Easier (5 Seconds of Summer song)

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"Easier"
Single by 5 Seconds of Summer
from the album Calm
Released23 May 2019
Recorded2019
Genre
Length2:38
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Charlie Puth
  • Louis Bell
  • Andrew Watt
5 Seconds of Summer singles chronology
"Who Do You Love"
(2019)
"Easier"
(2019)
"Teeth"
(2019)
Music video
"Easier" on
YouTube

"Easier" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 23 May 2019 through Interscope Records as both the lead single from their fourth studio album Calm (2020) and their first release through the label.[5] Billboard magazine included the song on their 100 Best Songs of 2019 list at number 79.[6] At the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, the song earned them a nomination for the ARIA Award for Best Group.[7]

Besides the original version, the band has also released an alternate version and two remixes of the song; on 5 July 2019, a version called "Easier – Live from the Vault" was released on YouTube with an accompanying music video. It was later made available on streaming services and for digital download as well.[8] A week later, on 12 July 2019, a remix by Seeb was released, and on 13 August 2019, a remix with Charlie Puth was released.[9]

Promotion

5 Seconds of Summer posted clips on social media leading up to the announcement, posting teasers from the song's upcoming music video along with its name and release date.[10]

Composition

Rolling Stone described the song as "dark" and noted the inspiration from "synth-heavy groups of the Eighties and Nineties like Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears and, more specifically, Nine Inch Nails' "Closer".[11] Billboard noted that "the relatably heart-rending sentiment is elevated by lead singer Luke Hemmings' impassioned vocals, from the murmuring verses to the falsetto on the chorus".[12]

Music video

The music video, directed by Grant Singer,[11] was released the same day as the single. In the video, "Hemmings, wearing a leather ensemble and glitter eyeshadow, sings chained by the wrists to the roof of a blue-lit cave while guitarist Michael Clifford, bassist Calum Hood and drummer Ashton Irwin rock out in front of the candle-studded backdrop [...] In addition to the cave setting, the video also features a striking seductress and haunting scenes of the bandmates submerged in on orange-lit pool and individually strolling down a long hallway in which their headshots are set ablaze."[13]

The blue lighting prominent throughout the video follows the aesthetic of the single's artwork. Four symbols, representing each member, were used in the teasers for the song and also appear in the video as tattoos along the female dancer's spine as well as on a burning poster at the end.[14]

As of March 2021, the video has over 55 million views.[15]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Easier"2:37
Digital download
SeeB
Remix)
2:45
Digital download[17]
No.TitleLength
1."Easier" (Live from The Vault)3:26

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Nominated Result Ref.
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Best Pop Nominated [18]
2019
ARIA Awards
Best Group Nominated [19]
2020
BMI Awards
Best Performing Song Won [20]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[57] 2× Platinum 140,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[58] 2× Platinum 80,000
Canada (Music Canada)[59] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[60] Gold 45,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61] Gold 15,000
Poland (ZPAV)[62] Platinum 50,000
Portugal (AFP)[63] Gold 5,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[65] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Charlie Puth remix

"Easier (Remix)"
Andrew Watt
Charlie Puth singles chronology
"The Way I Am"
(2018)
"Easier (Remix)"
(2019)
"I Warned Myself"
(2019)

A remix, which features American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth (who also co-wrote and produced the original version), was released on 13 August 2019.[9][66]

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[67] 13

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 13 August 2019 Interscope [66]

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 23 May 2019 Original Interscope
Italy 24 May 2019 Contemporary hit radio Universal [68]
United States 28 May 2019 Interscope [69]
Various 12 July 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
SeeB Remix [16]
7 August 2019 Live from The Vault [17]

References

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  4. ^
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