Animals (Maroon 5 song)

"Animals"
Single by Maroon 5
from the album V
Released August 25, 2014
Format
Recorded
Genre Dance-pop[1]
Length 3:43
Label Interscope
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Shellback
Maroon 5 singles chronology
"Maps"
(2014)		 "Animals"
(2014)		 "Sugar"
(2015)

"Animals" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5. It was released on August 25, 2014 as the second official single from the band's fifth studio album, V. It was written by Adam Levine, Benny Blanco and Shellback; the latter is also the producer.

The lyric video for the song was released on August 22, 2014 on Vevo.[2] A snippet of "Animals" was featured in a Kia Soul commercial, published on August 21, 2014.[3] For a limited time after the commercial premiered, the song was available for free download on the official Kia website.[4] The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 giving Maroon 5 their tenth top 10 single in the U.S.

The official remix of the song was released on September 29, 2014, featuring J. Cole. Another official remix featuring rapper Big Boi was released on December 18, 2014.[5]

Music video

The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer (who previously worked with the band on the clip for their 2012 single "Payphone") was released on September 29, 2014. It mainly features Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo. The other musicians of Maroon 5 (including their touring member, Sam Farrar, who appeared in a music video of the band for the very first time) also make an appearance - they are seen playing at a nightclub in some scenes of the video.

Synopsis

The video starts with a woman (played by Prinsloo) entering a slaughterhouse, where Levine's character works. After she leaves, an infatuated Levine begins to stalk the woman by following her in the streets and standing outside in the pouring rain to watch her. He also watches the woman in her sleep and takes numerous photos of Prinsloo (most of them were probably taken without her knowledge) which he later trims and places on wires around a dark room. Intercut with this are scenes of a shirtless Levine (wearing horn-rimmed glasses) singing the song inside a meat locker and using animal carcasses for punching bags. One evening, Levine follows the woman into a nightclub, where he tries to talk to her. Though Prinsloo is amused by Levine and his interest in her, she spends the evening talking to her girlfriends instead. Eventually, Levine is left with no luck, so he goes back to fantasizing about the girl.

Controversy

The video has received strong negative criticism and has been condemned for dehumanizing women and glamorizing violence.[6][7] Jessica Valenti of The Guardian criticized the video for attempting to make violence against women seem "edgy" stating that "there is nothing 'alternative' about showing women being stalked, hunted, raped or killed because it’s something that happens every damn day."[6] RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) released a statement condemning the video, which wrote that "No one should ever confuse the criminal act of stalking with romance. The trivialisation of these serious crimes, like stalking, should have no place in the entertainment industry."[7]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of V.[8]

Locations
Personnel
  • Songwriting – Adam Levine, Shellback, Benjamin Levin
  • Production – Shellback
  • Vocals – Adam Levine
  • Instrumentation, background vocals, programming – Shellback
  • Mixing – Serban Ghenea
  • Vocals recording – Shellback, Max Martin
  • Engineering – Noah Passovoy
  • Assistant engineers – Eric Eylands, Tim Roberts
  • Mix engineer – John Hanes
  • Guitar – James Valentine
  • Bass – Mickey Madden
  • Drums and percussion – Matt Flynn
  • Core Percussion – Cirkut
  • Keyboards – Jesse Carmichael, PJ Morton

Chart performance

In the United States, the song debuted at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. On October 18, 2014, the song rose from the number 33 to 8,[9] giving the band their tenth top-ten hit overall and their seventh consecutive Hot 100 top-ten hit since the 2011 chart-topping single "Moves Like Jagger". The song reached its million sales mark in the US in November 2014.[10] The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 issue dating November 22, 2014 and spent fourteen weeks in the top 10.

In other countries, the song has made the top-ten progress as well, reaching number 2 in Canada. It is also a moderate success in the United Kingdom, where it charted at number 27.

Live performances

The band performed the song on The Voice on November 10, 2014. In February 2015, band members Adam Levine, James Valentine and Jesse Carmichael performed the song for the Victoria's Secret Swim Special filmed in Puerto Rico.

Track listings

  • Digital download
  1. "Animals" — 3:48
  • Digital download (Remix)
  1. "Animals" (Remix) featuring J. Cole  — 3:58
  • CD single
  1. "Animals" (Album Version) — 3:49
  2. "Animals" (Remix) featuring J. Cole — 4:00

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 62
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 22
Bulgaria (IFPI)[15] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 2
Canada AC (Billboard)[17] 1
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 1
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[19] 1
Croatia (Airplay Radio Chart)[20] 6
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[21] 25
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[23] 15
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 4
France (SNEP)[25] 25
Germany (Media Control Charts)[26] 11
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[27] 2
Hungary (Single Top 40)[28] 8
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 23
Israel (Media Forest)[30] 5
Italy (FIMI)[31] 13
Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)[32] 2
Mexican Airplay (Billboard)[33] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 11
Norway (VG-lista)[37] 15
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 20)[38] 4
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[39] 27
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[40] 34
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[41] 2
South Africa (EMA)[42] 7
South Korea (Gaon)[43] 12
South Korea International Chart (Gaon)[44] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 18
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[48] 27
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[50] 11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 1
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[52] 4
US Latin Airplay (Billboard)[53] 32
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[54] 18
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[55] 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[56] 21
Venezuela Pop General (Record Report)[57] 15
Venezuela Pop Rock General (Record Report)[57] 4
Venezuela Top Anglo (Record Report)[58] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 60
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[59] 71
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[60] 63
Italy (FIMI)[61] 77
US Billboard Hot 100[62] 62

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[63] 2× Platinum 160,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[64] Platinum 30,000^
Italy (FIMI)[65] Platinum 30,000*
Sweden (GLF)[66] Platinum 40,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[68] 1,000,000[10]
Streaming
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[69] Gold 4,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format Version Label
Germany[70] August 25, 2014 Digital download Album version Universal
United States[71] September 23, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Interscope
United States[72] October 21, 2014 Rhythmic contemporary radio Remix featuring J. Cole
Germany[73] November 14, 2014 CD single Album version
Remix featuring J. Cole		 Universal

References

  1. ↑ Galvin, Annie (September 3, 2014). "Maroon 5: V". PopMatters. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Maroon 5 - Animals (Lyric Video)".
  3. ↑ "Watch the new Kia commercial, featuring Maroon 5's new song "Animals"". Maroon5.com. August 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ "New Maroon 5 Song "Animals" Featured in New KIA Commercial, Download It for Free". ABC News Radio Online. August 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/maroon-5-big-boi-unleash-animals-remix-20141218
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Guardian. "Guardian review". Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Independent. "Independent". Independent. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  8. ↑ V (inlay cover). Maroon 5. United States: Interscope. 2014. p. 4.
  9. ↑ Trust, Gary. "Meghan Trainor Leads Hot 100's Record-Setting All-Female Top Five". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Paul Grein (November 21, 2014). "Taylor Swift Replaces Herself At #1 on the Hot 100". Yahoo! Music.
  11. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (October 11, 2014). "The Veronicas Spend Third Week On Top Of ARIA Singles Chart". Noise11. Noise Network. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Maroon 5 – Animals" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Maroon 5 – Animals" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Maroon 5 – Animals" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Airplay Top5 - 15.12.2014 - 21.12.2014". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Maroon 5. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada AC for Maroon 5. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Maroon 5. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Maroon 5. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  20. ↑ "ARC, Issue Date: October 31, 2014" (in Croatian). HRT. October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  21. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201444 into search. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  22. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201535 into search. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals". Tracklisten. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Maroon 5: Animals" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Maroon 5 > Animals – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 36, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Maroon 5 – Animals Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  32. ↑ "The Official Lebanese Top 20". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  33. ↑ Illegal name entered Mexican Airplay "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Mexican Airplay for Maroon 5. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Maroon 5 search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Maroon 5 – Animals" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Maroon 5 – Animals". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals". VG-lista. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 20. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-11-08". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  40. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201443 into search. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  41. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201435 into search. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  42. ↑ "South African Airplay Chart Top 10 – November 12, 2014". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. November 12, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Gaon Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Gaon Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals". Singles Top 60. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Maroon 5 – Animals". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-11-08" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Maroon 5. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Maroon 5. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Maroon 5. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Maroon 5. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Latin Airplay for Maroon 5. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Maroon 5. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Maroon 5. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  56. ↑ "Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Maroon 5. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  58. ↑ "Record Report – Top Anglo". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  59. ↑ Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2014 (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2014" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  61. ↑ "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  62. ↑ Illegal name entered Maroon 4/Maroon+4/chart?f=379 "Maroon 4 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Maroon 4. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Maroon 5 – Sugar". Music Canada.
  64. ↑ "Certificeringer". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
  65. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Maroon 5 – Animals" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Maroon 5 in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  66. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar - Vecka 17, 18 December 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan/Swedish Recording Industry Association. September 18, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-09-18. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  67. ↑ "British single certifications – Maroon 5 – Animals". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Animals in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  68. ↑ "American single certifications – Maroon 5 – Animals". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  69. ↑ "Top 100 Streaming - Semana 49: del 1.12.2014 - 7.12.2014" (PDF) (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  70. ↑ http://amazon.de/gp/product/B00MWPY2VE
  71. ↑ http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=09/23/2014&Format=1
  72. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20141007231512/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases
  73. ↑ http://amazon.de/Animals-2-Track-Maroon-5/dp/B00OUF57A4