Wikipedia

Do I Wanna Know?

"Do I Wanna Know?" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, with lyrics written by frontman Alex Turner. It was released on 19 June 2013 by Domino Recording Company as the second single from their fifth studio album, AM (2013). It received a digital download release through iTunes as well as an accompanying music video. Before its release as a single, the song was premiered by the band live in May 2013 on the AM Tour, where it was often played as the opening number. It is an indie rock, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, blues rock and alternative rock song, and is built around a stomping guitar riff.

"Do I Wanna Know?"
Single by Arctic Monkeys
from the album AM
B-side"2013"
Released19 June 2013 (2013-06-19)
Studio
Genre
Length4:33
LabelDomino
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Alex Turner
Producer(s)
Arctic Monkeys singles chronology
"R U Mine?"
(2012) 		"Do I Wanna Know?"
(2013) 		"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"
(2013)
Music video
"Do I Wanna Know?" on YouTube

"Do I Wanna Know?" peaked at number 11 in the UK Singles Chart, charted in several other countries and was the first Arctic Monkeys song to have ever entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, peaking at number 70 in March 2014 and also serving as their "big breakthrough moment" in the U.S.. The song was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015. In December 2019, the song was ranked number three on Guitar World's list of the 20 best guitar riffs of the decade. The song has accumulated about 2 billion streams on Spotify and ranks in the 100 most-streamed songs in the streaming platform’s history, and its music video has earned 1.6 billion views on YouTube.

Composition edit

"Do I Wanna Know?" is performed in the key of G minor.[1] Musically, it has been described as an indie rock,[2] psychedelic rock,[3] stoner rock,[4] blues rock[5] and alternative rock song.[6] The song has a similar aesthetic style and lyrical content to their 2012 song "R U Mine?"; it is more downtempo while having similar guitar riffs.[7] PopMatters describes it as "a cleaner, slower-burning 'R U Mine?'", while also finding its "stomping" style to be a "steadier take" on the music found on Humbug (2009).[8] The song also contains the edgier sound found on their previous album Suck It and See (2011).[7] In concert, singer and guitarist Alex Turner uses a Vox 12-string electric guitar.[9]

Structurally, the song follows a common pop music "verse-pre-chorus-chorus" form up until its second chorus; from that point on, it follows what Hit Songs Deconstructed calls "a more unorthodox flow" ending in a "pre-chorus/chorus hybrid section". Falsetto backing vocals are also blended with those of Turner's throughout the song. Moreover, the title encapsulates the entire premise of the story, the narrator wondering whether he wants to remain in doubt or know if his feelings are unrequited or mutual.[10]

Release and reception edit

"Do I Wanna Know" was first played live on 22 May 2013 in Ventura, California at the first concert of the band's AM Tour. Throughout the tour, the song was being played as the opening number. It was then released as AM's second single on 19 June 2013, appearing in digital download formats through iTunes. It was accompanied by a music video released on YouTube.[11][12] The single was released with no promotion, allowing fans to purchase it through iTunes immediately.[13][14] A 7-inch vinyl edition of the single was released on 22 July 2013, with a B-side titled "2013".[15] On AM, "Do I Wanna Know?" appears as the opening track.[16]

Rolling Stone ranked "Do I Wanna Know?" as the tenth best song of 2013, calling it "the highlight of the U.K. crew's soul-rock overhaul album AM."[17] The song was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015,[18] losing to "Lazaretto" by Jack White.[19] In December 2019, the song was ranked number three on Guitar World's list of the 20 best guitar riffs of the decade.[20] NME later ranked the song as the fifth best song of the 2010s decade.[21] Music critic Steven Hyden said of the song "If “Seven Nation Army” is the most famous rock song of the last 20 years, then “Do I Wanna Know” has to be the second most famous."[22]

Commercial performance edit

Despite a midweek on air on sale release, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 11,[23] making it the band's highest-charting single since "Fluorescent Adolescent" in 2007. It was outperformed by the next single "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?", which debuted at number eight. "Do I Wanna Know?" has spent 65 weeks in the UK top 100, this being the longest run of any Arctic Monkeys single, to date.[24] The single was awarded a platinum certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 7 February 2015, indicating shipments in excess of 600,000 units; it is the first Arctic Monkeys single to do so. As of 2024, it is certified quintuple-platinum in the UK.[25]

The song had moderate success worldwide, charting in countries such as Australia, France, Belgium, Ireland and Israel. In January 2014, the song reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart,[26] the group's first number one single in the United States and their first appearance on that chart since "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" peaked at number seven in 2006.[27] On 28 March, the track became the 30th song to have occupied the Billboard Alternative Songs chart top spot for 10 weeks or more. As of the 25 October 2014 issue of Billboard, it logged 58 weeks on the Alternative Songs list, making it the second-longest running song on the chart at the time. It also became the band's first single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 70 in March 2014.[28] On 26 January 2014, the song reached number four on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2013, and, on 14 March 2020, reached number three on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2010s.

In late 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Alternative Songs (which by then had been renamed to Alternative Airplay), Billboard ranked "Do I Wanna Know?" as the 18th-most successful song in the chart's history.[29][30]

Music video edit

The music video for "Do I Wanna Know?", directed by David Wilson with animation agency Blinkink,[31] was first released onto YouTube on 18 June 2013. As of June 2020, it has been viewed over 1 billion times,[32] becoming one of only 12 rock videos to achieve this feat.[33] The video begins with a black background and simple visuals of white sound waves (similar to the AM cover art) that vibrate in synchronisation, first with the percussion and lead guitar, then with the lead singer, Alex Turner. As the band enters with the chorus, coloured sound waves illustrate new voices. Simple sound waves then give way to fast-moving, representational line-drawing animations that morph between a variety of female, race car, race car engine, and road racing images. At one point, the undulating white line becomes the "trucker's Mudflap girl", seen in the single's cover art. The line drawings are interrupted several times with flashes of full-color animation, several that recall the surrealistic style of Robert Crumb. The increasingly complex video creates, by turns, a somewhat jarring and psychedelic experience, in a style not unlike the Gary Gutierrez animations that were featured in The Grateful Dead Movie (1977). The video ends with the familiar white line becoming two crossed checkered flags, which join together in a single line with the "AM" initials.

In popular culture edit

"Do I Wanna Know?" was used in a 2013 Bacardi commercial.[34] In September 2014, the song was used in the pilot episode of ABC's TV series Forever,[35] and the fifth episode of Israeli series Ish Hashuv Meod. An instrumental version of the song is used in the second season finale of the BBC series Peaky Blinders.[36] The song was also present in Ubisoft's 2014 game, The Crew as one of the songs in the in-game radio.

The song has been covered by artists such as MS MR, Sam Smith, Chvrches, Hozier, Dua Lipa, and Christina Grimmie.[37][38][39][40][41]

Track listing edit

All lyrics are written by Alex Turner; all music is composed by Arctic Monkeys

Download single
No.TitleLength
1."Do I Wanna Know?"4:33
7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."Do I Wanna Know?"4:33
2."2013"2:26

Personnel edit

Adapted from the CD single liner notes.[42]

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Sales certifications for "Do I Wanna Know?"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[81] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[82] Gold 20,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[83] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[84] Gold 150,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[85] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[86] 2× Platinum+Gold 150,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[87] 6× Platinum 120,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[88] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] 5× Platinum 3,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[89] 7× Platinum 7,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[90] 3× Platinum 6,000,000†

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Release history for "Do I Wanna Know?"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom 19 June 2013 Digital download Domino [91][92]
22 July 2013 7" vinyl
United States 10 September 2013 Modern rock radio [93]

References edit

  1. ^ "Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys @ Song Key Finder". Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  2. ^ "The Top 100 Indie Love Songs of All Time". Radio X. Global Radio. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ Cameron, Keith (9 September 2013). "Arctic Monkeys – AM". Mojo. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2021. Superficially, Do I Wanna Know? harks back to the spectral psych-rock the Monkeys essayed so successfully on Humbug
  4. ^ Lenser, Barry (9 October 2013). "The Top Ten Arctic Monkeys Songs". PopMatters. Retrieved 9 October 2015. A moody stoner-rock cocktail of midnight lust and slow-burning sonics.
  5. ^ DeVille, Chris (15 September 2014). "Hozier – "Do I Wanna Know?" (Arctic Monkeys Cover)". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved 9 October 2015. but Hozier drains it of its blues-rock swagger and converts it into an emotional folk-pop ballad
  6. ^ Nattress, Katrina (22 November 2019). "30 Alternative Rock Songs That Defined the 2010s". iHeartMedia. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Arctic Monkeys' new single 'Do I Wanna Know' gets (mostly) good reaction". Gigwise. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  8. ^ Lenser, Barry (28 June 2013). "Arctic Monkeys – "Do I Wanna Know?" (video)". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Alex Turner's Vox Starstream XII". Equipboard.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Do I Wanna Know? Deconstructed". Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Arctic Monkeys release new single 'Do I Wanna Know?' – listen". NME. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Arctic Monkeys release new single 'Do I Wanna Know?' – listen". Uncut. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  13. ^ Cragg, Michael (19 June 2013). "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?: New music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  14. ^ Minsker, Evan (19 June 2013). "New Arctic Monkeys: "Do I Wanna Know?"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Do I Wanna Know?". arcticmonkeys.com. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  16. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "AM – Arctic Monkeys". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  17. ^ "100 Best Songs of 2013". Rolling Stone. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  18. ^ Grebey, James (5 December 2014). "Grammys 2015 Nominees: Sam Smith, HAIM, Iggy Azalea, and More". Spin. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Grammys 2015: And the Winners Are ..." Billboard. 8 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  20. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (12 December 2019). "The 20 best guitar riffs of the decade". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  21. ^ "The Best Songs Of The Decade: The 2010s". NME. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  22. ^ "The Best Albums Of 2013, Ranked (10 Years Later)". Uproxx. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  23. ^ "2013 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". Official Charts. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Arctic Monkeys | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. ^ a b "British single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  27. ^ "Arctic Monkeys: Charts and Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  28. ^ a b "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  29. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (7 September 2023). "Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Music Video: The fantastic animated video for the new single by Arctic Monkeys!". It's Nice That. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  32. ^ Skinner, Tom (17 June 2020). "Arctic Monkeys reach one billion YouTube hits for 'Do I Wanna Know?' video". NME. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  33. ^ Schatz, Lake (17 June 2020). "Arctic Monkeys' "Do I Wanna Know?" Video Surpasses One Billion Views on YouTube". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  34. ^ Brownsell, Alex (18 November 2013). "Bacardi celebrates 'untameable' spirit with global marketing campaign". marketingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  35. ^ "Forever (2014) Music – Season 1: "Pilot"". TuneFind. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  36. ^ "Hear the top 7 songs from the Peaky Blinders' series two soundtrack". birminghammail.co.uk. 7 November 2014. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  37. ^ "Dua Lipa Delivers a Chilling Acoustic Performance of Arctic Monkeys' 'Do I Wanna Know?' on BBC Radio 1 Live". Billboard. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  38. ^ "MS MR cover Arctic Monkeys' 'Do I Wanna Know?' – watch". NME. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  39. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (24 October 2013). "Sam Smith – "Do I Wanna Know?" (Arctic Monkeys Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  40. ^ "Chvrches – Do I Wanna Know? (Arctic Monkeys cover)". ABC Online. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  41. ^ Deville, Chris (15 September 2014). "Hozier – "Do I Wanna Know?" (Arctic Monkeys Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  42. ^ "Do I Wanna Know?" (CD liner notes). Arctic Monkeys. UK: Domino. 2013. RUG542CDP.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  44. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  45. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  46. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  47. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  48. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201434 into search. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  49. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  50. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Do I Wanna Know?". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  51. ^ "Media Forest Week 28, 2013". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  52. ^ "Tutti i successi del 2013" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  53. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  54. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  55. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201435 into search. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  56. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  57. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  58. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  59. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  60. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  61. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  62. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  63. ^ "Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  64. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  65. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 15.09.2023–21.09.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  66. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2013". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  67. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  68. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  69. ^ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  70. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  71. ^ "Mainstream Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  72. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  73. ^ "Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 200 Singles 2018" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  74. ^ "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  75. ^ "Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  76. ^ "2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  77. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  78. ^ "Top 100 | OLiS – single w streamie | 2023" (PDF) (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  79. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  80. ^ Copsey, Rob (11 December 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest songs of the decade". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  81. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  82. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2021". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  83. ^ "Danish single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 15 April 2020. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2020 to obtain certification.
  84. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Arctic Monkeys; 'Do I Wanna Know')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  85. ^ "Italian single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  86. ^ "Certificados Musicales Amprofon (in Spanish)". Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  87. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  88. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  89. ^ "American single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  90. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 36/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  91. ^ "Do I Wanna Know?: Arctic Monkeys". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  92. ^ "Do I Wanna Know?". ArcticMonkeys.com. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  93. ^ "Alternative > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Do_I_Wanna_Know%3F&oldid=1209687806"