Levels (Nick Jonas song)

"Levels" is a song by American singer Nick Jonas. It was released on August 21, 2015, by Island, Safehouse and Republic Records. The song was written and produced by Ian Kirkpatrick and The Monsters and the Strangerz, with additional songwriting provided by Sam Martin, Sean Douglas, Talay Riley and Like Mike. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Colin Tilley and was released on August 30, 2015. The song is the first and only single from Nick Jonas X2, the reissue of Nick Jonas. The song was listed by SPIN Magazine as the 11th best song of 2015.[2] The dance remixes of "Levels" reached number one on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart in its December 12, 2015 issue.[3]

"Levels"
Single by Nick Jonas
from the album Nick Jonas X2
ReleasedAugust 21, 2015 (2015-08-21)
Recorded2015
Genre
Length2:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Nick Jonas singles chronology
"Good Thing"
(2015)		 "Levels"
(2015)		 "Close"
(2016)

Background

On August 13, 2015, it was revealed that his new single would be called "Levels" and would be released on August 21, 2015. The announcement was made with a 15-second video preview showing him waking up and getting ready for the day in a James Bond fashion.[4] On August 14, Nick said in an interview for MTV, “I’ve been hard at work on the new music trying to push myself lyrically to say some deeper things,” he said. “And I’ve gone through a lot in this past year and a half and I want to talk about it and just push myself as an artist and continue to grow.” On August 15, Jonas revealed part of the song's lyrics on his personal Twitter account. He tweeted "I know we can get higher... There's levels to your love. Yeah there's levels to your love." On August 17, 2015, Nick released the cover of the song.[5]

Reception

SPIN Magazine listed "Levels" as the 11th best song of 2015. '“Levels” clocks in at under three minutes, but were Nick Jonas expands it to three hours of immaculately stacked madness, we'd still play it on a loop. “Levels” offered a beat flexible and exuberant enough to challenge him to rise to the upper-floor'.[2] Billboard praised the song, calling it 'really, really good'.[6] MTV's Emilee Lindner wrote about the song: "Levels' fuses funk with a club beat, layering the former Jonas Brother’s vocals with his spiraling falsetto ad-libs. It’s a quick, under-three-minute tune, but it’s enough to inject you with a little party if you need it."[7]

Music video

On August 19, 2015, Jonas released a behind-the-scenes picture on his Instagram account of the video shoot.[8] The music video was released on August 30, 2015.[7] On August 25, three snippets of the music video were released online showing that the video takes place in an industrial warehouse with Nick surrounded by dancers, cars and cameras.[9] On August 29, the behind the scenes video was released online where it was revealed that the video was directed by Colin Tilley.[10] The video depicts Jonas and multiple women dancing in an abandoned warehouse. In a couple scenes, Nick is shown going up an elevator, in reference towards a lyric in the beginning of the song.

Live performance

On August 28, Jonas performed the song live on stage during a concert for Time Warner Cable and national HIV/AIDS organization Lifebeat.[11][12] Jonas also performed the song live on television for the first time at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet pre-show.[4] Levels is a part of the setlist of the Nick Jonas Live in Concert tour.[13] On September 8 he performed the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers.[14] On September 19 during the iHeartRadio Music Festival Nick performed several songs including "Levels" during the day and evening .[15][16] He performed the song during We Day Toronto on October 1.[17] On October 20, he performed the song at Tidal X 1020.[18] Two days later on October 22, 2015, Nick performed Levels on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[19] On October 24, he performed Levels among other songs at We Can Survive 2015[20] and at the 2015 Maxim Halloween Party.[21] On November 8, Jonas performed the song live on BBC 1 Teen Awards.[22] The song is part of the setlist of the Future Now Tour.[23]

Cover version

Canadian singer Alessia Cara performed a soulful acoustic cover of the song live on Sirius XM on Tuesday October 13, 2015.[24][25] Fleur East covered the song for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[26]

Track listing

Charts
Chart (2015–2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[32] 79
Belgium (Ultratip 50 Wallonia)[33] 25
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[34] 23
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[35] 15
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[35] 50
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 16
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[37] 23
South Africa (EMA)[38] 6
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[40] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 44
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[42] 19
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[43] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 14
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[45] 30

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[46] Gold 40,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Gold 7,500*
United States (RIAA)[48] Gold 500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
List of release dates, showing region, formats, label and reference
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Worldwide August 21, 2015 Digital download Island [49][50][51]
United States August 25, 2015 Contemporary hit radio
[52]

See also

References
  1. "New Music: Nick Jonas – 'Levels'". Rap-Up. August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  2. "The 101 Best Songs of 2015 - SPIN - Page 5". 30 November 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. "Nick Jonas - Chart history - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  4. "Nick Jonas Is Going To All New 'Levels' On The VMA Pre-Show". MTV.com. August 13, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  5. "Nick Jonas Unveils The Cover Of New Single "Levels"". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 18 August 2015.
  6. "Listen to Nick Jonas' Funky New Single, 'Levels'". Billboard. 21 August 2015.
  7. Lindeer, Emilee (August 21, 2015). "Nick Jonas' New Song 'Levels' Is A Bouncy Banger: Listen". MTV. United States: Viacom International. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  8. "Nick Jonas Teases "Levels" Music Video With Behind-The-Scenes Photo". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 19 August 2015.
  9. "Nick Jonas Is Sexier Than Ever In These 'Levels' Music Video Teasers". MTV News.
  10. "Nick Jonas Takes Us Behind The Scenes Of His 'Levels' Video: Watch". MTV News.
  11. "Nick Jonas Performs "Levels" Live For The First Time: Watch". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 29 August 2015.
  12. "Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas Kick Off VMAs Weekend at Hollywood's Avalon: Live Review". Billboard. 29 August 2015.
  13. Staff, T. E. R. (15 September 2015). "Photos: Nick Jonas and Bebe Rexha Perform at the House of Blues in Chicago". The Early Registration. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  14. "Watch Nick Jonas Sing and Dance to 'Levels' on 'Seth Meyers'". Ryan Seacrest. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  15. "The Weeknd, J. Lo, Prince Royce, Trey Songz, Nick Jonas, Diplo Highlight Night 2 Of iHeartRadio Music Festival". All Access. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  16. "Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Shawn Mendes Shut Down iHeartRadio's Daytime Village". Ryan Seacrest. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  17. "ANDPOP | 5 Highlights From WE Day Toronto 2015". Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  18. "TIDAL X 1020 Live Review: Beyonce, Jay Z, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj Take Over Brooklyn". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  19. "Ellen DeGeneres Is Nick Jonas's Landlord". 22 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  20. "We Can Survive Review!". 25 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  21. "Nick Jonas Takes Halloween to the Next 'Level' With Hamburglar Costume". Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  22. "Nick Jonas Heads to London for Radio 1 Teen Awards news".
  24. "We Weren't Ready For Alessia Cara's Out Of This World Cover Of Nick Jonas's "Levels"". VH1 News. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  25. "Watch Alessia Cara Cover Nick Jonas' "Levels" | Idolator". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  26. "Fleur East Conquers Nick Jonas' 'Levels' for BBC's Live Lounge - SPIN". 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  27. "Levels - Single". iTunes. August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  28. "Levels (Jump Smokers Remix) - Single by Nick Jonas on iTunes". iTunes. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  29. "Levels (Alex Ghenea Remix) - Single by Nick Jonas on iTunes". iTunes. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  30. "Levels (Steven Redant Remix) - Single by Nick Jonas on iTunes". iTunes. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  31. "Levels - EP by Nick Jonas on iTunes". iTunes. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  32. Ryan, Gavin (August 29, 2015). "ARIA Singles: Calvin Harris 'How Deep Is Your Love' Is No 1". Noise11. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  33. "Nick Jonas". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  34. "Nick Jonas Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  36. "Nick Jonas – Levels". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  37. "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 - Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  38. "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2015-11-03". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  39. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 37, 2015" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  40. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  41. "Nick Jonas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  42. "Nick Jonas Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  43. "Nick Jonas Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  44. "Nick Jonas Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  45. "Nick Jonas Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  46. "Canadian single certifications – Nick Jonas – Levels". Music Canada.
  47. "New Zealand single certifications – Nick Jonas – Levels". Recorded Music NZ.
  48. "American single certifications – Nick Jonas – Levels". Recording Industry Association of America.
  49. "Levels - Single by Nick Jonas on iTunes". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  50. "'Levels - Single' van Nick Jonas in iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  51. "Levels - Single". iTunes.
  52. "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..." All Access.
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