca. "Rebecca". YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  7. "Twitter". January 18, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  8. 1 2 Belkin, Lisa (March 25, 2011). "An Internet Star's Mom Responds". The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  9. Hall, Stan (March 25, 2011). "As 'Friday' finally fades, a look back at an old little meme". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 (June 28, 2013). DRAW MY LIFE – REBECCA BLACK on YouTube. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  11. "Tumblr: stay lovely". March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  12. "Terra: Rebecca Black tiene origen mexicano". March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  13. "Rebecca Black ran toward 'stuff' like VMAs, not away from bullies". Los Angeles Times. August 2011.
  14. "Rebecca Black opts for homeschooling after taunts". New York Post. August 10, 2011
  15. Lee, Chris (March 17, 2011). "Rebecca Black: 'I'm Being Cyberbullied'". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  16. Chelin, Pamela (April 1, 2011). "Exclusive: Rebecca Black Fighting Ark Music Factory Over 'Friday'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
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  25. "Rebecca Black Death Threats Under Investigation". Uk.eonline.com. April 19, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
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  28. "Rebecca Black to Justin Bieber: 'Would you do a duet with me?'". The Ampersand. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  29. Curran, Aimee. "Rebecca Black Says O Music Awards Had 'Great Energy': Online sensation also talks about her 'awkward' newfound fame". Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  30. "Rebecca Black Sneaks Into Katy Perry's 'Last Friday Night' Teaser". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  31. Halperin & Goldberg, Shirley & Lesley. "'Glee' Cover of Rebecca Black's 'Friday,' Explained". Retrieved June 15, 2011.
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  56. "Saturday – Rebecca Black & Dave Days – Official Music Video". YouTube. December 7, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  57. Lipshutz, Jason (March 21, 2014). "10 Viral Video Hits That Charted On The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  58. "YouTube channel video list". Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  59. James Montgomery (July 8, 2013). "Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop' Gets Cleaned Up By Rebecca Black". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  60. "Wrecking Ball – Miley Cyrus – (Cover) by Rebecca Black". YouTube. Google. November 8, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
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  62. Video on YouTube
  63. 1 2
  64. "Rebecca Black Life After Friday". TV Guide. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  65. "Rebecca Black's Comeback Single "The Great Divide" Is Here". Teen Vogue. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  66. Rebecca Black: 'Cruel comments stick with you for ever'
  67. BBC: Online abuse troubled singer Rebecca Black for years
  68. TIME: Free french fries deals - National French Fry Day 2018
  69. DunkinDonuts News: Miranda Sings and Rebecca Black come together to celebrate Fry Day at Dunkin
  70. Cosmpolitan: It's Friday, Friday, REBECCA BLACK Performed *NSYNC On TV Last Night - Black appeared on the FOX reality singing competition "The Four," and you won't believe what she sounds like now...
  71. Billboard: Rebecca Black Performed an *NSYNC Song on 'The Four'
  72. Hollywood Life: ‘The Four’ Premiere Recap: Rebecca Black Proves She’s Grown Since ‘Friday’ With Epic Challenge
  73. People: Rebecca Black's Surprise Audition on The Four 7 Years After Releasing Her Viral Hit 'Friday'
  74. "Spoiler Alert: The Fine Brothers Are Rising Stars Online". Streaming Media. 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  75. "RE / BL - EP by Rebecca Black on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US).
  76. Peak positions for singles in the US:
    • All except noted: "Rebecca Black – Chart history: The Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
    • "Saturday": Gruger, William (December 18, 2014). "Rebecca Black's 'Saturday' Follows 'Friday' Onto Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  77. Peaks on Heatseekers Songs:
    • Main: "Rebecca Black – Chary history: Heatseekers Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
    • "Saturday": "Rebecca Black – Chary history: Heatseekers Songs – December 28, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  78. "Rebecca Black – Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  79. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing March 28, 2011" (PDF). Pandora Archive. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  80. "Nielsen Canadian Charts Update" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  81. "GfK Chart-Track". Irish Recorded Music Association. GfK. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  82. "March 27, 2011 – April 2, 2011". officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
  83. "Scream - Single on Itunes by Rebecca Black & Sondrey". iTunes. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  84. Smith, Russell (March 16, 2011). "How to be an instant Internet superstar – for a fee". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  85. Vena, Jocelyn (June 20, 2011). "Katy Perry's 'Last Friday Night' Video: Frame By Frame". MTV. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  86. Duke, Alan (July 11, 2011). "Rebecca Black's 'Moment' comes next Monday". CNN Entertainment. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  87. "Mazik-Self-Aviary". Boulevard Industries. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  88. "Rebecca Black – Sing It". Ryan Pesecky. June 20, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  89. "Rebecca Black – In Your Words". Ryan Pesecky. June 20, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  90. Video on YouTube
  91. "O Music Award for Favorite Animated GIF". Tj.mtv.com. April 26, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  92. Mendoza, Nadia (August 8, 2011). "A baby Gaga in the making? US actress Lucy Hale makes a fashion statement with heelless shoes at Teen Choice Awards". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
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