On 6 July 2022, Harris announced the collaboration, song title, and release date, with a picture of the four artists at the shoot of the accompanying music video.[1] Before the release of "Stay with Me", Williams had collaborated with both Harris and Timberlake on separate occasions. In collaboration with Harris, Williams was featured alongside American singer Katy Perry and American rapper Big Sean on the 2017 single "Feels" and, in the same year, on "Heatstroke" with American rapper Young Thug and American singer Ariana Grande. Williams and Timberlake worked together on the 2014 joint track "Brand New".
Composition and lyrics
"Stay with Me" is a funk-inspired pop and disco song.[2][3] It lets a psychedelic "crispy guitar and a thick-ever present bass" take the center stage for the production.[4] Williams uses a high pitch in the pre-chorus: "The energy is flowing, it keeps us glowing / So we don't need no lights, why is it on? / I'm talking to you, girl, it's a new world". On the chorus, Halsey sings over funk-led production: "I've been waiting for you all year / Come play, make a mess right here / Do whatever, I like it weird / Okay, let 'em disappear / Say whatever you want to hear/ Just stay".[5] She duets with Timberlake on the post-chorus: "All night / Come on and stay with me / Let's stay tight / Come on, let's stay, baby".[6]
Music video
The official music video for "Stay with Me", directed by Emil Nava, premiered on Harris' YouTube channel alongside the song's release on 15 July 2022.[7] The video sees Harris, Timberlake, Halsey, and Williams sporting bright colors as they perform the song, with Timberlake imitating a guitar in the air with his hands and dancing on a moving walkway.[8] The music video also adds an extended outro - this extended outro is titled "Stay With Me (Part 2)" and follows "Stay With Me" on Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2.
The music video on YouTube has received over 30 million views as of April 2024.[9]
Credits and personnel
Calvin Harris – production, songwriting, recording, vocal production
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 32. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 36. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved 12 September 2022.