4ever (The Veronicas song)

Writing and development

"4ever" was written and produced by Lukasz Gottwald and Max Martin. In an interview with Digital Spy, Veronicas member Lisa Origliasso described the idea behind the song:

The original version of the song was recorded in 2005. In 2009, they re-recorded the song to release in the UK and Ireland as their second single. In the press release Jess described the new sound of the 2009 version:

Critical reception

The song has received generally positive reviews. Craig Mathieson from The Age stated that the sisters "have the pop single of the year in '4ever', a juiced-up slice of stimuli that is constructed so cannily you can't help but love its deviousness." Shannon Sanders from Iowa State Daily said the song was "ever-so-clever" while Alex Macpherson from The Guardian called it a "thrilling a piece of power pop... Propelled by a crunchy guitar riff and a twitchy us-against-the-world desperation..." Dan Raper of PopMatters said "the song has a strong girl come-on and a chorus that sounds like 'It's My Life' by Bon Jovi". Nick Levine from Digital Spy called the song "an absolute smash. To put it more precisely, it's a pop-rock stomper with a killer guitar riff, lyrics about seizing the moment and a massive chorus that actually warrants the description 'anthemic. Selby Times compared it to their hit "Untouched", saying it "complements its dynamic rock style with the same attitude and sassiness that made summer hit 'Untouched' so popular."

In 2025, the song placed 76 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.

Chart performance

"4ever" was first released in Australia on 15 August 2005, and made its debut on the ARIA Top 50 Singles chart at number five on 28 August. It remained in the top ten for eleven consecutive weeks where it peaked at number two on its tenth week on the chart. The song was certified platinum status by the Australian Recording Industry Association with shipments of over 75,000 copies. In New Zealand, the single made its debut on the New Zealand Singles chart at number seven where it peaked. The single spent seven non-consecutive weeks in the top ten and twenty-three weeks on the chart.

In the United States, the single made its debut on the Hot Dance Club Play charts peaking at number 20 on 17 December 2005. It also peaked at number 88 on the Pop 100 chart. In 2006, the song peaked at number twelve on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart where it peaked, failing to break into the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The single had moderate success throughout Europe, reaching the top 40 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

In 2009, the single was re-released in the UK and Ireland as the follow-up single for "Untouched" on their second album Hook Me Up. It debuted on the UK charts at number 17 on 10 October 2009. The single was on the charts for four weeks gradually dropping to number 49. In Ireland the single debuted and peaked at number 20, also staying on the charts for only four weeks.

Music videos

Three different music videos were produced for "4ever". When the single was released in 2005, two music videos were shot: one for Australian distribution, and one for distribution to the United States. Later, in 2009, a third music video was shot for distribution to the United Kingdom.

The Australian version won the award for best video of the year at the MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2006. |access-date=6 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903154803/http://www.mtvasia.com/News/200604/13013323.html |archive-date=3 September 2009

Australian version (2005)

The Australian version of the video was shot in Sun Valley, Los Angeles in 2005. |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/DvYadlzCXR4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=the veronicas Australian channel 9's today behind the scenes of the 4ever shootow The music video is set at night and shot around a public pool and a footpath.

US version (2005)

The US version of the "4ever" music video depicts the Veronicas in various rooms of a hotel and driving in their car on the streets. Despite being the US version, it also happened to air in Australia replacing the Australian version from late September to early October 2005.

UK version (2009)

On 1 July 2009, Jess announced on her Twitter page that they would be re-filming the music video in Los Angeles on 2 July 2009. |access-date=17 November 2009 The video was directed by photographer Kenneth Cappello whom they had met at a photo shoot for the MTV series "Styl'd". In an interview they commented about shooting the video with Cappello as,

On 11 August 2009, the new music video was released. The video involves the girls performing with a band at a wild house party while wrecking the house.{{cite web |access-date = 17 November 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120927214906/http://www.zimbio.com/Lisa+Origliasso/articles/tG_NUddZEkS/K+Version+Veronicas+4ever+Music+Video |archive-date = 27 September 2012 |url-status = dead}} The video also uses an updated version of the song with new vocals and new instruments.

Live performances

The song has been performed on many television shows including Sunrise, Today, Live at the Chapel, TRL in Italy and Australia, CD:USA and a live performance at the 2005 NRL Grand Final. They have also performed live recordings of the song including Sessions@AOL, which resulted in the release of the "Sessions@AOL" EP; MTV.com Live, which they also released an ep for and included a new track called "Stay"; and in 2009, they performed a session for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.

Track listings

CD single

1. "4ever" – 3:30
2. "How Long" – 3:52
3. "Did Ya Think" – 2:45

Digital download EP (20 December 2005)

1. "4ever" (Claude Le Gache extended edit) – 4:54
2. "4ever" (Morel's Pink Noise edit) – 4:57
3. "4ever" (E Smoove club edit) – 4:57
4. "4ever" (Lex PCH club edit) – 4:53
5. "4ever" (Mac Quayle Break edit) – 4:55

2009 digital download EP

1. "4ever" – 3:29
2. "4ever" (Jason Nevins remix) – 7:27
3. "4ever" (Cicada remix) – 6:12

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Appearances in other media

"4ever" is featured in the Amanda Bynes comedy film She's the Man, during both the film itself and its advertisements, and is included in the official soundtrack. It was also featured on the first episode of the third season of the MTV series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, and in the final episode of the first season of The Hills. The song was released as a promo for the 2008 Ashley Tisdale film Picture This!. It is featured in the video game Thrillville: Off the Rails. The song was available as downloadable content for the SingStar series and was featured on the Australian version of SingStar Rocks!.

References

References

1. {{AllMusic
2. [http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php] {{webarchive. link. (14 March 2009)
3. Digital Spy interview. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/interviews/a177984/the-veronicas.html The Veronicas] ''[[Digital Spy]]''. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
4. 4ever UK video interview. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091112233136/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS163792+30-Oct-2009+BW20091030 Veronicas Single "4ever" Impacting Radio Now] [[Reuters]]. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
5. The Age review for 4ever. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/the-secret-life-of-the-veronicas/2005/10/13/1128796617736.html The Secret Life of The Veronicas] ''[[The Age]]''. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
6. Iowa State Daily review for 4ever. [http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2006/02/23/highnote/20060223-archive4.txt CD REVIEW: The Veronicas] ''[[Iowa State Daily]]''. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
7. ''The Guardian'' review for 4ever. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/26/new-singles-review Alex Macpherson's new releases review] ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
8. Pop Matters review for 4ever. [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/the_veronicas_the_secret_life_of/ The Veronicas: The Secret Life of the Veronicas Review] ''[[PopMatters]]''. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
9. Digital Spy review for 4ever. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a178706/the-veronicas-4ever.html The Veronicas: '4ever'] ''[[Digital Spy]]''. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
10. Selby Times review for 4ever. [https://archive.today/20130421062249/http://www.selbytimes.co.uk/music-reviews/The-Veronicas-4-Ever-.5744397.jp The Veronicas: 4 Ever + Hook Me Up] ''Selby Times''. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
11. "Countdown #1 to #100 - Hottest 100 Australian Songs".
12. 4ever Australian chart debut. [http://australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?year=2005&date=20050828&cat=s ARIA Top 50 singles chart 28 August 2005] ''australian-charts.com''. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
13. 4ever Australian charts. [http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Veronicas&titel=4ever&cat=s The Veronicas - 4ever (song)] ''australian-charts.com''. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
14. 4ever Australian certifications. [http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2005.htm ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2005 Singles] ''[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]''. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
15. 4ever New Zealand Charts. [https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Veronicas&titel=4ever&cat=s The Veronicas - 4ever (song)] ''charts.org.nz''. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
16. 4ever US Charts. [{{BillboardURLbyName
17. [{{AllMusic
18. "US chart position".
19. [http://acharts.us/song/2791 "4ever - worldwide chart peaks"]. ''acharts.us''. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
20. 4ever UK Charts. [https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/ Chart For Week Up To 10/10/2009], [[Official Charts Company]]. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
21. 4ever UK Charts. [https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Second%20First%20Impression 4ever]. [[Official Charts Company]]. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
22. 4ever Irish Charts. [http://acharts.us/ireland_singles_top_50/2009/40 Ireland Singles Top 50 Issue Date: Thursday 1 October 2009] ''acharts.us''. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
23. 4ever Irish Charts. [http://acharts.us/ireland_singles_top_50/2009/43 Ireland Singles Top 50 Issue Date: Thursday 22 October 2009] ''acharts.us''. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
24. Sunrise live performance. {{YouTube. uNNz_eZURg0. The Veronicas - 4ever (live). Retrieved 3 November 2009.
25. Today live performance. {{YouTube. ukLwg1Ur89w. The Veronicas - 4Ever live on Today. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
26. Live at the Chapel performance. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv-reviews/live-at-the-chapel-the-veronicas/2006/11/13/1163266469070.html Live at the Chapel: The Veronicas] ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
27. TRL Italy live performance. {{YouTube. UyYZiqRLIyc. The Veronicas - 4ever (live TRL Padova, Italy). Retrieved 3 November 2009.
28. TRL Australia live performance. {{YouTube. HMNJZY4EKA8. the veronicas - 4ever live on trl. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
29. CD:USA live performance. {{YouTube. QCrwKORwPiI. The Veronicas - 4Ever - CD USA. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
30. Rugby League Grand Final live performance. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/pete-murray-to-headline-nrl-grand-final/2005/09/28/1127804524410.html Pete Murray to headline NRL grand final] ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
31. Sessions@AOL EP. [https://archive.today/20121209024812/http://new.music.yahoo.com/veronicas/albums/aol-sessions-live--29795010 AOL Sessions Live by The Veronicas] ''[[Yahoo! Music]]''. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
32. Mtv.com Live EP. [http://www.celebcards.com/albums/the_veronicas:_mtv.com_live_ep/ The Veronicas: Mtv.com Live EP] {{webarchive. link. (8 July 2011 ''celebcards.com''. Retrieved 3 November 2009.)
33. BBC Radio 1 live recording. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/livelounge/artist/090921_veronicas.shtml BBC - Radio 1 - Live Lounge - The Veronicas] [[BBC]]. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
34. "Tipparade-lijst van week 37, 2006". [[Dutch Top 40]].
35. (8 April 2006). "Billboard". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
36. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
37. "End of Year Charts 2005". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
38. 4ever Australian release date. [http://www.discogs.com/Veronicas-4ever/release/1445248 4ever Australian release date] [[Discogs]]. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
39. link. (5 July 2011 ''FMBQ.com''. Retrieved 26 December 2009.)
40. 4ever UK release date. [http://www.queersighted.com/2009/09/28/the-veronicas-rock-london-4-ever/ The Veronicas rock London 4-ever] {{Webarchive. link. (30 December 2010 ''queersighted.com''. Retrieved 26 December 2009.)
41. link. (5 July 2011 ''FMBQ.com''. Retrieved 26 December 2009.)
42. 4ever 2009 US digital release date. [https://music.apple.com/us/album/337020762 US digital release date] [[iTunes Store]]. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
43. Scherer, Nina. (25 January 2010). "This Week On The SingStore (28 January 2010)". Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
44. Van Leuveren, Luke. (6 May 2006). "Singstar Rocks! Review".