916 (Jenna's Theme)

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916 (Jenna's Theme)
Jenna 916.jpg
Single by Jenna B from the album On The 916
Released April 5, 2015
Format Digital download
Recorded 2015, JBS Studios
Genre Pop
Length 4:05
Writer(s) Jenna B • Ka$imTerra • Tatianna Remise • Billy Bob
Producer(s) Ka$im • The Click

"916 (Jenna's Theme)" is a song by American singer and rapper Jenna B. It was written by Jenna B, Ka$im, Terra, Tatianna Remise and Billy Bob for her soundtrack album, On The 916. Lost & Found Music Group released "916 (Jenna's Theme)" as the first single from the album in April 2015. The song was and serviced to contemporary hit and rhythmic radio stations in the United States that same month. "916 (Jenna's Theme)" is a pop song with dance and urban influences. It was billed and marketed as Jenna B's final solo single release ever and so far, marks her last non-feature release to the United States.

Music critics gave "916 (Jenna's Theme)" very positive reviews, with many of them praising the song's heartfelt lyrics and lamenting the singer's seemingly imminent departure from the industry. "916 (Jenna's Theme)" was a commercial success and reached number one on multiple charts. In the United States, it peaked at number one on the Arena Sound 30 chart staying there for seven non-consecutive weeks. "916 (Jenna's Theme)" was certified double platinum by ARENA and sold more than two million digital copies, becoming the singer's best selling song in the country. An accompanying music video for the single was directed by Rich Lee and Jenna B and features old clips of Jenna as a child and an adult performer foreshadowing her success, as well as Jenna touring California in a big party bus.

Background[edit | edit source]

The plan of a Jenna B docu-film was first confirmed by Deadline on 3 April 2015. The press stated, "Originally scheduled for Spotlight TV in September of 2014, 'On The 916' a brash, fun and uncut look at the life and times of ever-controversial singer Jenna B will instead be released to theaters on June 5th. The film, which will be shown in 3D, follows the star, her family and her friends in a hilarious, yet uplifting Sacramento setting. It also highlights the struggles the singer had growing up in the area and how they made her who she is today. Plus, fans will get an insight into the people who have influenced her most." Later on, the article would reveal Jenna's plan for a supplementary soundtrack. That same day, MTV broke news that the lead single for the project would be Jenna B's "final single ever".

On 5 April 2015, "916 (Jenna's Theme)" premiered on iHeartRadio. The song was released on radio on 17 April, whilst released digitally on 30 April.

Jenna B described the single as the best "way to say goodbye" and "signature Jenna B". Tatianna Remise, in an interview with Vice, commented that creating the song was one of the longest songwriting processes she'd ever been a part of, with the composition taking eight months to perfect before recording in 2015. During her Spotlight TV special, My Five Worst Moments, Jenna B said the song was "a celebration of life, love and home", but added that the song was the big push she needed to finally excel in other areas of her life, outside of music.

Composition[edit | edit source]

"916 (Jenna's Theme)" was written by Jenna B, Terra, Tatianna Remise, Billy Bob and Ka$im, who also produced the song with assistance from The Click. Musically, "916 (Jenna's Theme)" is an uptempo pop song. Lyrically, it talks about Jenna's longing for a place she once called home after slumming it out for success in more golden pastures. It also provides listeners with a takeaway that Jenna B has reached the end of her dreams of pop stardom, calling Jennifer her preference over her star moniker. She sings, "I may be on magazines/On the silver screen/On your playlist/You might call me Jenna B./But there's more to me/Than what you think". The "916" references Jenna's hometown of Sacramento, California.

According to Lisa Razii from Pitchfork, the song "Knocks hard. It's mostly pop but it has a low-key urban feel to it. It's very Jenna. But not in the totally braggy way that I was expecting.". She commented, "there's no doubt that this'll become a classic Jenna B song. And more than that, a classic pop gem". For Taleisha Samuels from Mic, "her song is anything to go by, we don't think she cares. It seems, that for once in Jenna B's career, it's no longer all about her."

Reception[edit | edit source]

Critical response[edit | edit source]

"916 (Jenna's Theme)" was highly acclaimed by music critics. Gary Fields of Rolling Stone called it "the first true pop song of 2015," describing it as a "shimmering, up-and-down rollercoaster of hopefulness and pride all at once". Jordan Vaughan of Spin agreed, calling it "an unbeatable classic", adding that it was a good thing it was Jenna's last single as she couldn't possibly outdo it." AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine and USA Today's Patrick Ryan both agreed that the song was an album highlight, with Ryan adding that it was "perhaps the best song of 2015". Varia Cutler called the lyricism "simple yet deep and thought-provoking" adding that it shouldn't be taken too seriously. She would later call the track "the new staple for pop."

Entertainment Weekly, NME and Pitchfork named the single the best on their list Best Songs of 2015 lists, and Rolling Stone placed it at number 2 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2015" list. Paste considered it the fourth-best song on their "50 Best Songs of 2015" list. In the annual Village Voice's Pazz & Jop mass critics poll of the year's best in music in 2015, "916 (Jenna's Theme)" was ranked at number 2.

Chart performance[edit | edit source]

"916 (Jenna's Theme)" debuted at number 17 on the ARENA Sound chart in the issue dated May 1, 2015. based on airplay and streaming alone. The next week the song slid one position to 18 despite an increase in streams and radio play. In its first week of digital release, "916 (Jenna's Theme) pole-vaulted to number one on the chart, selling 296,000 copies, leading the Scene digital sales chart and bagging the highest sales week debut of the year at that point. It became Jenna B's fifth number one on the chart and her fourth as the lead artist. In its third consecutive week at the top, it would also reach number one on the Demand chart and the Airwaves chart. The next week "916 (Jenna's Theme)" crossed the million download mark. Subsequently, the song would surpass two million downloads, becoming Jenna's best-selling single and top the chart for four more non-consecutive weeks, making it her longest-running number one and one of the longest-running number ones of all time.

Music video[edit | edit source]

On 17 April 2015 Jenna B was photographed filming a music video for "916 (Jenna's Theme) in Los Angeles by TMZ. The filming would continue around cities in California that month, and was directed by Rich Lee and Jenna B. The video was previewed on a Spotlight TV Jenna B. special and Jenna B stated that you could really tell she was comfortable, and feeling sexy in the video. She noted, "Sacramento is more than just home to me. It's memories and it's my future. I'm finally moving back there and embracing the West Coast as home again. We filmed parts of the video there and then the other bits in the streets of LA. There's also a really nice exclusive flashback for fans to enjoy". A world premiere of the video launched on VEVO at midnight, 27 May 2015.[34]

The video opens with Jenna at age 8 performing "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and The Papas on a live television show. Afterward it segues into a sexy bus party across LA with Jenna in 2015 and "916 (Jenna's Theme)" begins. The video is just as Jenna previously described it in interviews - a fun and exciting party that pays tribute to her career as a solo artist, ie: one that was always bursting with excitement and shall we say, *fireworks*? As the party comes to a close, we are taken back to 2007, almost three years before Jenna signs a major record deal at XoNE Records. She is speaking to a camera man before a small gig about where she wants her career to go and how she feels about her chances of becoming a star in the future. Interestingly, Jenna doesn't have much faith in herself but her satisfaction in her journey thus far and her appreciation of Jenna vs. Jennifer stand out the most.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

With the record-breaking success of the single, Luxuria Entertainment scored massive returns, especially with the coinciding film release which would open at number one in the US and worldwide box office with ticket sales well exceeding expectations. The company would, as a result, produce 'On The 916' books and apparel. The success of the single also marked a swing of the music industry toward soundtrack compilations.

Following the success of the song, Jenna B. received a key to the state of California, the city of Sacramento and a Hollywood Star.

In November 2015, SNL guest host Melissa McCarthy performed a parody of "916 (Jenna's Theme)." The pilot episode of ABC crime drama Quantico features "916 (Jenna's Theme)."

A cover of the song is also featured in Dance Dance Revolution as a playable track. The original version of the song appears in dance games Just Dance 2016 and Just Dance 2017.

Charts[edit | edit source]

Chart (2015) Peak Sales
Sound 1 (7) N/A
Stage 1 2,500,000 (w/o SPS)
Airwaves 1 N/A
Demand 1 N/A