Don't Judge Me

"Don't Judge Me"
Song

"Don't Judge Me" is a song by American recording artist Chris Brown, taken from his fifth studio album, Fortune (2012). It was written by Adam Messinger, Brown and Nasri Atweh, while the production was handled by The Messengers. The song was sent to urban contemporary radio in the United States on August 14, 2012, as the fifth single from the album. "Don't Judge Me" is a midtempo ballad, which contains lyrics about Brown asking his lover to forgive him "for his past indiscretions" and "move on with the future." The lyrics were rumored to be about Brown's current relationship with Karrueche Tran and former relationship with Barbadian recording artist Rihanna.

"Don't Judge Me" garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Some critics complimented the song's emotion and viewed it as a highlight on Fortune, while others criticized its production. In the United States, "Don't Judge Me" has so far reached number 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. An accompanying music video was directed by Colin Tilley and Brown. In the video, Brown goes on a "suicide mission" into outer space to save the world from an alien ship invading the earth. The video received positive reception from most critics, who were complimentary of its presentation.

Background, composition and lyrics

"Don't Judge Me" was written by Adam Messinger, Chris Brown and Nasri Atweh, while the production was handled by The Messengers. The audio mixing was completed by Jaycen Joshua, with assistance by Trehy Harris. Amber "Sevyn" Streeter performed background vocals on the song. "Don't Judge Me" was leaked on the internet on June 26, 2012, three days before the official release date of Brown's fifth studio album, Fortune. The artwork for the song debuted online on July 28, 2012. It displays Brown, wearing a "white dress shirt and skinny black tie", striking a pose in front of a blue backdrop. "Don't Judge Me" was officially sent to urban contemporary radio in the United States on August 14, 2012, as the fifth single from the album.

Musically, "Don't Judge Me" is a midtempo ballad, which lasts for a duration of four minutes. The instrumentation of the song is provided by drums. Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush noted that "Don't Judge Me" features "a slow, sensuous romp," which she found to be reminiscent of Michael Jackson. Lyrically, Brown askes his lover to forgive him "for his past indiscretions" and "move on with the future." In the song, Brown encourages his lover that there is nothing going on between him and his ex-girlfriend as he sings, "You're hearing rumours about me / And you can't stomach the thought / Of someone touching my body / When you're so close to my heart / I won't deny what they saying / Because most of it is true / But it was all before I fell for you." He later declares "that he is a changed man who can now be trusted" as shown in the lines, "Take me as I am / Not who I was / I'll promise I'll be / The one that you can trust." During the chorus, Brown sings "So please don't judge me / and I won't judge you / because it could get ugly / before it gets beautiful." Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press noted that he "sings in his signature semi-high pitch." Many critics speculated that the lyrics were about Brown's current relationship with Karrueche Tran and former relationship with Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. Holly Frith of Entertainment Wise noted that Rihanna "may be the inspiration" for the lyrics. Rolling Stone's Maura Johnston described "Don't Judge Me" as "a tender love song," while Andrew Hampp of Billboard magazine referred to it as a "take me as I am" type of ballad. Hazel Robinson of California Literary Review noted that "Don't Judge Me" is similar to Brown's 2009 song "Changed Man."

Critical reception

"Don't Judge Me" garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Trent Fitzgerald of PopCrush and Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press both viewed it as one of the standout tracks on Fortune. Amy Sciarretto, also writing for PopCrush, noted that the song "demonstrates that [sensitive] side we don't often see" from Brown. Jamel Coles UAB Kaleidoscope described "Don't Judge Me" as an "emotional track" and wrote, "when hearing songs like this, you can't knock his ability to make good music." Jasmine Grant of Juicy magazine viewed the song as a "heartfelt ballad," and Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone wrote that it sounds like "a Twitter rant against haters." Melissa Ruggieri of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution described "Don't Judge Me" as a "lilting ballad" and noted that Brown is "semi-serious" in the song. A reviewer of 4Music called the song "undeniably emotional" and wrote, "we're wondering is if this is a heart-wrenching plea to Rihanna?" Sharon O'Connell of Time Out magazine commented on the song's title, writing that "it's a little late for that." Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club labeled "Don't Judge Me" as "putrid," while Chicago Sun-Times' Thomas Conner called it a "bland, breathy ballad." In his review of Fortune, Nick Levine of BBC Music wrote that the song was one of the reasons why the album felt "cripplingly pointless." Scott Kara of The New Zealand Herald described "Don't Judge Me" as "weak and wincing," and stated that the lyrics are "the words of someone who still doesn't quite grasp the extent of what he has done in the past."

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Don't Judge Me" was directed by Colin Tilley and Brown, and filmed in August 2012. On August 29, 2012, Brown released an image from the shoot, showing him sitting on the floor of an abandoned room, wearing an unbuttoned jacket. On September 11, 2012, Brown released a similar image while tweeting, "'Don't Judge Me' video coming soon!". The video premiered on Vimeo on September 27, 2012. The video begins with Brown walking through the desert, while intercut scenes of Brown sitting in front of a couch with his girlfriend, played by Runa Lucienne, sleeping behind him are shown. As the chorus begins for the first time, Brown is seen catching a ride from an army truck. He eventually arrives at an army base to prepare for a "suicide mission" which involves him boarding a spacecraft into outer space to save the world from an alien ship invading the earth. A news reporter at the base, who also happens to be Brown's girlfriend, runs to him and askes, "People are saying this is a suicide mission, why are you doing this?" to which he replies, "I'm doing a service for my country and my planet. If that means saving the people I love and I care about, then that's what I'll do." As the spacecraft takes off, tears begin to run down Brown's face before the spacecraft crashes into the alien ship and kills him. The video then shows Brown and his girlfriend from earlier scenes hugging on the couch.

JusMusic of Singersroom magazine praised the music video, writing that "This is definitely art at its finest!" A writer for Rap-Up described the video as very "cinematic" and "emotional," while Billboard magazine's Erika Ramirez called it an "emotional visual." Jasmine Grant of Juicy magazine noted that the video has a "futuristic soldier at war theme." Colin Greten of MTV's Rapfix agreed, writing that it "has a futuristic look and feel," and that fans would also cry as Brown "makes the ultimate sacrifice" to save the world. A reviewer of The Huffington Post compared Brown's character in the video to actor Bruce Willis in the 1998 film Armageddon, and wrote that "it's certainly memorable, and sure to send Chris Brown's fans – and huge army of critics – into a fresh flutter of support." Idolator's Sam Lansky wrote that "Brown is just as likable and subtle as ever in the video." Lansky continued writing that "it's impressive to see that Breezy [...] continues to find opportunities to depict himself as a hero" when he seems to make headline news for all the wrong reasons. A writer for Heat magazine stated that the video is "a mini disaster movie, complete with over-acting and melodramatic slow-motion shots."

Track listing

• Album version

1. "Don't Judge Me" – 4:00

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes for Fortune

• Nasri Atweh – songwriter
• Chris Brown – lead vocals, songwriter
• Iain Findley – assistant recorder
• Trehy Harris – assistant mixer

• Jaycen Joshua – mixer
• The Messengers – producer
• Adam Messinger – songwriter
• Brian Springer – recorder
• Amber "Sevyn" Streeter – background vocals

Chart performance

In the United States, "Don't Judge Me" debuted at number 85 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the issue dated September 1, 2012. It has so far reached number 55.

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	55

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States	August 14, 2012	Urban contemporary radio	RCA Records