Write on Me

"Write on Me" is a song by American girl group Fifth Harmony from their sophomore studio album, 7/27, included as the fourth track on the record. It was released as the album's second promotional single on May 5, 2016 on iTunes and other digital and streaming services.^[3] The song was written by duo Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of Stargate, Kygo, Priscilla Renea, and Simon Wilcox, with production handled by Eriksen, Hermansen and Kygo. Musically, the track is a mid-tempo^[4] tropical house number that uses synths, tambourines, an acoustic guitar and finger-snaps in its instrumentation. Critics noted a slower melody from the group's previous songs and similarities to Norwegian DJ Kygo's rhythm style.^[5][6]

Lyrically, the song is a companionship anthem that uses a human body as a metaphor to tell a lover to write their strengths, flaws and truths, exposing their true selfs to that individual. Driven to show a vulnerable side, the group wanted to create more variety and a different path that listeners could hear with this track. Cabello has called the song a personal favorite from the album. "Write on Me" was the last promotional single before the group released their album. Upon release, the song charted in Czech Republic and Scotland. As part of the track's promotion, the group performed the song for the first time at Wango Tango, two weeks before the album's release. It was subsequently included in The 7/27 Tour.

Background and release

While recording music for their sophomore album, the group was keen in including a ballad number. Cabello told Entertainment Weekly that fans would see "more of a vulnerable side" to them. This was something that was not very present in their debut album, Reflection, she recalls, and was something all her groupmates "fought for". Ally Brooke also shared similar sentiments with Fuse when discussing the album's differences from their previous.^[6] When the group revealed the tracklist on May 6, on Instagram, Cabello stated that this was her personal favorite song, saying that the track was "an extended metaphor where you're asking somebody to "write" on you, envelop you with their words, make their mark on you like you're a blank canvas."

The song was released on streaming service Spotify and digital music platform iTunes on May 5, 2016.^[7][8] The track was also made available on Google Play the following day.^[9] An accompanying music video was released on the group's official Vevo channel on May 6, 2016.

Composition and lyrics

	Write On Me Sample of the song's tropical house sound. It uses finger snaps, tambourines, acoustic guitar and synths in its instrumentation.[10]
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"Write on Me" was written and co-produced by Norwegian duo Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of Stargate and Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll with additional writing from Priscilla Renea and Simon Wilcox. The song is characterized by a "slow melody" in comparison to Fifth Harmony's previous works. Incorporating a tropical house sound, the song uses synths, tambourines, an acoustic guitar and finger-snaps in its instrumentation. As noted by Sasha Geffen from MTV, who described the song as blending "acoustic guitar chords with tropical synths", while using a calm instrumentation instead of "big beats". She also notes the tame atmosphere the song has from previous singles from the group.^[10]

Lyrically, the song is about a lover writing the flaws and impressions they see in their love interest, from the perspective of the group. The song opens with Kordei singing: "Pick up the pen, put it on the paper / Write on my skin, bring me to life / Can't start again, there ain't no eraser / All of my flaws, you got them so right" as Camila continues with: "Everything is blank until you draw me / Touching on my body like you know me". The pen is a metaphor for the lover's mind and the paper is represented as the love interest. The chorus features several double entendres where all members sing: "Love the way you tear me up / Baby, take your time / Write on me" implying sexual connotation.

Critical reception

"Write on Me" has drawn comparisons to the musical style of Kygo. (pictured)

Dana Getz of Entertainment Weekly called the song "another bop" from the group's list of "summer bangers". She notes the slower rhythm of the song, compared to previous tracks such as "Work from Home" and "The Life" but mentions the similar "anthemic" atmosphere all three songs display.^[3] Writing for Fuse, Jeff Benjamin praised the song for showcasing a "softer side" of Fifth Harmony. He notes the "euphoric, Kygo-esque beat drop" in the song while also complimenting the production of the song as it "pairs nicely" with the theme of the track.^[6] In an article published by Billboard, the magazine called the song "powerful", while also distinguishing the "laid back" atmosphere from their past single, "Work from Home". The article states that each girl is allowed their turn "in the spotlight, switching off verses on the power jam."^[11]

In a positive review, Brittany Spanos from Rolling Stone, like Benjamin, note the similar "tropical Kygo-esque house beat" and further mentions the "tender delivery" the song has "above the beat."^[12] Writing for Spin, Brennan Carley called the song "breezy and blushing", while praising the "lyrically muscular bit of summery, Kygo-esque pop-house" the song exudes.^[5] Brittany Goldfield Rodrigues from Andpop raved about the song's "infectious beat" and it's "heartfelt lyrics". She further states that the track "will give you chills, from the vocals to the lyrics".^[13] Writing for MTV, Sasha Geffen described the song as blending "acoustic guitar chords with tropical synths", while using "finger-snaps and tambourines" instead of "big beats". She also notes the tame atmosphere the song has from previous singles from the group.^[10] Lewis Corner from Digital Spy called the track "one of their most understatedly infectious bops yet, as it hears their vocals soar over a breezy, tropical-tinged production." He compliments the group for not having "suffered the dreaded second album syndrome", or sophomore slump, where the second album fails to live up to the standards of the first album.^[4]

Music video

Background and concept

The music video was directed by Sam Lecca and premiered on Vevo on 6 May 2016. The video, filmed in black and white, shows the five members of the group singing and dancing to the song. Regarding the video, the member Normani Kordei expressed, "this is a different approach than we've done before." She elaborates this by stating that the video focuses more on the "lyrical content" as well as their "beauty shots" which is a new concept the group explores as "there's always so much going on."^[14]

Synopsis

The members of Fifth Harmony sit in stools, singing in a black and white retro-inspired setting.

The video begins with a guitar being strummed in a cartoonish background as each member's white silhouette is shown making dramatic motions. Normani's silhouette appears as she writes in the air and her form comes to life after drawing a heart on her wrist. After her verse, the camera moves to Camila dancing in a sensual way. A close up of Lauren is then shown with a dark silhouette of Cabello abruptly switching between takes. The scene transitions as multiple thick grey and black rectangular lines move towards the chorus of the song where each member is singing in stools, snapping their fingers with a spotlight on them. Individual takes of the each member are shown.

Ally stares away from the camera, singing to a person who is not visible to the reader. She, similar to Cabello, acts in a sensual way. The guitar in the intro of the video is now in real-life form. In a negative special effects, the verse changes to Cabello, who is presented in different takes, including a silhouette, a normal background and a dim mirror image. The scene changes back to where each member was previously in stools, snapping in-sync to the beat of the song. As the video progresses, the rhythm intensifies with several individual takes of the group as the grey rectangular boxes slow the beat with a moving background of a sunset and blurry blue lines depicting waves as Cabello's image disappears. Soon after, the group is clustered together dancing, depicting what appears to be a photo-booth as the screen flashes several times. The video ends with each member's silhouette making hand motions as the camera pans upwards to reveal the album's title and group's logo.

Credits and personnel

Recording

• Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California) and The Hide Out Studios (London, England)
• Mixed at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center (Atlanta, California)
• Mastered at The Mastering Place (New York City)

Management

• Published by Sony/ATV Ballad (BMI) EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP) o/b/o EMI Music Publishing LTD. (PBS)

Personnel

Charts

References

External links

• "Write on Me" on YouTube
• Behind the Scenes of "Write on Me" on YouTube