"ABCDEFU" (also known by its radio-edited title "ABC (Nicer)"; stylized in all lowercase) 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.
"ABCDEFU" reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 and, in the United States, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the US, "ABCDEFU" topped the charts in 16 countries.Including Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In 2022, the song was nominated for Song of the Year for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background and promotion The song marks the first single release since the Nashville-based singer signed with Atlantic Records/Arthouse Records in 2021. On her TikTok account, Gayle uploaded a video where she stated "I'm out of [song] ideas" and asked followers to comment song ideas. She said, "Comment anything and I'll try my best to turn it into a song." Nancy Berman, a marketing manager at Atlantic Records, commented, asking for a song that incorporates the alphabet. Within a few days, Gayle uploaded another video of her strumming the chorus of the song.
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 stated on Instagram that she had dislocated 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. Gayle has since released different versions of the song, including the demo, a "chill version", and an "angrier version". The original song reached 1 billion streams on July 9, 2023.
Music video The accompanying music video was released alongside the single. The video was shot via a camcorder at a low resolution to evoke early 2000s home videos. In the music video, the singer and her friends break into 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, with Gayle's vocals ranging from G3 to C5. 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 the profane phrase "Fuck yoU". In the "angrier" version, Gayle sings in the hook "A-B-C-D-E fuck you" to represent its meaning.
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 The 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 (Nicer version) "ABC" – 2:48 Digital download and streaming (Demo version) "ABCDEFU" – 2:35 Digital download and streaming (Chill version) "ABCDEFU" – 2:56 Digital download and streaming (Angrier version) "ABCDEFU" – 2:39 Digital download and streaming (featuring Royal & the Serpent) "ABCDEFU" – 2:49 Digital download and streaming ABC (The Wild Remix) "ABC" – 3:02
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2021–2023) Peakposition Brazil Airplay (Top 100 Brasil) Note: In SEMANA REFERÊNCIA select February 28, 2022 - March 4, 2022. To access the full Top 100, click on VER TOP 100 COMPLETO and enter your name and email. Then enter the code you received by email. 76 Bulgaria Airplay (PROPHON) 5 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 2 Croatia International Airplay (Top lista) 3 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 145 Global 200 (Billboard) 1 Greece International (IFPI) 4 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 1 India International (IMI) 5 Indonesia (Billboard) 15 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) 6 Lithuania (AGATA) 2 Luxembourg (Billboard) 1 Malaysia (RIM) 1 Mexico Airplay (Billboard) 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 3 Peru Streaming (UNIMPRO) 72 Philippines (Billboard) 14Romania Airplay (UPFR) 4 San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50) 11 Singapore (RIAS) 2 South Africa Streaming (TOSAC) 20 South Korea (Gaon) 5 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 1 US Billboard Hot 100 3 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 15 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 1 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard) 36 US Rock Airplay (Billboard) 23 Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100) 15 + 2026 weekly chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2026) Peakposition Russia Streaming (TopHit) 68
Monthly charts + 20222023 chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (20222023) Peakposition Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 71 CIS Airplay (TopHit) 1 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100) 11 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) 7 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 4 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) 5 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) 8 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 2 + 2026 monthly chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2026) Peakposition Russia Streaming (TopHit) 80
Year-end charts + 2021 year-end chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2021) Position Hungary (Stream Top 40) 54 +2022 year-end chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2022) Position Australia (ARIA) 12 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 2 Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) 163 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 9 CIS Airplay (TopHit) 4 Denmark (Tracklisten) 41 Germany (Official German Charts) 4 Global 200 (Billboard) 7 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 1 Hungary (Single Top 40) 40 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 33 Italy (FIMI) 35 Lithuania (AGATA) 44 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 48 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 20 Poland (ZPAV) 26 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 10 South Korea (Circle) 60 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 42 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 8 UK Singles (OCC) 17 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 13 US Billboard Hot 100 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 33 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 15 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 18 Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100) 65
+ 2023 year-end chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2023) Position Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 79 CIS Airplay (TopHit) 65Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 20 Moldova Airplay (TopHit) 138 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 141 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 45 + 2024 year-end chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2024) Position Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 136Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 37 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 104 + 2025 year-end chart performance for "ABCDEFU" Chart (2025) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 39 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 125
Certifications
Release history +Release history for "ABCDEFU" Region Date Format Version Label Various August 13, 2021 Original Atlantic August 14, 2021 Nicer September 10, 2021 Demo September 13, 2021 Cartoonito Version September 17, 2021 Chill September 24, 2021 Angrier November 19, 2021 Royal & the Serpent remix Italy November 26, 2021 Radio airplay Original Warner United States December 7, 2021 Contemporary hit radio Atlantic Various December 31, 2021 The Wild remix February 18, 2022 CD single Versions of "ABCDEFU" released on CDs:
References