The Heart Wants What It Wants

"The Heart Wants What It Wants"
Single by Selena Gomez
from the album For You
Released November 6, 2014 (2014-11-06)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2013
Genre
Length 3:47
Label Hollywood
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Rock Mafia
Selena Gomez singles chronology
"Slow Down"
(2013)		 "The Heart Wants What It Wants"
(2014)		 "I Want You to Know"
(2015)
Music video
"The Heart Wants What It Wants" on YouTube

"The Heart Wants What It Wants" is a song by American singer Selena Gomez from her 2014 compilation album For You. It was released on November 6, 2014. The song was written by Gomez, Antonina Armato and Tim James. Additional songwriting was provided by David Jost.[1][2][3] Armato and James, who collectively form the production duo Rock Mafia, also produced the song. A mid-tempo pop and R&B track with a minimal electropop beat, its accompanying music video was premiered on November 6, 2014, alongside the premiere of the song itself.[4][5]

Music critics mostly commended the song's lyrical content, production, vocals, and Gomez's new direction. The song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number six in Canada, and peaked in the top 40 in sixteen countries, including Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Background and release

Gomez said about the song, "And it's also a step for me knowing like, 'Ok, this is what I'm about to say, and I need to say it when I'm ready' [...] And I think after this year, it's the perfect way to end the year, it's the perfect way to end a chapter in a way. It's like, this is what I'll say about every single person that has judged me for every decision that I've made, for every person, [and] heart that is being judged for something they've done, and now I just want to release it," Gomez stated in an interview with Ryan Seacrest on 102.7 KIIS FM during the world premiere of "The Heart Wants What It Wants."[6] In its first day on radio, the song had a listening audience of 10.061 million.[7]

Music and lyrics
"The Heart Wants What It Wants"
A 22-second sample of "The Heart Wants What It Wants" by Selena Gomez, where the chorus is heard.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"The Heart Wants What It Wants" is a midtempo pop and R&B song,[8][9] that contains a minimal electropop beat complete with finger snaps, ominous synths and haunting groans.[10] Several critics noted the reminiscence of the song to the works by singers Lorde and Lana Del Rey.[10][11]

Lyrically, Gomez details being in love with a bad boy despite knowing he may not be a stand-up guy.[10] She sings, "The bed's getting cold and you're not here / The future that we hold is so unclear / But I'm not alive until you call / And I'll bet the odds against it all... / There's a million reasons why I should give you up / But the heart wants what it wants."[10]

The title is from a letter by Emily Dickinson.[12] The saying was popularized in 2001 when it was quoted by Woody Allen in an interview about his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn.[13]

Reception

Critical reception

Lucas Villa of AXS favorably compared "The Heart Wants What it Wants" to the music of Lana Del Rey for Gomez's use of "trip hop beats, guitar and distorted Emile Haynie-styled yelps" alongside her "darkest" lyrics yet. He further wrote that the song "stands as a heartbreaking revelation in her five-year-old songbook, one that's vulnerably beautiful and unapologetically honest."[11] Tim Sendra of Allmusic highlighted the song and praised it by calling it "very adult and real-sounding" and adding that "she acquits herself well here too."[14] Popology Now called this song "emotionally charged."[15] The Huffington Post's Christopher Rosen deemed the song "a fairly good anthem for those going through heartbreak."[16]

Idolator praised the song: "The Rock Mafia-produced gem shows the former teen queen in an entirely new light. There’s a vulnerability we haven’t seen before as Selena sings about the dark side of her very own fairytale with palpable honesty and conviction" and the editor called it the selling point of an album and added that if Selena follows this direction, many hits will be coming for her."[17] The Times of India editor Kasmin Fernandes added that this song shows her in an "entirely new light."[18] Renowned for Sound was also positive: "smooth dose of pop with a second-guessing love storyline."[8] When reviewing single, Music Times concluded: "Emotional song channels Justin Bieber drama but is still stunning on its own."[19]

Commercial performance

The same day of its release, "The Heart Wants What It Wants" reached number two on the US iTunes. Mediabase reported that on its first day the single received a radio audience of over 10 million, making the means to compare its radio debut with the "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus, who debuted with four million less. Also in its debut it reached number one on the Billboard Twitter Real-Time list, which tracks the most mentioned and shared on Twitter songs.

During its first week, "The Heart Wants What It Wants" sold 103,000 digital copies in the United States, which allowed it to debut at number six in the list Digital Songs. These sales gave Gomez her second best debut on the list, after "Who Says" with her band Selena Gomez & the Scene, which debuted with 116,000 copies. The Billboard Hot 100 list, which combines the single's digital sales, plus its performance on the radio and streaming, debuted at number twenty-five; the best entry of the week. In Streaming Songs it debuted at number thirty-seven because it received 3.1 million streams.[20] After performing the song at the American Music Awards on November 23, 2014, Gomez got her second top 10 in Billboard Hot 100, and it reached number six, the same position obtained by "Come & Get It" in May 2013. The week after its introduction, the song sold 136,000 copies and reached number five on Digital Songs, since it had a 98% increase in downloads compared to the previous week. Simultaneously, it reached the fifth position in Streaming Songs and debuted at number forty-two on Radio Songs. In the latter, managed to position itself as her second top ten, again behind "Come & Get It".[21] In the counting of Pop Songs, based on the level of airplay that songs receive on pop radio stations in the United States, "The Heart Wants What It Wants" became Gomez's third top 10 single in her solo career and her third consecutive single that make it to the first ten. On the other hand, in late January 2015, the song debuted on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, marking the most popular songs in the dance clubs of the United States. As of July 2015, the single has sold 1.3 million copies in the United States.[22]

In Canada it also achieved the best debut in its first week, at number nine. This automatically turned "The Heart Wants What It Wants" Gomez's third top 10 in the country and her second best positioned single after "Come & Get It" which peaked at number six followed by "Love You like a Love Song", which reached the tenth position. Weeks later "The Heart Wants What It Wants" equaled the position of "Come & Get It" in the Canadian territory.

Awards and nominations

"The Heart Wants What It Wants" won the award for Best Breakup Song at the 2015 Radio Disney Music Awards.[23] It also received a nomination for Choice Break-Up Song at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.[24]

Music video

The music video was filmed in black and white in California and directed by Dawn Shadforth over a year before its release.[25][26] The video received over 9 million views in its first 24 hours. Actor Shiloh Fernandez appears in the music video as Gomez's love interest.[7]

The UK edition of the International Business Times called the video "emotionally charged".[27] Artist Direct wrote that the video contained "a painful, powerful and emotional visual opening."[25]

Live performance

Gomez performed the single for the first time at the 2014 American Music Awards.[28] In her presentation, Gomez wore a skin-colored dress, and the background consisted of images as dark lights, thorns, roses, broken glass and wings appeared behind her on the screen. At the end of her performance, the singer added the phrase "I thought you were the one...".

Caitlin White from MTV described the visuals as "amazing" and said: "It is a more mature song for Selena, but one that almost everyone in the audience could relate, given the intense and emotional response public."[29] The Wrap's Matt Donnelly wrote that it was "a considerable growth moment" for the singer.[30] Casey Rackham of Zap2it called the performance "beautifully and emotionally intense." She commented that the use of wings was "pretty empowering."[31] After her presentation at the American Music Awards, the song went to number one on the Billboard Twitter Real-Time, position it had occupied in its release.

Track listings

  1. "The Heart Wants What It Wants"  – 3:47
  1. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (DJ Laszlo Club Mix)  – 5:59
  2. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (Dave Audé Extended)  – 5:25
  3. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (Cosmic Dawn Club Mix)  – 6:57
  4. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (Kue Remix)  – 4:32
  5. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (Ruff Loaderz Remix)  – 5:18
  6. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" (Ultimix by Mark Roberts)  – 5:49

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of For You.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[32] 33
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[33] 48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 33
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] 6
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 10
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[38] 21
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[39] 39
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[40] 6
Denmark (Tracklisten)[41] 9
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[42] 15
France (SNEP)[43] 30
Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 53
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[45] 1
Hungary (Single Top 40)[46] 13
Ireland (IRMA)[47] 60
Italy (FIMI)[48] 80
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[49] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 58
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 19
Norway (VG-lista)[52] 13
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[53] 22
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[54] 40
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[55] 7
South Africa (EMA)[56] 8
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[58] 53
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 52
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[60] 30
US Billboard Hot 100[61] 6
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[62] 18
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[63] 18
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[64] 35
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[65] 32
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[66] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[67] 30

Year-end charts

Chart (2015) Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[68] 63
US Billboard Hot 100[69] 62
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[70] 43

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[71] Platinum 80,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[72] Gold 40,000^
Sweden (GLF)[73] Gold 20,000^
United States (RIAA)[74] Platinum 1,300,000[22]

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Rockmafia, Page (November 7, 2014). "Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants (MUSIC VIDEO)". rockmafia.
  2. ↑ Mackinley, Page (November 3, 2014). "Selena Gomez's 'For You' Album Tracklist Leaks: 'Stars Dance' Gets Dubkiller Remix". Inquisitr.
  3. ↑ "The Heart Wants What it Wants" – Selena Gomez – Sheet Music. Downtown Music Publishing, Good Fellowship Publishing, Downtown DLJ Songs, Antonina Songs, Downtown DMP Songs, Mafia Della Roccia and Akashic Field Music. 2014. ISBN 978-1-4950-0875-7. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  4. ↑ Boardman, Madeline (November 6, 2014). "Selena Gomez Cries in Emotional "The Heart Wants What It Wants" Video". Us Weekly.
  5. ↑ Byrne, Suzy (November 6, 2014). "Selena Gomez Debuts 'The Heart Wants What It Wants,' an Apparent Ode to Justin Bieber". Yahoo Music.
  6. ↑ Inocencio, Marc (November 6, 2014). "Selena Gomez Talks New Single and Justin Bieber: 'I'm Upset When He's Upset'". RyanSeacrest.com.
  7. 1 2 Mackinley, Page (November 7, 2014). "Selena Gomez's 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' Impacts Big At Radio & YouTube". Inquisitir.
  8. 1 2 Review by Renowned for Sound Retrieved 29 December 2014
  9. ↑ Bill Lamb. "Selena Gomez – "The Heart Wants What It Wants"". About.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 ""The Heart Wants What It Wants": Is Selena Gomez Singing, Crying About Justin Bieber in New Single? – Fuse". Fuse. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  11. 1 2 Villa, Lucas (November 10, 2014). "Review: Selena Gomez has a Lana Del Rey moment on 'Heart Wants What it Wants'". AXS.
  12. ↑ "Dickinson/M. Bowles Correspondence spring 1862 (letter 262)".
  13. ↑ "The Heart Wants What It Wants".
  14. ↑ Review by Allmusic Retrieved 20 December 2014
  15. ↑ Review by Popology Now Retrieved 29 December 2014
  16. ↑ Rosen, Christopher (November 6, 2014). "Selena Gomez's Emotional New Video Addresses Justin Bieber Relationship". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  17. ↑ Review by Idolator Retrieved 29 December 2014
  18. ↑ Review by The Times Of India Retrieved 29 December 2014
  19. ↑ Review by Music Times Retrieved 29 December 2014
  20. ↑ Trust, Gary (November 14, 2014). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Selena Gomez's 'Heart' Starts at No. 25". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  21. ↑ Trust, Gary (December 3, 2014). "Taylor Swift No. 1 on Hot 100, Selena Gomez, Mark Ronson Hit Top 10". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  22. 1 2 Trust, Gary (July 19, 2015). "Ask Billboard: Are There an Unusually High Number of New Acts in the Hot 100's Top 10?". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  23. ↑ "2015 Radio Disney Music Awards: See the Winners List!". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "WINNERS OF TEEN CHOICE 2015 ANNOUNCED". Teen Choice Awards. FOX. August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Selena Gomez Cries In New Video for "The Heart Wants What It Wants," About Justin Bieber". Artist Direct. November 7, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Watch Selena Gomez Break Down in New 'Heart Wants What It Wants' Music Video". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  27. ↑ Maharana, Kabita (November 7, 2014). "Selena Gomez's New Song 'The Heart Wants What it Wants' About Justin Bieber? Fans Tweet Emotionally for the Songstress". International Business Times (UK Edition). Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  28. ↑ "American Music Awards: Selena Gomez, Garth Brooks, Imagine Dragons to Perform". Hollywood Reporter. November 6, 2014.
  29. ↑ White, Caitlin (November 23, 2015). "Selena Gomez's Tearful, Emotional Performance Of 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' Will Leave You Sobbing". MTV. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  30. ↑ Donnelly, Matt (November 23, 2014). "Selena Gomez Delivers Emotional AMA Performance With 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' (Video)". The Wrap. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  31. ↑ Rackham, Casey (November 23, 2014). "elena Gomez takes AMAs to an emotional place with 'The Heart Wants What It Wants'". Zap2it. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Selena Gomez. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Selena Gomez. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Selena Gomez. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  39. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201449 into search. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  40. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201449 into search. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Selena Gomez: The Heart Wants What It Wants" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Selena Gomez Album & Chart History". Billboard Greece Digital Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 49, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 48 (dal 2014-11-24 al 2014-11-30)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  49. ↑ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Selena Gomez". The official lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  50. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Selana Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". VG-lista. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2015-02-07". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  54. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201449 into search. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  55. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201449 into search. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  56. ↑ "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2015-02-10". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  58. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  59. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2015-02-07" UK Singles Chart.
  61. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Selena Gomez. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  62. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Selena Gomez. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  63. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  64. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  65. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  67. ↑ "Selena Gomez – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Selena Gomez. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  68. ↑ "Best of 2015: Canadian Hot 100". Prometheus Gobal Media. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  69. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Pop Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Media Group. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  71. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". Music Canada. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  72. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved February 28, 2015. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  73. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2015" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved May 18, 2015. Type Selena Gomez in the top right search bar. Click on "Sok" and select The Heart Wants What It Wants and see certification.
  74. ↑ "American single certifications – Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 24, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
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