"Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" received widely positive reviews frommusic critics, who complimented the singers' vocals. The song was listed among the Greatest Love Songs byVH1. It was nominated forBest Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the44th Annual Grammy Awards, losing the award to Aguilera's other contender, "Lady Marmalade". The song was commercially successful, peaking at number one in Hungary, New Zealand, and Romania while topping Poland's airplay chart and Croatia's foreign song chart. It also reached the top five in Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others. In Australia and Canada, it became a top-10 hit. The song has received severalcertifications, including silver in the UK.
Martin re-recorded the song along withChristina Aguilera in Las Vegas in December 2000 for the 11thAnnualBillboard Music Awards.[8] Aguilera wrote about the re-recording in an online message: "An incredible music and career opportunity has come up for me to record a duet with Ricky Martin."[9] In an interview with theGrammy Awards in 2021, Martin talked about collaborating with Aguilera: "Every time I talk about Christina, it brings a smile [to my face] because I think it was a very powerful track. Her delivery, her performance like always was beautiful."[10] The duet was released to radio stations in the United States, byColumbia Records on January 16, 2001, as the secondsingle fromSound Loaded.[11] The track was not released in a major commercially available single format in the United States, and consumers could purchase the song only with buying the album. Those who had already bought the album could download it from Martin's website for free or mail a sticker from their copy of the album, receiving a free CD with the new version of "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely".[12][13][14]
According to the duet version'ssheet music on Musicnotes.com, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" uses piano and guitar and is composed in thekey ofB♭ minor with agroove of 100beats per minute.[32] Martin and Aguilera's vocals span from the low note ofD♭4 to the high note of D♭6.[32] The album version track runs for a total of five minutes and five seconds,[6] while the duet runs for a total of 4 minutes and 12 seconds.[33] According to Stephen Daw fromBillboard, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" is a love song about "heartbreak" and "longing",[27][28] as well as "love, lose, and hope" according tomitú's Cristal Mesa,[34] with lyrics including, "Nobody wants to be lonely / Nobody wants to cry / My body's longing to hold you / So bad, it hurts inside / Time is precious and it's slipping away / And I've been waiting for you all of my life".[35]
"Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" has been met with widely positive reviews frommusic critics.Billboard staff reviewed the duet version, following its release in January 2001, writing that the song was "edgier and sexier" than Martin's previous works and calling his vocal performance with Aguilera "radiant". They described the track as "the combination of two of pop music's most sexually charged performers", mentioning the song's "sensuality" and its "feel-good vibe".[36] British trade paperMusic Week referred to the duet as a "pop swayer" and noted its "perfect" performance.[17]AllMusic reviewer Jose F. Promis wrote that the duet version was more "bombastic" than the solo album version.[37] TheLos Angeles Times staff described the singers as "two of pop's hottest heartthrobs".[14]Tango's Alice Kelly stated: "These two harmonize each other so beautifully that anyone would be convinced their love story was real."[38] Writing forThe Advocate, Gina Vivinetto praised "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely", saying the singers "blended their voices beautifully" on the track.[39] Cristal Mesa from mitú described them as "two vocal powerhouses" and said they "definitely keep your attention as they sing" the song.[34]
In 2017,Bustle critic Mathew Jedeikin gave the song a positive review, saying it is "basically a cult classic". He added that although the track "seemed underappreciated" in 2001, it "has lived on as one of the most iconic duets of the early 2000s".[40] Kevin Apaza fromDirect Lyrics labeled the song "an iconic hit",[41] and Mark Blankenship fromNewNowNext described it as "spectacular".[42] In 2018, Stephen Daw fromBillboard placed it among Aguilera's 10 best collaborations in her career, saying "no two musical artists scream 'earlyaughts' quite like" Martin and Aguilera, describing them as "two icons".[27] Also fromBillboard, Rebecca Schiller named the duet one of Aguilera's "most memorable collaborations".[43] Writing forO, The Oprah Magazine, Amanda Mitchell ranked the track as Martin's third-best song on her 2019 list.[44] In the same year, Gary James ofEntertainment Focus ranked the song as Aguilera's second-biggest duet.[45]Idolator's Mike Wass acknowledged it as her sixth-best collaboration in 2021.[46]
"Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" was ranked at number 65 onVH1's "100 Greatest Love Songs".[47]Tango ranked it at numbers 35 and 89 on the lists of "100 Best 2000s Love Songs To Play On Repeat" and "100 Songs About Loneliness For When You're Feeling Alone", respectively.[38][48] InThe Advocate, the song was placed in the ninth position on their "10 Best Queer Duets" list in 2015.[39] In 2017,E! Online named it the fourth-best duet with a Latin star.[49] The following year, inYardbarker, the duet placed at number six on the list of best musical collaborations featuring Latin artists.[50] In 2021,BuzzFeed listed Martin and Aguilera as the eighth famous musicians who had the "best musical chemistry of all time".[51] "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" was nominated forChoice Music – Love Song at the2001 Teen Choice Awards.[52] The song was also nominated forBest Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the44th Annual Grammy Awards but lost to "Lady Marmalade" by Aguilera,Lil' Kim,Mýa, andPink.[53][54] "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" won the silver award for Top Duet at the 2002RTHK International Pop Awards.[55] It earned a nomination for Best Collaboration at the 2001 Music Television Awards.[56]
"Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" became an international hit.[35] On the week of January 27, 2001, it debuted on the USBillboard Hot 100 at number 66.[57] The following week, the song rose to number 34, becoming that week's highest climber as well as the greatest airplay gainer with an audience jump of 13 million.[58] Three issues later, the duet peaked at number 13 on the Hot 100, becoming Martin's fourth and Aguilera's fifth top-20 hit in the US.[59][60] The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100.[59] It also reached the top 10 on three otherBillboard rankings: theAdult Contemporary chart (number three), theMainstream Top 40 (number eight), and theTop 40 Tracks chart (number 10).[61][62][63] In addition, the song appeared on theRhythmic andAdult Top 40 charts, peaking at numbers 20 and 27, respectively.[64][65] The Spanish-language version of the song, "Sólo Quiero Amarte", debuted at number 18 onBillboardHot Latin Tracks on the chart issue dated February 10, 2001.[66] It subsequently reached number one on April 7, 2001,[67] and stayed there for four weeks,[68] giving Martin his sixth number-one hit on the chart.[69] It also topped theLatin Pop Airplay andTropical/Salsa Airplay listings.[67] On theCanadian Singles Chart, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" charted for seven weeks, achieving a peak of number six on April 28, 2001.[70][71]
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number four on March 4, 2001, staying on theUK Singles Chart for 12 weeks.[72] In July 2020, theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI)certified the song silver for sales and streams exceeding 200,000 units.[73] The record failed to enter the top 10 in Ireland, where it reached number 12 for two weeks and stayed in the top 30 for five weeks.[74][75][76] In mainland Europe, the track topped four national rankings: Hungary'sMahasz chart,[77] theRomanian Top 100,[78] Poland's National Airplay chart,[79] and Croatia's Foreign Singles chart.[80] The song also reached number two in Greece,[81] Italy,[82] Spain,[15] and Switzerland;[83] number three in the Netherlands and Sweden;[84][85] number four in Finland;[86] and number five in Germany, Norway, and Portugal.[87][88][89] In Denmark, the song peaked at number six, andIFPI Danmark awarded the song a goldcertification for shipping over 4,000 copies.[90] The record has also been certified gold in the Netherlands (40,000 units shipped), Sweden (15,000 units shipped), and Switzerland (20,000 units shipped).[91][92][93] Elsewhere in Europe, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" peaked at number 11 in theFlanders region of Belgium,[94] number 13 in Austria,[95] number 16 in Belgium'sWallonia region,[96] and number 28 in France.[97] On theEurochart Hot 100 ranking, the song reached number two in March 2001.[98]
On February 18, 2001, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" debuted at number 27 on New Zealand'sRIANZ Singles Chart. The following week, the track rose to number 20, then to number 12 three weeks in. After jumping to number two, the song ascended to number one, giving both Martin and Aguilera their second number-one hit; it was Martin's last song to chart until "Come with Me" in 2013.[99] The song stayed at number one for two non-consecutive weeks, temporarily losing the number-one position toLeAnn Rimes' "Can't Fight the Moonlight" on the week of March 25, 2001, and remained in the top 50 for 17 weeks.[100][99] In neighboring Australia, the track first appeared at number eight on theARIA Singles Chart, which would become its peak. As such, it gave both Aguilera and Martin their fourth top-10 hit in Australia. After its debut, the song descended the chart, leaving the top 50 in May 2001 after logging nine weeks on the chart.[101] The same month, theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified the song gold for shipments of over 35,000 copies.[102][103]
A screenshot from themusic video, depicting Martin and Aguilera hugging each other romantically.
The accompanyingmusic video for "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" was filmed at theMiami Biltmore Hotel[104] in December 2000 and was directed by American directorWayne Isham,[105][49] who had also directed the videos for Martin's previous singles "Vuelve", "The Cup of Life", "La Bomba", "Livin' la Vida Loca", "She Bangs", and "Shake Your Bon-Bon".[106][107] The visual was aired on January 16, 2001, onMTV'sMaking the Video.[14][105] The video begins with several doves flying out of a historical building while Aguilera is standing alone in the foyer of the building. In the next scene, Martin is shown, leaning on the wall of an outdoor maze. The two start singing the song, and Aguilera shows off on the stairs out of the building while Martin watches her.[108]
In another scene, Martin is seen outside standing between columns of the mansion. He and Aguilera then pass each other on the stairs and show love between themselves by hugging and spinning around each other. Martin touches her arm, and they look into each other's eyes. He once again passes by the columns, and the video depicts flying doves in the last scene.[108] A music video was also filmed for "Sólo Quiero Amarte", which aired in 2001 and shows only Martin in the same scenes of "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" video, singing the Spanish song in different locations of the mansion by his own.[109] Mallory Schlossberg fromBustle described "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" video set as "pretty epic", saying: "The architecture steals the show."[110] Cristal Mesa from mitú named the visual Martin's 16th-best music video on her 2018 list andE! Online staff ranked it as Aguilera's 16th-best music video in 2021.[34][111] It won the award for Outstanding Music Video at the 2002ALMA Awards,[112] and was also nominated forRitmo Latino Award as the Best Music Video of the Year.[113]
Martin gave his first live performance of "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" at the28th Annual American Music Awards on January 8, 2001.[26] He and Aguilera delivered a performance of their collaboration on theBBC'sTop of the Pops on January 19, 2001.[114] The two performed the song together onThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno on February 13, 2001,[115] and on theITV'sCD:UK on May 4, 2001.[116] They also performed it at the13th Annual World Music Awards on May 28, 2001.[117] In 2016, Francesca Bacardi fromE! Online ranked this rendition as Aguilera's fifth-best live duet, saying "they kept dancing to a minimum and let their vocals do the talking".[118] Martin and his team performed the song on thefourth season ofThe Voice Australia on August 9, 2015.[119] "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" was included on theset lists for Martin's theRicky Martin Live tour,[120] theAll In residency,[121] theMovimiento Tour,[122] and theEnrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin Live in Concert tour.[123] For the All In, Martin asked Aguilera to shoot a video of herself singing the song, and her visual appeared on the screen behind Martin during his performances for the residency. Martin uses the visual for his follow-up concerts and tours as well: "And because of that video, I think it's one of those songs that I will keep alive as much as I can."[10][40][41]
"Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" has been covered by several contestants on various music talent shows. Members of 2B, Bernice Chitiul and Laurentiu Barzoi performed the song on thesecond season of Romanian television seriesX Factor in 2012. They did not gather enough votes for their rendition and were eliminated.[124]Ádám Szabó and Lili Batánovics delivered a performance of the track onseries four ofX-Faktor in 2013.[125] In the same year, Alina Dorobanțu and Mihai Băjinaru competed in a battle of covering the song on thethird season ofVocea României, which Dorobanțu won.[126] Eli Zamora and Madeline Consoer competed in a battle of singing a bilingualSpanglish version of "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely / Sólo Quiero Amarte" on19th season of the American singing competitionThe Voice in 2020, which Consoer won. CoachKelly Clarkson loved that Consoer "can handle any genre thrown" at her and couldn't "say no to such a versatile performer", whileGwen Stefani called Zamora "effortless".[127][128][129]
Credits for "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" are lifted from the second European maxi-CD single liner notes and theSound Loaded booklet.[30][31] Credits for "Sólo Quiero Amarte" are lifted from the US CD single liner notes.[18]
^Sound Loaded (Argentine Album liner notes). Ricky Martin.Columbia Records. 2000. 2-497769.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pietroluongo, Silvio (2001)."Hot 100 Sptlight".Billboard. Vol. 103. Nielsen Business Media. p. 97.ISSN0006-2510.Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. RetrievedOctober 12, 2021.
^abcdSólo Quiero Amarte (US CD single liner notes). Ricky Martin.Sony Discos. 2001. LAK-84454.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"What's Hot".The News Journal. March 4, 2001. p. 178.Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. RetrievedOctober 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^abcNobody Wants to Be Lonely (European maxi-CD single 2 liner notes). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 670750 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^abSound Loaded (US CD album booklet). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2000. CK 61394.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ab"Top 40 Tracks".Billboard. Vol. 108. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2001. p. 90.ISSN0006-2510.Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. RetrievedNovember 20, 2021.
^"Hot Latin Tracks".Billboard. Vol. 96. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2001. p. 50.ISSN0006-2510.Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. RetrievedOctober 14, 2021.
^"Newsmakers".The Courier. February 14, 2001. p. 22.Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. RetrievedOctober 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Music on TV".The Guardian. May 4, 2001. p. 66.ISSN0261-3077.CD:UK - ITV, 11.30am (30476) - Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera perform their new single, Nobody Wants to Be Lonely [...]
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (Australian CD single liner notes). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2001. 670785 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (Brazilian promotional CD single liner notes). Ricky Martin Dueto Com Christina Aguilera. Columbia Records. 2001. 899.969.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (European 12-inch vinyl sleeve). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 670750 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (European maxi-CD single 1 liner notes). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 670750 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (Japanese CD single liner notes). Ricky Martin.Epic Records. 2001. ESCA 8277.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (UK cassette single sleeve). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2001. 670946 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Nobody Wants to Be Lonely (European CD single liner notes). Ricky Martin. Columbia Records. 2001. 670750 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pennanen, Timo (2006).Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 205.ISBN978-9-5112-1053-5.
