"Like I Would"
Single by Zayn
from the album Mind of Mine
Released10 March 2016
Recorded2016
Genre
Length3:13
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)XYZ
Zayn singles chronology
"Pillowtalk"
(2016)		 "Like I Would"
(2016)		 "Wrong"
(2016)
Music video
"Like I Would" on YouTube

"Like I Would" (stylised in all caps) is a song recorded by English singer and songwriter Zayn for the deluxe edition of his solo debut studio album, Mind of Mine (2016). It was written by Zayn, Chase Wells, James Griffin, Kevin Rains, James Emerson and Salvador Waviest and produced by XYZ. The song was released on 10 March 2016 and later impacted US contemporary hit radio on 24 May 2016, as the album's official second single. "Like I Would" is an electro-R&B and dance song, with an upbeat backdrop, steady bass, a disco groove and a funky hook.

Lyrically, the song tries to prove to someone that he is the best thing she is ever going to get and that her new lover lacks the skills he brings to the bedroom. Commercially, the song reached the top-forty in eight countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. It also became his second song as a solo artist to reach the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the country's dance charts. The music video for the song, inspired by Tron film franchise, was directed by Director X and released on 10 May 2016.

Composition and lyrics

"Like I Would" was written by Zayn Malik, Chase Wells, James Griffin, Kevin Rains, James Emerson and Salvador Waviest. It was produced by XYZ.[1] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song is written in the key of A♯ minor, with a tempo of 112 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of A#m – A#m/C# – A#m/G# – G7 – A#m/F – A#m. Malik's vocals range from the low-note of F4 to the high note of A#5.[2] It is a dance and electro-R&B song,[3][4] with an upbeat backdrop, steady bass, a disco groove and a "funky hook."[5][6][7] Lyrically, the song finds the singer promising his paramour that he's more apt to satisfy than an unnamed male competitor.[3]

According to Michelle Lulic of Bustle, "the song's lyrics seem to be alluding to a relationship that was definitely strong at one point, but now not so much."[8] In the pre-chorus, he warns: "If we can never go back / Thought you'd like to know that," before singing in the chorus: "He, won't touch you like I do /He, won't love you like I would /He don't know your body /He don't do you right /He won't love you like I would."[8] As noted by Lulic, in the chorus, "[he] is trying to prove to someone that he is the best thing she is ever going to get."[8]

Release

"Like I Would" was first released digitally on 10 March 2016 as the third "instant grat" track from the album,[9] and later serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 24 May 2016 as the album's second single.[10] A remix EP featuring seven remixes from White Panda, Lenno, Sharam Jey, Oliver Nelson, Dave Audé, Troyboi and Rytmeklubben, was released on 27 May 2016 to digital download and streaming.[11]

Critical reception

"Like I Would" received universal acclaim from music critics. The Fader included it in their "11 Songs You Need In Your Life This Week" list, describing it as a "euphoric, super danceable breakup jam".[12] Nate Scott of USA Today ranked it number two on his "10 best songs of the week" list, calling it "another step in the right direction," noting that "the dancey track has verve and Malik's voice shows some range."[13] Lewis Corner and Amy Davidson of Digital Spy also included it in their "10 tracks you need to hear" list, stating that they "were still waiting for that BIG pop banger we know he's capable of" and that "Like I Would" is "just that and then some."[14] Corner later added that the song is "screaming louder than Zayn's fans to be a number-one hit" as the "hook is contagious, the lyric is swoon-worthy arrogant, and the chorus is enough to pop off arena ceilings across the globe."[15] Robbie Daw of Idolator called it "a glorious ’80s throwback".[16] Andrew Milne of musicOMH called it an "exhilarating breakup banger,"[17] while Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone enjoyed it for being a "clubby success."[18]

Edwin Ortiz of Complex stated that it "has major potential to get burn in clubs across the country."[6] Nicholas Parco of New York Daily News stated that the track "is primed to be an early contender for hit of the early summer".[19] Brennan Carley of Spin praised "ZAYN's rich, warm vocals" that "weave themselves around a backing choir before a huge funky hook kicks in."[20] Carley also stated: "What 'Sorry' did to jumpstart Justin Bieber's Purpose, 'Like I Would' is the poppy kick in the ass 'Mind of Mine' needed pre-release."[20] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly noted that the song leans "headfirst into sleek, Weeknd-style hedonism,"[21] a sentiment that Maeve McDermott of USA Today also expressed, writing that it "give us another clue what R&B contemporary Malik is taking clues from on this record: the Weeknd."[7] Nick Levine of The Independent also agreed with both critics about The Weeknd's reference.[4] Michael Cragg of The Guardian thought it was weird that "the excellent, upbeat 'Like I Would' is relegated to the deluxe edition."[22]

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada, it debuted at number 23 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 14 on the Canadian Digital Songs chart.[23] In Ireland, it debuted at number 32 on the Irish Singles Chart and reached number 23 on the Irish Radio Airplay Chart.[24] In the United States, it debuted at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 18 on the Pop Digital Songs chart.[25] It is Malik's second song to enter the Hot 100, after "Pillowtalk". "Like I Would" also debuted at number 31 on the Digital Songs chart, selling 26,000 downloads, and number 42 on the Streaming Songs chart, with 5.6 million streams.[26] It also debuted at number 21 on the On-Demand Songs chart.[27] In August 2016, "Like I Would" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[28]

Music video

The music video for the song was uploaded onto his YouTube and Vevo account on 10 May 2016. It was shot by Director X in a Los Angeles studio. Zayn's appearance in the video, and the video's array of lights and lasers, takes inspiration from the Tron science fiction films.[29][30] Director X had previously directed Usher's "Yeah", which he said he had "been wanting to redo" differently with "all laser" for a long time. He also cited Tron as inspiration. The video features the Cyclone, a large custom laser rig created by Zayn's laser designers.[31] The video also features energetic dancing by a squad of dancers.[29]

Zayn's appearance in the video, including a neon suit and a bright orange eye contact, takes inspiration from Marvel Comics' current Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes,[32] who was in turn inspired by Zayn Malik.[33] According to Director X, the orange eye contact was Zayn's idea.[31] It is seen as part of Zayn's "man in the machine" theme, including his 2 May 2016 appearance at Met Gala's Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, where he wore metal robot arms over his tuxedo.[30] The music video reached number 15 on the UK TV Airplay Chart.[34]

The video starts with Zayn "in the center of a beam of neon blue lines of light," as explained by Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos, who continued: "His full outfit is also covered with neon lines that glow against a black background and he's sporting an orange contact lens on one of his eyes. Elsewhere a crew of dancers, mostly made up of women, dance to the track amidst more neon lights."[35] Brennan Carley of Spin called it "pretty spectacular" with "a stunningly shot treatment."[36]

Live performances

Malik performed "Like I Would" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 24 March 2016,[37] and at the Mind of Mine iHeartRadio release party on 25 March 2016.[38] He also performed the song at the 3rd iHeartRadio Music Awards on 3 April 2016.[39] His performance was ranked the best performance at the show by International Business Times,[40] and the third best performance by Billboard.[41] He also performed the song at KIIS-FM's Wango Tango on 14 May 2016,[42] and during the season 10 finale of The Voice on 24 May 2016.[43]

Track listing

Digital download[44]
No.TitleLength
1."Like I Would"3:12
Digital download – Remixes[45]
No.TitleLength
1."Like I Would" (The White Panda Remix)3:18
2."Like I Would" (Lenno Remix)4:36
3."Like I Would" (Sharam Jey Remix)4:41
4."Like I Would" (Oliver Nelson Remix)3:56
5."Like I Would" (Dave Audé Mix)3:46
6."Like I Would" (Rytmeklubben Remix)3:22
7."Like I Would" (Troyboi Remix)3:30

Credits and personnel

Recording
  • Recorded at Record Plant, Los Angeles, California; Grove Studios, Los Angeles.
  • Mixed at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, California.
Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Mind of Mine, RCA Records.[1]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[74] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[75] Platinum 60,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[76] Platinum 80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[77] Gold 25,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[78] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[80] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide 10 March 2016 Digital download RCA [9]
United States 24 May 2016 Contemporary hit radio [10]
Worldwide 27 May 2016 Remixes EP [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mind of Mine (inlay cover). Zayn. RCA Records. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ "Zayn "Like I Would" Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 Lynch, Joe (10 March 2016). "Zayn Shifts Focus to Dancefloor on New Track 'Like I Would'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 Levine, Nick (10 March 2016). "Zayn Malik new music: ex-One Direction member shares 'Like I Would' from his debut solo album". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Carley, Brennan (10 March 2016). "ZAYN's 'Like I Would' Moves 'Mind of Mine' to the Center of the Dance Floor". Spin. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 Ortiz, Edwin (10 March 2016). "ZAYN Takes It to the Club With His New Song, "LIKE I WOULD"". Complex. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 McDermott, Maeve (10 March 2016). "Zayn channels The Weeknd on new song 'Like I Would'". USA Today. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 Lulic, Michelle (10 March 2016). "Zayn's "Like I Would" Lyrics Sing An Uptempo Ode To A Love Lost — VIDEO". Bustle. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  9. 1 2 "ZAYN Releases New Track "Like I Would"". RCA Records. 10 March 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 "ZAYN Releases LIKE I WOULD The Remixes". RCA Records. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  12. ↑ "11 Songs You Need In Your Life This Week". The Fader. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Scott, Nate (11 March 2016). "The 10 best songs of the week". USA Today. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  14. ↑ Corner, Lewis; Davidson, Amy (16 March 2016). "10 tracks you need to hear". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  15. ↑ Corner, Lewis (25 March 2016). "Zayn: Mind Of Mine solo album review - Is it any good, then?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  16. ↑ Daw, Robbie (17 March 2016). "Zayn Releases Best 'Mind Of Mine' Track Yet: Listen To "Befour"". Idolator. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  17. ↑ Milne, Andrew (25 March 2016). "Zayn – Mind Of Mine - Album Reviews - musicOMH". musicOMH. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  18. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (25 March 2016). "Zayn Malik Mind of Mine Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  19. ↑ Parco, Nicholas (10 March 2016). "Zayn Malik's new single 'Like I Would' is clearly about his ex". New York Daily News. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  20. 1 2 Carley, Brennan (10 March 2016). "ZAYN's 'Like I Would' Moves 'Mind of Mine' to the Center of the Dance Floor". Spin. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  21. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (25 March 2016). "Zayn's Mind of Mine: EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  22. ↑ Cragg, Michael (25 March 2016). "Zayn Malik: Mind of Mine review – downbeat sex jams drive assured rebrand". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Canadian Digital Songs". Billboard. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  24. ↑ "Irish Radio Airplay Chart". Radiomonitor. 28 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "Pop Digital Songs". Billboard. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  26. ↑ "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Troye Sivan Scores First Top 40 Hit, Zayn Debuts". Billboard. 24 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "On-Demand Songs". Billboard. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Zayn's "Like I Would" Scores No. 1 on Billboard Dance Club Chart - PRO MOTION Music News". Promotionmusicnews.com. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  29. 1 2 "Zayn Malik Shares 'Tron'-Inspired 'Like I Would' Video". Billboard. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  30. 1 2 "Zayn Drops Vid for "Like I Would". Hits. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  31. 1 2 "How Zayn's new music video was inspired by Usher's 'Yeah!'". Entertainment Weekly. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  32. ↑ "Cyborg Zayn Returns In The Futuristic 'Like I Would' Video". MTV. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  33. ↑ "One Direction's Zayn Malik inspired All-New Ghost Rider design". Digital Spy. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "UK TV Airplay Chart". Radiomonitor. 26 May 2016.
  35. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (10 May 2016). "Watch Zayn Malik's Futuristic 'Like I Would' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  36. ↑ Caley, Brennan (10 May 2016). "ZAYN Enlists Director X to Bring 'Like I Would' From Bonus Track to Big League". Spin. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  37. ↑ Nelson, Brad (29 March 2016). "Zayn: Mind of Mine Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  38. ↑ "Watch Zayn Malik Perform 'Mind of Mine' Songs at iHeartRadio Album Release Party". Billboard. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  39. ↑ "Zayn Performs 'Like I Would' at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards". Billboard. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  40. ↑ "iHeartRadio Music Awards 2016: Watch The Top 5 Performances, Including Zayn Malik, Fetty Wap And More". International Business Times. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  41. ↑ "2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards Performances Ranked From Worst to Best". Billboard. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  42. ↑ "Gigi Hadid Wears Her Love for Zayn Malik and He Can't Help But Be Impressed". E!. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  43. ↑ "Watch Zayn Malik Light Up the 'Voice' Finale with 'Like I Would'". Billboard. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  44. ↑ "Like I Would - Single by ZAYN on Apple Music". iTunes, Apple Music. 25 March 2017.
  45. ↑ "Like I Would (The Remixes) by ZAYN on Apple Music". iTunes, Apple. 27 May 2016.
  46. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  47. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  48. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "Zayn Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  51. ↑ "Zayn Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  52. ↑ Zayn — Like I Would. TopHit. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  53. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201612 into search. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  54. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  55. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  56. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 15, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  57. ↑ "Top Digital - Classifica settimanale WK 13 (dal 2016-03-25 al 2016-03-31)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  58. ↑ "Zayn Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
  59. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  60. ↑ "Billboard Japan Radio Songs" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  61. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 29, 2016" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  62. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  63. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  64. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  65. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 20165 into search.
  66. ↑ "Digital Chart". Gaon. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  67. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  68. ↑ "Zayn – Like I Would". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  69. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  70. ↑ "Zayn Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  71. ↑ "Zayn Malik Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  72. ↑ "Zayn Malik Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  73. ↑ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  74. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  75. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Zayn – Like I Would" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  76. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Zayn – Like I Would". Music Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  77. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Zayn – Like I Would" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 November 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Like I Would" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  78. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Zayn" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  79. ↑ "British single certifications – Zayn – Like I Would". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  80. ↑ "American single certifications – Zayn – Like I Would". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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