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| "Who You Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byJohn Mayer featuringKaty Perry | ||||
| from the albumParadise Valley | ||||
| Released | August 12, 2013(Hot AC radio) | |||
| Recorded | 2012–13 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
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| John Mayer singles chronology | ||||
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| Katy Perry singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Who You Love" onYouTube | ||||
"Who You Love" is a song byJohn Mayer featuringKaty Perry, for Mayer's sixth studio album,Paradise Valley (2013). It appears as the sixth song on the album and is the third single from the record. Mayer co-wrote the song with Perry and co-produced withDon Was and released it as an Internet download on August 12, 2013.[3] Lyrically, "Who You Love" is aballad about accepting falling in love with someone, on the theory that "you love who you love". The song has been praised by critics and has received mostly positive reviews.
Mayer has stated that his relationship with Perry has been a private and "human" one. On writing the song, Mayer said: "Who You Love" is a sweet melody that tells the story of opening your heart up and allowing yourself to fully love the person in your life—or specifically to "love who you love, who you love." "It was a really great experience and the song is one of these like old FM '70s and '80s sort of like duets, and I listened back to it; it's, like, really convincing. And I watched it get made and I'm still kind of taken aback." Mayer also stated in an interview withBillboard magazine that the general idea behind the song can be best described as, "I love you based on the fact that I've tried to run and I'm not running and I give up." In regards to Perry writing the lyrics to her part of the song herself he said that "it was a really fun opportunity for her to write like, her answer to that."[4] During a speech atOxford University, Mayer mentioned the song, saying "I wouldn't have brought [Perry] a song if I didn't think it was good and great and she wouldn't have said she would do it if she didn't think it was going to be great. So it was a completely artistic transaction."[5] Perry described their duet as "incredible", adding: "I'm so proud of it because people hear it, and they hear a different side of me."[6]
"Who You Love" has a length of four minutes and twelve seconds (4:12).[7] According to digitalsheet music published at Musicnotes.com bySony-ATV Music Publishing, the song is written in the key ofA major and thetempo moves at moderate pace of 144beats per minute.[8] Mayer and Perry's vocal range in the song spans from the lower note ofE3 to the higher note ofD5.[8]
Mayer first announced that "Who You Love" would be the third single fromParadise Valley on hisTumblr account during a Q&A session with fans. The single cover was revealed on December 2, 2013, and features a photograph of Mayer and Perry shot by photographerMario Sorrenti. The cover was revealed amongst a photo shoot of the couple shot by Sorrenti forVanity Fair magazine.[9] They performed the song together atBarclays Center inBrooklyn,New York on December 17, 2013, which was the last night of hisBorn and Raised World Tour.[10]
"Who You Love" received mostly positive reviews frommusic critics. Andrew Hampp ofBillboard considered the song to be "the centrepiece" ofParadise Valley.[11] Anthony Decurtis fromRolling Stone called "Who You Love" a "lovely duet".[12] Randall Roberts of theLos Angeles Times said it has the feel of an "oldsoul classic", while the lyrics discuss "the joy of falling in love with someone when you least expect it."[13][14] In a less positive review, Caroline Sulivan ofThe Guardian called it "a country-pop amble that's entirely self-serving" and said Perry's presence on the song is "drowsy" and "rootsy".[2]
Prior to being released as a single, "Who You Love" managed to chart in US and Canada. On the week ending December 21, the song debuted on theBillboard Hot 100 at number 80.[15] On the week ending January 4, fuelled by a sudden surge in streaming due to the debut of its music video, the song reached its new peak of number 48 on Hot 100.[16]
On December 3, 2013, at theUNICEF Snowflake Ball inNew York City, Perry confirmed that the video was recently filmed with directorSophie Muller. Perry described the video as "epic" and "beautiful". The video was released on December 17, 2013 onGood Morning America.[17] The video features scenes of various real-life couples, including Mayer and Perry, riding a mechanical bull, as well as scenes of the couple singing together. Towards the end of the video, Mayer fires a confetti cannon whilst the couple ride the bull, and fireworks rain down behind them.[18] During the video premiere onGood Morning America, Perry said the usage of the mechanical bull is a metaphor about love: "Relationships are kind of like riding a bull – you hold on for dear life. Sometimes you get a little buck here and there, but you get back on." On the video, Mayer said "We set the casting call up for real couples. It's just so authentic – they were having a great time. There's nothing scripted in that video except putting the bull in the middle of the desert."[19]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[30] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[31] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[33] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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| Related articles |
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