| "It Was Always You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Promotional single byMaroon 5 | ||||
| from the albumV | ||||
| Released | July 29, 2014 (2014-07-29)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2013–2014; Conway Studios (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | Electro-rock[2] | |||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
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| Maroon 5 promotional singles chronology | ||||
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"It Was Always You" is a song by American bandMaroon 5. It was released through222 andInterscope Records on July 29, 2014, as the first and only promotional single from their fifth studio albumV (2014). Critical reception for the song was mixed to positive, with reviewers noting its upbeat electropop sound and a departure from the band's rock roots, though some critics found the song to be a bit generic.
"It Was Always You" was written by Maroon 5's lead singerAdam Levine,Sam Martin,Jason Evigan,Marcus Lomax,Jordan Johnson andStefan Johnson.[3] It was produced byJason Evigan[4] andThe Monsters and the Strangerz.[5] The upbeat ballad, lyrically about friends becoming lovers,[5][6] features Levine singing such lyrics as: "Woke up sweating from a dream / With a different kind of feeling", "Hazel eyes, I was so color blind", "It was always you / Can't believe I could not see it all this time, all this time", "Now I know why my heart wasn't satisfied, satisfied" and "All my hidden desires finally came alive" in his signaturefalsetto,belted over synthesizers.[7]E! Online'sChima Simone noted that these lyrics might refer to Levine's wifeBehati Prinsloo.[7] "Sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you,"MTV News' Christina Garibaldi noted as the song's central message.[5] Levine is joined on the song by fellow Maroon 5 members: keyboardist and rhythm guitaristJesse Carmichael (who did not perform on the band's 2012 albumOverexposed), drummerMatt Flynn, bassistMickey Madden, keyboardistPJ Morton and lead guitaristJames Valentine.[7]
In a departure from the band's usualpop rock songs and their previous pop-leaning single "Maps", "It Was Always You" incorporates electronic synthesizers (opening with "jittery synths", according toIdolator's Mike Wass)[6] and is anelectropop song.[5][7] Its sound has been compared to1980s music.[5] While noted as a different musical style for the band, Wass described it as "unmistakably Maroon 5".[6] Carolyn Menyes fromMusic Times explained: "This song takes the band's new poppy direction and makes it dark, with yearning vocals and deep twists".[8]
On August 26, 2014, Maroon 5 performed "It Was Always You" for the first time at theiHeartRadio Theater inBurbank, California.[9] On August 30, 2014, the song was performed onESPN Saturday Night Football, with the accompanying performance video being released the same day.[10]
The band also performing with the track live onThe Today Show atRockefeller Plaza inNew York, on September 1[11] and the 2014iTunes Festival at theRoundhouse inLondon on September 11, respectively.[12]
The track has been performed 48 known times by the band.[13]
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[14] | 43 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] | 19 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] | 39 |
| Europe (Euro Digital Songs)[17] | 35 |
| France (SNEP)[18] | 76 |
| Germany (GfK)[19] | 88 |
| Italy (FIMI)[20] | 50 |
| Portugal (Billboard)[21] | 34 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[22] | 19 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[23] | 38 |
| South Korea (GAON)[24] | 65 |
| South Korea International Chart (GAON)[25] | 2 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[26] | 32 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] | 53 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[28] | 40 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[29] | 45 |
| Chart (2014) | Position |
|---|---|
| South Korea International Chart (Gaon)[30] | 62 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI)[31] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[32] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | July 29, 2014 | Digital download | [33] | |
| France | [34] | |||
| United Kingdom | [35] | |||
| United States | [36] |
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| Related articles | |
