"Same Old Love" is a song recorded by American singer Selena Gomez, who included it on and released it from her second studio album Revival (2015). The song was written by Charli XCX, Ross Golan, and its producers Stargate and Benny Blanco. The song was released as the second single from Revival on September 10, 2015, to contemporary hit radio. It was initially composed by XCX with Stargate and later recorded by Gomez without the former in the studio at the time. "Same Old Love" is a midtempoelectropop and synth-pop song backed by a wonky piano loop, a finger-click beat and Italo disco synths. In the song, Gomez uses a forceful, emotive tone and a raspy delivery that are both uncharacteristic for her, accompanied by XCX's chorus vocals. According to Gomez, the lyrics are a representation of various stages of different relationships and are about getting rid of everything toxic in her life, also inspired by her relationship with her father.
A number of remixes were commissioned for its release, including an official remix featuring rapper Fetty Wap. Music critics mostly complimented its catchy tune and understated, moody sound. The song peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Gomez's fourth top ten and second consecutive top five single from the album. "Same Old Love" also reached number one on the US Pop Airplay chart and the top ten in Canada, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
"Same Old Love" was accompanied by a music video directed by Michael Haussman and filmed in the Broadway Theater District of Los Angeles. It premiered as an Apple Music exclusive on September 22, 2015, and was released on Vevo channel on October 7, 2015. The video was well received by critics who complimented Gomez's styling and the emotional storyline. It was inspired by Gomez's relationships with her loved ones and fans. It featured Gomez witnessing several dramatic vignettes on the streets of Los Angeles, and performing at a theater. Gomez promoted "Same Old Love" with several televised performances, including on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and at the 2015 American Music Awards.
Background and release
The lyrics to "Same Old Love" were written by Charli XCX (pictured) who also contributed with backing vocal during the chorus.
"Same Old Love" was written by English singer Charli XCX and Norwegian production team Stargate. During a recording session for Selena Gomez's 2015 studio album Revival, Stargate presented the track to Gomez who acceded and subsequently recorded it. XCX was not at the session, although her manager was present throughout the song's recording process.[1] The final composition featured additional writing from Ross Golan, and Benny Blanco who also produced the song with Stargate.[2] Gomez was drawn to the song as she was a fan of XCX's music and cited an emotional connection with its lyrics. She believed "Same Old Love" represented her strained relationship with her father and how his relationship with her reflected on her subsequent romantic relationships. "I think that's where it started, and all the actions that happened are almost similar to what I was going through," she explained.[3] The song's recording sessions took place at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, and Dreamlab Studios in Studio City, California.[2] The song was initially intended for Barbadian singer Rihanna who shared the track's "I'm so sick of that same old love" line on Twitter in June 2014.[4][5]
"I think 'Same Old Love' represents a different kind of identity with love. The first people you love in your life are your parents. So for me, my dad is the first male figure I had in my life. And how much it means to respect your parents and have a healthy relationship with them because it trails on into your relationships when you're older."
Gomez first announced "Same Old Love" as the second single from Revival on August 5, 2015, at the iHeartMedia summit—a forum for labels to preview their upcoming material to radio management.[7] She teased the song in a clip shared on Instagram on September 4, 2015.[8] "Same Old Love" premiered on Vevo on September 9, 2015.[9] The single was released on September 10, 2015,[10] as an instant gratification track to accompany digital pre-orders of Revival.[11] In the US, "Same Old Love" impacted contemporary hit radio on October 6, 2015, and rhythmic contemporary radio on October 20, 2015.[12] A digital remix bundle was released on November 20, 2015; it featured a remix by Israeli DJ Borgore.[13] An official remix featuring rapper Fetty Wap was digitally released on January 8, 2016.[14] It features Wap sing-rapping two new verses (and eight bars combined) at the beginning and near the end of the track.[15][16] The remix was well received by critics, who praised Wap's performance in contrast with the song's theme.[17][18]Camila Cabello's song "Havana" released two years later has the same slinky, snap-accented intro as "Same Old Love".[19]
Using an uncharacteristically forceful, emotive tone and raspy delivery, Gomez belts the hook, "I'm so sick of that same old love / That shit it tears me up / I'm so sick of that same old love / My body's had enough."[9] On the choral comedown, XCX prominently accompanies Gomez with gritty background vocals, "Oh / Oh / Oh".[26][28] Their vocals range between the notes A3 and C♯5.[24] Lyrically, "Same Old Love" is a torch song.[15] According to Gomez, the lyrics are a representation of various stages of different relationships and are about getting rid of everything toxic in her life.[29][30] The lyrics also express a sense of growth, "Take away your things and go / You can't take back what you said... / I'm not spending any time, wasting tonight on you."[30]
Critical reception
Joe Levy of Rolling Stone suggested that the track "may be carving out a role for [Gomez] as a pop torch singer", describing it as "moody and catchy without being obvious".[31] In comparison with Gomez's previous single "Good for You", Joe Coscarelli of The New York Times viewed "Same Old Love" as the more obvious single choice.[32] Nolan Feeney of Time magazine quipped, "'Same old' pop song this is not".[33] Emily Mackay from The Observer found the song's understated sound "most surprising [...], despite the hit-making co-writers", deeming it a winning collaboration.[34] Kevin O'Donnell of Entertainment Weekly said the song's "simple approach shines through".[35]AllMusic's Tim Sendra praised the "snappy, sassy" sound of "Same Old Love", and felt it did "a fine job" at straying from a formula he felt was common in most of Gomez's music.[36] In a review for ABC News, Allan Raible opined that the song "gets better with each repeated listen" and complimented Gomez's "convincing level of sincerity".[21]Stereogum called it "the best Gwen Stefani song of 2015" and placed it at number 41 on their list of The 50 Best Pop Songs of 2015.[37]
Some reviewers were less favorable. USA Today critic Elysa Gardner viewed the track as "crisp but generic".[38] Dave Hanratty of Drowned in Sound found the song engaging, but was critical of XCX "[dominating it] entirely", calling it a leftover from XCX's 2014 album Sucker.[39] Similarly, Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani felt the track lacked originality, noting that it was "dominated by the unmistakable presence of Charli XCX".[40] Mikael Wood from the Los Angeles Times opined that "Same Old Love" was a bold borrowing from XCX's music.[41] Conversely, Michael Cragg of The Guardian said, "Regardless of its history, and who may or may not be singing what, 'Same Old Love' is ludicrously catchy and oddly brutal."[4]
Chart performance
"Same Old Love" debuted at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart issued for October 3, 2015.[42] Following Gomez's performance of the song at the 2015 American Music Awards on November 22, 2015, it rose from number 13 to number 11, selling 81,000 copies with a 74% increase in sales.[43] It was the single that benefited the most sales-wise from a performance at the ceremony, according to Billboard.[44] "Same Old Love" climbed to a new peak of number six on the chart dated January 2, 2016.[45] It marked Gomez's fourth US top 10 single, consequently making Revival her first album to spawn multiple top 10 singles.[46] On the chart issue dated January 30, 2016, the song moved to a new peak of number five, becoming the singer's highest-charting song at the time, along with previous single "Good for You", which peaked at the same position.[47] "Same Old Love" also became Gomez's sixth top-ten and second number one single on the US Mainstream Top 40 chart,[48][49] and third top-five single on the US Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart where it peaked at number four.[50][nb 1] After spending nine weeks in the top 10 of the chart the song dropped eight–15 on the chart issue dated February 20, 2016.
"Same Old Love" debuted at number 36 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week ending October 3, 2015.[51] In its fourteenth charting week, the song moved to its peak spot at number six,[52] and was subsequently certified gold by Music Canada for sales of over 40,000 copies.[53] In Australia, "Same Old Love" entered at number 42 on the ARIA Singles Chart dated September 27, 2015,[54] and later reached a peak of number 33.[55] The song peaked at number 81, and spent six weeks on the UK Singles Chart, under performing in this region compared to its successor and predecessor.[56] Elsewhere, "Same Old Love" reached the top 10 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[57][58]
Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "Same Old Love" was directed by Michael Haussman and filmed in the Broadway Theater District of Los Angeles.[59] Filming took place during the evenings of September 15–16, 2015. According to Gomez, the concept was to portray her interpretation of the song's lyrics; a representation of various stages of different relationships. For this reason, she wanted Haussman to translate emotion and cinematography in a fluid storyline.[29] Regarding the video's inspiration, Haussman explained, "I think that [Gomez's] inspiration is kind of seeing that and all of humanity and feel like, 'OK, I'm not the only one'".[60] He initially planned for Gomez's scenes to be shot entirely in a car, but later felt this would disconnect from her intended interpretation and found inspiration from singer Tony Bennett who was known for walking to his concerts.[60]
Gomez invited 800 fans to the district's Palace Theater for a special Revival event where they were surprised by also being cast in the final stage performance scene of the video.[61][62] She wanted this scene to emulate what inspires and motivates her in life.[29] In an interview for Billboard magazine, Gomez explained, "The number one priority when it comes to anything I do is my fans...we wanted this ending to be really cool and interactive in a way".[63] Haussman initially planned to omit the scenes with fans and use it as a bonus video instead, but liked how the scene came out in the end. The fans' reactions were filmed the day after Gomez's stage performance so Haussman could shoot close-ups of Gomez without obstructing their view. Haussman used a sequinned stage curtain to resemble the rain-soaked car window segment. He began the film editing, but had to travel to Europe, subsequently completing the final in the US.[60] The music video was premiered as an Apple Music exclusive on September 22, 2015.[64] It was released on YouTube on October 7, 2015.[65]
The video begins with Gomez donning a little black dress underneath an oversize ivory sweater,[62][66] leaving a hotel and climbing into the backseat of a black car.[67] Driving through the streets of Los Angeles, she looks out from the car's rain-soaked window.[64] Gomez briefly witnesses several public vignettes: including a distressed mother and her son, an infuriated man venting his anger, and a couple kissing.[59]
The car then stops at a theater where Gomez sneaks into a nightclub to escape the paparazzi and her management who search for her.[61] She then walks around the city where she encounters more public vignettes: a gay couple and their baby, and a daughter staring into a fish tank near her sleeping father.[68] Seemingly inspired by the vignettes, she makes her way to the theater to perform a live show. Gomez appears on stage after a curtain lifts, greeted by hundreds of fans.[67] The video ends with Gomez performing the rest of the song for the audience.[61]
Reception
Karen Mizoguchi of People magazine quipped, "'Same Old Love' but definitely not the same 'ole gal!", concluding: "Gomez's two careers collide as a bit of old Hollywood movie magic and her sultry voice make for one glamorous video."[66] Madeline Roth from MTV News deemed the music video "sexy" and "sophisticated", highlighting its themes of Hollywood glamour and suspense.[67] Similarly, Glamour magazine writer Lynsey Eidell commented: "The video for 'Same Old Love' continues to show off Gomez's sophisticated and sultry side—but it also comes with a pretty awesome backstory."[69] Colin Stutz of Billboard magazine felt it was inspired by "all the world's love and heartache".[64]InStyle's Kelsey Glein praised the visual's "emotional" and "moody vibe", as well as Gomez's "simply stunning" appearance.[62] Zach Dionne of Fuse opined that the music video showcased Gomez "in a new light".[70] Alyssa Bailey from Elle magazine viewed it as "a pretty, lonely, vaguely Britney Spears 'Lucky'-ish look into the world of a pop star".[71]
On November 22, 2015, Gomez performed "Same Old Love" at the American Music Awards flanked by a bevy of tuxedo-clad male dancers on a cabaret-themed stage with an illuminated staircase and disco balls.[75]Billboard magazine wrote, "Gomez's set offered the night's most eye candy",[76] while Entertainment Weekly said "Gomez delivered what might have been the sultriest performance of the night".[75] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone called it a "stylish performance".[77] The song was included as part of Gomez's set list for iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball Tour throughout December 2015.[78] As the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on January 23, 2016, Gomez performed a medley of "Good for You" and "Same Old Love".[79]
The song was also included on Gomez's Revival Tour in 2016.
Published by EMI April Music (ASCAP) on behalf of EMI Music Publishing LTD (PRS), Matza Ballzack Music/Where Da Kasz at — administered by Universal Music Publishing (BMI), Stellar Songs Ltd., Sony/ATV (SESAC), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) and Back in Djibouti (BMI)
All rights on behalf of itself and Back in Djbouti (BMI), administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^ ab"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
^ ab"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201544 into search. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
^ abGoodman, Jessica; O'Donnell, Kevin (November 22, 2015). "AMAs 2015: 11 best moments". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 07. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
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