Figures (song)
"Figures" is a song by Canadian singer Jessie Reyez from her debut extended play Kiddo (2017). It was released as a single by FMLY on August 26, 2016 and was later added to her debut studio album Before Love Came to Kill Us (2020). The song was written by Reyez and Shy Carter alongside Björn Djupström and Tobias Frelin, the members of songwriting duo Priest and the Beast, who also produced it.
"Figures" | ||||
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Single by Jessie Reyez | ||||
from the EP Kiddo and the album Before Love Came to Kill Us | ||||
Released | August 26, 2016 | |||
Genre | Soul[1] | |||
Length | 4:00 | |||
Label | FMLY | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Priest and the Beast | |||
Jessie Reyez singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Figures" on YouTube |
Commercial performance
"Figures" was a minor hit in Canada[1] where it peaked at 58 on the Canadian Hot 100.[2] The song received a triple platinum certification from Music Canada for selling 240,000 track-equivalent units.[3]
In the US, the song peaked at number 7 on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart[4] and at 32 on the Rhythmic Songs chart.[5] It received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling one million track-equivalent units.[6]
Music video
The music video for "Figures" was published on YouTube on August 24, 2016. It is a minimal video in which Reyez sings the song while she is sitting on a chair.[7]
Live performances
On June 18, 2017, Reyez performed "Figures" on the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards red carpet.[8] She performed the song again a week later during the BET Awards 2017.[9]
Reyez made her late-night TV debut when she sang "Figures" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 9, 2017.[10][11] In November 2017, she performed both "Gatekeeper" and "Figures" on Late Night with Seth Meyers, with the latter being released as a web exclusive.[12]
A live performance of "Figures" recorded for Vevo in a motel parking lot was published on Reyez's YouTube channel on March 30, 2020.[13] The singer played the guitar alongside a group of string players.[14]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]
- Priest and the Beast – producer, recording engineer
- Dustin Richardson – mix engineer
- Cole Nystrom – mixer
Charts
Chart (2017-2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[2] | 58 |
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[16] | 12 |
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[17] | 30 |
US R&B Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[4] | 7 |
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[5] | 32 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[3] | 3× Platinum | 240,000 |
United States (RIAA)[6] | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Figures, a Reprise
"Figures, a Reprise" | ||||
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Single by Jessie Reyez featuring Daniel Caesar | ||||
Released | March 26, 2018 | |||
Length | 3:12 | |||
Label | FMLY | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Jessie Reyez singles chronology | ||||
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Daniel Caesar singles chronology | ||||
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Background
Daniel Caesar asked Jessie Reyez to join him on stage for one of five sold-out shows he played in Toronto. Reyez wanted to sing her song "Figures" and decided to include Caesar's band to her performance. She performed half of the song solo while playing the guitar, and the other half was performed by the band. She later asked Caesar to rework the song with her and "Figures, a Reprise" was done a few weeks later.[18]
Release and promotion
On March 25, 2018, Reyez shared a screenshot of a chat with Daniel Caesar through her Instagram story.[19] Later that night, they performed "Figures, a Reprise" together during the Juno Awards of 2018. The song was released on digital platforms after their performance.[20]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[21]
- Jordan Evans – producer
- Matthew Burnett – producer, drums
- Ian Culley – guitar
- Saya Gray – bass
- Riley Bell – mixer, recording engineer
References
- DeVille, Chris (October 18, 2018). "Jessie Reyez Is Really Great And You Should Listen To Her". Stereogum. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Canadian single certifications – Jessie Reyez – Figures". Music Canada. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "American single certifications – Jessie Reyez – Figures". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 1, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- McCormick, Luke (August 24, 2016). "Watch Jessie Reyez's "Figures" Video". The Fader. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Stuns With Emotional Red Carpet Performance Of 'Figures'". iHeartRadio. June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Toronto's Jessie Reyez Talks About Performing at the BET Awards!". CKIS-FM. August 1, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Bowsher, Allison (August 9, 2017). "Watch Jessie Reyez Get A Standing Ovation On The Tonight Show". Much. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Walaszek, John (August 9, 2017). "Watch Jessie Reyez Perform "Figures" on The Tonight Show". Pigeons & Planes. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Cantor, Brian (November 21, 2017). "Jessie Reyez Performs On "Late Night With Seth Meyers"". Headline Planet. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Darmon, Aynslee (March 30, 2020). "Jessie Reyez Gives Special "Figures" Live Performance". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Droke, Carolyn (March 31, 2020). "Jessie Reyez Performs "Figures" During Golden Hour In a Captivating Live Performance". Uproxx. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez / Figures / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Corry, Kristin (May 7, 2018). "Jessie Reyez Is Using R&B to Deal With Old Demons". Noisey. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez Enlists Daniel Caesar for "Figures, a Reprise"". Pigeons & Planes. March 26, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- Bowsher, Allison (March 26, 2018). "Listen to Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar on "Figures, A Reprise"". Much. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Jessie Reyez / Figures, a Reprise / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved June 1, 2020.