"I Want You to Know" is an EDM[1] and electropop track[2] written by Zedd, Ryan Tedder, and KDrew.[3] Tedder and Zedd had previously worked together on Clarity album track "Lost at Sea".[4] Tedder called Zedd when he had an idea of a track.[4] Zedd and Gomez first met by accident on 4 December 2014, with Zedd stating: "Our studios are right across the street from each other, and I just went to the bathroom and ran into her at the studio."[5] The following day, Gomez posted a picture online with Zedd although did not confirm they were working together.[6] Describing her featuring, he said: "We recorded her vocal and I loved it, and I never tried anyone else on [the song]."[5] Commenting on the song, Tedder said: "Zedd crushed it."[4]
Musically, according to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "I Want You to Know" is written in the key of A Minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute. It follows a chord progression of Am-Em-F-Cadd9-C.[7]
The song has received generally positive reviews. Nolan Feeney of Time applauded the collaboration between Zedd and Gomez saying they "make beautiful music together". He explained: "Zedd's futuristic synthesizers recall 'Break Free,' his literally-out-of-this-world collaboration with Ariana Grande, but Gomez [...] keeps the track from becoming a lifeless carbon copy."[8] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote that Gomez "finally hit her mark" with the song. "Gomez has never been known as a vocal powerhouse, but she deftly handles patently overdramatic lines [...] with the proper amount of yearning and unflappability. When that first drop does arrive about 80 seconds in, Zedd provides a swiveling party scene with a whiff of Daft Punk's maximalist disco thrown in for good measure."[9] Writing for the same publication, Dan Hyman awarded the song two stars out of a possible five, stating that it "never finds its footing, and never rises above the clichéd EDM formula it follows to a T".[10]
Music Times praised the song: "The duo's real life chemistry is present in "I Want You to Know," with Gomez's voice weaving perfectly through the beat, and it's a wonder why she hasn't ventured much into the world of EDM before."[11] Inquisitr called this song "underwhelming given all the hype."[1] Idolator also wrote a mixed opinion "Zedd borrows his tried-and-true EDM formula that doesn’t bring anything new to the genre, while Gomez’s vocals churn around the rhythms like clothes on auto-spin. It is not the most exciting track, but it will have people bopping at the nightclubs."[12]
Two days after its release, the song debuted at No. 6 on the US Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart and No. 9 on the full US Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[13] On the chart dated 14 March 2015, "I Want You to Know" debuted at number 24 on the US Mainstream Top 40 chart (the highest debut on the chart that week) and at number 22 on the US Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart. On the week of 14 March, the song debuted at its peak position of number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[14] It also peaked at number 14 in UK Singles Chart. As of July 2015, "I Want You To Know" has sold 511,000 copies in the US.[15] It has been certified 2x Platinum in the United States. It has been certified Platinum in Sweden. It has also been certified Gold in Australia, Denmark and Italy.
The music video was released on 10 March 2015 on Vevo. It was directed by Brent Bonacorso[16][17] and edited by Anthony Chirco.[18] Zedd said, "It's gonna be a sexy 70s video with a lot of very interesting effects. Really cool."[19] The video focuses on Gomez going to a party club and dancing while Zedd appears as a hologram. The disco scenes are intercut with scenes where Zedd and Gomez are together illuminated by strobe lights.
