Attention (Omah Lay and Justin Bieber song)

"Attention" is a song by Nigerian singer Omah Lay and Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released through Sire Records and KeyQaad as the second single from Lay's debut studio album, Boy Alone, on 4 March 2022. The song was produced by Avedon and Harv. "Attention" was Lay's first charting song.

"Attention"
Single by Omah Lay and Justin Bieber
from the album Boy Alone
Released4 March 2022
GenreAfrobeats
Length3:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Omah Lay singles chronology
"Winter Wonderland / Don't Worry Be Happy"
(2021)
"Attention"
(2022)
"Soso"
(2022)
Justin Bieber singles chronology
"Wandered to LA"
(2021)
"Attention"
(2022)
"Up at Night"
(2022)
Music video
"Attention" on YouTube

Background

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Lay was in the studio with producer Harv in Los Angeles, California. When he heard the instrumental, he came up with the lyrics to the song. Harv connected with Bieber on FaceTime and played the song for him. Bieber then sent his vocals to Lay. Lay felt that the best part about collaborating with Bieber "was how easy it was" and he "didn't even expect it to be that simple".[1]

Composition and lyrics

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"Attention" is an afrobeats song that is set in the key of F minor with a tempo of 120 beats per minute.[2] Bieber opens the song up with the first verse, which sees him use his lower register.[3][4] Lyrically, the two artists address the loneliness of a one-sided relationship and also wonder if they should use drugs and alcohol to ease the pain.[5][6]

Release and promotion

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The song was released for streaming and download on 4 March 2022.[7] Four days later, it was pushed to radio airplay.[8]

Critical reception

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Jon Pareles of The New York Times felt that Bieber's "restrained croon dovetails nicely with the equanimity of Afrobeats singers".[9]

Music video

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The official music video for "Attention", directed by Colin Tilley, premiered on Bieber's YouTube channel on 4 March 2022. It sees Lay and Bieber around a bonfire, surrounded by women, in which they dance with them and sing the song.[10]

Credits and personnel

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  • Omah Lay – vocals, songwriting
  • Justin Bieber – vocals, songwriting
  • Avedon – production, songwriting, bass, keyboards, drums
  • Harv – production, songwriting
  • Felisha King-Harvey – songwriting
  • Josh Gudwin – mixing, vocal production, vocal engineering
  • Heidi Wang – mixing assistance
  • Colin Leonard – mastering
  • Mark Parfitt – vocal engineering
  • Denis Kosiak – engineering, additional engineering

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Attention"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 45
Global 200 (Billboard)[12] 74
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 78
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[14] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 62
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[16] 9
Portugal (AFP)[17] 158
South Africa (TOSAC)[18] 91
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 87
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 49
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 76
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[22] 4
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 11
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[24] 25

Year-end charts

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Year-end chart performance for "Attention"
Chart (2022) Position
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[25] 13

Certifications

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Certifications for "Attention"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[26] Gold 40,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release history for "Attention"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 3 March 2022
[27]
Italy 4 March 2022 Contemporary hit radio Warner [28]
United States 8 March 2022 [29]

References

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  1. ^ Mamo, Heran (4 March 2022). "Omah Lay Talks Reuniting With Justin Bieber and Bringing More 'Attention' to Afrobeats Music". Billboard. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. ^ Didia, Stanley; Bieber, Justin; Van den Ende, Vincent; Harvey, Bernard; King-Harvey, Felisha (4 March 2022). "Attention". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  3. ^ Blanchet, Brenton (4 March 2022). "Watch Omah Lay and Justin Bieber's Video for New Single "Attention"". Complex. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Omah Lay and Justin Bieber Team Up on 'Attention'". Rap-Up. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  5. ^ Lavin, Will (5 March 2022). "Justin Bieber links with Omah Lay for addictive new track 'Attention'". NME. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  6. ^ Mier, Tomás (4 March 2022). "Justin Bieber Is In His Afrofusion Bag as He Joins Omah Lay on the Sexy 'Attention'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Attention - Single by Omah Lay & Justin Bieber on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. ^ Trust, Gary [@gthot20] (3 March 2022). ".@Omah_Lay & @justinbieber "Attention" being promoted to pop radio as of Monday, March 7" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 March 2022 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Pareles, Jon; Herrera, Isabelia; Russonello, Giovanni; Zoladz, Lindsay (4 March 2022). "The Buzzy Band Wet Leg Trips Out at a Party, and 13 More New Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ^ Renshaw, David (4 March 2022). "Justin Bieber joins afrobeats artist Omah Lay on "Attention"". The Fader. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Omah Lay". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas [ 2022/03/16 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Omah Lay & Justin Bieber – Attention" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  16. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Omah Lay & Justin Bieber – Attention". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 10-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Omah Lay & Justin Bieber – Attention". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Omah Lay & Justin Bieber – Attention". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (U.S. Afrobeats Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Omah Lay & Justin Bieber – Attention". Music Canada. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Attention - Single by Omah Lay & Justin Bieber on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Omah Lay & Justin Bieber "Attention" | (Radio Date: 04/03/2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Top 40 Mainstream Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.