Selena Gomez’s ‘The Heart Wants What It Wants’ Impacts Big At Radio & YouTube
Selena Gomez’s mesmerizing, new single ‘The Heart Wants What It Wants” is red-hot at radio since its stealth premiere on Thursday.
Written and produced by Rock Mafia, Gomez’s Justin Bieber-inspired epic blasted to No. 2 on iTunes within hours of its release and could take the top spot.
According to Mediabase, “The Heart Wants What It Wants” pulled in an listening audience of 10.061 million on its first day on radio.
In comparison, Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” debuted to six million back in August 2013.
The impact of Selena’s slayer is overwhelmingly positive elsewhere.
At press time, YouTube views for the video are over nine million within a 24-hour time frame.
While over at Billboard’s Realtime chart, which tracks the most shared songs in the U.S. on Twitter over a 24-hour period, the single took the No. 1 spot by Friday.
On the Vevo platform, “The Heart Wants What It Wants” is the No. 1 viewed video, leaping over Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” at No. 2 and Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” at No.3.
#Top3onVevo Today: 3. @taylorswift13 http://t.co/y7r3xTsh4e 2. @Meghan_Trainor http://t.co/7W6HZhg44C 1. @selenagomez http://t.co/vaIvwBrSnp
— Vevo (@Vevo) November 7, 2014
It’s not surprising Selena’s autobiographical single is doing so well. The song is quality on multiple levels. Tackling the painful subject of loving someone despite betrayal with heart-wrenching lyrics that read beautifully even without the hypnotic backing track.
“You got me scattered in pieces / Shining like stars and screaming / Lighting me up like Venus / But then you disappear and make me wait,” is just gorgeous.
And the great writing continues:
“This is a modern fairytale / No happy endings / No wind in our sails / But I can’t imagine a life without / Breathless moments / Breaking me down down down,” before that undeniable chorus and amazing title payoff.
“There’s a million reasons why I should give you up / But the heart wants what it wants.”
Put the song together with director Dawn Shadforth’s stylish video and Selena’s intensely raw, spoken introduction, and it’s crystal clear why the single is killing on radio.
Online, Selena’s millions-strong fanbase are doing a sterling job mobilizing support for “The Heart Wants What It Wants.”
A fan-posted Tumblr compiled radio stations for fans to request the song and Selenators everywhere are urging each other to buy the single on iTunes and stack up Vevo views.
In short, they’re on it.
#GetTheHeartWantsWhatItWantsOniTunes http://t.co/9bUeNIebPq pic.twitter.com/ZH4Zm2tcYO http://t.co/ZH4Zm2tcYO
— Chris is LaLaLovinU? (@chrisMusic88) November 7, 2014
With Selena booked to perform the single for the first time at the American Music Awards alongside artists such as Imagine Dragons, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, One Direction and more on November 23, the release of her “Greatest Hits” album For You on November 24 should give the LP a huge bump.
For her part, the actress-singer took to Twitter early Friday to express her appreciation for the support her very personal song has received.
“So overwhelmed by the response to #TheHeartWantsWhatItWants, thank you all so much [sic],” Selena tweeted.
Rock Mafia also expressed their thanks, writing, “wow, thanks for all the love!!!! it’s why we do this. music is magic, Selena poured her heart and soul on [#THWWIWants].”
Writing……. in July #HeartWantsWhatItWants pic.twitter.com/YhMGcNCk3K
— Rock Mafia (@Rock_Mafia) November 8, 2014
