"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]
The melody consists of "euphoric synthesizers" and "pounding beats".[20]
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."[21] 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."[21] Andy Kellman of Allmusic picked the song as one of the best from the album, but ultimately called it "serviceable but indistinct."[22] Nate Chinen of New York Times named it a "convincing Euro dance track."[23] Ken Capobianco of Boston Globe called it "essential," writing that "it's a deftly conceived confection."[24]
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."[25] 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."[26] 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."[27]
Chart performance
The song peaked at number six 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.
In the United Kingdom, "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart on September 9, 2012 – for the week ending date September 15, 2012 – becoming Ne-Yo's fifth number one song in Britain after "So Sick" in March 2006, "Closer" in June 2008, "Beautiful Monster" in August 2010, and "Give Me Everything" in May 2011. The song sold 89,000 copies there in its first week of release, and sold 347,000 copies as of December 2012, making it Britain's 49th best-selling song of 2012.[28]
Music video
The music video for "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)" was directed by Christopher Simms.[29] 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.[20] 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]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
Radio and release history
List of release dates showing countries, formats and record labels
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