"Stay" is a song performed by American actress and singer Victoria Justice, co-written with Tia Scola and its producers, Louis Schoorl and Mitch Allan. It was released as a single on February 12, 2021.[1]
Background and release[]
Victoria Justice spoke about the creation of "Stay" in an interview with Steve Baltin for Forbes, which was published after the single's release. As with her previous single, "Treat Myself", Justice didn't prepare much for creating the song, the concept for which suddenly emerged while making it with Tia Scola. After Scola played a few chords on the guitar, the idea for the entire melody and song came together, much to Justice's surprise. Justice fell in love with the song because she loves "romance and passion", along with "how this song just captures that lusty, sort of passionate moment" and its "old-school vibe". According to Baltin, the track "blends the feel of '70s soul and doo wop for a timeless and perfect for Valentine's Day vibe".[2]
On December 11, 2020, Justice released "Treat Myself", her first single in seven years and first song released as an independent artist, to positive reviews. Nearly two months later, on February 2, 2021, Justice wrote on social media she can't wait to release new tracks.[3] In the following days, the singer posted a modified snippet of the new song, after which she announced it would be titled "Stay" and released on February 12, also uploading the single's cover artwork and pre-save link on music platforms.[4][5] A few lines of the song were also shared on her social media before the single's release.[6][7][8]
The lyric video was uploaded on the singer's YouTube channel on the same day as the single's release. According to the single's official credits, Justice co-wrote the song with Louis Schoorl, Mitch Allan, and Scola, with the former two also responsible for production. In an interview with Billboard published on March 5, 2021, Justice revealed she isn't sure if "Treat Myself" and "Stay" will be on her debut studio album or solo extended play, as she needs to get back in the studio first before making any promises.[9]
Music video[]
The video was hinted on February 24 on Victoria Justice's social media.[10] Directed by Al Kalyk, it first premiered on February 26 on MTV's Friday Livestream and was later uploaded on Justice's YouTube account.[11] The behind-the-scenes video was released on March 19.
The video starts with a TV news presenter claiming that, according to experts, Victoria will be alone for the rest of life and meteor showers are expected at night. Justice, who seems to be sad because of loneliness, spends her home alone. At one point, she notices light from outside. Upon leaving the house, she meets a shirtless man (portrayed by Phillip Ponesky) who appears to be an alien. She falls into his arms and appears in bed in the next scene, where she thinks it was just a dream. However, upon entering the kitchen, it turns out this alien really exists. They both cook and have fun there, as well as walk in the forest and in the street, and eat dinner together in the evening. She seems to be in love with him. In one scene, a man gets out of bed leaving her alone there, much to her despair. After remembering many moments together, Justice runs out of the house and notices a light from the sky she's looking at before the end of the video.
Credits[]
Song[]
- Personnel
- Mitch Allan – Producer, writer
- Victoria Justice – Performer, writer
- Louis Schoorl – Producer, writer
- Tia Scola – Writer
- Management
Music video[]
- aaro Entertainment – Behind the scenes
- Dave Adam – Swing
- Spencer Adelstein – Key grip
- Djay Brawner – Executive producer
- Audrey Boi – Production assistant
- Yelaman Buralkiev – Visual effects
- Copelan Cash – Casting director
- Charlie Cole – Director of photography
- Tuff Contender – Production company
- David Espinza – Art director
- Lusine Galadjian – Hair, makeup
- Alan Gonzalez – SFX makeup
- Madison Guest – Styling
- Charlotte Harris – Styling assistant
- Victoria Justice – Performer
- Al Kalyk – Director, visual effects
- Tal Kissos – Gaffer
- Tobias Levene – Producer
- Bethany Michalski – First assistant camera
- Phillip Ponesky – Alien
- Jose Rojas – Production designer
- Max Rose – Executive producer
- Angela Simmons – Key production assistant
- Heather Stewart – Producer
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Oh-oh, yeah
[Verse 1]
Two in the mornin'
A bottle of wine and
I'm drunk and I'm fallin' for you (ha-ha-ha)
Take it or leave it
You know what I'm feelin'
And I know you're feelin' it too (ha-ha-ha-ha)
[Pre-chorus]
I'm all up in my head
On the edge of the bed, oh
I swear, I never do this, but
[Chorus]
Won't you stay, stay, stay, stay, oh
Won't you stay, stay, stay, stay, oh
[Verse 2]
Don't gotta go nowhere
We can stay right here
But tell me you don't wanna leave (ha-ha-ha-ha)
I'm catching you starin'
Well, you know what you're doin'
I love what you're doin' to me (ha-ha-ha-ha)
[Pre-chorus]
I'm all up in my head
On the edge of the bed, oh
I swear, I never do this, but
[Chorus]
Won't you stay, stay, stay, stay, oh (won't you stay)
Won't you stay, stay, stay, stay, oh (won't you stay)
Won't you take me in your arms, oh
Pull me in closer
Ha-ha-ha (ha-ha-ha)
Won't you stay, stay, stay, stay, oh (won't you stay)
[Bridge]
We can stay up 'til the sun rises
All night long, all night long, yeah
This feeling's too good to fight
It can't be wrong, no, it can't be wrong
Two in the mornin', a bottle of wine and
I'm drunk and I'm fallin' for you
Stay
[Chorus]
Stay, stay, stay, stay, oh (won't you stay, oh-oh-oh)
Won't you stay, stay (yeah), stay, stay, oh (won't you stay)
Please just take me in your arms, oh
Pull me in closer
Ha-ha-ha (ha-ha-ha)
Won't you stay, stay, stay, stay, oh (won't you stay)
Ha-ha-ha-ha, stay
Trivia[]
- On the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers website, Victoria Justice is possibly incorrectly listed as the performer of another song also titled "Stay" and written by Louis Schoorl, but the rest of the songwriters are different, and it also lists Jess & Matt and Marcelo as another performers besides Justice.[13] It's unknown why this occurred. In contrast, the Broadcast Music, Inc. website appears to be listing the correct song.[12]
- "Stay" appears on the Tia Scola: The Songwriters playlist on Apple Music.[14]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/1HrITN7Y5P16Gn2Cep9Byy
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2021/02/14/sunday-conversation-exclusive-victoria-justice-on-her-new-songs-music-is-such-a-passion-of-mine-and-part-of-my-soul/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/victoriajustice/posts/pfbid02JzecULE4ZgFPmNpb77dZt8L1AkRUtJaYPUQ5o8EodiPK5JQjT2asZjWLENXXS3wsl
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=412658023177692
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/victoriajustice/posts/pfbid027Qu4GxVS1BqiGAMmkRzZN8GkVk6eTcpRU3osS9mPn4cqbVNzTHsuEte5xxJ3qtgSl
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/victoriajustice/posts/pfbid0JuQf14Y9GsiVtbSsC36ncBEke1rR7iAHdqHBd6znxrygVxgXEgzJsqpSbLdQX2AWl
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159659056935832&set=a.456308430831
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/victoriajustice/posts/pfbid037J1wgy3U5oRKPj74BdbxSMmvBmmqM4YDBwUBW8o1Q9Jy319pX7paHiw6jANRFHoYl
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/victoria-justice-interview-new-music-treat-myself-9535583/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159701030855832&set=a.456308430831
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=177249910594510
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?SearchForm.Main_Search=BMI+Work+ID&SearchForm.Main_Search_Text=49524213
- ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/893709593
- ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/tia-scola-the-songwriters/pl.04aab0863ef4411f88d35889eafd8b57