Deja Vu (Post Malone song)

"Deja Vu" is a song by American rapper and singer Post Malone featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released through Republic Records as the fourth single from the former's debut studio album Stoney on September 9, 2016. The first collaboration between the two artists, they wrote the song alongside Matthew Tavares, Kaan Güneşberk, FKi 1st, Louis Bell, Carl Rosen, Julkeyz, & producers Frank Dukes and Vinylz.

"Deja Vu"
Single by Post Malone featuring Justin Bieber
from the album Stoney
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2016
Genre
Length3:50
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Post Malone singles chronology
"Go Flex"
(2016)
"Deja Vu"
(2016)
"Fade"
(2016)
Justin Bieber singles chronology
"Let Me Love You"
(2016)
"Deja Vu"
(2016)
"Despacito (Remix)"
(2017)

Background edit

Before collaborating, Malone opened for Bieber on the Purpose World Tour, to support Bieber's fourth studio album, Purpose (2015), which led to the two artists developing a friendship.[1] Malone was halfway through recording Stoney producer Frank Dukes played him an unfinished instrumental that he had come up with. In January 2016, Bieber visited Malone in the studio, in which he heard the beat and wanted to get on the song. Bieber immediately took to the beat and ended up recording his vocals, what would become the finished version of "Deja Vu" in the booth, with him and Malone going back and forth with ideas. After Bieber finished, Malone put the song together with the help of Bell and the others who were involved. Bell referred to the session as a high-pressure situation that "kept [him] on [his] toes" while he engineered and recorded the track.[2][3] "Deja Vu" leaked online a day before its official release.[4]

Composition and lyrics edit

"Deja Vu" is a laid-back pop song with a deep R&B groove involving "wistful, detuned guitar riffs".[5][6][7][8] It opens with a church organ that backs the track.[1][9] Several critics made comparisons to Drake's "Hotline Bling" in regards to the song's sound. In particular, The Fader's David Renshaw said it "has an almost 'Hotline Bling'-esque tempo", while Madeline Roth of MTV News, Danny Schwartz of HotNewHipHop, and Billboard's Colin Stutz noted similarities between the two with the song's start.[5][7][8][10] In a different comparison, Dana Getz of Entertainment Weekly wrote that it "features a slow fizz, cha-cha inflected beat akin to a drowsier take on Drake's 'One Dance'".[11]

"Deja Vu" is about an on-and-off-again love where "Malone helms sluggish, lovesick verses".[9][11] An echoed coo accompanies Malone and Bieber as they sing the hook, with the latter repeating before delivering his verse: "Tell me is that deja vu? / 'Cause you want me and I want you."[1][7][12]

Credits and personnel edit

Charts edit

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 43
France (SNEP)[14] 151
Netherlands (Single Tip)[15] 30
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[16] 1
Scotland (OCC)[17] 44
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 63
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 75
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 25
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[22] 29

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] 2× Platinum 140,000
Canada (Music Canada)[24] 2× Platinum 160,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[25] Gold 45,000
Portugal (AFP)[26] Gold 5,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[28] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States September 9, 2016 Republic [29]
September 20, 2016 Rhythmic contemporary radio [30]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Saponara, Michael (October 25, 2017). "Post Malone 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ LeDonne, Rob (October 20, 2017). "Louis Bell on Co-Producing Post Malone's No. 1 Hit 'rockstar': 'We Weren't Thinking of the Hot 100 At All'". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Kawashima, Dale (February 26, 2018). "Louis Bell Co-Writes Big Hits for Post Malone ("Rockstar," "Congratulations," "Psycho"), Camila Cabello ("Havana") And Other Artists". Songwriter Universe. Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Briones, Isis (September 8, 2016). "Justin Bieber and Post Malone's 'Deja Vu' Has Leaked". Teen Vogue. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Renshaw, David (September 9, 2016). "Post Malone And Justin Bieber Connect On 'Deja Vu'". The Fader. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ^ Diep, Eric (December 18, 2016). "Review: Post Malone Does Hip Hop His Way On 'Stoney'". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Roth, Madeline (September 8, 2016). "Justin Bieber And Post Malone's 'Deja Vu' Is The New 'Hotline Bling'". MTV News. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Schwartz, Danny (September 8, 2016). "Post Malone - Deja Vu Feat. Justin Bieber". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Rincón, Alessandra (August 23, 2018). "Every Justin Bieber Feature Since 'Purpose'". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  10. ^ Stutz, Colin (September 8, 2016). "Post Malone & Justin Bieber Team Up for 'Deja Vu': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Getz, Dana (September 9, 2016). "Justin Bieber, Post Malone: Deja Vu released". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Schnipper, Matthew (September 9, 2016). "'Deja Vu' by Post Malone / Justin Bieber Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "Post Malone Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  14. ^ "Post Malone feat. Justin Bieber – Deja Vu" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  15. ^ "Dutch Single Tip" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. September 17, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  16. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 37, 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  20. ^ "Post Malone Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  21. ^ "Post Malone Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  22. ^ "Post Malone Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  24. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Post Malone – Deja Vu". Music Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  25. ^ "Danish single certifications – Post Malone feat. Justin Bieber – Deja Vu". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  26. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Post Malone feat. Justin Bieber – Deja Vu" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Post Malone ft Justin Bieber – Deja Vu". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  28. ^ "American single certifications – Post Malone – Deja Vu". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  29. ^ "Deja Vu (feat. Justin Bieber) – Single by Post Malone". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  30. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2021.

External links edit