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“Live While We're Young”
Live While We're Young
Information
Album

Take Me Home

Released

September 28, 2012

Format

CD single, digital download

Recorded

2012
Stockholm, Sweden
Los Angeles, CA

Length

3:18

Writers

Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk, Savan Kotecha, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer

Producer

Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk

Live While We're Young is the lead single from One Direction's 2012 album, Take Me Home. It was released on September 28, 2012. It was officially announced on August 24, 2012, and was available for pre-order at midnight. It set a record for being the most pre-ordered song in Sony history within 2 days of release. On September 20, 2012, the song and the video were leaked on YouTube, causing the premiere to be moved to the 20th. It is one of the band's most successful and recognizable singles.

Lyrically, the song describes a lively party where the narrator meets and propositions a woman for sex.

Background[]

"Live While We're Young" was written by Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk, Savan Kotecha, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Joe Strummer, and produced by Yacoub and Falk. It was recorded at Kinglet Studios in Stockholm, Sweden and Chalice Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Chart Performance[]

Live While We're Young was a critical and commercial success, receiving positive reviews and becoming a top ten hit in fifteen countries, while reaching #1 in New Zealand and Ireland. In the United States, "Live While We're Young" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the second-highest bow of any UK act since Elton John's #1 debut with "Candle in the Wind 1997".

Lyrics[]

[Liam]
Hey girl I'm waitin' on ya, I'm waitin' on ya
Come on and let me sneak you out
And have a celebration, a celebration
The music up, the window's down

[Zayn]
Yeah, we'll be doing what we do
Just pretending that we're cool
And we know it too
Yeah, we'll keep doing what we do
Just pretending that we're cool
So tonight

[All]
Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'til we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never never never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some and live while we're young
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (and live while we're young)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Tonight let's get some

[Harry]
And live while we're young

[Zayn with Niall]
Hey girl it's now or never
It's now or never
Don't over think just let it go
And if we get together, yeah get together
Don't let the pictures leave your phone (Oh-oh-oh)

[Niall]
Yeah, we'll be doing what we do
Just pretending that we're cool
So tonight

[All]
Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'til we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never never never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some and live while we're young
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (wanna live while we're young)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Tonight let's get some

[Harry]
And live while we're young

[Zayn]
And girl, you and I
We're about to make some memories tonight

[Louis]
I wanna live while we're young
We wanna live while we're young

[All]
Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'til we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never never never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some and live while we're young

Crazy, crazy, crazy 'til we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never never never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some and live while we're young

Wanna live, wanna live, wanna live while we're young (c'mon, young)
Wanna live, wanna live (wanna live while we're young)
Wanna live, wanna live, wanna live while we're young
Tonight let's get some

[Zayn]
And live while we're young

Music video[]

Music Video Information
One_Direction_-_Live_While_We're_Young Released September 20, 2012
Length 3:18
Director Vaughan Arnell
Production Co
Choreographer
Filmed August 23-24, 2012
Location Kent, England
VEVO views 691,449,968 (as of August 6, 2021)

Background[]

The music video for "Live While We're Young" was filmed on August 23 and 24, 2012. It was directed by Vaughan Arnell.

Release[]

"Live While We're Young" was released on September 20, 2012. It was initially set to premiere on September 24, 2012, but on September 20, 2012, the video leaked online. As a result, the official premiere was moved up. The video garnered 8.24 million views within 24 hours of its release, smashing the record for most views within 24 hours of release which was previously held by Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend'. The record was later broken by Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj's 'Beauty And A Beat', which garnered 10.6 million views.

Synopsis[]

The music video depicts the band camping out with friends while engaging in fun outdoors activities and sports.

Live Performances[]

One_Direction_perform_'Live_While_We're_Young'_-_Children_in_Need_2012_-_BBC_One

One Direction perform 'Live While We're Young' - Children in Need 2012 - BBC One

One_Direction_Performs_-_Live_While_We're_Young

One Direction Performs - Live While We're Young

Teen_Awards_2012_-_One_Direction_Live_While_We're_Young

Teen Awards 2012 - One Direction Live While We're Young

One_Direction's_Live_While_We're_Young_-_LIVE_ON_X_FACTOR_U.S.A._(HD)

One Direction's Live While We're Young - LIVE ON X FACTOR U.S.A. (HD)

One_Direction_-_Live_While_We're_Young_@_Todays_Show_13_11_12

One Direction - Live While We're Young @ Todays Show 13 11 12

One_Direction_This_Is_Us_2013_Live_While_We're_You_Young

One Direction This Is Us 2013 Live While We're You Young

Date Event Watch Country
2012
October 7 Radio 1 Teen Awards Tv England
November 8 The X Factor (U.S.) Tv United States
November 13 Today
November 15 The Ellen DeGeneres Show
November 16 Children In Need England

Trivia[]

  • "Live While We're Young" was featured in a Pepsi commercial starring One Direction themselves alongside NFL player Drew Brees.
  • The song helped One Direction secure the 2016 Guinness World Record for 'Highest Debut By A U.K Group on U.S Singles Chart'.[1]
  • The song is featured on interactive dance video game Just Dance 4.
  • In 2014, Louis Tomlinson responded on Twitter to parents who pulled their children from a school choir performing the song, due to the sexual lyrics, saying "Dear Mr and Mrs Stone, I'm deeply saddened by your complaint to Chelsea High School regarding our lyrics...I hope the two of you 'get some' very soon :) #cryingparents"[2]

Credits[]

  • Rami Yacoub — writing, production, programming, instruments, bass
  • Carl Falk — writing, production, programming, instruments, guitar, background vocals
  • Savan Kotecha — writing, background vocals
  • Topper Headon — writing
  • Mick Jones — writing
  • Paul Simonon — writing
  • Joe Strummer — writing
  • Niall Horan — additional guitar
  • Kristoffer Fogelmark — background vocals
  • Marcus Thompson — Flute

References[]

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