"Just Give Me a Reason" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Pink featuring Nate Ruess | ||||
from the album The Truth About Love | ||||
Released | February 26, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:02 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jeff Bhasker | |||
Pink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Nate Ruess singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Just Give Me a Reason" on YouTube |
"Just Give Me a Reason" is a song recorded by American singer Pink featuring Nate Ruess of the band Fun. The song was chosen as the third single from Pink's sixth studio album, The Truth About Love (2012). Written alongside producer Jeff Bhasker,"Just Give Me a Reason" is a pop ballad about the desire to hold on to a relationship even when it appears to be breaking down. [1]
The song received critical acclaim,with many critics deeming the song as the best track on the album. Prior to its release,the song charted in many regions due to strong digital sales,which was the reason for its release. The song attained worldwide success,topping the charts in twenty-one countries including the United States,Austria,Australia,Canada,the Czech Republic,Iceland,Ireland,Lebanon,Italy,Luxembourg,Mexico,Netherlands,New Zealand,Poland,Portugal,Scotland,Slovakia,Sweden,as well as peaking within the top five in more than ten countries as United Kingdom,Belgium,Brazil,Denmark,Finland,France,Israel,Norway,Switzerland and Spain. In the US,it became Pink's fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became her third number-one on the Billboard Digital Songs chart after "So What" (2008) and "Raise Your Glass" (2010). [2] "Just Give Me a Reason" has sold more than 4 million digital downloads in the United States. [3]
"Just Give Me a Reason" won the Billboard Mid-Year Award for Favorite Hot 100 No. Single, [4] and garnered two Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Song of the Year at the 2014 Grammy Awards,where Pink and Nate Ruess performed the song after a trapeze-accompanied rendition of "Try".
The music video for "Just Give Me a Reason" featured Nate Ruess as well as Pink's husband,off-road truck and former motocross racer Carey Hart,in a romantic setting which resembles an artificial marsh. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration in 2013.
"Just Give Me a Reason" features Nate Ruess from the American band Fun. Originally,it was just a songwriting session but Pink realized that she needed someone else to sing the song with her because she thought that it was more of a conversation than a one-perspective song. She asked Ruess to sing the song with her as a duet. [5]
Pink said "I was like,'no,this is a story,this is a conversation this song' - it needs the other perspective whether it's a guy and a girl,or two girls or two guys. 'I came in and tried to convince him that this was how the conversation was going to go and it was interesting you know,he was like 'I'll just do the demo cos I don't know about duets' and I totally tricked him into doing it,and I am so glad I was able to. 'I think now he's very happy that he did it,I think it's a beautiful song and I'm really,really proud of it. [6]
Nate Ruess told MTV News:"Writing the song was a whole different learning experience and was really fueled by the fact that Alecia [Pink's real name is Alecia Moore] is so strong and independent and so very much herself. At the end of the day it's so hard to argue against her because what she does is always so great. [6]
The song is about the desire to hold on to a relationship even when it appears to be breaking down. [1]
"Just Give Me a Reason" is a pop ballad [7] written by both artists and produced by Jeff Bhasker, who was also the lead producer for Some Nights , the second album from Ruess' band, fun. "Just Give Me a Reason" starts off with a simple melody played on the piano, as Pink starts to sing the first stanza and chorus, the latter of which introduces drum machines and bass. The second stanza is then sung by Ruess, and the rest of the song is sung as a duet. The song ends with a piano solo, similar to the intro. It has a duration of four minutes and two seconds. [8] Musicnotes.com published this song in the key of G major with a moderate tempo of 95 beats per minute. Pink and Ruess' vocals span two octaves in the song, from G3 to G5. The verses of the song follow the chord progression G-C-Em-C-G, the chorus is G-D7/F#-Em-Bm D7, while the pre-chorus, the intro, and the outro follow the progression of Em-A/C#-D repeated three times before C-G/B-Am, and with a variation into the second chorus. [9]
The song received acclaim from contemporary critics. Jody Rosen from Rolling Stone referred positively to "Just Give Me a Reason" as the best track within the album, "in which Pink dials back the drama, letting the melody and sentiments do their work". [10] Sharing the same opinion, Amy Sciaretto from PopCrush said she liked the "soft" side of Pink and that she and Nate Ruess "fit like a jigsaw puzzle, a lovely yin and yang." [11] Bill Lamb from About.com said: "The genius behind 'Just Give Me a Reason' is that it is a powerful, well written song that is allowed to shine by a simple, spare Jeff Bhasker production and straightforward vocals from Pink and Nate Ruess of the group Fun. The song lays out the emotions behind a wish for reconciliation in a relationship but doesn't provide easy answers. The simple piano based production ensures that every word is clear and the emotional tone of the voices is heard." [12]
Lewis Corner from Digital Spy said: "As her latest single 'Just Give Me a Reason' demonstrates, Pink isn't afraid to band with pop's current flavour - and in this case it's Fun.'s Nate Ruess. "I let you see the parts of me/ That weren't all that pretty/ And with every touch you fixed them," Pink reveals over a folksy piano line, before she bursts into a heart-warbling chorus. The final result may echo fun.'s own anthemic hits, but Pink never fails to make a song her own, even when sharing the spotlight." [7] MusicOMH said that "Pink's other side – the impassioned songwriter – is showcased on Try, which demonstrates that she has a voice that not enough people give her credit for. Similar territory is trodden in Just Give Me a Reason, a duet with fun.'s lead singer Nate Ruess (which sounds more like a fun. song than a Pink song, funnily enough), but it’s these moments that show Pink at her most formulaic." [13]
Common Sense Media (CSM) said, "Pink, singer from band fun. team up in sweet love tune." [14] Billboard also gave a positive review of the song saying this duet with the band's lead singer Nate Ruess (produced by "We Are Young" helmer Jeff Bhasker) would fit right at home on "Some Nights": "Although it's a little jarring to hear Pink's raw, live vocals paired with Ruess' Auto-Tune, it's ultimately a less-schmaltzy version of those male/female duets found at the end credits of every 80s movie." [15] HitFix said One of the highlights is her duet with fun.'s Nate Ruess, who co-wrote "Just Give Me a Reason". [16]
In the United States, "Just Give Me a Reason" topped the iTunes chart on March 19, 2013, and remained atop the list for more than 10 consecutive days, becoming Pink's third Digital Songs number-one hit. In early April, it fell to the runner-up position to Bruno Mars's "When I Was Your Man" only to return to the top two days later and stayed there for the entire month of April 2013. Its success in the digital market was reflected on its Hot 100 position, making it Pink's fourteenth Top 10 hit in the USA during the charting week ending March 30, 2013, then pushing it further to the top to #5 and then to #3, and finally to the top of the chart. The song spent 15 weeks in the top 10. [17] [18] The Truth About Love is, therefore, Pink's first set to achieve more than two Top 10 hits since Missundaztood . On the issue dated April 27, 2013, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Pink's fourth chart-topper and Nate Ruess' second overall, after "We Are Young" with his band Fun. It also was Pink's longest time spent as a lead artist at number one, as it ruled for three consecutive weeks. The song is the seventh best-selling song of 2013 with 4,321,000 download copies sold in the United States for the year. [3]
As of January 2014, the song has sold a total of 4,405,000 downloads in the US. [3] With "Just Give Me a Reason" soaring to number one on the Adult Top 40 chart, it became Pink's eighth number one song there and her tenth top ten overall. Pink currently ties the record for most number ones on that chart, with Katy Perry and Maroon 5 with each having eight. "Just Give Me a Reason" also reached number one on both the US Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs, Adult contemporary chart and Digital Songs.
In Mexico the song debuted at number one, it has been certified 3× Platinum, denoting sales of almost 180,000 copies in the country.
The song attained worldwide success, topping the charts in 20 countries including the United States, Austria, Czech Republic, Iceland, Ireland, Lebanon, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Sweden, Australia, Canada as well as peaking within the top five in more than ten countries as United Kingdom, Belgium (Flandes)(Volonia), Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, Norway, Switzerland and Spain.
On the week of October 6, 2012, "Just Give Me a Reason" debuted at number 106 in the US and at number 75 in Canada. That was the same week that the second single of the album ("Try") debuted at number 56. "Just Give Me a Reason" has also debuted at 65 in Switzerland and 168 in France. [19]
In the United Kingdom "Just Give Me a Reason" stayed in the Top 10 for 11 weeks. It has been certified 3× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, with sales of almost 800,000 copies in 2013 making it the eighth best-selling song of the year. [20]
In Australia, the song debuted at number six on the week of February 17, 2013, before peaking at one the following week. This makes The Truth About Love Pink's first album to score two number-one singles in the country, the first single being "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)". [21] This is also Nate Ruess's first number-one song but third overall since his band Fun had two songs that went number one. In the Netherlands, the song went to number one on February 23, 2013, marking it Pink's very first Dutch number-one song in her 13-year career. In France, the song went to number seven in March 2013, making "Just Give Me a Reason" Pink's third top-ten song in the country and has sold a total of 119.000 downloads. In Canada, the song went to number one on April 13, 2013, making Pink's second number-one single in the country after "So What". It has spent seven consecutive weeks at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming her longest-reigning number-one single. It was the third best-selling song of 2013 in Canada with 499,000 copies sold. [22]
According to the IFPI, by the end of the year, the single had sold 9.9 million copies. The song was the 4th best-selling song of 2013. [23]
The video was directed by Diane Martel and photographed by Jeff Cronenweth. [24] It was filmed in November 2012. Pictures from the video were posted on Twitter. In the pictures, Pink is lying in bed with her husband Carey Hart. Pink was extremely disappointed by the leak, so the photos were deleted immediately after. [25] The official video was released on February 5, 2013. [26] A behind the scenes video was later added to Pink's VEVO channel, where Pink confirms that the video was shot in a Los Angeles swimming pool.
The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration in 2013. The video was nominated for Video of the Year on the People's Choice Awards 2014. As of August 2024, it has received over 1.7 billion views on YouTube. [27]
The video shows Pink lying on a mattress in the middle of an artificial marsh, with fog surrounding the set and a star-studded background. The video is highly symbolic and its storyline is indirect, with references supporting the song's theme, including a teddy bear, a TV floating on the surface of the water, the water itself and a wall made of wood in the background. The scenes include Pink's solo mattress scene, another with Nate Ruess shows the two singers singing the song in a white, blank set, and a third scene showing Pink and her husband Carey Hart embracing and diving.
An official lyric video was published on Pink's official VEVO account in September 2012. It features stars that sparkle in the background. The lyrics shown are sung by both Pink and Ruess. [8]
Credits adapted from The Truth About Love album liner notes.
Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | |||
56th Grammy Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | Nominated | ||
MTV Video Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Won | |
Best Female Video | Nominated | ||
Best Editing | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Love song | Nominated | |
People's Choice Awards | Favorite Song | Nominated | |
Favorite Music Video | Nominated |
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [117] | 13× Platinum | 910,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [118] | Platinum | 30,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [119] | Platinum | 30,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [120] | 2× Diamond | 500,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [121] | Diamond | 800,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [122] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [123] | Gold | 33,024 [123] |
France (SNEP) [124] | Gold | 75,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [125] | 3× Gold | 450,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [126] | 3× Platinum | 90,000* |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [127] | 3× Platinum+Gold | 210,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [128] | 5× Platinum | 75,000* |
Portugal (AFP) [129] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [130] | 2× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF) [131] | 3× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [132] | 2× Platinum | 60,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [133] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [134] | 2× Platinum | 4,405,000 [3] |
Streaming | ||
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [135] | 3× Platinum | 5,400,000† |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [136] | Gold | 4,000,000† |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format |
---|---|---|
United States | February 26, 2013 | Mainstream radio [137] |
Hot AC radio [138] | ||
Italy | March 15, 2013 | Contemporary hit radio [139] |
Germany | April 12, 2013 | CD single [29] |
United States | April 15, 2013 | Adult Contemporary radio [140] |
"Get the Party Started" is a song by American singer Pink, released on October 9, 2001, as the lead single from her second album, Missundaztood (2001). It received positive reviews and became an international success and reached the top ten in many countries, peaking at number one in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Romania, Spain, and the Walloon region of Belgium. The song was Pink's biggest-selling song at that time. The song was originally intended for Madonna’s 2000 album Music but her team turned it down. It was later given to Pink.
"U + Ur Hand" is a song by American pop singer Pink. It is the third single from her fourth studio album I'm Not Dead (2006). It was released on August 28, 2006, and ignited controversy due to its explicit lyrical content. The song was written by Pink, Max Martin and Dr. Luke, the same trio who wrote Pink's previous hit single "Who Knew"; the song is also co-written by Rami Yacoub. The two songs eventually became Pink's first two singles to receive Platinum certifications from Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the first two among a series of hits by Martin and Dr. Luke that followed, including Pink's first solo number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, "So What".
"Who Knew" is a song by American singer Pink from her fourth studio album, I'm Not Dead (2006). Written by Pink, Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, the song was originally released on May 8, 2006, by the LaFace label to radio as the album's second single, but was only a moderate success. The song saw more success upon its re-release in the United States in June 2007, thanks in large part to the success of U + Ur Hand. Musically, "Who Knew" is a pop song. Lyrically, it regards the loss of a good friend of hers.
"Just Like a Pill" is a song by American singer Pink. It was written by Pink and Dallas Austin and produced by Austin for the singer's second studio album, Missundaztood. The lyrics of the song deal with getting out of painful relationships with a subtheme about drug abuse.
American singer and songwriter Pink has released nine studio albums, one live album, five video albums, six compilation albums, 59 singles, three charity singles, six promotional singles, and 51 music videos. Throughout her career, Pink has sold 60 million albums, 75 million singles and 2.4 million DVDs worldwide. According to RIAA, she has sold 18 million albums and 13.5 million digital singles. She is also UK's second best-selling female artist of the 21st century. Billboard ranked her as the fifth top female artist of the 2000s, eighth top female artist of the 2010s and the 59th greatest artist of all time. Official Charts Company hailed her as UK's most played female artist of the 21st century.
"Please Don't Leave Me" is a song from American singer Pink and the third single taken from her fifth studio album Funhouse. It was released on February 16, 2009. The song received strong airplay in Australia and New Zealand, as well as being added to the BBC Radio 1 A-List playlist in the UK. The music video for "Please Don't Leave Me" was directed by Dave Meyers and was leaked online, along with the single's cover art, before the song's official announcement as a single. In the United States, the song managed to reach the Top 20, peaking at 17. The song was featured in Suburgatory.
"So What" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her fifth studio album, Funhouse (2008). The song was written by Pink, Max Martin, and Shellback, and produced by Martin. Selected as the album's lead single, "So What" was first released on August 11, 2008, and to mainstream radios on August 25, 2008, through LaFace and Zomba Label Group. The song consists of a martial beat and synth backing. The lyrics are based on her separation from freestyle motocross rider Carey Hart, which occurred six months prior to the release.
Nathaniel Joseph Ruess is an American singer and songwriter. He formed the indie pop band fun. in 2008, for which he serves as lead vocalist. He also does so for the indie rock band the Format, which was formed prior in 2002.
"Sober" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Pink, taken from her fifth studio album, Funhouse (2008). It was written by Pink and Kara DioGuardi, with additional writing by Nate "Danja" Hills and Marcella Araica, while production was done by Danja, Tony Kanal and Jimmy Harry. The song was released as the album's second single on November 10, 2008, firstly through digital download and later was added to U.S. radio stations on December 1, 2008. The power pop and rock song talks about the quiet sense of comfort in being sober, with the singer claiming it was about the vices that we choose.
"We Are Young" is a song recorded by American pop rock band Fun, featuring American singer Janelle Monáe. It is the third track on the group's second studio album, Some Nights (2012). The song was released on September 20, 2011, as the lead single from the album. The song quickly received widespread acclaim from music critics, with many noting the song as a breakthrough for the indie genre and praising the song's catchiness. "We Are Young" attained commercial success worldwide, reaching number one in several countries.
"Raise Your Glass" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her first greatest hits album Greatest Hits... So Far!!! (2010). It was written by Pink along with frequent collaborators Max Martin and Karl "Shellback" Schuster. The song celebrates the first decade since Pink's debut in 2000, and is dedicated to her fans who have been supporting her over the years. It was released as the lead single from Greatest Hits... So Far!!! on October 5, 2010, by LaFace Records.
"Fuckin' Perfect" is a song by American singer Pink from her first greatest hits album Greatest Hits... So Far!!! (2010). Written by Pink along with its producers Max Martin and Shellback, the track is a rock pop power ballad that encourages people to accept each other for their true identities. Pink has stated that the main inspiration behind the track is her husband, Carey Hart.
"Give Me Everything" is a song by American rapper Pitbull featuring Dutch DJ Afrojack and American singers Ne-Yo and Nayer. Written by the former three and produced by Afrojack, it was released on March 18, 2011, through Polo Grounds Music, Mr. 305 Entertainment, and J Records as the second single from Pitbull's sixth studio album, Planet Pit (2011). Rolling Stone described the song as a "club-pop cut with a plaintive Ne-Yo chorus".
The Truth About Love is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Pink. It was released on September 14, 2012, through RCA Records. After giving birth to her first child in 2011, Pink started working on the album with longtime collaborator Billy Mann. With hopes of becoming more involved in the production of the album, she also reunited with Greg Kurstin and Butch Walker. Recording sessions took place between January and May 2012. The Truth About Love is primarily a pop record and includes elements of electropop, dance-pop, and rock music. Its lyrics explore themes of love, monogamy, and sexuality, as evidenced by the album title. The songs on the album express various perspectives towards romance and delve into the realities of long-term relationships. It features guest appearances by Eminem, Lily Allen, and Nate Ruess.
"True Love" is a song by American singer Pink featuring English singer Lily Allen from the former's sixth studio album, The Truth About Love (2012). It was written by the artists, and producer Greg Kurstin.
"Try" is a song recorded by American singer Pink, which she released as the second single from her sixth album, The Truth About Love (2012). The song was originally written and composed by Busbee and Ben West, who recorded it in 2010 under the moniker GoNorthToGoSouth. Pink's version of the song was produced by Greg Kurstin, who also produced four other songs on the album.
"Just Like Fire" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for the soundtrack to the 2016 film Alice Through the Looking Glass. It was written by Pink along with Max Martin, Shellback, and Oscar Holter, who all serve as producers on the track. The song was released to digital retailers through RCA Records on April 15, 2016, and was serviced to American adult pop radio through RCA and Walt Disney Records on April 18, 2016.
"Cover Me in Sunshine" is a song by American singer and songwriter Pink and her daughter Willow Sage Hart. It was written by Amy Allen and Mozella with production by A Strut. The song debuted via video-sharing social media platform TikTok on February 8, while the full version was released on February 12, 2021, as a single through RCA Records.
"Walk Me Home" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her eighth studio album, Hurts 2B Human (2019). The track was announced during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show broadcast on February 6, 2019, and it was released as the lead single from the album on February 20, 2019, by RCA Records. "Walk Me Home" was written by Pink, Scott Friedman, and Nate Ruess, while the production was handled by Peter Thomas and Kyle Moorman.
"Can We Pretend" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her eighth studio album, Hurts 2B Human (2019). The track was initially released as the second promotional single on April 11, 2019, but later sent to radio on June 21, 2019, as the album's second single. It was the most added single to radio in Australia a month prior.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help){{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help)