Let You Be Right

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"Let You Be Right"
A pink-tinged picture of Meghan Trainor afront a floral background. Her name is written at the bottom and "Let You Be Right" at the top
Single by Meghan Trainor
ReleasedMay 10, 2018 (2018-05-10)
Recorded2018
Genre
Length2:57
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Andrew Wells
Meghan Trainor singles chronology
"No Excuses"
(2018)
"Let You Be Right"
(2018)
"Can't Dance"
(2018)
Music video
"Let You Be Right" on YouTube

"Let You Be Right" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. It was written by Trainor, Andrew Wells and Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and produced by Wells. "Let You Be Right" was announced on May 8, 2018, along with its official single artwork the day after. Epic Records released it on May 10, 2018, along with "Can't Dance". Both songs were intended to be part of Trainor's third major-label studio album Treat Myself (2020), but did not make it to the final cut. Lyrically, the midtempo throwback disco and pop song sees Trainor trying to reach a compromise with a feuding lover.

"Let You Be Right" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 and at number 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Colin Tilley directed the music video for "Let You Be Right". Released on June 4, 2018, the video features Trainor performing choreography with a group of female dancers at a basketball court. The video featured the singer wearing a pair of "silky, ballooning black trousers" and made use of kaleidoscopic effects. In 2018, Trainor performed the song on The Today Show's Citi concert series, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, 2018 Teen Choice Awards, 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards and CMT Crossroads.

Background and release[edit]

Meghan Trainor had been searching for a producer to create her upcoming third major-label studio album Treat Myself (2020) with, when she conducted the first session for it with songwriter Jacob Kasher Hindlin. He suggested that they work with then-unknown producer Andrew Wells. Trainor, who was expecting the session to go "really bad or really awesome", ended up writing "Let You Be Right" with them, and knew Wells "was the one".[1] Wells produced the song,[2] and ended up collaborating with Trainor on four songs for her second EP, The Love Train (2019), two of which were co-written by Hindlin.[3] "Let You Be Right" was Wells' favorite song on Treat Myself, and he suggested that the singer release the song.[1]

Trainor previewed the song on her Instagram account, accompanied by a video of a spinning disco ball, on May 8, 2018, two days before the official release date. It was released on May 10, 2018, accompanied by "Can't Dance".[4] About her decision to release two singles on the same day, Trainor said "My team and I talked about it, and I just can't wait any longer to share the songs on this album. I wanted to drop two today instead of one."[1] In the United States, "Let You Be Right" was serviced to adult contemporary radio on May 11 and contemporary hit radio on June 8, 2018.[5][6]

In a January 2020 interview, Trainor was regretful about releasing the song as a single, stating that her label, management and team were "really confident" in it, and radio DJs were telling them it was the only song off Treat Myself that "[would] work". So she agreed: "Alright, I'll do what you all want to do", but concluded "that shit was wrong" following its commercial underperformance.[7] As Trainor rewrote the album four times, to make it a pop record that feels relevant in an era when hip-hop reigns, "Let You Be Right" failed to make the final cut.[7]

Composition and reception[edit]

"Let You Be Right" is a pop song that visits the "heady days" of disco.[8][9] First dubbed as a "make-up anthem", the song finds Trainor delivering "fun" and "flirty" lyrics as she tries to reach a compromise with a feuding lover. It has been described as a retro and disco tinged midtempo throwback song with "sugary" production, with a "bright, breezy" chorus.[1][8][10] It is a "bright, bass-thumping" love song, with elements of funk.[11] Trainor's vocals on the song are sung with an "inviting coo", and the song's bass line has been described as "intoxicatingly wiggly".[12] The song's guitar instrumentation received comparisons to the work of Nile Rodgers.[12]

"Let You Be Right" peaked at number 15 on the Belgium Ultratip Flanders chart, and at number 41 on the Canada Billboard AC chart.[13][14] It reached numbers 31 and 21 on the Canada CHR/Top 40 and Hot AC charts respectively.[15][16] The song also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 and at number 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40.[17][18]

Music video[edit]

Colin Tilley, who previously collaborated with Trainor on her video for "No Excuses" (2018), directed the music video for "Let You Be Right".[19] It was released on June 4, 2018, almost a month after the release of the single.[20] The music video was shot at the Moonlight Rollerway in Los Angeles. It incorporated an "eye-popping" backdrop and laser lights. Trainor's outfits for the video include a white leotard, "Baby Spice-esque" pigtails, bubblegum pink hair, and parachute pants.[21]

In the video, Trainor performs a high-energy dance routine on a basketball court in "sporty" attire.[21] One of the props used in the video is a disco ball, and inclusion of kaleidoscopic effects.[22][23] The singer opined that it was "[her] best video yet", and featured some looks that she came up with herself and some that were inspired by Pinterest.[24] A critic described it as an "explosion of looks, lasers and choreography".[24]

Live performances[edit]

In 2018, Trainor performed "Let You Be Right" as part of her setlist on The Today Show's Citi concert series, as well as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[25][26] She also performed it at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards in August 2018.[27] Trainor opened the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards with a medley of "Let You Be Right", "No Excuses", "Can't Dance" (2018), "Me Too" (2016) and "All About That Bass" (2014).[28] She performed it with Brett Eldredge at an episode of CMT Crossroads, and included a stripped-down and "more relaxed" version of it on her Spotify Singles EP.[29][30]

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[31]

  • Andrew Wells – producer, songwriter, engineer
  • Meghan Trainor – lead vocals, songwriter
  • Jacob Kasher – songwriter
  • Bo Bodnar – engineer
  • Matt Wolach – engineer
  • Mitch McCarthy – mixing engineer
  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer

Charts[edit]

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] 15
Canada AC (Billboard)[14] 41
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[15] 31
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[16] 21
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[17] 18
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 28

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 10, 2018 Digital download Epic [32]
United States May 11, 2018 Adult contemporary radio [5]
June 8, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Wass, Mike (May 11, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Talks 'Let You Be Right' & 'Can't Dance': Interview". Idolator. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Let You Be Right - Meghan Trainor - Song Info - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. ^ The Love Train (Media notes). Meghan Trainor. Epic Records. 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Wass, Mike (May 9, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Announces New Singles 'Let You Be Right' & 'Can't Dance'". Idolator. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Top 40/Mainstream > Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Feeney, Nolan (January 14, 2020). "Pop Music Is Changing, So Meghan Trainor Did Too". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Nied, Mike (May 10, 2018). "Meghan Trainor's 'Let You Be Right' & 'Can't Dance' Are Glittery Pop Anthems". Idolator. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  9. ^ Wass, Mike (June 21, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Lays Down The Law On 'All The Ways'". Idolator. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Roth, Madeline (May 14, 2018). "Meghan trainor doesn't want to hear that you 'can't dance' on new songs". MTV. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  11. ^ Jones, Abby (May 10, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Drops Two Catchy New Singles: Listen to 'Let You Be Right' & 'Can't Dance'". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Juzwiak, Rich (May 10, 2018). "What Is This Strange Sensation...We Like a Meghan Trainor Song...?". Jezebel. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Meghan Trainor – Let You Be Right" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  19. ^ Variety Staff (June 4, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Drops Video for 'Let You Be Right'". Variety. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  20. ^ "Watch: Meghan Trainor Releases Video for 'Let You Be Right'". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  21. ^ a b Roth, Madeline (June 5, 2018). "Meghan trainor rocks pink hair and leotards in glitzy 'let you be right' video". MTV. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  22. ^ "Meghan Trainor shares video for 'Let You Be Right'". Malay Mail. June 6, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  23. ^ Jones, Abby (June 4, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Drops Kaleidoscopic 'Let You Be Right' Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  24. ^ a b Wass, Mike (June 4, 2018). "Meghan Trainor's 'Let You Be Right' Video Is An Explosion of Looks & Lasers". Idolator. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  25. ^ Mamo, Heran (May 15, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Talks 'Locking It Down' With Fiance & Kicks Off 'Today' Summer Concert Series". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  26. ^ Cummings-Grady, MacKenzie (June 7, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Channels Sexy 1970s Disco Vibe With 'Let You Be Right' on 'The Late Show'". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  27. ^ Cohn, Paulette (August 12, 2018). "Photos: The Best from the Teen Choice 2018 Awards Show Pink Carpet". Parade. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  28. ^ Variety Staff (June 24, 2018). "Janet Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood Honored at Radio Disney Music Awards". Variety. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  29. ^ Zauzmer, Emily (August 28, 2018). "No Excuses! Watch Brett Eldredge and Meghan Trainor Duet on CMT Crossroads". People. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  30. ^ Mele, Sofia (August 22, 2018). "Meghan Trainor Strips Down 'Let You Be Right,' Covers Sasha Sloan's 'Normal' For Spotify Singles". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  31. ^ "Credits / Let You Be Right / Meghan Trainor". Tidal. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  32. ^ "Let You Be Right – Single by Meghan Trainor on iTunes". iTunes Store (US). 10 May 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.