Somebody to Love (Leighton Meester song) explained
"Somebody to Love" is a song by American actress and singer Leighton Meester featuring Robin Thicke. Written by Meester, Thicke, Mike Caren, Ollie Goldstein, Rico Love and Shahine Ezell, and produced by Caren,[1] the song was released as Meester's debut single on October 14, 2009, by Universal Republic Records.[2]
The song was featured in the ninth episode of the third season of the television series Gossip Girl (in which Meester starred as Blair Waldorf), titled "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?" and originally aired November 9, 2009.[3] It is also included on the soundtrack to the 2010 film Valentine's Day.[4] [5]
Composition
"Somebody to Love" is a midtempo electropop song that combines Meester's "pop-electronica vibe" with Thicke's "smooth R&B stylings".[6] The track contains a synth-driven sing-along chorus,[7] and was said to "[hark] back to Madonna's early-'90s dance music".[6] Meester told MTV News that the song is "basically about how I can't get any—I can't find anyone to love."[6] In an interview for On Air with Ryan Seacrest on October 13, 2009—where the song was premiered—Meester said, "I really wanted to make something that's completely different from anything that's on the radio right now. I feel like it's really dancy and fun, but it's still laid back and relaxed and moody and sexy."[8] [9] Of the single, songwriter Love told MTV News, "I was honored when I found out that my record was chosen to be Leighton's first single. It's exciting to be able to show a different side of my work and me."[6]
Critical reception
Sarah MacRory of Billboard described the song as "a carefully constructed ode to vintage Madonna—particularly in its 'Vogue'-like verses, where Meester semi-raps rather than sings. The lyrics are lovelorn, as she celebrates her jet-setter lifestyle but also mourns her inability to settle down." She noted Thicke's cameo as "[t]he song's high point", as he "delivers a catchy chorus that cries out for a sped-up dance remix."[1] Pitchfork Stephen M. Deusner, however, gave it a mixed review, praising Meester's "sleepy/sexy delivery" but criticizing her "very narrow" vocal range and her "[mangling of] simple French pronunciation", referring to her pronunciation of the French phrase "Je t'adore" ("I adore you").[10]
Music video
The music video was directed by Zoe Cassavetes and filmed in New York City in October 2009.[11] [12] A preview of the video was first shown during the November 2, 2009, episode of Gossip Girl, with the full-length video being launched on CWTV.com on November 9 immediately after its broadcast on The CW Network.[12] Meester explained the concept of the video, saying, "I want it to be telling a story. But a lot about the photography and the lighting, and mostly about the clothes."[13] Meester added to MTV News, "It's basically going through ... a sexy day in my life. We start off in the car, we come in, I keep on fantasizing and dreaming that I'm with somebody I can love. He [Thicke] kind of comes and goes."[14]
The video is about finding love in a world consumed with fleeting lust and one-night stands. It consists mostly of shots of Meester in the back of a limousine in the city at night and posing on a couch. It is intercut with scenes of Meester fantasizing about hooking up with Thicke inside an elevator and in her apartment, as well as scenes of Thicke performing his parts of the song. It also includes cameo appearances by Laker Girl Vanessa Curry and one of the song's writers, Shahine Ezell.[15]
Promotion
Meester performed "Somebody to Love" live for the first time on It's On with Alexa Chung on November 24, 2009.[16]
Charts
Release history
Notes and References
- MacRory . Sarah . The Billboard Reviews . . 121 . 48 . October 3, 2009 . 29 . 0006-2510 . Google Books.
- Web site: Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) – Single by Leighton Meester . . United States . November 20, 2011.
- Web site: The CW's November Sweep highlights: Vampires, witches, Lady Gaga, Leighton Meester's new single and the return of Heather Locklear . . October 22, 2009 . November 15, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091026163412/http://blog.cwtv.com/2009/10/22/the-cw%E2%80%99s-november-sweep-highlights-vampires-witches-lady-gaga-leighton-meester%E2%80%99s-new-single-and-the-return-of-heather-locklear/ . October 26, 2009.
- Web site: FIRST LISTEN: Like Taylor Swift? Stream the Valentine's Day Soundtrack! . . February 1, 2010 . November 20, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100203101640/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20340310,00.html . February 3, 2010.
- Web site: Bain . Becky . Screen Jams: 'Valentine's Day' . . February 11, 2010 . November 20, 2011.
- Web site: Vena . Jocelyn . Leighton Meester Hooks Up With Robin Thicke For 'Somebody To Love' . https://web.archive.org/web/20150614174521/http://www.mtv.com/news/1623778/leighton-meester-hooks-up-with-robin-thicke-for-somebody-to-love/ . dead . June 14, 2015 . . October 14, 2009 . February 12, 2021.
- Web site: Lamb . Bill . Leighton Meester featuring Robin Thicke – "Somebody to Love" . . October 15, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605002103/http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/leightonmeestersomebody.htm . June 5, 2011.
- Web site: Sadao . EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Leighton Meester's First Single "Somebody To Love" . RyanSeacrest.com . October 13, 2009 . October 15, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091017164947/http://www.ryanseacrest.com/blog/whats-happening/exclusive-listen-to-leighton-meesters-first-single-somebody-to-love/ . October 17, 2009.
- Web site: Gicas . Peter . Leighton Meester's Looking for "Somebody to Love" . . October 13, 2009 . February 12, 2021.
- Web site: Deusner . Stephen M. . Leighton Meester: "Somebody to Love" [ft. Robin Thicke] ]. . December 2, 2009 . December 14, 2009.
- Web site: Backer . Rya . 'Gossip Girl' Leighton Meester Searches For Robin Thicke In First Music Video . MTV Newsroom . October 19, 2009 . November 22, 2011 . https://archive.today/20120629082329/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/10/19/leighton-meester-robin-thicke-video/ . June 29, 2012.
- Web site: Universal Republic Records/Time-Act Music and Verizon Wireless to premiere sneak peek of Leighton Meester's debut video "Somebody To Love" during The CW'S "Gossip Girl" on November 2nd . The CW . October 22, 2009 . November 15, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091116102637/http://blog.cwtv.com/2009/11/03/universal-republic-recordstime-act-music-and-verizon-wireless-to-premiere-sneak-peek-of-leighton-meesters-debut-video-somebody-to-love-during-the-cws-gossip-girlon-november-2nd/ . November 16, 2009.
- Web site: Karmali . Sarah . FIRST LOOK! Leighton Meester's new music video . . United Kingdom . November 9, 2009 . February 12, 2021.
- Web site: Vena . Jocelyn . Leighton Meester Seduces Robin Thicke In 'Somebody To Love' Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20150614135832/http://www.mtv.com/news/1625837/leighton-meester-seduces-robin-thicke-in-somebody-to-love-video/ . dead . June 14, 2015 . MTV News . November 9, 2009 . February 12, 2021.
- Web site: Donovan . Leighton Meester's "Somebody To Love" Music Video . Homorazzi.com . November 11, 2009 . November 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091116073648/http://www.homorazzi.com/article/leighton-meester-somebody-to-love-music-video-robin-thicke-zoe-cassavetes-pictures-online/ . November 16, 2009.
- Web site: Anitai . Tamar . Watch Leighton Meester Perform Live On 'It's On With Alexa Chung' . https://web.archive.org/web/20091128002957/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2009/11/24/watch-leighton-meester-perform-live-on-its-on-with-alexa-chung . dead . November 28, 2009 . . November 24, 2009 . October 6, 2013.
- Leighton Meester Chart History (Heatseekers Songs) . . February 12, 2021.
- Web site: Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) – Single by Leighton Meester . iTunes Store . Canada . October 6, 2013.
- Web site: Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) – Single by Leighton Meester . iTunes Store . Australia . November 20, 2011.
- Web site: Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) – Single by Leighton Meester . iTunes Store . France . October 6, 2013.
- Web site: Somebody to Love (feat. Robin Thicke) – Single by Leighton Meester . iTunes Store . Germany . October 6, 2013.
- Web site: CHR – 2009 . . November 20, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091231142820/http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 . December 31, 2009.