Steal My Girl

"Steal My Girl"
Single by One Direction
from the album Four
Released 29 September 2014
Format
Recorded 2014
Genre Bubblegum pop
Length 3:48
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Julian Bunetta, John Ryan & Pär Westerlund
One Direction singles chronology
"You & I"
(2014)		 "Steal My Girl"
(2014)		 "Night Changes"
(2014)

"Steal My Girl" is a song by English-Irish boy band One Direction. It is the lead single from their fourth studio album Four (2014). It was released worldwide on 29 September 2014.[1] The single was written by Wayne Hector, John Ryan, Ed Drewett and Julian Bunetta (the four had previously written "Best Song Ever"), and band members Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne.[1] It was produced by Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and Pär Westerlund. Also they performance this song for the first time on their fourth concert tour

Background and release

The announcement was first made on band member Liam Payne's Twitter on 14 September.[1] The single became available worldwide on 29 September,[1] except in the United Kingdom.[2] The song was made available in the United Kingdom on 12 October,[2] with Payne's remix of the recording (dubbed as the Big Payno & Afterhrs Pool Party Remix) being the B-side.[2] The song's co-writer Louis Tomlinson stated the song is a "feel good song and it’s not too far away from the last album (Midnight Memories)."[3] On 28 September, one day prior to the official release, the song was leaked on the internet.[4]

Composition and lyrics

The song's piano piece of the instrumental was similar to Journey's "Faithfully".[5] A reviewer felt the song sounded reminiscent of 1980s music, something that the band emphasized on their previous studio album.[6] The lyrics fret over the potential for rivals to take the group's girlfriends away from them, and why they matter to them.[7]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews from critics. Lucas Villa of AXS praised One Direction's classic rock sound of "Steal My Girl", noting similarities to Journey's "Faithfully". He wrote that "the guys have been digging in their parents' record collections" and added "[it's] a pretty neat and new direction for the band."[8]

Samantha Highfill of Entertainment Weekly suggests that the song is "dad-friendly", emphasizing on the classic rock sound.[5] Billboard gave the song four and a half out of five stars, stating it "represents the group's most tremendous Van Halen impression yet."[9] Jim Farber from the Daily News reviews the single as a throwback to the 1970s/80s due to the arena rock ballad.[10]

Upon the release of "Steal My Girl", Hayley Williams and Chad Gilbert pointed the similarities between the song and New Found Glory's "It's Not Your Fault".[11][12][13]

Chart performance

"Steal My Girl" topped the singles chart on the United States iTunes on the day of release.[14] It also reached number 1 on the Billboard Twitter Top Tracks.[15]

One Direction member Niall Horan hoped that the single would peak number 1 in the United Kingdom following its release, but it was ultimately ranked number 3.[16] Despite this, "Steal My Girl" is the eighth song from the group to have peaked top 3 in the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by Ben and Gabe Turner.[17] The clip featured appearances from Danny DeVito, a juvenile chimpanzee,[18][19][20] sumo wrestlers, acrobats and a marching band.[21]

Synopsis

In the music video, DeVito meets up with the group in the middle of the desert where a video shoot is being set up. DeVito is serving as their visionary director. He dubs each of the members of the group a different expression: Harry is love, Louis is danger, Liam is power, Zayn is mystery and Niall is light. From there, the song starts with Louis smashing a row of silver balls that spell "inhibitions" and Zayn is seen with two sumo wrestlers. Niall is seen to be dancing with a Maasai tribe from Kenya, and Liam is seen as a leader of a marching band. Harry is seen surrounded by masked female ballet dancers, and Louis is seen with the chimpanzee and its baby, as well as a mountain lion and flamingos. DeVito appears with the group throughout the video. In the end, a rain effect is used on the lot, where the group, DeVito, and all other acts appear together in one shot resembling a mix of Cirque de Soleil and Coachella.[22]

Track listing

  1. "Steal My Girl"
  1. "Steal My Girl"
  2. "Steal My Girl" (Big Payno & Afterhrs Pool Party Remix)
  1. "Steal My Girl"
  2. "Steal My Girl" (acoustic version)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 20
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[29] 14
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[30] 14
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[31] 8
Denmark (Tracklisten)[32] 1
Europe (Euro Digital Songs)[33] 5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[34] 17
France (SNEP)[35] 19
Germany (Media Control Charts)[36] 27
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[37] 1
Hungary (Single Top 40)[38] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[39] 3
Italy (FIMI)[40] 15
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[41] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 31
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 9
Norway (VG-lista)[45] 33
Portugal Digital Songs (Billboard)[46] 8
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[47] 2
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[48] 28
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[49] 10
South Africa (EMA)[50] 5
South Korea International Chart (GAON)[51] 42
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[52] 7
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[53] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[54] 21
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[55] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[56] 13
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[57] 37
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[58] 17

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
Australia (ARIA)[59] 77

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[60] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[61] Gold 40,000^
Italy (FIMI)[62] Gold 15,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[65] Golddagger 432,000[66]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales/streaming figures based on certification alone

dagger Since May 2013 RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.[67]

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide 29 September 2014 Digital download
United Kingdom 12 October 2014 [23]
United Kingdom 13 October 2014 CD single [68]
Germany 17 October 2014 [24]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mitchell Peters (14 September 2015). "One Direction Announces 'Four' Album Lead Single 'Steal My Girl,' Due Late September". Billboard. Retrieved 15 September 2015. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Joanne Dorken (15 September 2014). "One Direction Announce New Single 'Steal My Girl'". MTV. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "One Direction's 'Steal My Girl' Will Make You 'Feel Good'". MTV News.
  4. ↑ "One Direction 'Steal My Girl' Leaks: Listen to '80s Channeling New Single from 'FOUR'". Music Times. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "One Direction channels Journey, gets dad-friendly with 'Steal My Girl'". EW.com.
  6. ↑ "1D's 'Steal My Girl' Is Here, And It Is Massive". MTV News.
  7. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/hear-direction-steal-girl-article-1.1956790
  8. ↑ Villa, Lucas (28 September 2014). "Listen: One Direction continues to channel more classic rock on 'Steal My Girl'". AXS.
  9. ↑ "New Singles From Lorde, One Direction, and Others". Billboard. 3 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "One Direction's 'Steal My Girl': Single Review". NY Daily News. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  11. ↑ Jess Denham (1 October 2014). "Paramore singer Hayley Williams accuses One Direction of 'ripping off' New Found Glory with new song 'Steal Your Girl'". The Independent. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  12. ↑ Perez Hilton. "One Direction Is Under Hot Water — Again! New Found Glory Rocker Claims Steal My Girl Sounds Like THIS Old Song!". Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Joe Lynch (30 September 2014). "Does One Direction's 'Steal My Girl' Rip Off New Found Glory, Journey, or Both?". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "One Direction's "Steal My Girl" Surges to #1 on Sales Chart". Headline Planet.
  15. ↑ "One Direction". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Not a number One Direction: Meghan Trainor keeps the band from getting the top spot — Metro News". Metro. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "One Direction's 'Steal My Girl' music video "weird and wonderful"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "One Direction's 'Steal My Girl' Video Features Danny DeVito... What!?". MTV News.
  19. ↑ "One Direction's New 'Steal My Girl' Video Will Feature Danny DeVito". Billboard.com. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  20. ↑ Malec, Brett (10 October 2014). "Danny DeVito to Star in One Direction's Steal My Girl Music Video (Seriously, See the Pics!)". E! Online.
  21. ↑ Steiner, Amanda Michelle (24 October 2014). "One Direction Rocks Out In ‘Steal My Girl’ Music Video — Watch". Hollywood Life.
  22. ↑ "Watch One Direction's "Steal My Girl" music video". 24 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Steal My Girl — Single — One Direction". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Steal My Girl: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – One Direction – Steal My Girl" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – One Direction – Steal My Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – One Direction – Steal My Girl" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for One Direction. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  30. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201450 into search. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  31. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201445 into search. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Tracklisten. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Euro Digital Songs for One Direction. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  34. ↑ "One Direction: Steal My Girl" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  35. ↑ "Lescharts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  36. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – One Direction – Steal My Girl". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "One Direction Album & Chart History". Billboard Greece Digital Songs for One Direction. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  39. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 42, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  40. ↑ "Classifica settimanale WK 40 (29 September 2014 through 5 October 2014)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Japan Hot 100 for One Direction. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  42. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – One Direction search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  43. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – One Direction – Steal My Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  44. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  45. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  46. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Portugal Digital Songs for One Direction. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  47. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-10-25". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  48. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201450 into search. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  49. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201444 into search. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  50. ↑ "South African Airplay Chart". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  51. ↑ "Gaon Chart" (in Korean). GAON. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  52. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  53. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  54. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  55. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-10-25" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  56. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for One Direction. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  57. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for One Direction. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  58. ↑ "One Direction Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for One Direction. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  59. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  61. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Music Canada. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  62. ↑ "Italian single certifications – One Direction – Steal My Girl" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 19 December 2014. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter One Direction in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  63. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  64. ↑ "British single certifications – One Direction – Steal My Girl". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 January 2015. Enter Steal My Girl in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  65. ↑ "American single certifications – One Direction – Steal My Girl". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  66. ↑ "The Big 9 in 2014: Columbia". HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  67. ↑ "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  68. ↑ "Steal My Girl:Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.