Wherever I Go (OneRepublic song)

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"Wherever I Go"
Single by OneRepublic
from the album Oh My My
ReleasedMay 13, 2016 (May 13, 2016)
Recorded2015
Studio
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Tedder
  • Kutzle
  • Zancanella
OneRepublic singles chronology
"I Lived"
(2014) 		"Wherever I Go"
(2016) 		"Kids"
(2016)
Music video
"Wherever I Go" on YouTube

"Wherever I Go" is a song recorded by American pop rock band OneRepublic. It was released on May 13, 2016 through Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records as OneRepublic's first single after a long period of focus on the band's Native Tour, which had been extended in May 2014, resulting in the band's longest period of new releases. The song was revealed and released at the end of a week of teasers, as the lead single from the band's fourth album Oh My My (2016). It was written and produced by lead singer Ryan Tedder, bassist/cellist Brent Kutzle and producer Noel Zancanella. The song was recorded at Revolution Studio, Toronto, Ontario, and Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, Russia, with additional recording at Neptune Valley and Waterloo Studios, Los Angeles in 2015. "Wherever I Go" is a funk rock, synth-pop and new wave music, featuring piano lines and a funk-driven rhythm, with lyrics on obsessive love.

The single debuted at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100, before climbing several positions to its peak at number 55, marking the second time that a lead single from the band has not reached the top twenty on the Billboard charts. The song reached the top twenty in several other countries. Upon release, the song received universal acclaim from music critics, being praised for its bold production, danceable beats, unconventional instrumentation and Tedder's vocals. "Wherever I Go" has sold 3 million downloads and was certified double-platinum by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana for selling over 100,000 copies in Italy and certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry for selling over 400,000 copies in the UK. At the 2016 Teen Choice Awards, the song was nominated in the Choice Rock Song category.

The "Wherever I Go" music video, directed by Joseph Kahn accompanied the song's release. Following the aesthetic presented on the cover of the single, created by Brazilian street artist Speto, the video's theme is based on a quote from Henry David Thoreau's 1854 book Walden: "The mass of mankind lead lives of quiet desperation", and focuses on a day in the life of a Korean businessman (Kenneth Choi), stuck in his daily routine. The video scored several accolades; was nominated in the EMA's Best World Stage Performance category at the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards and the Los 40 International Video of the Year category at the LOS40 Music Awards 2016.

Background and release[edit]

The single's promotional campaign began in April 2016, when OneRepublic published several easter egg postcards involving the first single from their upcoming fourth album, Oh My My.[1][2] On May 2, 2016, all the teasers were completed, and with that fans discovered the name of the song that would serve as the first single from OneRepublic's new album.[3] Two days later, on Instagram, the band posted the single's working artwork, confirming "Wherever I Go" as the band's entry into their new era.[4] The song was released to streaming services on May 13, with a premiere via iHeartRadio on May 12.[5]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

"Wherever I Go" was written and produced by Tedder, Kutzle and Zancanell, and runs for 2 minutes and 49 seconds, the shortest single OneRepublic have released.[6] The song features piano lines and a funk-driven rhythm, marking a new style for the band. Explaining why it was important the lead single be different from the rest of the new album, Ryan Tedder said to Wonderland, "I think it’s gonna be shocking, kind of the first response anyone has is their eyes are kind of spread open like ‘Oh my god’. It's not indicative of the entire album but it's kind of like if you go have dinner, you don't order steak for an appetizer and steak for dinner. You split it up, and you have different things. So the first single... it's definitely an appetizer, I think it's the best appetizer we could come up with."[7][8]

Tedder sings here of not being able to find a love to match one that he once had. This previous relationship will always remain a "ghost in the room," whenever he gets together with a new girl. Tedder explained the song is about "obsession, and almost an unnatural, unhealthy level of obsession."

Speaking on BBC Radio 1, Tedder discussed how hard OneRepublic worked to make the song sound fresh and current, but still organic. "It's hard as an actual band to evolve and still keep the humanity in the instruments," he said. "So it's tricky. You wanna hear the bass player, you wanna hear the drummer, but you want it to sound modern at the same time. So it took...ages to crack that code."[6] Speaking to NME, Ryan Tedder explained the background to the song's different sound: "We were listening to a lot of late '90s French and Italian disco records - stuff like Daft Punk, Cassius, Justice," he said. "We were also listening to a lot of Miike Snow and Mew and I became obsessed with the shape of those Scandinavian melodies, because they're so different to American gospel and other things that we've done. And so it was a combination of chasing those records with songs that are very bass and riff-driven that led us to 'Wherever I Go.'"[9]

It felt like the first single because it's a more digestible version of some of the other stuff we've done for the album," Tedder added. "We could have put out other songs first that would have scared off a lot of our fans.

— Tedder talking about "Wherever I Go"[9]

In a Twitter Q&A with fans about the band's new album, Tedder said that "Wherever I Go" was the hardest song to write and took the longest to finish for Oh My My.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Upon release, "Wherever I Go" received universal acclaim from music critics. NME's Nick Levine called it "their slinkiest, funkiest single ever. With this song, Tedder sits like a genuine contender for the title of 'Most In Demand Man In Music'".[9] Dana Getz of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Wherever I Go" is "a powerful funk-punctuated blast of a track with steam kettle squeals and a come-to-Jesus hook".[11] Idolator writer Robbie Daw first impressions were "The first word that comes into mind while listening is “dramatic.” And then, right when the song builds up to its booming climax, it ends".[12] David Watt of All-Noise praised the band's eclecticness in totally changing its characteristic sound and bringing something unique to the song, saying "although OneRepublic has recorded a lot of music, they have never recorded anything like this before. Ryan has also done a great job with vocals, making “Wherever I Go” nearly perfect", also highlighting the different vocals and production than usual, "the production is EVERYTHING – it’s fresh, and it’s exciting. And THAT combined with Ryan’s perfect, on-the-money vocals offers a killer equation".[5]

Lewis Corner from Digital Spy called the song "a anthem", and saying "everything just seems, well, bigger. The taut guitar lines are aching for a stadium outing, the thudding kick beat will make your feet twitch, and the pounding piano line is Ryan Tedder on fine form. While past OneRepublic songs have been polished up to a gleam, here the separate strands feel a little unruly. The band's aim to sound more live is effective, and the build up almost mirrors the energy of an EDM banger, but without coming across as synthetic".[13] Rob Copsey from Official Charts said the song is a "stadium pop-rock stomper", writing "the track has many of the hallmarks of a OneRepublic hit".[14]

Commercial performance[edit]

Music video[edit]

The music video premiered on May 17, 2016, directed by Joseph Kahn and produced by Jil Hardin. Within the video, actor Kenneth Choi plays a businessman who faces an uneventful, colorless world of black, white and gray on a daily basis. However, upon meeting a woman, played by actress Yvonne Lu,[15] whom he presumably falls in love with, he subsequently puts down his briefcase, symbolising the idea of him leaving his regular, insipid characteristics behind him. He begins to elaborately dance, an action usually not associated with business. His coworkers look at him aghast before also joining in. Still, he cannot woo over the woman he is interested in. It takes discovering a secret passageway containing the band performing to transform his life into color. When he steps back into the office after watching the band sing, everything becomes vivid and colorful, with the office transformed to a 1970s motif. In the end, it is shown that it was all just a daydream, with him still in the lift, staring at the woman he wants. The music video currently has 111 million views.[16]

Incidentally, the video features Three-time National YoYo Champion Alex Hattori.[17]

Live performances[edit]

The day before the premiere of "Wherever I Go", OneRepublic performed the song on the tenth season of The Voice.[18] The band performed the song live for the first time after its release on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 19, 2016, in Rockefeller Center, New York City.[19] Five days later, the band returned to the stage to perform the song on season 10 of Britain's Got Talent.[20] Six days later, the band returned to the stage to perform the song again as part of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend 2016.[21]

Track listing[edit]

  • Digital download[22]
  1. "Wherever I Go" – 2:49
  • Digital download — remix[23]
  1. "Wherever I Go" (Danny Dove club edit) – 4:57
  1. "Wherever I Go" – 2:49
  2. "Wherever I Go" (Instrumental) – 2:49

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from CD single liner notes.[25]

Personnel

  • Ryan Tedder – songwriter, producer
  • Brent Kutzle – songwriter, producer
  • Noel Zancanella – songwriter, producer
  • Rich Rich – engineer
  • Steve Wilmot – engineer
  • Matthew Tryba – assistant engineer
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixer
  • Matty Green – assistant engineer for mix
  • Geoff Swan – assistant engineer for mix
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering

Recording

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[66] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[67] Platinum 60,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[68] Gold 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[69] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[70] Gold 66,666‡
Germany (BVMI)[71] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[72] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[73] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[74] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[76] Platinum 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[77] Gold 400,000‡
Summaries
Worldwide — 3,000,000[78]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide 13 May 2016 Digital download
27 May 2016 CD maxi single[79]

Footnotes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "It Looks Like OneRepublic Have A New Single Called "Wherever I Go" On The Way". Idolator. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder was 'on verge of a mental breakdown' after anxiety battle". BBC News. April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "It Looks Like OneRepublic Have A New Single Called "Wherever I Go" On The Way". Idolator. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "In the making ... Wherever I Go". Instagram. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "New Single Review: "Wherever I Go" by OneRepublic". All Noise. May 12, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Wherever I Go by OneRepublic". Song Facts. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "OneRepublic Releases New Single "Wherever I Go" - Music News - ABC News Radio". ABC News Radio. May 13, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Wonderland gets a sneak peek into OneRepublic's new record with musical power house and frontman, Ryan Tedder". Wonderland. May 4, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder On Working With The Killers And U2 And Ed Sheeran And Adele And Sam Smith And…". NME. May 26, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Wherever I Go by OneRepublic (About the Song)". Genius. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "OneRepublic release Wherever I Go". Entertainment Weekly. May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "OneRepublic's New Single "Wherever I Go" Officially Announced, Out This Week". Idolator. May 9, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "OneRepublic sound re-energised on their most ambitious single yet - first listen review". Digital Spy. May 5, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  14. ^ "OneRepublic return with new single Wherever I Go: First listen review". Official Charts Company. May 5, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Yvonne Lu at IMDb
  16. ^ OneRepublic – Wherever I Go (Official Video). YouTube. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Alex Hattori in OneRepublic "Wherever I Go" Video". YoYoNews.com. 18 May 2016.
  18. ^ "Wherever I Go - OneRepublic - World TV Premiere". May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ OneRepublicVEVO (May 19, 2016). "OneRepublic - Wherever I Go (Live On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon)" – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "BGT Semi-Final guest performers revealed!". ITV. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  21. ^ "OneRepublic - Wherever I Go (Radio 1's Big Weekend 2016)". May 29, 2016 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ "ONEREPUBLIC | Wherever I Go: OneRepublic – iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Wherever I Go (Danny Dove Club Edit) - Single by OneRepublic on Apple Music". iTunes. 15 July 2016.
  24. ^ "Wherever I Go". 27 May 2016 – via Amazon.
  25. ^ Wherever I Go (liner notes). OneRepublic. Mosley Music Group, Interscope Records. 2016. 0602547950253.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  35. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201631 into search. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
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  43. ^ "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
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  47. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
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  49. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  50. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201631 into search. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  51. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201625 into search. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  52. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  53. ^ "spanishcharts.com - Spanish charts portal". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
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  55. ^ "OneRepublic – Wherever I Go". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  56. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
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  63. ^ "Classifiche "Top of the Music" 2016 FIMI-GfK: La musica italiana in vetta negli album e nei singoli digitali" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original (Click on Scarica allegato to download the zipped file containing the year-end chart PDF documents) on January 9, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
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  67. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – OneRepublic" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  68. ^ "Canadian single certifications – OneRepublic – Wherever I Go". Music Canada. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
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  70. ^ "French single certifications – OneRepublic – Wherever I Go" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  71. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (OneRepublic; 'Wherever I Go')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  72. ^ "Italian single certifications – OneRepublic – Wherever I Go" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  73. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 20, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Wherever I Go in the search box.
  74. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – OneRepublic – Wherever I Go" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  75. ^ "Spanish single certifications – OneRepublic – Wherever I Go". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  76. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 39, 2016 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 26, 2017. Scroll to position 91 to view certification.
  77. ^ "British single certifications – OneRepublic – Wherever I Go". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  78. ^ "Ryan Tedder on OneRepublic's New Album and Embracing the Unexpected". Vogue. October 5, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  79. ^ "Wherever I Go". 27 May 2016 – via Amazon.
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