Us (James Bay song)

"Us"
"Us"
	Duet single cover
Single by James Bay
from the album Electric Light
Released	30 March 2018
Genre	Pop rock; Indie rock;
Length	3:01
Label	Republic
Songwriter(s)	James Bay; Jonathan Green;
Producer(s)	James Bay; Paul Epworth; Jon Green;
James Bay singles chronology
Alicia Keys singles chronology

"Us" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter James Bay, from his second studio album, Electric Light (2018). The song was released by Republic Records on 30 March 2018 as the third single off the album.

Background and release[]

Bay told Entertainment Weekly: "I've been lucky enough to meet people all over the world and witness the phenomenal strength of crowds. I wrote this song to explore unity and inclusion. Looking through the lens of my own personal relationships, this song turned out to be a particularly important moment on the album for me."^[2]

The song was re-released as a duet with Alicia Keys on 22 May 2018.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

Music video[]

The official music video to accompany the release of "Us" was directed by Bryan Schlam and first released on YouTube on 18 April 2018, through James Bay's official YouTube account.^[7]

Throughout the clip, Bay plays piano in an empty room. The visuals cycle through intimate shots of ordinary life: one person stares into a bathroom mirror, another reclines in the grass next to sprinklers, eats at a diner, daydreams in church. The video ends with the diverse cast united for the camera, emphasizing the title "Us" with the words "me", "you", "them", "him" and "her" crossed out.^[8]

Reception[]

Ruth Kiane from Entertainment Weekly said: "The guitar-led track is more mellow than up-tempo second single "Pink Lemonade" and electro-inspired album lead "Wild Love" its smooth lyrics and sultry notes fit well into the singer's oeuvre. "I believe in something, I believe in us," sings Bay, which is reminiscent of his work on his debut Chaos and the Calm.^[2]

Live performances[]

The Voice (American season 14)^[4]^[5]

Track listing[]

Digital download
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Us" (album version)	3:01

Digital download – acoustic version^[9]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Us" (acoustic)	3:01

Digital download – duet version^[10]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Us" (with Alicia Keys)	3:07

Charts[]

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[11] Duet version	4

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Portugal (AFP)^[12]	Gold	5,000
United Kingdom (BPI)^[13]	Silver	200,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Country	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	30 March 2018	Digital download streaming	Original	Republic	^[2]
Various	27 April 2018	Digital download streaming	Acoustic	Republic	^[9]
Various	22 May 2018	Digital download streaming	Duet	Republic	^[10]

References[]

^ "James Bay - Us Lyrics". Genius.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Kinane, Ruth (29 March 2018). "James Bay performs acoustic version of 'Us' before its release". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
^ "Us – Single by James Bay & Alicia Keys on iTunes". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 17 June 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b https://meaww.com/alicia-keys-james-bay-the-voice-finale-surprise-performance
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Reed, Ryan (May 23, 2018). "'The Voice': See Alicia Keys Surprise James Bay With 'Us' Duet During Finale". Rolling Stone.
^ Enos, Morgan (May 23, 2018). "James Bay and Alicia Keys Release 'Us' After Teaming Up For 'Voice' Performance: Listen". Billboard.
^ "James Bay - Us". 18 April 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018 – via YouTube.
^ "James Bay Reflects on Power of Personal Connection in New 'Us' Video". Rolling Stone. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "James Bay Us (acoustic)". iTunes Store (Aus). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "James Bay & Alicia Key Us". iTunes Store (Aus). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
^ "Ultratop.be – James Bay – Us" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
^ "Portuguese single certifications – James Bay – Us" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
^ "British single certifications – James Bay – Us". British Phonographic Industry.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Us in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[1] "James Bay - Us Lyrics". Genius.

[entertainment-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Kinane, Ruth (29 March 2018). "James Bay performs acoustic version of 'Us' before its release". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

[3] "Us – Single by James Bay & Alicia Keys on iTunes". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 17 June 2018.

[meaww-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b https://meaww.com/alicia-keys-james-bay-the-voice-finale-surprise-performance

[Rolling_Stone-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b Reed, Ryan (May 23, 2018). "'The Voice': See Alicia Keys Surprise James Bay With 'Us' Duet During Finale". Rolling Stone.

[6] Enos, Morgan (May 23, 2018). "James Bay and Alicia Keys Release 'Us' After Teaming Up For 'Voice' Performance: Listen". Billboard.

[7] "James Bay - Us". 18 April 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018 – via YouTube.

[8] "James Bay Reflects on Power of Personal Connection in New 'Us' Video". Rolling Stone. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.

[iTunes_acoustic-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b "James Bay Us (acoustic)". iTunes Store (Aus). Retrieved 5 July 2018.

[iTunes_duet-10] Jump up to: ^a ^b "James Bay & Alicia Key Us". iTunes Store (Aus). Retrieved 5 July 2018.

[sc_Belgium_(Wallonia)_James_Bay-11] "Ultratop.be – James Bay – Us" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

[PortugalJames_BayUssingleCertRef-12] "Portuguese single certifications – James Bay – Us" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 21, 2020.

[United_KingdomJames_BayUssingleCertRef-13] "British single certifications – James Bay – Us". British Phonographic Industry.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Us in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

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show v t Alicia Keys songs
Discography
Songs in A Minor	"Girlfriend" "How Come You Don't Call Me" "Fallin'" "A Woman's Worth"
The Diary of Alicia Keys	"Karma" "If I Was Your Woman / Walk on By " "You Don't Know My Name" "If I Ain't Got You" "Diary"
Unplugged	"Unbreakable" "Every Little Bit Hurts" "Wild Horses" "Love It or Leave It Alone / Welcome to Jamrock"
As I Am	"Superwoman" "No One" "Like You'll Never See Me Again" "Teenage Love Affair"
The Element of Freedom	"Doesn't Mean Anything" "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" "Wait Til You See My Smile" "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" "Put It in a Love Song" "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" "We're Almost There"
Girl on Fire	"Brand New Me" "New Day" "Girl on Fire" "Fire We Make" "Tears Always Win" "Not Even the King"
Here	"Blended Family (What You Do for Love)" "In Common"
Alicia	"Show Me Love" "Time Machine" "Underdog" "So Done" "Perfect Way to Die" "Good Job"
As featured artist	"Brotha Part II" "Calma" "Empire State of Mind" "Fireworks" "Gangsta Lovin'" "Ghetto Story Chapter 2" "I Will Pray (Pregherò)" "International Party" "Looking for Paradise" "New Day" "What's Going On"
Other songs	"28 Thousand Days" "America The Beautiful" "Another Way to Die" "Back to Life" "Die Without You" "Don't Give Up (Africa)" "If This World Were Mine" "It's On Again" "Little Drummer Girl" "My Boo" "People Get Ready" "Raise a Man" "Rapture" "Someday We'll All Be Free" "Speechless" "The Christmas Song" "Us" "Wake Me Up" "We Are Here" "We Gotta Pray"
Category

show v t James Bay
Discography
Studio albums	Chaos and the Calm Electric Light
Singles	"Let It Go" "Hold Back the River" "Scars" "If You Ever Want to Be in Love" "Best Fake Smile" "Running" "Wild Love" "Pink Lemonade" "Us" "Peer Pressure" "Bad"