The Middle (Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey song) explained

The Middle
Cover:Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey The Middle.png
Type:single
Artist:Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey
Released:23 January 2018
Genre:Dance-pop[1]
Length:3:04
Label:Interscope
Producer:
  • Zedd
  • Grey
  • The Monsters and the Strangerz
Chronology:Zedd singles
Prev Title:Get Low
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Stay (Covered by Riri)
Next Year:2018

"The Middle" is a song by Russian-German record producer Zedd, American country music singer Maren Morris, and American musical duo Grey. It was written by Zedd & Grey alongside The Monsters and the Strangerz & Sarah Aarons with production handled by the former three. The song was released commercially for digital download and streaming on 23 January 2018 by Interscope Records. It reached the top ten of the charts in the US, the UK and several other countries. It was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

Background and development

Release

The song was first revealed in an accompanying interview of Zedd's cover shot for Billboard, published on 10 August 2017. Zedd played interviewer Chris Martins unreleased material in a studio, one of which was "The Middle", which featured co-writer Sarah Aarons as a demo singer.[2]

On 11 January 2018, Zedd teased the song on social media, saying: "Hey guys, it's that time again. I wanted to show you a preview to my brand new song. Check it out," after which he played a short snippet of the song.[3] [4] The collaboration was officially announced via social media on 19 January 2018, along with the single artwork,[5] [6] which Zedd teased a day earlier without a title on it.[7] [8]

Collaboration

Zedd explained in a press release that they "worked really hard on this record to get it just right". He also opened up about the opportunity to work with both collaborators, saying that working with Maren Morris was "super fun because she is clearly an amazing singer and very talented musician", and that he loves working with Grey because they strive to "make the best music possible".

Morris added: "Zedd was so great to work with and so easy-going, it felt like we'd been working together for years. The sound is reflective of my many influences as an artist – a little bit country, little pop, little R&B, relatable, emotional and catchy as hell. There are no limits with this song and I can't wait to see how the fans react." She revealed in a statement that she recorded her vocal for the song with Zedd in Nashville "several weeks ago" before the song's release. Grey admitted that they faced a few obstacles during production, but they "kept fighting for it" because the song was special.[9]

Vocal demos

Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, Anne-Marie, Carly Rae Jepsen, Tove Lo, Bishop Briggs, Bebe Rexha, Lauren Jauregui, Daya, Charli XCX, Elle King, Elley Duhé and Lennon Stella all recorded demos of the song before Morris' version was selected.

Stefan Johnson, one-fifth of production team The Monsters and the Strangerz, stated that "it was a super long process." Jordan Johnson of the same team added: "We never lost the feeling for that song. Even a year later, I, as a creator hadn't gotten tired of it. It was special."[10]

The first iteration of the song (before Zedd and Grey were attached) was intended to be a single for Lovato, but she passed after deciding the song was "too pop" and opted to release "Sorry Not Sorry" instead. She had already released a song with the same name on her 2008 album Don't Forget. [11] Once Zedd and Grey were brought on board, Cabello's version was selected but she pulled out two weeks prior to the song's release in order to focus on promoting "Havana".[12] After Cabello backed out, Anne-Marie's version was chosen but she had to back out due to conflicts stemming from the release of "Friends".[13] After plans to release Anne-Marie's version fell through, the production team discovered that Morris has recorded a version but that it was never reviewed when initially submitted for consideration.[14] Once the production team heard Morris' version, it was selected for the final cut.

Rexha's demo leaked online in 2018,[15] Cabello's demo leaked in 2020[16] while Lovato's,[17] XCX's[18] and Briggs' demos leaked in 2021.[19] Sarah Aarons' original demo leaked online in 2022,[20] including the demo of her second rendition have also leaked in 2023.[21] Anne-Marie's full demo leaked online in 2023.[22]

Critical reception

Kat Bein of Billboard opined that the song is "relatively sparse with cute, lively flourishes", writing that it has "definite sonic similarities" to Zedd's previous song "Stay".[23] Rolling Stones Brittney McKenna deemed the song "an infectious earworm" in which Morris "strays from her country roots". She felt that the "Nineties R&B-indebted, vocoder-driven chorus" recalls the sound of "Stay", and that Morris "deftly occupies the new, poppy space".[24] Hugh McIntyre of Fuse found Morris' appearance on the track surprising, "considering the genres she primarily works in", as he praised Morris for "supplying vocals perfectly". He felt that it "leans a lot more pop than electro", which makes the song more appealing to a broader variety of listeners. Regarding the song "an easy-to-love electronic smash" and "a slightly reductive mix" of "Stay" and "Starving", he noted that it is "not entirely original" due to its "reminiscence of what the musicians have delivered before".[25] Similarly, Madeline Roth of MTV News called the song "a poppy earworm" and a combination of "Stay" and "Starving", which is "catchy as hell and practically destined for radio domination".[26] Mike Nied of Idolator wrote that the song "blends elements of country and EDM" and praised Morris for providing "impassioned vocals".[27] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country described the song as "an unlikely combination of EDM, '90s pop and modern country music".[28]

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was premiered via Target's commercial space during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[23] [29] On 25 April, Zedd released a vertical video on YouTube.[30] The dancing was choreographed by Nadine "Hi-Hat" Ruffin, with 50 dancers featured including Lele Pons, Jade Chynoweth, and Willdabeast Adams. More than 400 extras worked on the video.

Live performances

On 28 April 2018, Zedd and Maren Morris performed the song live for the first time at the Omnia nightclub in Las Vegas.[31] [32] On 20 May 2018, all three artists performed the song at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards.[33] Morris performed the song with Taylor Swift at the Arlington stop of Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour on 5 October 2018.[34] On 26 October 2019, Jess Moskaluke and The Hunter Brothers performed the song at the opening ceremonies of the 2019 NHL Heritage Classic in Regina, Saskatchewan, located roughly midway between the home cities of the participating Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Awards and nominations

YearOrganizationAwardResult
2018Radio Disney Music AwardsSong of the Year
Best Dance Track
Best Collaboration
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Collaboration
Choice Electronic/Dance Song
American Music AwardsCollaboration of the Year
2019Grammy AwardsRecord of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
iHeartRadio Music AwardsSong of the Year
Best Collaboration
Dance Song of the Year
APRA Music Awards[35] Most Played Australian Work
Dance Work of the Year

Commercial performance

The song reached No. 5 on Billboard Hot 100.[36] As of February 2019, it had sold 771,000 copies in the United States.[37] In January 2021, "The Middle" surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify,[38] [39] the first song to do so for all three artists.[40]

Track listings

  1. "The Middle" – 3:04
  1. "The Middle" – 3:05
  2. "The Middle" – 3:02
  1. "The Middle (Marc Benjamin Remix)" - 3:45
  2. "The Middle (Bougenvilla Remix)" - 3:54
  3. "The Middle (Curbi Remix)" - 4:11
  4. "The Middle (UNKWN Remix)" - 3:01
  5. "The Middle (Maliboux Remix)" - 3:53

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[41]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Middle"! Chart (2018–2019)! Peak
position
Brazil (Crowley Charts)[42] 92
Colombia (National-Report)[43] 34
Germany Dance (Official German Charts)[44] 3
Malaysia (RIM)[45] 3
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[46] 11
Nicaragua (Monitor Latino)[47] 13
Singapore (RIAS)[48] 1
Slovenia (SloTop50)[49] 18
Venezuela English (Record Report)[50] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)! scope="col"
Position
Australia (ARIA)[51] 15
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[52] 34
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[53] 24
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[54] 97
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[55] 12
Denmark (Tracklisten)[56] 47
France (SNEP)[57] 155
Germany (Official German Charts)[58] 49
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[59] 67
Iceland (Plötutíóindi)[60] 22
Ireland (IRMA)[61] 21
Italy (FIMI)[62] 80
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[63] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[64] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[65] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[66] 21
Portugal (AFP)[67] 55
Romania (Airplay 100)<--Please do not change this to Romanian Top 100 or Media Forest. The Airplay 100 is Romania's national singles chart from 2012 onwards. For further information, see WP:GOODCHARTS-->[68] 89
Slovenia (SloTop50)[69] 46
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[70] 59
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[71] 68
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[72] 35
US Billboard Hot 100[73] 8
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[74] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[75] 5
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[76] 3
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[77] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[78] 2
Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[79] 4
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[80] 5

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[81] 3

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
Various23 January 2018Interscope
United States30 January 2018Contemporary hit radio[82]
Germany16 March 2018CD single[83]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Braca. Nina. Here Are the Lyrics to Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey's "The Middle". SPIN. 14 June 2018. 14 November 2019.
  2. Martins. Chris. Zedd, Dance Music's Anti-Bro, on Making Hits for Selena, Kesha and Liam and Why DJs Should 'Speak Up' On Trump. 23 January 2018. Billboard. 10 August 2017.
  3. Bein. Kat. Zedd (Sort Of) Teased His New Single: Watch. Billboard. 12 January 2018. 23 January 2018.
  4. News: Meadow. Matthew. Zedd Posts Maddeningly Short Clip Of His Next Single To Tease Fans. Your EDM. 11 January 2018. 22 January 2018.
  5. Bein. Kat. Zedd Announces 'The Middle' With Maren Morris & Grey. Billboard. 19 January 2018. 23 January 2018.
  6. News: Sterling. Scott. Zedd & Maren Morris Announce New Collaboration 'The Middle'. CBS Radio. 19 January 2018. 23 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180330154823/http://news.radio.com/2018/01/19/zedd-maren-morris-the-middle/. 30 March 2018. dead.
  7. Bein. Kat. Zedd Teases Artwork on Twitter, Fueling New Music Speculation. Billboard. 18 January 2018. 23 January 2018.
  8. News: Macke. Johnni. Zedd May Have Just Dropped A Big New Music Hint. People's Choice Awards. 18 January 2018. 23 January 2018.
  9. News: Sands. Nicole. Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey Team Up with Target to Debut New Single 'The Middle'. People. 23 January 2018. 23 January 2018.
  10. News: Halperin. Shirley. 'The Middle' Is a Hit for Marren Moris, After Demi, Camila, Bebe Don't Make the Cut. Variety. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  11. News: Halperin. Shirley. 'The Middle' Is a Hit for Marren Moris, After Demi, Camila, Bebe Don't Make the Cut. Variety. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  12. News: Halperin. Shirley. 'The Middle' Is a Hit for Marren Moris, After Demi, Camila, Bebe Don't Make the Cut. Variety. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  13. News: Halperin. Shirley. 'The Middle' Is a Hit for Marren Moris, After Demi, Camila, Bebe Don't Make the Cut. Variety. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  14. News: Halperin. Shirley. 'The Middle' Is a Hit for Marren Moris, After Demi, Camila, Bebe Don't Make the Cut. Variety. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  15. Web site: The Middle - Bebe Rexha (Demo). Genius. 5 January 2023.
  16. Web site: The Middle - Camila Cabello (Demo). Genius. 5 January 2023.
  17. Web site: The Middle - Demi Lovato (Demo). Genius. 21 December 2021.
  18. Web site: The Middle - Charli XCX (Demo). Genius. 5 January 2023.
  19. Web site: The Middle - Bishop Briggs (Demo). Genius. 5 January 2023.
  20. Web site: The Middle - Sarah Aarons (Demo). Genius. 5 January 2023.
  21. Web site: The Middle - Sarah Aarons (Demo 2). Genius. 3 January 2024.
  22. Web site: The Middle - Anne-Marie (Demo). Genius. 3 January 2024.
  23. Bein. Kat. Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey Lose Their Heads Over Love on 'The Middle': Listen. Billboard. 23 January 2018. 24 January 2018.
  24. McKenna. Brittney. Hear Maren Morris Sing on Vibrant New Zedd Song 'The Middle'. Rolling Stone. 23 January 2018. 24 January 2018.
  25. News: McIntyre. Hugh. Zedd Borrows From Past Hits for New Maren Morris-Assisted Single 'The Middle': Listen. Fuse. 23 January 2018. 24 January 2018.
  26. News: Roth. Madeline. Maren Morris Goes Pop On Zedd's Addictive New Song 'The Middle'. https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015442/http://www.mtv.com/news/3060203/maren-morris-zedd-grey-the-middle/. dead. 25 January 2018. MTV News. 23 January 2018. 24 January 2018.
  27. News: Nied. Mike. Zedd Teams Up With Maren Morris & Grey On Their Infectious "The Middle". Idolator. 23 January 2018. 24 January 2018.
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  29. Web site: . Target Just Made #MoreMusic Magic Again! See How our GRAMMY Performance Came to Life . . 8 January 2020 . 28 January 2018 . 22 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722213133/https://corporate.target.com/article/2018/01/grammy-video . dead .
  30. Web site: Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey - The Middle (Vertical Video). Zedd. 25 April 2018. 30 April 2018. YouTube.
  31. Hughes. Hilary. Zedd & Maren Morris Perform 'The Middle' Together Live For the First Time: Watch. 30 April 2018. Billboard. 29 April 2018.
  32. Gray. Mark. Maren Morris, Zedd Perform 'The Middle' Live for First Time. 30 April 2018. Rolling Stone. 29 April 2018.
  33. Weatherby. Taylor. 14 May 2018. Ed Sheeran, Maren Morris and Zedd Revealed as 2018 Billboard Music Awards Performers. Billboard. 14 May 2018.
  34. Kaplan . Ilana . See Maren Morris, Taylor Swift Team for Soulful Rendition of 'The Middle' . Rolling Stone . 12 October 2018 . 6 October 2018.
  35. Web site: Sarah Aarons wins Four APRA Awards The Complete Winners List. noise11. 30 April 2019. 1 April 2019.
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  38. 1352360572596051970. Zedd. Today marks an unbelievable milestone for me. "The Middle" w/ @greymusic and @marenmorris just passed 1 BILLION streams on @spotify!!!. 21 January 2021.
  39. Web site: 21 January 2021. 'The Middle' becomes Zedd's first song to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams. 23 January 2021. Dancing Astronaut. en-US.
  40. Web site: 21 January 2021. Zedd Secures His First Billion-Play Song On Spotify With Grey, Maren Morris Collab, "The Middle". 23 January 2021. Your EDM. en-US.
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