Real Friends (Camila Cabello song) explained

Real Friends
Cover:Real Friends official artwork.png
Type:promo
Artist:Camila Cabello
Album:Camila
Studio:Electric Feel Recording Studio
(West Hollywood, California)
Genre:Pop[1]
Label:
Producer:
Chronology:Camila Cabello promotional singles
Prev Title:OMG
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Million to One
Next Year:2021

"Real Friends" is a song by American singer and songwriter Camila Cabello from her debut studio album Camila (2018). It was released as a promotional single alongside "Never Be the Same" on December 7, 2017. Written by Cabello, William Walsh, Louis Bell, Brian Lee and its producer, Frank Dukes. "Real Friends" has an acoustic guitar foundation. In its lyrics, Cabello reflects on her life and asks for an honest friendship. The song's minimalist production has elements of reggae, Latin and tropical music. The reimagined version of the song featuring American musician Swae Lee was released on August 16, 2018.

"Real Friends" was inspired by Cabello's dissatisfaction and loneliness from work-focused life in Los Angeles while she was finishing recording Camila. Music critics praised its acoustic sound and Cabello's vocals. "Real Friends" debuted in the top 100 of several countries, including Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Ireland. Although it did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, it debuted at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Background and release

"Real Friends" was written by Cabello, Frank Dukes, William Walsh, Louis Bell and Brian Lee, while production was handled by Dukes. Cabello was motivated to write the song when she was in Los Angeles finishing her debut solo album, Camila (2018). Dissatisfied with the city and its industrial environment, she found herself lonely and disappointed – prioritising work, without a social life.[2]

"Real Friends", the last song created for the album, was recorded at Electric Feel Recording Studios in West Hollywood by Louis Bell and mixed at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia by Serban Ghenea and John Hanes. The song was released a week after its recording with "Never Be the Same" on December 7, 2017, as an instant-gratification track to accompany digital pre-orders of Camila.[3] [4] [5]

Composition and lyrics

"Real Friends" is a low-key song characterized by a minimalist production, with an acoustic guitar as the main instrument and a solo pop handclap as percussion.[6] [7] The verses are sung gently, with Cabello using her low register instead of her soprano voice. In the lyrics, she reflects on being surrounded by negative things and people, while asking for an honest friendship.[8] [9] In the chorus, Cabello sings: "I'm just lookin' for some real friends / All they ever do is let me down / Every time I let somebody in / Then I find out what they're all about".[10] According to Mike Nied of Idolator, the singer "laments her ability to find true companionship over acoustic strings".[10]

Lasting three minutes and 33 seconds, the song is influenced by tropical, reggae and Latin music.[11] [12] [13] [14] According to sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing on Musicnotes.com, "Real Friends" is composed in the key of C minor and set in common time at a moderate tempo of 92 beats per minute. Cabello's voice ranges from a low of B3 to a high of C5, and the music has a Cm7–Fm7–B–E/D chord progression.[15]

Reception

Critical response

"Real Friends" received media attention for its lyrics, which were speculated to be about Cabello's relationship with her former girl group Fifth Harmony.[16] [17] [18] Cabello denied that speculation in an Access interview, saying that the song did not refer to anyone in particular but was about her lonely experience in Los Angeles while she was recording the album.[19]

Alex Petridis of The Guardian felt that the lyrics explored "nights spent feeling isolated while on tour".[20] Elias Leight of Rolling Stone called "Real Friends" Cabello's sparest song in comparison with her past work.[7] Variety described it as a "gentle, sparsely arranged ballad" that resembles "Love Yourself" (2015) by Canadian singer Justin Bieber.[21] Jamieson Cox of Pitchfork complimented the softness of the track and Cabello singing "with real delicacy".[22] Sam Lansky of Time cited the song and the "heartfelt" track, "Consequences", as "pretty" ballads which showcased Cabello's voice.[23]

Chart performance

"Real Friends" debuted in the top 100 in Canada, the Netherlands, Scotland, Slovakia and Australia, while reaching the top 40 in Portugal, Denmark, Ireland and Belgium. The song never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, but it debuted at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.

Track listing

  1. "Real Friends" – 3:36

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Camila.[24]

Publishing

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2017–2018)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 86
Denmark (Tracklisten)[26] 32
France (SNEP)[27] 137
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 39
Malaysia (RIM)[29] 15
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[30] 3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] 83
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 1

Release history

Notes

Swae Lee reimagined version

Real Friends
Cover:Camila Cabello featuring Swae Lee - Real Friends (Remix).jpg
Border:yes
Type:Single
Artist:Camila Cabello featuring Swae Lee
Recorded:Electric Feel Recording Studios
(West Hollywood, California)
Label:

On August 16, 2018, a reimagined version of the song featuring American rapper Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd was made available worldwide.[34] [35] [36] [37]

Background

Speaking with Rolling Stone, when asked of all the features he did, does he have a favorite, Swae Lee addressed that,

Chart performance

The remix peaked at number 37 in Hungary Single Top 40, number 99 in Ireland and RMNZ's New Zealand Hot Single chart position number 12.[28]

Track listing

  1. "Real Friends" (featuring Swae Lee) – 3:43

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40)[38] 37
Ireland (IRMA)99
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[39] 12

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousAugust 16, 2018[40]

Notes and References

  1. Album of the Week: Camila Cabello's 'Camila'. Billboard. November 1, 2018. March 5, 2018.
  2. Web site: Camila Cabello Talks 'Camila', Demi Lovato & Havana. YouTube. Zach Sang Show. Zach Sang. Camila. Cabello. January 18, 2018. February 18, 2018.
  3. Listen to Camila Cabello's new songs "Never Be The Same" and "Real Friends". The Fader. Ben. Dandridge. December 7, 2017. February 14, 2018.
  4. Web site: Camila Cabello Releases "Real Friends" & "Never Be The Same". MTV News. Sydney. Gore. December 7, 2017. February 14, 2018. September 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180927014841/http://trl.mtv.com/news/3051454/camila-cabello-never-be-the-same-real-friends/. dead.
  5. Web site: Here's Why 'real Friends' Almost Didn't Make It Onto Camila Cabello's Solo Album. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210220054/http://www.mtv.com/news/3052208/camila-cabello-real-friends-solo-album/. dead. December 10, 2017. MTV News. Hilary. Hughes. December 10, 2017. February 14, 2018.
  6. Camila Cabello Drops Two New Tracks Off Upcoming Debut, 'Never Be The Same' & 'Real Friends'. Billboard. Allison. Stubblebine. December 7, 2017. February 14, 2018.
  7. Hear Camila Cabello's Desolate New Song 'Real Friends'. Rolling Stone. Elias. Leight. December 7, 2017. February 14, 2018.
  8. News: Camila – Camila Cabello. The Independent. Matt. Collar. February 4, 2018. February 17, 2018.
  9. News: Pop Review: Camila Cabello – 'Camila'. The Times. Will. Hodkinson. January 5, 2018. January 11, 2018.
  10. Web site: Camila Cabello Delivers Pop Perfection With "Never Be The Same" & "Real Friends" . Idolator. Mike. Nied. December 7, 2017. December 21, 2017.
  11. Camila Cabello's Self-titled Album: Release Date, Track List And Everything You Need To Know. Newsweek. Zach. Schonfeld. January 11, 2018. February 14, 2018.
  12. Web site: They're Here: Listen To Camila Cabello's New Song "Real Friends" And Studio Version Of "Never Be The Same"! . Direct Lyrics. Kevin. Aplaza. December 7, 2017. December 14, 2017.
  13. Web site: Camila Cabello Is Looking For "Real Friends" On New Single . HotNewHipHop. Chantilly. Post. December 7, 2017. December 14, 2017.
  14. Web site: Camila Cabello: Real Friends - Music on Google Play . Google Play. December 14, 2017.
  15. Web site: Camila Cabello - "Real Friends" Sheet Music - Download & Print. 14 December 2017. Musicnotes.com. Sony ATV/Music Publishing. February 15, 2018.
  16. Camila Cabello's Time in Fifth Harmony is the Reason There Aren't Many Collabs on Her Album. Seventeen. Noelle. Devote. December 8, 2017. February 17, 2018.
  17. Web site: Camila Cabello Reveals Fifth Harmony Never 'Felt Like Home' On New Track: They 'Let Me Down'. Hollywood Life. Gabriella. Ginsberg. December 7, 2017. February 17, 2018. July 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711094341/https://hollywoodlife.com/2017/12/07/camila-cabello-real-friends-never-be-the-same-new-songs/. dead.
  18. Web site: Is Camila Cabello's new track 'Real Friends' a sly dig at Fifth Harmony?. Digital Spy. Sam. Warner. December 7, 2017. December 14, 2017.
  19. Camila Cabello Shuts Down Rumors That 'Real Friends' Is About Fifth Harmony. . Gia Peppers. Camila. Cabello. . January 12, 2018. February 18, 2018.
  20. Web site: Camila Cabello: Camila review – Havana hitmaker makes breakups look easy. The Guardian. Petridis, Alexis. Alexis Petridis. January 11, 2018. January 11, 2018.
  21. Camila Cabello Drops Two New Songs: 'Real Friends' and 'Never Be the Same' (Listen). Variety. Variety Staff. December 7, 2017. February 17, 2018.
  22. Web site: Cox . Jamieson . Camila Cabello: Camila Album Review. . 2 November 2018 . January 17, 2018.
  23. Camila Cabello Shines in Her Solo Act on Camila. Time. Sam. Lansky. January 11, 2018. January 12, 2018.
  24. . . 2018 . . US . 88985472222 . liner notes . 8, 10 .
  25. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #456. auspOp. January 20, 2018. January 20, 2018. January 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124452/https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/1/aria-chart-watch-456/. dead.
  26. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 3, 2018 . . January 24, 2018.
  27. Web site: Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) – SNEP (Week 3, 2017). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. January 22, 2018.
  28. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. January 20, 2018.
  29. Web site: Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. June 11, 2018. July 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712193321/http://www.rim.org.my/main/images/stories/RIM/Chart%202018/22_i_dm.pdf. dead.
  30. Web site: NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. December 18, 2017. December 15, 2017.
  31. Web site: Top 100 Canciones – Semana 3: del 12.1.2018 al 18.1.2018. Productores de Música de España. Spanish. January 25, 2018.
  32. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 3, 19 januar 2018. Sverigetopplistan. January 20, 2018.
  33. Web site: Real Friends . . . Various . 2017-12-07.
  34. Camila_Cabello. 1029885359239450625. August 15, 2018. ok I'm too excited to wait till Friday. #RealFriends coming out midnight ET..
  35. Web site: Camila Cabello Calls on Swae Lee for Her Remix to "Real Friends". HNHH . 16 August 2018 .
  36. Web site: New Music: Camila Cabello feat. Swae Lee – 'Real Friends'.
  37. Hear Camila Cabello Revamp 'Real Friends' with Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee. Rolling Stone. 16 August 2018. 30 May 2019. 30 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530090559/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-camila-cabello-revamp-real-friends-with-rae-sremmurds-swae-lee-711862/. dead.
  38. Web site: Single (track) Top 40 lista - Week 34 2018. zene.slagerlistak.hu. 2019-01-03.
  39. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. August 27, 2018. Recorded Music NZ. August 24, 2018.
  40. Web site: Real Friends (feat. Swae Lee) - Single by Camila Cabello . . . US . 2018-08-16.

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