Zedd’s Underwhelming ‘I Want You To Know ft. Selena Gomez’ Hits No. 1 On iTunes Dance Chart [Review]
Zedd’s single “I Want You To Know” featuring rumored girlfriend, Selena Gomez, powered its way to No. 1 on iTunes’ dance chart, within just one hour of its official arrival online on Monday, February 23.
The underwhelming EDM track leaked one day before its scheduled worldwide release on iTunes. While that sapped some of the emotional impact of the single’s drop, its No. 1 slot on iTunes’ dance chart indicates the pair’s fans are keen to support their collaboration.
HOLY SHIT, #IWantYouToKnow has been out for 1h and its already #1 Dance on iTunes!!!!!! Thank u guys soooo much!! pic.twitter.com/QqMdGfOWSg
— Zedd (@Zedd) February 23, 2015
Selena announced “I Want You To Know’s” official debut via her Instagram page earlier today, captioning a screengrab of the song’s purchase with, “Well that’s exciting @zedd. LINK IN BIO.”
For his part, Zedd, tweeted and Instagrammed a picture of their single’s cover art with a similar message and the single’s iTunes link.
Music Times notes “I Want You To Know” is confirmed as the lead single from the German DJ’s forthcoming second studio album on Interscope Records, which follows his acclaimed 2012 album debut Clarity. After leaving Disney’s Hollywood Records, Selena signed a deal with Interscope on December 2014.
The pair are collaborating on the actress-singer’s upcoming album. After numerous teases of the idea that they’re a couple — later followed up by hashtags of the single — Billboard reported online searches for Zedd leaped. In short: Zeddlena is great for business.
Review of “I Want You To Know:”
Nutshelled, the Zedd-produced and written, with a topline assist from Ryan Tedder, is an adequate, catchy, upbeat, EDM outing with an undemanding, pop vocal sung by Gomez.
Classic Zeddisms: a “knock knock” beat to signal new sections, the long drum build-up out of the breakdown with a rising electro note into the last chorus, are all present and correct. But Zedd’s production on “IWYTK” does not stretch his previous form, and is less nuanced here than on the amazing Clarity.
Moving on to the lyrics. “I Want You To Know” finds Selena telling someone (presumably Zedd) that they are compatible and reading off the same page on every level imaginable.
“I want you to know that it’s our time/You and me bleed the same light/I want you to know that I’m all yours,” Gomez sings in the chorus.
She adds, “You and me, we’re the same force / I want you to know that it’s our time / You and me bleed the same light / I want you to know that I’m all yours / You and me run the same course.”
Apart from Selena’s vocal inflections the second time she sings the pre-chorus with its nod to Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies” — “Honey, it’s rainin’ tonight / The storms always have an eye, have an eye /Tell me your cover tonight/ Or tell me lies [x3]” — her vocals are generic and could have been sung by any pop or dance artist around today.
That said, the single has topped iTunes’ dance chart and will likely do well on Billboard’s Hot 100 and dance charts. The release of the accompanying music video will add to buzz around the song, as will speculation that the lyrics are about Selena favorably comparing Zedd to her former boyfriend Justin Bieber.
Keep an eye out for the music video which may arrive later today. Previous promotion stills reveal the 22-year-old pop princess and Tuxedo-clad Zedd getting their party on in a 70’s- inspired setting that plays on their rumored chemistry.
Although the “I Want You To Know” record is underwhelming given all the hype, Zeddlena fans and Selenators will ensure its success.
Full lyrics can be viewed below the highlight.
The two are rumored to be romantically involved.
[Images via Instagram]
