"Love Myself" is the debut single by American actress and singer

Hailee Steinfeld Hailee Steinfeld (born December 11, 1996) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Hailee Steinfeld, various accolades, including a Peabody Award, and nominations for an Academy Award ...

. It was released on August 7, 2015, through

Republic Records Republic Records is a New York City–based American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). It was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an ...

and

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

, as the lead single from her debut

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

(EP), '' Haiz'' (2015). The song was written by Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson,

Oscar Holter Oscar Thomas Holter (born 26 February 1986) is a Swedish record producer and songwriter based in the United States. He is best known for his work with record producer and fellow Swede Max Martin and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd on the ...

Julia Michaels Julia is usually a feminine given name. It is a Latinate feminine form of the name Julio and Julius. (For further details on etymology, see the Wiktionary entry "Julius".) The given name ''Julia'' had been in use throughout Late Antiquity (e.g ...

, and

Justin Tranter Justin Drew Tranter (born June 16, 1980) is an American songwriter, singer, and activist. Frequently co-writing with Julia Michaels, Tranter has written songs for artists such as Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Linkin Park, Kelly Clarkson, Selena ...

, with the production being handled by Holter, with Larsson and Fredriksson under their stage name Mattman & Robin. Lyrically the song centres around self-confidence and has been referred to as an "ode to

masturbation Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinatio ...

" in the media. The song received positive reviews from contemporary music critics who praised Steinfeld's voice and style, comparing positively to

Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her vivid songwriting—often inspired by her personal life—has received critical praise and wide media coverage. Bor ...

and

Selena Gomez Selena Marie Gomez ( ; born July 22, 1992) is an American singer, actress and producer. Gomez began her acting career on the children's television series ''Barney & Friends'' (2002–2004). As a teenager, she rose to prominence for starring a ...

. The song also found commercial success, peaking at number 30 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number six on the US

Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...

chart and number 15 on the ''Billboard''

Pop Songs Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/ CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played on a panel of Top 40 radio stations in the Un ...

chart.

Background and release

Steinfeld gained recognition as a singer after performing "

Flashlight A flashlight ( US, Canada) or torch ( UK, Australia) is a portable hand-held electric lamp. Formerly, the light source typically was a miniature incandescent light bulb, but these have been displaced by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) since the ...

" in ''

Pitch Perfect 2 ''Pitch Perfect 2'' is a 2015 American musical comedy film directed and produced by Elizabeth Banks (in her feature directorial debut) and written by Kay Cannon. It is a sequel to the 2012 film ''Pitch Perfect'' and the second installment in the ...

'' (2015) which she also starred in. She signed with

beginning of 2016. Steinfeld's debut single was released on August 7, 2015. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' noted that,

The 18-year-old, who showed the world her chops as the standout newcomer in ''Pitch Perfect 2'', brings all the self-confidence a girl could need to the empowering anthem.

Music and lyrics

The song was described as a "sugary, feel-good pop jam". The lyrics to the song include "I'm gonna put my body first/And love me so hard 'til it hurts" and "I'm gonna touch the pain away/I know how to scream my own name"; the music video, released one week later, features Steinfeld wearing a leotard emblazoned with "self service". This prompted many fans and media outlets to dub the song an "ode to

". According to musicnotes.com, the song is written in

G minor G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative major is B-flat major and its parallel major is G major. According to Paolo Pietropaolo, it is the cont ...

, with a chord sequence of Cm-Gm-B-Cm-Eb and has a tempo of 120 beats per minute in common time.

Themes and analysis

Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...

'' writer Dee Lockett noted that Steinfeld "made her ode to masturbation just subliminal enough to fly over a less-involved parent's head, and its sugary

TeenNick TeenNick is an American Pay television, pay-TV channel that is operated by the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Aimed primarily at teens and tweens, its programming includes a variety of live-action series inherited from si ...

-appropriate production probably will not raise any suspicions either". She also pointed out a feminist lens of the song saying that if "Love Myself" means the music industry "might finally let young female pop-stars stop pretending that men are the only way they can get off, then Hailee Steinfeld might've just thrown her name into the conversation about pop's new feminist generation". Steinfeld herself has stated that the meaning of the song is intended to be interpreted by the listener, "but for me it's an empowerment record and it’s ultimately about taking care of yourself and indulging yourself, whether that be emotionally or physically or with material things." Steinfeld noted in an interview with

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

that "there is that sense of fearlessness, which I think kind of came from that word exactly: just being fearless and being able to kind of put myself out there".

Critical reception

Upon release, the track received positive reviews. ''

The Young Folks "The Young Folks" is a song by Diana Ross and the Supremes, released as the B-side to "No Matter What Sign You Are" in 1969. Written by Allen Story and George Gordy, "The Young Folks" was included on the album ''Cream of the Crop'' (1969). In ad ...

'' writer Brooke Pawling Stennet wrote that she "shows great potential through her debut track" calling it a "solid debut for a young Steinfeld now eighteen years old and ready to make a name for herself". She did feel that the 2015-2016 trend for being "body positive" is not captivated in the song but noted that it is still a "fun song that lies in the same vein as the new style that artists like

, and

One Direction One Direction, often shortened to 1D, are an English-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010. The group are composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously Zayn Malik until his departure from the gr ...

are all pushing towards as they break free of their own invisible chains of adolescent and innocent teeny bop status". ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' also praised the track saying that it "leaves any listener feeling empowered and happy with themselves". They also called the song "pop bliss" praising Hailee's unique voice and comparing it to

Tove Lo Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson (born 29 October 1987), known professionally as Tove Lo (), is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She has been called "Sweden's darkest pop export" by ''Rolling Stone.'' She is known for her raw, grunge-influenced take o ...

and

Ariana Grande Ariana Grande-Butera ( ; born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four-octave vocal range has received critical acclaim, and her personal life has been the subject of widespread media attention. She has received ...

. They went on to sat that "if this is what teinfeldhas to offer on her debut, then she is an artist to look out for". ''

'' writer Dee Lockett also praise the song noting "a glaze to Steinfeld’s vocal style on the track that's unmistakably

Swift Swift or SWIFT most commonly refers to: * SWIFT, an international organization facilitating transactions between banks ** SWIFT code * Swift (programming language) * Swift (bird), a family of birds It may also refer to: Organizations * SWIFT, ...

-influenced. She also compared the song's "down to the shout-sung 'I love me!' hook" to

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Known for his Progressive rap, progressive musical styles and Social consciousness, socially conscious songwriting, he is often considered one of the most infl ...

. She also compared the song to Selena Gomez's " Good for You" noting that Steinfeld also "celebrates a sexual awakening". ''

'' writer Madeline Roth called Steinfeld a "fearless pop star" noting that she "came roaring out the gate with a self-empowerment anthem" which sets "her apart from the pack of pop stars who came before her". She also compared "Love Myself" to the debut singles of

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...

Mandy Moore Amanda Leigh Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to fame with her debut single, "Candy", which peaked at number 41 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Her debut studio album, '' So Real'' (1999), recei ...

Jessica Simpson Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American singer, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, '' Swe ...

, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift (" ...Baby One More Time, "

Genie In a Bottle "Genie in a Bottle" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her self-titled debut studio album (1999). It was written by Pam Sheyne, Steve Kipner and David Frank, and produced by Kipner and Frank. The song was released on May 11, 1 ...

", "

Candy Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language an ...

", "

I Wanna Love You Forever "I Wanna Love You Forever" is the debut single of American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The song was released on August 30, 1999, by Columbia Records as the lead single from Simpson's debut studio album, '' Sweet Kisses'' (1999). Written and ...

", " Come & Get It" and "

Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...

" respectively). Roth added that the song is "a strong statement for a 19-year-old to make, and in a way, it's one that only someone as young and optimistic as her could make".

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 30 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number six on the US

chart and number 15 on the ''Billboard''

chart. On the latter, the song debuted at number 27, marking the highest debut for a solo female artist on the chart in 17 years, since

Natalie Imbruglia Natalie Jane Imbruglia ( , ; born 4 February 1975) is an Australian singer and actress. In the early 1990s, she played Beth Brennan in the Australian soap opera '' Neighbours''. Three years after leaving the programme, she began a singing car ...

's single " Torn" entered at number 26 in 1998.

Usage in media

The song has been featured in multiple soundtracks, films and television shows. In 2015, the song was included on the ''

Jem and the Holograms ''Jem'', also known as ''Jem and the Holograms'', is an American animated musical television series that ran from 1985 to 1988. The series is about record company owner Jerrica Benton, her singer alter-ego Jem, and the adventures of Jem and her ...

'' soundtrack. The song was also featured in '' Blockers'' (2018). In a review for the film, ''

Insider ''Insider'', previously named ''Business Insider'' (''BI''), is an American financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Insider''s parent company Insider Inc. has been owned by the German publ ...

'' writer Kim Renfro commented that "the anthem carried throughout the movie" and that the song "drives the message home". The song has also been played in '' Love Island'', '' DC's Stargirl'', ''

How to Be Single ''How to Be Single'' is a 2016 American romantic comedy film directed by Christian Ditter and written by Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein and Dana Fox, based on the novel of the same name by Liz Tuccillo. It stars Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Damon Way ...

'' and at

World of Dance World of Dance is a Southern California-based dance, fashion, music, and entertainment brand founded by David Gonzalez, Myron Marten, and Michael McGinn in 2008. It is the world's largest dance entertainment enterprise, elevating artists and bra ...

events.

Music video

The accompanying music video, directed by

Hannah Lux Davis Hannah Lux Davis (born May 17, 1986) is an American music video, commercial and film director. She's known for her work especially with female artists, such as Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Christ ...

, was released on August 14, 2015. The video shows Steinfeld dancing through

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

with several other people.

Track listing

* Digital download # "Love Myself" – 3:38 * Love Myself (Remixes) – EP # "Love Myself" ( Fareoh Remix - Extended) – 4:47 # "Love Myself" (

KREAM Kream (stylised as KREAM) is a Norwegian DJ and record producer duo consisting of brothers Daniel and Markus Slettebakken, from Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of No ...

Remix) – 3:41 # "Love Myself" (

Riddler The Riddler (Edward Nigma, later Edward Nygma or Edward Nashton) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, and debuted in ''Detective Comics'' #140 in Oc ...

Remix) – 5:05 # "Love Myself" ( Toy Armada & DJ GRIND Club Mix) – 6:11

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from

Qobuz Qobuz (, commonly mispronounced: ) is a French commercial music streaming and downloading service. It was founded in 2007 by Yves Riesel, expanded to a limited range of overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, It ...

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{authority control 2015 songs 2015 debut singles Republic Records singles Universal Music Group singles Hailee Steinfeld songs Songs written by Robin Fredriksson Songs written by Julia Michaels Songs written by Justin Tranter Music videos directed by Hannah Lux Davis Female masturbation Masturbation in fiction Songs with feminist themes Song recordings produced by Mattman & Robin Songs written by Mattias Larsson Songs written by Oscar Holter Song recordings produced by Oscar Holter