Leave the Door Open
"Leave the Door Open" is the debut single by the American superduo Silk Sonic, consisting of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak, from their studio album An Evening with Silk Sonic. The song was written by the artists alongside Brody Brown and Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II, who produced it with Mars. It was released on March 5, 2021, by Aftermath Entertainment and Atlantic Records for digital download and streaming. A Philadelphia soul, R&B, and pop song, it is influenced by quiet storm. The lyrics are humorous and describe a "detailed erotic invitation".
"Leave the Door Open" received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising both singers' vocals, as well as the song's composition. The song was a commercial success as it topped various charts. In the United States, the track reached the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and was certified two times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Furthermore, it also peaked at number one in Israel, Malaysia, and New Zealand. The song entered the top ten of several countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, and Portugal. It was certified four times platinum by Recorded Music New Zealand and five times platinum by Music Canada.
The accompanying music video, directed by Florent Dechard and Mars, was released along with the song. It depicts Mars and.Paak, as Silk Sonic, performing the song in a vintage studio as several women dance to it. To promote "Leave the Door Open", Silk Sonic performed it at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The song was praised for its simplicity and the performance was compared to a 70s Soul Train telecast. The duo also performed the song at the BET Awards 2021 and 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The song received several nominations and awards, winning Song of the Year at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards, as well as Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song at the 64th Grammy Awards.
Background and release
and Anderson.Paak met in 2017, while touring together on the European leg of Mars' 24K Magic World Tour. The two were in the studio with Nile Rodgers and Guy Lawrence of Disclosure. In late February 2021, Mars and.Paak announced on social media the formation of their new band, Silk Sonic. They revealed the artwork for their debut studio album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, and announced the release of the first single on March 5, 2021.In an interview with New Zealand radio DJ Zane Lowe for the Apple Music podcast Beats 1, Paak said the song required a lot of "patience and delicate". He added, "A lot of meat went into this song." Mars lamented the lack of live performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding, "While I'm writing songs, that's a part of my whole thing... I can't wait till people hear this." On August 18, 2021, during an interview with Rolling Stone, Mars confessed that the bridge of the song "almost broke the band up. But it wasn't right, and we all felt it." He added, "Andy played this thing, and he knew where the groove had to go, but for some reason I kept screaming, 'Man it sounds like books falling!' I was like, 'We gotta turn it down'." In an interview with Songwriter Universe, D'Mile explained that Mars had the idea and the song title, and knew the "concept he wanted"." He said they tried "different versions and ideas", removed pieces, and rebuilt the song several times until everyone was satisfied.
On March 5, 2021, "Leave the Door Open" was released by Aftermath Entertainment and Atlantic Records as the album's first single via digital download and streaming services in various countries. "Silk Sonic Intro" was also issued on the same day, featuring the album's special guest Bootsy Collins. "Leave the Door Open" was released to US contemporary hit radio stations on March 9, 2021, by Atlantic Records. On March 8, 2021, Atlantic Records sent the track to various categories of American adult contemporary radio stations. Warner Music Group issued the track for radio airplay in Italy on March 12, 2021. On April 1, 2021, a live recording of the single was released for digital download and streaming, using audio from the 2021 Annual Grammy Awards performance with added narration from Collins. On the same date, two CD singles, the original version and the live version of the song were released in various countries. The artwork of the CD single was designed by Virgilio Tzaj.
Production
"Leave the Door Open" was written by Mars, Brandon Anderson, Dernst Emile II, and Christopher Brody Brown. The production was handled by Mars and D' Mile. The former played the guitar and congas, while the latter played the piano. Paak played the drums, with Brown playing the bass. Ella Feingold handled guitar effects, Glenn Fischbach played cello, Jonathan Kim and Yoshihiko Nakano were on the viola, Blake Espy, Emma Kummrow, and Gared Crawford played violin with Natasha Colkett, Tess Varley, and Luigi Mazzocchi. Larry Gold arranged and conducted the strings at Milkboy Studios, with Cody Cichowski recording it. Charles Moniz and engineer assistant Alex Resoagli, engineered and recorded the song at Shampoo Press & Curl Studios. Serban Ghenea mixed "Leave the Door Open" at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, with mix engineer John Hanes and mixing assistant Bryce Bordone. It was mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound, NYC.Composition
Musically, "Leave the Door Open" is a Philadelphia soul, R&B, and pop song. It is influenced by quiet storm. The song has been described as a "smooth slow jam". Its instrumentation includes a "descending guitar glissando", a glockenspiel, strings, and a smooth piano. The song features key changes and while the background vocals have been described as "honeyed", Silk Sonic's were seen as soft. The vocals "are accompanied by retro-sounding drums and spacious...strings"." The "ascendant bridge" was created using various chord changes that merge into each other. "Leave the Door Open" was composed in the key of C major with a tempo of 74 beats per minute."Leave the Door Open" starts with.Paak's "raspy" voice and Mars's background ad-libs. The lyrics are an "erotic invitation" from the singer to a woman, encouraging her to come over to his house. Paak sets the scene with "We should be dancin', romancin'/ In the east wing and the west wing of this mansion", and Bruno follows with the chorus, "hopin' that you feel the way I feel". The lyrics are full of humor, with playful references such as "if you're hungry, girl, I got fillets". This was noticed by several reviewers, who commented on the way the witty lyrics reflected the light-hearted relationship between Mars and.Paak.
Charlie Harding from Vulture said "Leave the Door Open" evokes "1970s Philadelphia soul" and despite being a "serious" composition, it is "lighthearted, lyrically." He found the song nostalgic yet contemporary at the same time due to Paak's vocal flow. American singer-songwriter Tayla Parx thought that its modernity stems from the "conversational" lyrics and Paak's "personality" and "silly" way. Harding pointed out that its modern approach can be heard at the end of Paak's first verse, to which Parx responded, "You can hear in his voice, but those cadences are still very contemporary."
Harding commented that Silk Sonic leads the listener on a musical journey as they wait for their lover. It begins with a "non-resolving chord progression" that leaves the listener expectant. Paak is drinking wine and spending time in his mansion, as he waits for his passion. Nevertheless, Mars does not allow Paak's fulfillment, as he shifts the chords, using a new key. The energy and tension reach a new peak as Mars "sets up this big cadence", and while the listener is hoping to reach a "resolution", it enters the "non-resolving chord progression" on the chorus. However, as the latter approaches the end, a C major chord is played, Silk Sonic sing "tell me that you're coming through", and it enters into its "resolution".
Various publications compared the track to Mars's "Versace on the Floor". Consequence staff and Mary Siroky also found similarities to his track "That's What I Like". NME Anna Rose said "Leave the Door Open" reminded her of "60s and 70s easy listening love songs". Zoe Haylock from Vulture dubbed the single a "bedroom classic" evoking "'70s slow jams". Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times Jon Pareles found the single to be inspired by the Spinners, the Stylistics, and the Manhattans. Variety writer Jem Aswad and Sophie Williams from NME affirmed "Leave the Door Open" resembles songs by the Delfonics, the Chi-Lites, and the O'Jays. MTV News's Patrick Hosken called it a "throwback to the time of Bobby Womack and Curtis Mayfield".
Critical reception
"Leave the Door Open" was met with universal critical acclaim from music critics. Jenessa Williams from The Guardian found its style to be "impeccable", being "on the right side of pastiche". Consequence Wren Graves was impressed by Mars's "liquid whipe" voice as.Paak "raps and sings through a foggy haze". Pareles praised the song's instrumentation, the key changes, lyrics, and the contrast between the backup and lead vocals. Siroky called it "nothing if not luxurious, velvety goodness"." Variety writer Aswad called the track "a glorious blast of vintage R&B"; he concluded, "the song and the arrangement are pitch-perfect". Roisin O'Connor from The Independent stated.Paak performs "Marvin Gaye-style harmonies". She also commended the composition and some of the lyrics. Williams from NME described the song as "sumptuous", showcasing Mars's "best vocal performance to date". Paste Candace McDuffie lauded the track, writing that ".Paak's salacious chants are smoothed over by Mars's sultry crooning"."No Ripcord's Joe Rivers called the track "outstanding... harmonies recall the best moments of The Stylistics while still leaving room for.Paak's taut drum fills"." Ross Scarano commenting on Pitchfork called "Leave the Door Open" one of the highlights of An Evening with Silk Sonic, due to its "slathering elevated technique—all those key changes—with satisfying molten cheese"." Alex Suskind of Entertainment Weekly said it is a modern "take on the Delfonics — with the style and substance to match"." Hot Press writer Pat Carty wrote that if the song "managed to assume human form, would doubtless sport a tasteful silk shirt and medallion combo"." Sowing from Sputnikmusic found the track to be "irrefutably romantic". Sowing added that "Mars's earnest delivery of simple gestures...sounds sincere enough to sweep you off your feet"." Entertainment Tonight, Meredith B. Kile & Tionah Lee, called "Leave the Door Open" a "perfectly timeless record"."
AllMusic's critic Andy Kellman said the track "best meshes the smooth and tender style of Mars with Paak's nephew-of-Bobby Womack rasp". Josh Glicksman in the Billboard "Five Burning Questions" article said the track is "tailor-made to dance and snap along to as it gets delightfully stuck in your head". Carl Lamarre, on a different segment on Billboard Five Burning Questions, called the vocals "buttery" and "too irresistible to pass up". Lamarre thought Silk Sonic "threaded a polished '70s soundscape". In the same publication, Jason Lipshutz dubbed the single "an ode to stylish yearning that leans in to the throwback charm"."
On the other hand, Marc Hogan of Pitchfork criticized the track for turning "70s soul into a costume drama, without the drama" and for its "skillfully rendered pastiche". Hogan thought it would be the same as listening to "an expertly curated quiet-storm compilation". He dubbed the single a "shag-carpeted and leisure-suited booty-call slow jam... never breaks character long enough to acknowledge the present"." Hogan ended by saying the track is not "postmodern", but "the past in hologram form".