Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)

"Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)"
Single by Ne-Yo
from the album R.E.D.
Released July 10, 2012 (2012-07-10)
Format Digital download
Genre
Length 4:14
Label Motown
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Ne-Yo singles chronology
"Lazy Love"
(2012)		 "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)"
(2012)		 "Turn Around"
(2012)
Music sample
"Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)"

"Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, taken from his fifth studio album, R.E.D. (2012). Released on July 10, 2012 by Motown Records, the song serves as the mainstream lead single from the album following the release of an R&B-tinged lead single, "Lazy Love".

"Let Me Love You" combines elements of synthpop and Europop with a celebratory chorus co-written with indie-pop songwriter Sia Furler and production courtesy of Ne-Yo's frequent Norwegian collaborators StarGate and British producers Mark Hadfield and Mike Di Scala (also known as Reeva & Black). A music video directed by Christopher Simms sees Ne-Yo "channeling" Michael Jackson in his dance moves, as well as showing off a toned physique.[1]

Background and release

Ne-Yo's 2012-released fifth album R.E.D. (as in "Realizing Every Dream")[2] is the follow-up to the singer's 2010 concept-heavy studio album, Libra Scale.[3] The album's first single titled "Lazy Love" premiered online on May 14, 2012,[4] and was serviced to US urban radio later the same month.[5] On June 12, 2012, the song was released for digital download in the United States, and a music video for the steamy R&B single premiered a day prior on June 11, 2012 on BET's 106 & Park.[6][7]

On July 9, 2012, "Let Me Love You" premiered online to various media outlets.[8] A day later it was released for digital download in Australia,[9] mainland Europe[10][11] and the UK.[12] "Let Me Love You" was served to US rhythmic / crossover radio stations on July 31, 2012 and a week later to pop / mainstream stations.[13][14] It was released for US digital downloads on July 31, 2012.[15] Internationally, "Let Me Love You" is the sole lead single for the album.[16] On November 6, 2012 a remix was released with a different type of beat and an additional rap verse from French Montana.[17]

Writing and production

At 4:14 in length, "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" is an up-tempo club song with a chord progression in F major-D minor-C major which combines elements of Europop and synthpop.[5][18] The original instrumental track was written and produced British producers Mike Di Scala and Mark Hadfield, who began a production partnership in November 2011. In February 2012 the duo sent the then untitled "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" along with eleven other songs to the management team of Norwegian production duo Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Hermansen, better known under their production moniker of StarGate.[19] The Norwegian duo subsequently worked on the song writing additional music elements, while Australian indie pop singer-songwriter Sia Furler wrote and recorded the "top line vocals".[19]

Sia built the song's chorus around the line "Let me love you, and I will love you/ Until you learn to love yourself", which would also become the song's title.[5] The record was then heard by Ne-Yo who decided to record the song, and proceeded to re-write some of the lyrics in the verses.[19] Speaking about the song Ne-Yo said he was inspired by the powerful chorus, and in a press release he elaborated on the song's lyrical content: "It goes beyond the realm of just a relationship between man and woman, "this is understanding what it is to allow another person to get close enough to you to teach you how to love yourself. This song, if taken care of the right way, could help the world!"[5] Kim Dawson from the UK newspaper Daily Star described the song's production as "energetic", which came courtesy of StarGate, Hadfield and Di Scala.[18][20] The melody consists of "euphoric synthesizers" and "pounding beats".[21]

This is one of two collaborations between Sia and StarGate. They would later team up again to co-write Rihanna's song "Diamonds", alongside producer Benny Blanco.

Critical reception

The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Andrew Hampp of Billboard perceived that the song "re-established Ne-Yo's top 40 appeal," calling it "the crème de la crème of emotive dancefloor ballads."[22] He also praised the song's uplifting self-worth message, writing that the lyrics "make this one of 2012's standout dance-pop cuts in a year filled with far more innocuous entries."[22] Andy Kellman of Allmusic picked the song as one of the best from the album, but ultimately called it "serviceable but indistinct."[23] Nate Chinen of New York Times named it a "convincing Euro dance track."[24] Ken Capobianco of Boston Globe called it "essential," writing that "it's a deftly conceived confection."[25]

Mikael Wood remarked that "it seems designed to remind us of simpler times by recycling a portion of its title from the 2004 Mario hit that was one of Ne-Yo's first big songwriting successes."[26] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the song 3 out of 5 stars, writing that "it's nothing we haven't heard from Ne-Yo before, but the result is a corny but charming electro serenade that's a welcome return to form for Mr Smith."[27] Mark Edward Nero of About.com considered its sound "not warm", writing that he "was hoping that he was starting to move away from this heavily synthesized Euro-dance pop."[28]

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" entered at number one on the UK Singles Chart on September 9, 2012 ― for the week ending date September 15, 2012 ― becoming Ne-yo's fourth number one single in Britain. The song sold 89,000 copies there the first week, and has sold 347,000 copies as of December 2012, making it Britain's 49th best-selling single of 2012.[29] The song was a major success in the US, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming his first top 10 single as a lead artist in the US in four years, since the 2008 single "Miss Independent". On Billboard's Rhythmic Airplay Chart, the single gave Ne-Yo his fifth number one on that chart and his second as a solo artist since "So Sick" reached that position in February 2006.

Music video

The music video for "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" was directed by Christopher Simms.[20] Incorporating choreographed dance scenes, with Ne-Yo baring "his toned physique" in a bedroom scene,[30] the video was uploaded on the singer's Vevo channel on July 18, 2012.[31] The overall atmosphere in the video is "dark", consisting of dim lighting and murky locations.[21] The video begins with an opening scene where Ne-Yo wears his trademark fedora to one side, while singing the opening lyrics of the song.[1] The video then moves on to bedroom scenes, where Ne-Yo strips of to show his six pack abs while embracing a topless woman.[1] Trent Fitzgerald from music website PopCrush stated that in the following dance scenes, Ne-Yo was "channeling" Michael Jackson in his dance moves. These scenes feature Ne-Yo dancing in front of a troop of backing dancers in a warehouse setting.[1] Finally the video ends with Ne-Yo and his femme fatale on a beach, smiling at the camera.[32]

Live performances

Ne-Yo performed the song on the first live results show of season nine of The X Factor in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2012. He also performed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on November 13, 2012. Ne-Yo performed the song on Saturday Night Live on December 8, 2012 and on the Top 6 live results of The Voice (U.S. season 3) with contestant Amanda Brown (singer).

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–13) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[33] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 30
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] 11
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[37] 38
France (SNEP)[38] 22
Germany (Official German Charts)[39] 61
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[40] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 5
Italy (FIMI)[42] 45
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[43] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 20
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[46] 3
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[47] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 55
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[49] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[50] 6
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[51] 3
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[52] 20
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[53] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[54] 4
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[55] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Australia (ARIA)[56] 72
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[57] 51
US Billboard Hot 100[58] 74
Chart (2013) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[59] 86
US Pop Songs 50

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[60] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[61] Gold 15,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[62] Gold 30,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] Platinum 15,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Gold 450,000[65]
United States (RIAA)[66] Platinum 2,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Radio and release history

List of release dates showing countries, formats and record labels
Region Date Format Record Label
Australia[9] July 10, 2012 Digital download Universal Music
Germany July 11, 2012[67]
United Kingdom[12] September 2, 2012 Mercury Records
United States/Canada July 31, 2012[15] Motown Records
July 31, 2012 Rhythmic / Crossover[14]
August 7, 2012 Pop / Mainstream[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You Video". PopCrush.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  2. ↑ Ne-Yo interview by Pete Lewis, "Blues & Soul" September 2012
  3. ↑ Garraud, Tracy (2012-06-14). "Ne-Yo Previews Introspective 'R.E.D.' Album in NYC". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  4. ↑ "New Music – Ne Yo – Lazy Love". Rap-Up.com. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "NE-YO's R.E.D., Motown Debut Album, Arriving Sept. 18th !". pnrnewswire & Motown Records. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  6. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Lazy Love". US Amazon Mp3 (Amazon.com). 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  7. ↑ "Video – Ne-Yo's Lazy Love". Rap-Up.com. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  8. ↑ Meynes, Caroline (2012-07-12). "Ne-Yo To Release 'R.E.D.' Album in September". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  9. 1 2 "iTunes – Single – Ne Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)". AUS iTunes Store (Apple Inc). 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  10. ↑ "iTunes – Single – Ne Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)". DEN iTunes Store (Apple Inc). 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  11. ↑ "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself): Ne-Yo: Amazon.de: MP3-Downloads". de Amazon Mp3 (Amazon). 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  12. 1 2 "Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". Uk Amazon Mp3 (Amazon). 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  13. 1 2 "Available for Airplay – Contemporary Hit Radio (Archive)". FMBQ. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  14. 1 2 "Available for Airplay – Rhythm & Crossover". FMBQ. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  15. 1 2 "Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". US Amazon Mp3 (Amazon). 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  16. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen, Pink And Amelia Lily's New Songs Join Capital FM Playlist (12th July)". Capital FM (Global Radio Group). 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  17. ↑ from Billboard Top 40 Update (October 29, 2012)
  18. 1 2 Dawson, Kim (2012-07-06). "NE-YO/R.E.D. REALIZING EVERY DREAM – ALBUM REVIEW". Daily Star. Northern and Shell Media. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  19. 1 2 3 Dawn Collinson (30 August 2012). "Ne-Yo finds chart love again – with thanks to Liverpool producer Mike di Scala". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  20. 1 2 "New Music – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". Rap-Up.com. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  21. 1 2 "Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". Orange. 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  22. 1 2 Hampp, Andrew (November 6, 2012). "Ne-Yo, 'R.E.D.': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  23. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "R.E.D. - Ne-Yo : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  24. ↑ Pareles, Jon. "Aerosmith and Ne-Yo Don't Hold Back". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  25. ↑ By Ken Capobianco. "CD REVIEW: Ne-Yo, 'R.E.D.' - Music". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  26. ↑ Wood, Mikael. "Ne-Yo's 'R.E.D.' goes back to the basics: Review". latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  27. ↑ Corner, Lewis (August 30, 2012). "Ne-Yo: 'Let Me Love You' - Single review". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  28. ↑ Nero, Mark Edward (July 10, 2012). "New Music: Ne-Yo - 'Let Me Love You'". About.com. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  29. ↑ Dan Lane (2012-12-22). "Official Charts Advent Calendar 2012: Day 22". The Official Chart Company. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  30. ↑ "Video – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)". Rap-Up. Devine Lazerine. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  31. ↑ "Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)". Vevo. YouTube. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  32. ↑ "Artists – Ne-Yo – Videos – Let Me Love You". Capital FM (Global Media Group). 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  33. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  36. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  37. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201245 into search.
  38. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)" (in French). Les classement single.
  39. ↑ "Musicline.de – Ne-Yo Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  40. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  41. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 36, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  42. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)". Top Digital Download.
  43. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  44. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  45. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)". Top 40 Singles.
  46. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-09-15". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  47. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201243 into search.
  48. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)". Swiss Singles Chart.
  49. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-09-15" UK Singles Chart.
  50. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  51. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  52. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  53. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  54. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  55. ↑ "Ne-Yo – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Ne-Yo. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  56. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2012". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on January 9, 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  57. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of 2012". BBC Radio 1. BBC Online. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  58. ↑ "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  59. ↑ "Best of 2013 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  61. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  62. ↑ "Certificaciones – Ne-Yo" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
  63. ↑ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  64. ↑ "British single certifications – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Let Me Love You in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  65. ↑ Myers, Justin (February 2, 2016). "The Top 10 biggest hits Sia gave away revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  66. ↑ "American single certifications – Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  67. ↑ "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself): Ne-Yo: Amazon.de: MP3-Downloads". Amazon.de. Retrieved August 18, 2012.

External links

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