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Familiar (song)

"Familiar"
Liam Payne and J Balvin standing in front of a graffitied wall
Single by Liam Payne and J Balvin
from the album LP1
Language
  • English
  • Spanish
Released20 April 2018 (2018-04-20)
Genre
Length3:16
LabelCapitol
Songwriters
ProducerSabath
Liam Payne singles chronology
"For You"
(2018)
"Familiar"
(2018)
"First Time"
(2018)
J Balvin singles chronology
"Ambiente"
(2018)
"Familiar"
(2018)
"Positivo"
(2018)
Music video
"Familiar" on YouTube

"Familiar" is a song recorded by the English singer Liam Payne and Colombian singer J Balvin. It was written and produced by Mike Sabath, with additional writing from LunchMoney Lewis, Balvin and Sean Douglas. The song was released on 20 April 2018 and appears as a bonus track on Payne's first solo album LP1.

Release

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On 25 February 2018, the artists announced the song on social media while they were shooting the music video in Miami.[1][2] Payne revealed the song's cover art and release date on 16 April. He also tweeted a video featuring some of the lyrics, writing: "[Balvin,] you're gonna have to teach some of my fans Spanish..."[3][4][5] He unveiled a snippet of the song on 19 April, which features J Balvin ad-libbing.[6]

Composition

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"Familiar" is a Latin, Latin pop and R&B song.[7][8] According to Billboard, the song "combines Latin vibes with a summery, R&B sound".[9] The lyrics are about impressing a love interest in a nightclub.[10]

Critical reception

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Mike Nied of Idolator opined that the song could easily become Payne's "best track yet", writing that "the Latin-tinged crossover hit is sure to storm the charts across the globe and may become his most successful release to date". He also noted Payne's vocal of being "velvety" and "enticing", before praising the song's "internationally appealing production".[10] Shanté Honeycutt of Billboard said, "upon first listen, [the song] induces flashbacks to Justin Timberlake's "Señorita" [...] as does the video," though she also considered Payne and Balvin "made a hit" all on their own.[11] Rianne Houghton of Digital Spy regarded the song as "an excellent attempt at recreating 'Despacito'".[12]

Music video

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The song's music video was released on 4 May 2018, directed by Mark Klasferf. In the video, Liam is seen dancing shirtless and mingling with women.

Live performances

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Payne and J Balvin performed "Familiar" on 15 May 2018 on Good Morning America,[13] and on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on 17 May 2018.[14]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]

  • Liam Payne – vocals
  • J Balvin – vocals, composition
  • LunchMoney – composition
  • Mike Sabath – composition, production, guitar
  • Sean Douglas – composition
  • Randy Merrill – master engineering
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[58] Platinum 40,000
Canada (Music Canada)[59] Platinum 80,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[60] Gold 30,000
Poland (ZPAV)[61] Platinum 50,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[62] Gold 30,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Platinum 600,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 20 April 2018 Digital download Capitol [15]
United States 1 May 2018 Contemporary hit radio Republic [64]
Rhythmic contemporary radio [65]
Italy 4 May 2018 Contemporary hit radio Universal [66]

References

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