Future

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"Future"
Single by Brody Chandler
from the album Introduction
Released June 30, 2010 (2010-06-30)
Format
  • Digital download
Recorded 2008
Genre
  • Electro-pop
Length 4:48
Label Music Nation Label Group
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Riprock & Alex-G
Brody Chandler singles chronology
"Vacancy"
(2009)
"Future"
(2010)
"Tourist"
(2014)

"Future" is a song recorded by American singer Brody Chandler for his debut studio album Introduction (2009). The song was co-written by Chandler, Justin Lamar and Natalie Chandler, and produced by Riprock & Alex-G. It was released as the fifth overall single from the album on June 30, 2010 by Music Nation Label Group. The release of "Future" was limited to Japan and marked his first single to not produce a physical disc, serving as a digital-only release. "Future" was one of the first songs that Chandler recorded for Introduction. It is an electro-pop song with an instrumentation that features electric guitar riffs, synthesizers, keyboards and isolated sound effects. Lyrically, the song is about a man who gives his problematic girlfriend one final ultimatum.

"Future" was generally well received by music critics around the world, who called it one of the best songs on Introduction, praising Chandler's lyrics and "radio-friendly momentum". The song peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart in Japan and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Due to a scheduling conflict with rehearsals for his stint in the Broadway musical Wicked, a music video for "Future" was not filmed. Chandler performed "Future" on his two major concert tours: the Introducing Brody Chandler World Tour (2009–10) and the Tourist World Tour (2014–16).

Writing and production

Chandler co-wrote "Future" with his sister Natalie Chandler.

When Chandler started work on Introduction, he considered many options, and thought about the musical direction for it. He developed a friendship with production duo Joey "Riprock" Delphino and Alex "Alex-G" Goldstein of Riprock & Alex-G, with whom he set out to achieve adult pop appeal, while also creating a strong foundation within the young audience. Chandler thought about lyrical ideas for the songs revolving around sex, fantasy, romance and heartbreak. During the early sessions for the album, his sister Natalie Chandler stopped by the recording studio to preview the material, and the two, alongside Justin Lamar, organically began to collaborate on a song titled "Future". It became one of the first songs that Chandler completed for Introduction. Lyrically, the song is about a man who gives his problematic girlfriend one final ultimatum.

As Chandler contemplated the sound he was looking to achieve, producers Riprock & Alex-G had individually began to tinker with various instrumental tracks and musical ideas to present to him for consideration. Chandler explained to Christine K. Ellis in the January 11, 2009 issue of Us Weekly: "One of the first songs we did was 'Future,' which has that edgy uptempo heavy bass I love. It's about giving an ultimatum. It's like, 'I'm working my ass off to make this relationship work and you keep on f---ing it up. Get it together or I'm gone. There's no future for us, if you can't change your ways. It's something I'm sure a lot of men and women can relate to". He later told the April 2009 issue of V magazine that working with his sister Natalie Chandler was "a great benefit to me because she's such an incredible songwriter with a lot of chops".

Release

"Future" was released as the fifth overall single from Introduction. The single was limited to Japan, where Introduction was released 10 months after its initial simultaneous release in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia. "Future" became Chandler's first single to not receive a music video or physical CD release. On June 30, 2010, a digital EP single was released in Japan containing the radio edit of the song, an extended mix and the 12" mix. It was also released as a standalone digital single. Prior to its release, iTunes promoted the single with a pre-order campaign, which offered a free digital booklet of high resolution photos from the Japan leg of Chandler's Introducing Brody Chandler World Tour.

Reception

Critical reception

"Future" was generally well received by music critics. Short, a writer for The Independent, commented that the album Introduction had "plenty" of "professional craftsmanship at its peak" because of "such fine songs" like "Mysterious" and "Future". NME listed "Future" as being a highlight from Introduction. Ken Tucker, a writer for Rolling Stone, stated that he felt "Future" was the "most thoughtful tracks on the album" and described the song's lyrics as telling of a "one-sided romance yearning for something better". Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that "Future" and "Firecracker" were "two of the album's best". Tyler Martin, a writer for The Guardian, described "Future" as being "wistful," commenting that he felt that the song featured Chandler's "least affected vocal performance" but that it "builds an engaging, radio-friendly momentum".

Commercial performance

In Japan, "Future" debuted and peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 13,415 copies through digital retailers in its first week. This made Chandler the first artist in MusicNation history to score a hit without a physical release in Japan. It was present on the Oricon Singles Chart for a total of 45 weeks, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Track listings

  • Japan CD single
  1. "Future" (Radio Edit)  – 4:03
  2. "Future" (Extended Mix)  – 5:52
  3. "Future" (12" Mix)  – 7:09
  • Digital download
  1. "Future"  – 4:48

Credits and personnel

Recording and mixing
  • Recorded and mixed at Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles and Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank.
Personnel

  • Songwriting – Brody Chandler, Justin Lamar, Natalie Chandler
  • Production – Riprock & Alex-G
  • Mixing – Don Pensando

  • Engineer - Jetson Gurgen
  • Assistant engineers – Joshua Gudwin
  • Vocal arrangement – Brody Chandler

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Introduction, Music Nation Label Group.

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon Singles Chart) 2

Certifications

Nation Certification Sales/Shipments
JPNation (Recording Industry Association of Japan) Platinum 315,556

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Japan June 30, 2010 Digital download Music Nation Label Group