What Lovers Do


"What Lovers Do" is a song by American band Maroon 5 featuring singer SZA. It was released on August 30, 2017, as the third single from the band's sixth studio album Red Pill Blues. The song contains an interpolation of the 2016 song "Sexual" by Neiked featuring Dyo, therefore Victor Rådström, Dyo and Elina Stridh are credited as songwriters. The song received positive reviews, particularly for its catchy, funky sound and the chemistry between the two artists.

Background and release

After extensive touring in support of their fifth studio album V, Maroon 5 began the writing and recording sessions for their sixth studio album. On October 12, 2016, the band released the tropical house single "Don't Wanna Know", featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar. Another single, entitled "Cold", featuring American rapper Future, was released on February 14, 2017. Both songs later appeared in the deluxe and Japanese editions of Red Pill Blues. The band later announced with the single's release date on August 30.

Composition

"What Lovers Do" runs for approximately three minutes and 16 seconds. It was written by Adam Levine, Starrah, Jason Evigan and Solána Imani Rowe and was produced by Evigan, Ben Billions, Sam Farrar and Noah Passovoy. Victor Radstrom, Dyo, and Elina Stridh are also credited songwriters on the record, as songwriters of "Sexual" by Neiked.
The song is performed in the key of B major with a tempo of 110 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of E–Gm–F–B–E, and the vocals in the song span from F3 to D5 in common time.

Commercial performance

North America and Oceania

In the United States, "What Lovers Do" reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Maroon 5's 13th and SZA's first top 10. By September 2017, it had sold 116,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan; later, it would reach double platinum status as certified by the RIAA. The track reached number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart, becoming the band's tenth single in Australia to reach the top 10.

Europe and elsewhere

In Europe, the song broke records and reached the top ten in several national musical markets, becoming SZA's first international hit, including Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia, Portugal, Slovakia and the Netherlands, top twenty in France, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden and top forty in Spain and Poland.
Elsewhere, "What Lovers Do" peaked at top ten in Asian and Latin-American countries, such as Malaysia, Philippines, Honduras, El Salvador and Lebanon, top twenty in Argentina, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Costa Rica and top thirty in Japan, Ecuador and Colombia.

Music video

The music video for "What Lovers Do" was released on Vevo, on September 28, 2017, and was directed by Joseph Kahn. The video follows a young Adam Levine and SZA chasing each other through a meadow. Now, as adults, they chase each other through the Arctic, a running field, the ocean, and underwater. Later in Las Vegas, Levine plays with SZA in a poker game until he loses to her and grabs SZA, transforming into a 50-foot version of himself. As SZA disappears on Levine's hand and turns into a doll, he attacks the city until the police, military, and Boy Scout troopers eliminate him. At the end, Levine is in a hospital, injured with SZA as his nurse.

Lyric video

A lyric video was released on September 15, 2017. This video using as found footage, which features a red and white lollipop when it melts into slime.

Live performances

Maroon 5 performed "What Lovers Do" for the first time of the Rock in Rio concert at Barra Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro on September 16, 2017. On September 28, they performed the song at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. The band promoted "What Lovers Do" live during their appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Voice and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, respectively.

Track listing

Digital download
  1. "What Lovers Do" – 3:16
Digital download – Slushii Remix
  1. "What Lovers Do" – 4:14
Digital download – A-Trak Remix
  1. "What Lovers Do" – 3:37

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Red Pill Blues album liner notes.
Recording locations
Maroon5
Additional personnel
  • SZA – featured vocals
  • Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy – keyboards, digital editing, additional percussion, engineer, backing vocals, additional producer, vocal producer
  • Starrah – additional vocals, songwriting
  • Ammo – additional vocals
  • John Armstrong – assistant engineer
  • Benjamin "Ben Billions" Diehl – writer, co-producer, keyboards, programming
  • Eric Eylands – assistant engineer
  • Jason Evigan – writer, producer, vocal producer, programming
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – mixing engineer
  • Gian Stone – engineer, vocal producer, programming

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Argentina 39
Australia 73
Belgium 57
Canada 56
France 169
Iceland 47
Hungary 21
Hungary 91
Portugal 110
US Billboard Hot 10089
US Adult Contemporary 16
US Adult Top 40 21
US Mainstream Top 40 42
US Radio Songs 44