YOLO (The Lonely Island song)
"YOLO" | ||||
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Single by The Lonely Island featuring Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar | ||||
from the album The Wack Album | ||||
B-side | "YOLO" (Sam F. Remix) | |||
Released | January 25, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Genre | Comedy hip hop | |||
Length | 3:08 | |||
Label | Republic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Needlz | |||
The Lonely Island singles chronology | ||||
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Adam Levine singles chronology | ||||
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Kendrick Lamar singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"YOLO" on YouTube |
"YOLO" is a song by American comedy troupe The Lonely Island featuring American singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from the former's third studio album The Wack Album.[1] The song was released as the lead single from the album on January 25, 2013, worldwide outside North America. The single premiered in North America on Saturday Night Live on January 26, and released as a single the following day.[2]
Background and composition
The title and lyrics of the song reference the popular motto and
"YOLO" parodies the phrase, and once again reworks the phrase to mean something else. The song's lyrics interpret "You Only Live Once" to mean the complete opposite of dangerous and irresponsible behavior, and to instead be over secure and protective of life, in a pessimistic viewpoint. The song urges the public to be fully aware of their surroundings and the hazards of everyday life, since everything, in the writer's viewpoint, is a threat to life. Some of the lyrics would later become relevant during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic such as "Isolate yourself and just roll solo", "There's no such thing as too much
Recording and production
"YOLO" was written by all performers of the track, The Lonely Island, Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar. Also credited for songwriting are Rhiannon Bryan and Rhydian Davies, members of the Welsh alternative rock band The Joy Formidable, whose 2011 single "Whirring" is sampled throughout the song. The song was produced by Needlz, who had previously worked with Lupe Fiasco and 50 Cent.[6] The song was originally planned to feature Katy Perry,[6] but two weeks before the song was released, this was changed to feature Maroon 5's Adam Levine, who was hosting Saturday Night Live the same night, and that night's musical guest Kendrick Lamar, who had previously requested NBC to put him in a Saturday Night Live Digital Short or one of its many skits.[7] The premiere of the song on SNL also marked the temporary return of Lonely Island frontman Andy Samberg, who had left Saturday Night Live the year before, but managed to get an appearance of The Lonely Island for the premiere of the song.[8]
Release
"YOLO" debuted in North America as a
Rolling Stone named it the 27th best song of 2013.[12]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "YOLO" | 3:08 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "YOLO" | 3:08 |
2. | "YOLO (Sam F. Remix)" |
Chart performance
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[14] | 31 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] | 36 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] | 26 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 26 |
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 60 |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Australia[10] | January 25, 2013 | Digital download | Universal Records
|
Belgium[19] | |||
Brazil[20] | |||
France[21] | |||
Germany[22] | |||
Ireland[23] | |||
Israel[24] | |||
Japan[25] | |||
Netherlands[26] | |||
New Zealand[27] | |||
South Africa[28] | |||
United Kingdom[29] | |||
Canada[30] | January 27, 2013 | ||
Mexico[31] | |||
United States[2] | |||
Lebanon[11] | January 29, 2013 | ||
Australia | April 20, 2013[13] | 7"
| |
United Kingdom | |||
United States |
References
- ^ "SNL: The Lonely Island Returns with a New Digital Short". IGN Entertainment, Inc. 27 January 2013. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ a b c "YOLO (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes. January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ Shapiro, David (2012-06-12). "Drake Won't Name Rick Ross Mixtape "YOLO," Calls Phrase "Epidemic"". Fuse. Archived from the original on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ^ Roberts, Soraya (2011-12-16). "Zac Efron Adopts Drake's 'YOLO' Motto, as Does Souljaboy". Yahoo! OMG! CA. Archived from the original on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ^ "Yolo Meaning – Ever Wondered what Yolo Means?". 2012-11-10. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ a b Horowitz, Steven (2013-02-08). "Needlz On Producing The Lonely Island's "YOLO," Submitted Beats For Kanye West & Eminem's New LPs". Hip Hop DX. Archived from the original on 2017-05-24. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Kathiya, Henna (2013-01-27). "Kendrick Lamar And The Lonely Island Spoof 'YOLO' On 'Saturday Night Live'". MTV. Archived from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Aguilar, Jack de (2013-01-30). "The Lonely Island's New Song - Yolo, Features Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar (Video)". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-12. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Digital Short: YOLO". NBC.com. January 27, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ a b "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes AU. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes LB. Apple Inc. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "100 Best Songs of 2013". Rolling Stone. 2013-12-04. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11.
- ^ a b "Lonely Island - YOLO". 7". Record Store Day. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ^ "The Lonely Island feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar – YOLO". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- Ultratip.
- ^ "The Lonely Island Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Lonely Island feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar – YOLO". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "The Lonely Island Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes BE. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes BR. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes FR. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes DE. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes IE. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes IL. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes JP. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes NL. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes NZ. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes ZA. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes GB. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes CA. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Yolo (feat. Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar) - Single". iTunes MX. Apple Inc. January 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.