More than Friends (Jason Mraz song)

"More than Friends" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz featuring American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from his sixth studio album Know. (2018). It was written by Mraz, Trainor, Jonathan Green and Andrew Wells, and produced by the latter. Atlantic Records released it on October 8, 2018, as the fourth single from the album. A "bubbly" and "quirky" acoustic love song, “More than Friends” is about a pair of friends interested in taking their relationship to the next level, with implications of a summer romance.

"More than Friends"
Single by Jason Mraz featuring Meghan Trainor
from the album Know.
ReleasedOctober 8, 2018 (2018-10-08)
Recorded2018
Length3:01
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
  • Jason Mraz
  • Meghan Trainor
  • Jonathan Green
  • Andrew Wells
Producer(s)Andrew Wells
Jason Mraz singles chronology
"Might as Well Dance"
(2018)		 "More than Friends"
(2018)		 "Look for the Good"
(2020)
Meghan Trainor singles chronology
"Just Got Paid"
(2018)		 "More than Friends"
(2018)		 "Hey DJ"
(2018)
Music video
"More than Friends" on YouTube

Darren Doane directed the music video for "More than Friends". Released on September 17, 2018, the video features a meta concept where a pair of co-workers at a video shoot admit romantic feelings for each other. This is interspersed with scenes of the singers performing the song. It was also supported by a dance video directed by Ryan Hutchins. Commercially, "More than Friends" charted at number 49 on the Beligum Ultratip chart and number 32 on the US Adult Top 40. Mraz and Trainor performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Background and composition

Andrew Wells produced “More than Friends” and co-wrote it with Jason Mraz, Meghan Trainor and Jonathan Green. After Mraz initially finished his album Know., Wells suggested that he have a songwriting session with Trainor. Mraz agreed to this, but was unsure of what would come of it. "More than Friends" was written during this session, and led to him pushing back "a few departments and their deadlines" to accommodate it on the record. With the song, Trainor intended to create her own version of Mraz and Colbie Caillat's song "Lucky" (2009). It was inspired by a conversation Mraz had with his wife, he said "My wife, she has these cute things she does, when I make her a cup of coffee, I’ll be like, 'Is it good?' And she'll say, 'Oh, more than friends.' I thought that was so cute."[1][2]

"More than Friends" is a "bubbly" and "quirky" acoustic love song.[1] It is sung in a back-and-forth style with Mraz opening with "It feels like we've been friends forever and we always see eye-to-eye", and Trainor responds "At the risk of sounding foolish/ I don't wanna fool around no more/ So if we're gonna do this, then let's do this/ You could fix my broken heart if it's all yours." It has a "catchy" chorus and "summery, carefree vibes."[3] The song was described as "breezy" and "ebullient" by some critics.[4][5][6][7] It has lyrics about "wishing you could step out of the friend zone."[8] A writer for iHeartRadio MMVAs said that it "gives off the vibe of a budding summer romance", noting that its lyrics recount "the feelings of a pair of friends who are interested in taking their relationship to the next level."[9][10]

Music video and promotion

A lyric video featuring animation by Maddy Franklin accompanied the song's release.[8] Darren Doane directed the music video for "More than Friends" which was released through Mraz's YouTube channel.[11][12][13] It was released on September 17, 2018, and features a meta concept where a pair of co-workers at the video shoot for the song admit romantic feelings for each other, followed by a celebration of their newfound relationship.[14][11][15]

The video begins with two people working on the set of a music video, as the director and the stylist respectively, glancing at each other occasionally.[16] They deal with their emotions before admitting their feelings to each other. Trainor and Mraz perform the song while getting ready for the shoot.[17] The video concludes with a dance sequence that celebrates the former couple's new union.[18] On November 1, 2018, an official dance video, directed by Ryan Hutchins, and starring Nicola Collie and Derek Schiesel, was released.[19]

Mraz and Trainor performed "More than Friends" at The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 18, 2018.[20][21][22]

Commercial performance

"More than Friends" charted at number 49 on the Beligum Ultratip chart and number 32 on the US Adult Top 40.[23][24]

Credits and personnel

Credits are referenced from the album's liner notes:[25]

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[23] 49
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[24] 32

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States October 8, 2018 Hot adult contemporary Atlantic [26]

References
  1. Weatherby, Taylor (July 27, 2018). "Jason Mraz & Meghan Trainor on How They Channeled 'Lucky' For Their New Duet 'More Than Friends'". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  2. Fontaine, Jimmy (July 30, 2018). "Meghan Trainor says new Jason Mraz duet 'More Than Friends,' is a 'sister' song to 'Lucky'". ABC News Radio. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  3. Rincón, Alessandra (July 27, 2018). "Jason Mraz Teams With Meghan Trainor For Romantic Duet 'More Than Friends'". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  4. Whitmore, Laura B. (July 27, 2018). "Jason Mraz and Meghan Trainor Team Up for 'More Than Friends'". Parade. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  5. Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (July 2018). "Jason Mraz – Know. album review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  6. "Jason Mraz And Meghan Trainor Are 'More Than Friends' In New Duet". Clizbeats. July 27, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  7. "Jason Mraz: Know — feel-good songs with a gentle beach feel". Financial Times. August 11, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  8. "Jason Mraz, Meghan Trainor Share 'More Than Friends'". iHeartRadio. July 30, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  9. James, Brianne (July 30, 2018). "Jason Mraz And Meghan Trainor Drop New Love Ballad 'More Than Friends'". iHeartRadio MMVAs. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  10. Nelson, Jeff (July 26, 2018). "Jason Mraz and Meghan Trainor Drop Romantic New Duet 'More Than Friends'". People. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  11. Hooper, Ben (September 17, 2018). "Jason Mraz drops new music video with Meghan Trainor". United Press International. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  12. Ukiwe, Urenna (September 19, 2018). "Watch Jason Mraz – More Than Friends Featuring Meghan Trainor". The Guardian. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  13. "Video: Jason Mraz and Meghan Trainor Debut Official Video for 'More Than Friends'". BroadwayWorld. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  14. Close, Paris (September 18, 2018). "Love Blooms In Jason Mraz & Meghan Trainor's 'More Than Friends'". iHeartRadio. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  15. Nied, Mike (September 17, 2018). "Sparks Fly In Meghan Trainor & Jason Mraz's 'More Than Friends' Video". Idolator. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  16. Diehl, Bob (September 17, 2018). "New Video for Jason Mraz - Meghan Trainor Duet". Radio.com. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  17. Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (September 2018). "Jason Mraz and Meghan Trainor unveil More Than Friends video". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  18. Rincón, Alessandra (September 17, 2018). "Jason Mraz Debuts Uplifting 'More Than Friends' Video Featuring Meghan Trainor". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  19. "Jason Mraz - More Than Friends (feat. Meghan Trainor) [Official Dance Video]". YouTube. Jason Mraz. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  20. Davis, Chris (September 18, 2018). "Jason Mraz & Meghan Trainor 'More Than Friends' Live on Ellen". iHeartRadio. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  21. Davis, Chris (September 17, 2018). "Jason Mraz ft. Meghan Trainor - 'More Than Friends' [Official Video]". iHeartRadio. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  22. Frometa, RJ (September 17, 2018). "Jason Mraz and Meghan Trainor Debut 'More Than Friends' Official Video". Vents. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  23. "Ultratop.be – Jason Mraz feat. Meghan Trainor – More than Friends" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  24. "Jason Mraz Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  25. Know. (Media notes). Jason Mraz. Atlantic Records. 2018.CS1 maint: others (link)
  26. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
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