Closer (The Chainsmokers song)

"Closer"
Single by the Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
from the EP Collage and the album Memories...Do Not Open
ReleasedJuly 29, 2016 (2016-07-29)
Recorded2014–2016
Genre
Length4:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Chainsmokers
The Chainsmokers singles chronology
"Inside Out"
(2016) 		"Closer"
(2016) 		"All We Know"
(2016)
Halsey singles chronology
"Hands"
(2016) 		"Closer"
(2016) 		"Not Afraid Anymore"
(2017)
Music video
"Closer" on YouTube

"Closer" is a song by American DJ duo the Chainsmokers featuring American singer Halsey. Halsey duets with Chainsmokers member Andrew Taggart,[4] who had never provided lead vocals on a song before (although he provided background vocals for "Roses"). It was released on July 29, 2016, through Disruptor Records and Columbia Records.[5] The song was written by Taggart, Halsey, Shaun Frank, Freddy Kennett, Isaac Slade and Joe King. Halsey's vocals were produced by DJ Swivel,[6] while the main song production was handled by the Chainsmokers as usual. Musically, it is a future bass and electropop song with a "retro" style synthesizer in the chorus. Taggart and Halsey take turns singing their parts before singing the chorus together as the song concludes.

In the United States, "Closer" became both the Chainsmokers' and Halsey's first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The song stayed at the top spot for 12 consecutive weeks; it was the highest-charting EDM song to crack the Billboard Decade-End in the 2010s according to Billboard. The Chainsmokers became the first act to have four songs ("Closer" being the fourth) that top the Dance/Electronic Songs chart, passing Calvin Harris, who held the previous record with three. Internationally the single topped the charts in seventeen countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, making it both the Chainsmokers' and Halsey's first chart-topping song in all six countries. The song went on to become the first song to spend 26 weeks in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[7] It also became the second song in the history of the Hot 100 chart to spend 32 weeks in the top ten of the chart.[8]

The song was performed live for the first time at the Number Fest Concert at Ohio University on Saturday April 16, 2016.[9][10][11] The Chainsmokers performed “Closer” for the second time at Coachella on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Halsey and the Chainsmokers performed the track live at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards as well as a remix of the song at the 2016 American Music Awards. Its music video was released on October 24, 2016.[12] It received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

In 2018, the song received a diamond certification by the RIAA for selling 10 million units in the United States.[13] In 2023, the Chainsmokers collaborated with Japanese rock star Yoshiki to perform a classical version of "Closer" in the documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky.[14]

  1. ^ David Turner (February 14, 2017). "Future Bass: Get Familiar with EDM's Sound of 2017". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  2. ^ Ryan, Patrick. "Why The Chainsmokers' 'Closer' Is the Biggest Song of 2016". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. ^ Lakshmin, Deepa. "The Highs and Lows of the Chainsmokers' 'Closer'". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Herbert, Geoff (August 29, 2016). "The Chainsmokers singer, SU alum Drew Taggart: We should've picked a better name". Syracuse.com. Syracuse Media Group. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference iTunes Store Worldwide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Closer - the Chainsmokers | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Scilippa, Phil (April 2, 2020). "The Chainsmokers' "Closer" (feat. Halsey) is now 12-Times Platinum". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  8. ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "The Chainsmokers Changed History In Many, Many Ways With 'Closer'". Forbes. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Medved, Matt (January 19, 2016). "The Number Festival Announces 2016 Lineup: Fetty Wap, The Chainsmokers, Big Gigantic & More (Exclusive)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  10. ^ #Fest: 14th Edition Official Aftermovie (2016 - #14Fest), May 4, 2016, archived from the original on June 4, 2023, retrieved June 4, 2023
  11. ^ Closer Debut at Numbers Fest at Ohio University Saturday, April 16 2016, June 3, 2023, archived from the original on June 4, 2023, retrieved June 4, 2023
  12. ^ "The Chainsmokers Officially Dropping 'Collage' EP and "Closer" Music Video". Teen Vogue. October 20, 2016. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  13. ^ "The Chainsmokers & Halsey Celebrate 'Closer' Reaching Diamond Status". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  14. ^ "Exclusive Clip: Take a Look At This Chainsmoker's Performance from Doc 'Yoshiki: Under the Sky'". Awardsdaily. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.