Previously 'Finally' had been a major success on the US Dance charts, where it spent two weeks at number one in late 1991.

In addition, a dance remix of the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in March 1992. The remix appeared on many dance music compilations in the early 90s.

Peniston was 21 years old when "Finally" was released.

The song was released in the fall of 1991, where it became an instant dance anthem, peaking in October at the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play for two weeks, while achieving respectable chart success overseas the following year.

The song was re-released in the UK, where it reached a new peak of number 2, and also charted at number 8 in Australia and New Zealand.

Following the single's success, Peniston completed her first album, Finally, in two months.

The album was critically acclaimed, and Peniston celebrated a year-long run of awards success including the Billboard Award for Best New Artist (dance), and three ASCAP awards amongst numerous others.

The song "Finally" has sold over 3 million copies to date.

When asked about "Finally" in a 2012 interview, Peniston said:

It was actually a poem that I had turned into a song, and it was the very first song that I had written.

I was doing backup for someone else, and they asked if I had something else and I was like yeah, something I’ve written, and I didn’t know if they’d like it.

You know, you don’t really understand your gifts at that point, so when he said I have a hit, I was just like okay.

At the time I didn’t understand what it means to have a number one song, I really had no idea.

They said you have a hit on your hands and you’re going to have to go to Europe.

All of a sudden I was traveling the world, one show turned into two, that little girl from Arizona was going everywhere!

You know, I had been here and there, a couple of trips, but nothing at all like this. It was overwhelming.

Comments:

polyprinz

Love this version, the piano, the orchestra in the background, excellent! Remembered when this came out, it was played and played on every radio station I can think of, I was in high school!

CiCi Melendez

Lol my name is Ciara and my nickname is CiCi with i's and my dad calls me CeCe Penniston. I find it hilarious.

Stuart Clement

4:30 that organ solo though :o

Rudrugo

This version is better than the original!!

Terrorkekx

The music I grew up with - The best indeed.

Tyomie S

Helped me get thru my 45 min walk to school when this first came out.

SuperMarksman33

I was around for the original, many the groove. Still soooo good. C C, big ups.

Malcolm Richardson

CC rocked this song, put everybody on the floor, even me and I can't dance!!!...

Summer Lyric

I heard this playing in the store the other day and was soooo happy.