Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard magazine remarked that Johnson "effortlessly glides through this pop-sweetened R&B ballad", produced "with recognizable flair" by Walden. He added, "The song itself is a tad predictable but pleasantly executed. It is easy to imagine love-struck young girls swaying and singing along to this."[1] A reviewer from Music Week gave it a score of four out of five, writing, "Columbia's smooth soul diva follows up her huge 'Over & Over' with another seductive, Whitney-esque smoocher, which she penned with Narada Michael Walden and Jermaine Dupri. Radio will lap it up."[3] The magazine's Alan Jones commented, "Puff Johnson is a fine vocalist, rather like Whitney Houston without the frills, and this image is even more strongly evoked by Puff's majestic new single 'Forever More', which was co-authored by Narada Michael Walden, architect of many of Whitney's early career triumphs. It is a sonically soothing and memorable R&B ballad, lovingly embraced by Puff's tender vocals. It's one of those records that could hang around for a long time."[4]
In the United States, "Forever More" peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 31 on the Hot R&B Singles chart, and number 22 on the Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover chart.[5][6][7] "Forever More" charted the highest in New Zealand, where it peaked at number five on the RIANZ Singles Chart.[8] Elsewhere, the song became a top-30 hit in both Australia and the United Kingdom, peaking at number 29 in both countries.[9][10] It also charted in the Netherlands, peaking at number 91.[11]
Music video
The music video for "Forever More" was directed by Greg Masuak.[12] On his website, Masuak writes that the video was heavily edited to become a strictly African-American love story, although it was intended to be a multi-racial tribute to love.[13] In parts of the music video, Puff is seeing playing with an elephant.
Track listings
Australian CD single| Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|
| 1. | "Forever More" (Single Version) | | Walden | 4:07 |
|---|
| 2. | "Forever More" (Album Version) | | Walden | 5:08 |
|---|
| 3. | "I Like It" | | Soulshock & Karlin | 4:52 |
|---|
| 4. | "Never Loved Nobody" | | | 4:10 |
|---|
European CD single| Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|
| 1. | "Forever More" (Radio Version) | | Walden | 4:07 |
|---|
| 2. | "Forever More" (Classic Mix) | | | 7:09 |
|---|
| 3. | "Forever More" (Sandman Club Mix) | | - Walden
- Love to Infinity[b]
| 7:17 |
|---|
| 4. | "All Because of You" | | | 3:31 |
|---|
European maxi-single| Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|
| 1. | "Forever More" (Album Version) | | Walden | 5:07 |
|---|
| 2. | "Forever More" (Eyernity Mix) | | | 6:11 |
|---|
| 3. | "Forever More" (Mystro's R & B Groove Mix) | | - Walden
- Love to Infinity[b]
| 4:25 |
|---|
| 4. | "Forever More" (Classic Mix) | | - Walden
- Love to Infinity[b]
| 7:07 |
|---|
| 5. | "Forever More" (Sandman Club Mix) | | - Walden
- Love to Infinity[b]
| 7:15 |
|---|
US single| Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|
| 1. | "Forever More" (Single Version) | | Walden | 4:01 |
|---|
| 2. | "Forever More" (Album Version) | | Walden | 5:05 |
|---|
Notes
- ^a denotes associate producer
- ^b denotes additional producer
- ^c denotes co-producer
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the liner notes of Miracle.[14]
- Louis Biancaniello – associate production, instruments, programming
- David "Frazeman" Frazer – recording
- Jeff "G" Gray – assistant engineering
- Sandy Griffith – backing vocals
- Mick Guzauski – mixing
- Puff Johnson – backing vocals
- Janice Lee – coordination
- Cherise Miller – coordination
- Marc "Elvis" Reyburn – recording
- Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals
- Matt Rohr – additional recording
- Cynthia Shiloh – coordination
- Annie Stocking – backing vocals
- Kulan Kevin Walden – coordination
- Narada Michael Walden – arrangement, production
References
- 1 2 3 Flick, Larry (April 6, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 96. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ↑ "Work Group's Puff Johnson Creating a Romantic 'Miracle'" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 16. April 20, 1996. p. 22. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 22, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ↑ Jones, Alan (April 12, 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. June 15, 1996. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. June 29, 1996. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 "Rhythmic Airplay". Billboard. June 15, 1996. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 "Puff Johnson – Forever More". Top 40 Singles.
- 1 2 "Puff Johnson – Forever More". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- 1 2 "Puff Johnson Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- 1 2 "Puff Johnson – Forever More" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Production Notes". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 12. March 23, 1996. p. 85. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ↑ "Adventures in Music Videos". Masuak.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ↑ Miracle (booklet). Work Group. 1996.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 12/4/1997 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 12/4/1997 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ↑ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ↑ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32.
- ↑ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1140. April 5, 1996. p. 39. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Forever More". Amazon. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ↑ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1144. May 3, 1996. p. 35. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ↑ "フォーエバー・モア | パフ・ジョンソン" [Forever More | Puff Johnson] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 29, 1997. p. 41. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
