"Too Much to Ask" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Niall Horan | ||||
from the album Flicker | ||||
Released | 15 September 2017 | |||
Length | 3:43 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Greg Kurstin - Paul Hollywood | |||
Niall Horan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Too Much to Ask" on YouTube |
"Too Much to Ask" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan. It was written by Horan and Jamie Scott, with production handled by Greg Kurstin. The song was released by Capitol Records on 15 September 2017, as the third single from Horan's debut studio album, Flicker (2017). Commercially, "Too Much to Ask" reached the top 10 in Hungary, Ireland, and Scotland as well as the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Slovakia.
Horan expressed in tweets that the song is "very special" to him and it stands out as one of his favourites on the album. [1] [2] He said of the song in an interview with BBC News: "I would obviously like it to go to number one, that would be the dream, but it is what it is. If it's getting a lot love and jumps in at number two or number three, I don't mind." [3] In the single's promotional post on social media, Horan was pictured standing on the left on the escalator in the London Underground. [4] "It's a special one. I actually wrote this song the day after I wrote 'This Town' so I felt like it got off to an alright start when I started writing the album. It's a very nice, beautiful song and means a lot to me. I just can't wait for people to hear it. Hopefully fingers cross that people are going to like it, obviously a lot different to 'Slow Hands'," Horan explained in a Smallzy's Surgery interview. [5]
"Too Much to Ask" is performed in the key of C major. Horan's vocals span from G2 to F4. [6]
Mike Wass of Idolator was positive about the song, saying: "Niall Horan's solo career continues to go from strength to strength with the arrival of 'Too Much To Ask.' A tender ballad about hankering for an ex, the track showcases the Irishman's simple, heartfelt approach." And went on to call it "a beautifully crafted song" with a "melancholy piano arrangement". [7] Rianne Houghton from Digital Spy was also positive about the song, and said: "Gird your loins, and your tear ducts 1D fans! Niall has released his latest single and it's definitely a tear-jerker. Seriously Niall, who hurt you?" [8]
Niall uploaded the official audio on day of release to his YouTube Vevo account and then the official music video six days later on 21 September 2017. It was directed by Malia James. Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone explained the video in his review about the song's video, writing:
"The Malia James-directed clip finds Horan grappling with lost love as he sings the poignant and nostalgic lyrics in an empty room and watches a couple flirt and kiss on the tube. Horan finds solace while sharing a pint and playing the tune with his mates, though the clip ends with the musician contending with loneliness as he wanders the streets of London." [9]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Too Much to Ask" | 3:43 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Too Much to Ask" (TRU Concept remix) | 3:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Too Much to Ask" (Cedric Gervais remix) | 3:04 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Too Much to Ask" (acoustic version) | 3:41 |
Credits adapted from Tidal. [10]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [51] | 3× Platinum | 210,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA) [52] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [53] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [54] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [55] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [56] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [57] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [58] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [59] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [60] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 15 September 2017 | Digital download | Original | Capitol | [10] |
Italy | 29 September 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal | [61] | |
United States | 10 October 2017 | Capitol | [62] | ||
Various | Digital download | TRU Concept remix | [11] | ||
Cedric Gervais remix | [12] | ||||
3 November 2017 | Acoustic | [13] |
Flicker is the debut solo studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan. It was released on 20 October 2017 by Capitol Records. "This Town" was released on 29 September 2016 as the album's lead single, followed by "Slow Hands", "Too Much to Ask", "On the Loose", and "Seeing Blind".
"Best Song Ever" is a song recorded by English-Irish boy band One Direction. It was released on 22 July 2013 by Syco as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Midnight Memories. The song was written and composed by Wayne Hector, Ed Drewett, Matt Rad, along with the band's regular collaborators Julian Bunetta and John Ryan.
"Story of My Life" is a song recorded by English-Irish boy band One Direction. It was released on 28 October 2013 by Syco Music and Columbia Records as the second single from the group's third studio album, Midnight Memories (2013). The song was written by band members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson, along with Julian Bunetta, Jamie Scott and John Ryan. The lyrics speak of a tumultuous relationship leading to lament and heartbreak.
"This Town" is the debut solo single by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released on 29 September 2016 by Capitol Records as the lead single from his debut solo album Flicker (2017). An accompanying music video of a live performance was released the same day. The song was written by Horan, Jamie Scott, Mike Needle, Daniel Bryer and produced by Greg Kurstin. It is Horan's first solo single, as well as the second solo single released by any of One Direction's remaining members, following the hiatus of the band, which was announced earlier in 2016. It peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, earning it his second highest-charting single as a lead artist to date, behind "Slow Hands". It also peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Slide" is a song by Scottish DJ Calvin Harris featuring American musicians Frank Ocean and Migos as the lead single from the former's fifth studio album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, released on 23 February 2017 through Sony Music.
"Slow Hands" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released as a single on 4 May 2017 by Capitol Records. The song was written by Horan, Alexander Izquierdo, John Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Ruth Anne Cunningham and Tobias Jesso Jr., while the production was handled by Bunetta. It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 9 May 2017 as the second single from Horan's debut solo album Flicker (2017).
"Crying in the Club" is the debut solo single recorded by Cuban-born American singer Camila Cabello, released on May 19, 2017. It was written by Cabello, Sia, Benny Blanco and Happy Perez, with production handled by Blanco, Perez and Cashmere Cat. The song contains an interpolation of Christina Aguilera's 1999 single "Genie in a Bottle". A mid-tempo tropical pop and dance track, it was originally intended to be the lead single from Cabello's debut studio album, which was originally titled The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving. It was later removed from the track listing and featured on Side A of the 7-inch eponymous extended play released on July 14, 2017. The song reached number three in Bulgaria, as well as the top forty in eleven additional countries. "Crying in the Club" is certified Platinum in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Italy. It is Cabello's first completely solo single since her departure from American girl group Fifth Harmony.
"2U" is a song by French DJ and record producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The song has EDM elements. It was written by Justin Bieber, Poo Bear, Cesqeaux and its producer Guetta and Giorgio Tuinfort. It was released on 9 June 2017 by What a Music, as the lead single from Guetta's seventh studio album, 7 (2018).
"On the Loose" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan from his debut studio album Flicker. It was written by Horan, John Ryan and its producer Julian Bunetta. The song was released to the US Mainstream Top 40 radio on 20 February 2018 as the album's fourth single. The radio version was released commercially on 16 February 2018 and was labeled as 'Alternative Version'.
"Bank Account" is a song by British-American rapper 21 Savage. Written and produced alongside Metro Boomin, it was originally released on July 7, 2017 as a track from debut studio album Issa Album before being serviced to rhythmic and urban radio on August 8, 2017 as the only single. A music video was released on November 10, 2017. 21 referred to the song as the de facto single of Issa Album. The song contains a sample from the soundtrack album of The Education of Sonny Carson.
"Silence" is a song produced by American DJ and musician Marshmello featuring vocals from American singer-songwriter Khalid. Written by both, it was released by RCA Records on August 11, 2017. The dance track peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as number 3 on the UK charts, his first song to chart on the latter.
"Friends" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber and American record producer BloodPop. It was released through Genpop Corporation, RBMG Records, School Boy Records, Def Jam Recordings and Republic Records as a single on August 17, 2017. Bieber and BloodPop wrote the song alongside Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels, with production solely handled by BloodPop. "Friends" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. On October 20, 2017, Bieber and BloodPop released a remix of the song, which features Michaels.
"Too Good at Goodbyes" is a song by English singer Sam Smith. It was written by James Napier, Tor Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen and Smith, and produced by Napes, Steve Fitzmaurice and StarGate. It was released on 8 September 2017 through Capitol Records, as the lead single from their second studio album, The Thrill of It All (2017).
Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan has released three studio albums, two live album, three extended plays, sixteen singles, one promotional single and sixteen music videos. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Horan has sold 6.5 million albums and singles in the United States. He was also included on Billboard's Annual Year-end Top Artists of 2017, placing at number 29.
"Shotgun" is a song by British singer-songwriter George Ezra. The song was written by Ezra, Fred Gibson and Joel Pott and produced by Cam Blackwood. It was released as a digital download on 18 May 2018, as the third single from Ezra's second studio album, Staying at Tamara's. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Ezra's first number-one song in the United Kingdom and was certified septuple platinum there. In addition, it topped the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia, also becoming Ezra's first number-one there, as well as the Irish Singles Chart and New Zealand Singles Chart. "Shotgun" charted on the Billboard Hot 100. It debuted on the chart in the week of October 6, 2018, at position 92. It later reached its peak position of 11 in the week of January 12, 2019, making it his highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Goodbyes" is a song by American rapper and singer Post Malone featuring fellow American rapper Young Thug. It was released as the second single from Malone's third studio album, Hollywood's Bleeding, via Republic Records on July 5, 2019, one day after Malone's 24th birthday. The song was written by the artists, Billy Walsh, Val Blavatnik, Jessie Foutz, and producers Brian Lee & Louis Bell It became Malone's seventh top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as his sixth number-one on Billboard's Rhythmic chart. Along with "Sunflower" and "Wow", Malone achieved three consecutive US Rhythmic No. 1s to come from one album, and was the first time the feat was achieved after Drake's Scorpion spawned three chart leaders in 2018.
"Nice to Meet Ya" is a song by Irish singer Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records as the lead single from his second studio album Heartbreak Weather on 4 October 2019. Horan co-wrote the track with Ruth-Anne Cunningham in one day.
"Put a Little Love on Me" is a song by Irish singer Niall Horan. It was released through Capitol Records as the second single from his second studio album Heartbreak Weather on 6 December 2019.
"Our Song" is a song by English singer-songwriter Anne-Marie and Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan. It was released on 21 May 2021 as the third single from the former's second studio album, Therapy (2021). Produced by TMS, "Our Song" was written by the two singers along with Philip Plested and the three members of TMS. The ballad's lyrics has the vocalists reminiscing about a past relationship.
"Heaven" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records as the lead single from his third studio album The Show on 17 February 2023.