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( August 2014 ) `` Who You Love '' Single by John Mayer featuring Katy Perry from the album Paradise Valley Released August 12, 2013 ( Hot AC radio ) Format CD digital download Recorded 2012 -- 13 Genre Soft rock country pop Length 4 : 12 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) John Mayer Katy Perry Producer ( s ) John Mayer Don Was John Mayer singles chronology `` Wildfire '' ( 2013 ) `` Who You Love '' ( 2013 ) `` XO '' ( 2014 ) `` Wildfire '' ( 2013 ) `` Who You Love '' ( 2013 ) `` XO '' ( 2014 ) Katy Perry singles chronology `` Roar '' ( 2013 ) Roar 2013 `` Who You Love '' ( 2013 ) Who You Love2013 `` Unconditionally '' ( 2013 ) Unconditionally 2013 Music video `` Who You Love '' on YouTube `` Who You Love '' is a song written and performed by John Mayer and Katy Perry for Mayer 's sixth studio album, Paradise Valley ( 2013 ). It appears as the sixth song on the album and is the third single from the record. Mayer co-produced the song with Don Was and released it as an Internet download on August 12, 2013. Lyrically, `` Who You Love '' is a ballad about accepting falling in love with someone, on the theory that `` you love who you love ''. The song has been praised by critics and has received mostly positive reviews. Contents 1 Background and recording 2 Composition 3 Promotion 4 Critical reception 5 Chart performance 6 Music video 7 Credits and personnel 8 Charts 8.1 Weekly charts 8.2 Year - end charts 9 References 10 External links Background and Recording Mayer has stated that his relationship with Perry has been a private and `` human '' one. On writing the song, Mayer said : `` Who You Love '' is a sweet melody that tells the story of opening your heart up and allowing yourself to fully love the person in your life -- or specifically to `` love who you love, who you love. '' `` It was a really great experience and the song is one of these like old FM ' 70s and ' 80s sort of like duets, and I listened back to it ; it 's, like, really convincing. And I watched it get made and I 'm still kind of taken aback. '' Mayer also stated in an interview with Billboard magazine that the general idea behind the song can be best described as, `` I love you based on the fact that I 've tried to run and I 'm not running and I give up. '' In regards to Perry writing the lyrics to her part of the song herself he said that `` it was a really fun opportunity for her to write like, her answer to that. '' During a speech at Oxford University, Mayer mentioned the song, saying `` I would n't have brought ( Perry ) a song if I did n't think it was good and great and she would n't have said she would do it if she did n't think it was going to be great. So it was a completely artistic transaction. '' Perry described their duet as `` incredible '', adding : `` I 'm so proud of it because people hear it, and they hear a different side of me. '' Composition `` Who You Love '' has a length of four minutes and twelve seconds ( 4 : 12 ). According to digital sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony - ATV Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of A major and the tempo moves at moderate pace of 144 beats per minute. Mayer and Perry 's vocal range in the song spans from the lower note of E to the higher note of D. Promotion Mayer first announced that `` Who You Love '' would be the third single from Paradise Valley on his Tumblr account during a Q&A session with fans. The single cover was revealed on December 2, 2013, and features a photograph of Mayer and Perry shot by photographer Mario Sorrenti. The cover was revealed amongst a photo shoot of the couple shot by Sorrenti for Vanity Fair magazine. They performed the song together at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on December 17, 2013, which was the last night of his Paradise Valley tour. Critical reception The guest appearance of Katy Perry on `` Who You Love '' was well received by critics. `` Who You Love '' received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Andrew Hampp of Billboard considered the song to be `` the centrepiece '' of Paradise Valley. Anthony Decurtis from Rolling Stone called `` Who You Love '' a `` lovely duet ''. Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times said it has the feel of an `` old soul classic '', while the lyrics discuss `` the joy of falling in love with someone when you least expect it. '' In a less positive review, Caroline Sulivan of The Guardian called it `` a country - pop amble that 's entirely self - serving '' and said Perry 's presence on the song is `` drowsy '' and `` rootsy ''. Chart performance Prior to being released as a single, `` Who You Love '' managed to chart in US and Canada. On the week ending December 21, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 80. On the week ending January 4, fuelled by a sudden surge in streaming due to the debut of its music video, the song reached its new peak of number 48 on Hot 100. Music video On December 3, 2013, at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York City, Perry confirmed that the video was recently filmed with director Sophie Muller. Perry described the video as `` epic '' and `` beautiful ''. The video was released on December 17, 2013 on Good Morning America. The video features scenes of various real - life couples, including Mayer and Perry, riding a mechanical bull, as well as scenes of the couple singing together. Towards the end of the video, Mayer fires a confetti cannon whilst the couple ride the bull, and fireworks rain down behind them. During the video premiere on Good Morning America, Perry said the usage of the mechanical bull is a metaphor about love : `` Relationships are kind of like riding a bull -- you hold on for dear life. Sometimes you get a little buck here and there, but you get back on. '' On the video, Mayer said `` We set the casting call up for real couples. It 's just so authentic -- they were having a great time. There 's nothing scripted in that video except putting the bull in the middle of the desert. '' Credits and personnel John Mayer -- vocals, guitars, keyboards, horn arrangements Katy Perry -- vocals Sean Hurley -- bass Aaron Sterling -- drums Larry Williams -- tenor sax, flute, horn arrangements Dan Higgins -- tenor sax, flute Gary Grant -- flugelhorn Bill Reichenbach -- tenor trombone, bass trombone, EB alto horn Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 2013 -- 14 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 83 Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 70 Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay ( Billboard ) 37 Lebanon ( The Official Lebanese Top 20 ) 19 US Billboard Hot 100 48 US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 11 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) 18 Year - end charts Chart ( 2013 ) Position US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 73 Chart ( 2014 ) Position US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 53 References Jump up ^ Wood, Mikael ( February 14, 2014 ). `` Review : Demi Lovato keeps it real at Honda Center ''. Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 10 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : Sullivan, Caroline. `` John Mayer : Paradise Valley -- review ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2013. Jump up ^ Gicas, Peter ( February 26, 2014 ). `` Katy Perry and John Mayer : Inside Their Relationship 's Ups and Downs ''. E ! Online. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 14. Jump up ^ Nessif, Bruna ( December 2, 2013 ). `` Katy Perry & John Mayer Unveil `` Who You Love '' Cover Art ``. E ! Online. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 03. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer Talks Katy Perry at Oxford Union ''. MTV UK. Retrieved 3 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer, Katy Perry Unveil Duet ' Who You Love ' ''. MTV UK. Retrieved 3 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer -- Paradise Valley ''. iTunes. Columbia. August 20, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` John Mayer -- Who You Love Sheet Music ( Digital Download ) ''. Musicnotes.com. Sony - ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved December 4, 2013. Jump up ^ Miller, Julie. `` Exclusive : John Mayer and Katy Perry 's First Portraits Together, Commemorating Their `` Who You Love '' Single ``. Vanity Fair. Retrieved 3 December 2013. Jump up ^ Maresca, Rachel ( December 18, 2013 ). `` Katy Perry joins John Mayer on stage for first - ever live performance of ' Who You Love ' ''. NY Daily News. Retrieved December 23, 2013. Jump up ^ Hampp, Andrew. `` John Mayer Returns with New Album and a Duet with Katy Perry ''. Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2013. Jump up ^ Decurtis, Anthony. `` John Mayer, ' Paradise Valley ' ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Album review : John Mayer -- ' Paradise Valley ' ''. The Times. Times Media Group. October 30, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013. first1 = missing last1 = in Authors list ( help ) Jump up ^ Roberts, Randall ( August 22, 2013 ). `` Album review : John Mayer 's redemptive ' Paradise Valley ' ''. Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved December 4, 2013. Jump up ^ Grein, Paul. `` Chart Watch : `` The Monster '' Lives Up To Its Title ``. Yahoo. Retrieved 12 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Who You Love chart position on Hot 100 ''. Billboard Magazine. Prometheus Global Media. January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014. Jump up ^ Video on YouTube Jump up ^ Macatee, Rebecca. `` John Mayer and Katy Perry Debut Who You Love Music Video - Watch Now ! ''. E ! Online. Retrieved 17 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Katy Perry and John Mayer 's Who You Love video : Couple ride a mechanical bull together ''. Metro. Retrieved 18 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` The ARIA Report : Week Commencing 30 December 2013 '' ( PDF ) ( 1244 ). Australian Recording Industry Association. December 30, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer Chart History ( Canadian Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2014. Jump up ^ http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=adult_airplay&year=2013&month=12&day=16 Jump up ^ `` Katy Perry John Mayer -- Lebanese Charts ''. The Official Lebanese Top 20. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2013. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer Chart History ( Hot Rock Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` John Mayer Chart History ( Adult Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Hot Rock Songs : Year End 2013 ''. Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Hot Rock Songs : Year End 2014 ''. Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014. External links `` Who You Love '' Official Video on YouTube `` Who You Love '' Audio on YouTube Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics John Mayer Discography Studio albums Room for Squares Heavier Things Continuum Battle Studies Born and Raised Paradise Valley The Search for Everything Live albums Any Given Thursday As / Is Try ! Where the Light Is : John Mayer Live in Los Angeles Extended plays Inside Wants Out The Village Sessions The Complete 2012 Performances Collection The Search for Everything : Wave One The Search for Everything : Wave Two Singles `` No Such Thing '' `` Your Body Is a Wonderland '' `` Why Georgia '' `` Bigger Than My Body '' `` Clarity '' `` Daughters '' `` Waiting on the World to Change '' `` Belief '' `` Gravity '' `` Dreaming with a Broken Heart '' `` Say '' `` Free Fallin ' '' `` Who Says '' `` Heartbreak Warfare '' `` Half of My Heart '' `` Shadow Days '' `` Queen of California '' `` Who You Love '' `` XO '' `` Love on the Weekend '' `` In the Blood '' `` New Light '' Featured singles `` Go ! '' `` Streetcorner Symphony '' `` Beat It '' Video albums Any Given Thursday Where the Light Is : John Mayer Live in Los Angeles Concert tours John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour Battle Studies World Tour Born and Raised World Tour The Search for Everything World Tour Related articles John Mayer Trio Try ! `` Who Did You Think I Was '' Annual John Mayer Holiday Charity Revue Dead & Company Katy Perry Discography Videography Awards and nominations Songs Studio albums Katy Hudson One of the Boys Teenage Dream Prism Witness Other releases MTV Unplugged Teenage Dream : The Complete Confection The Prismatic World Tour Live Singles `` I Kissed a Girl '' `` Hot n Cold '' `` Thinking of You '' `` Waking Up in Vegas '' `` California Gurls '' `` Teenage Dream '' `` Firework '' `` E.T. '' `` Last Friday Night ( T.G.I.F. ) '' `` The One That Got Away '' `` Part of Me '' `` Wide Awake '' `` Hummingbird Heartbeat '' `` Roar '' `` Unconditionally '' `` Dark Horse '' `` Birthday '' `` This Is How We Do '' `` Rise '' `` Chained to the Rhythm '' `` Bon Appétit '' `` Swish Swish '' `` Hey Hey Hey '' Other songs `` Ur So Gay '' `` Not Like the Movies '' `` Circle the Drain '' `` Peacock '' `` Dressin ' Up `` Walking on Air '' `` By the Grace of God '' `` Every Day Is a Holiday '' `` Save as Draft '' Collaborations `` Starstrukk '' `` If We Ever Meet Again '' `` Who You Love '' `` Feels '' Concert tours Hello Katy Tour California Dreams Tour Prismatic World Tour Witness : The Tour Fragrances Purr Meow ! Killer Queen Mad Potion Related articles Katy Perry : Part of Me Unsub Records Russell Brand ( ex-husband ) Frank Perry ( uncle ) The Matrix Super Bowl XLIX halftime show Katy Perry Live : Witness World Wide Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Who_You_Love&oldid=832794677 '' Categories : Songs written by John Mayer Songs written by Katy Perry John Mayer songs Katy Perry songs 2013 songs 2013 singles Columbia Records singles Pop ballads Rock ballads Vocal duets Music videos directed by Sophie Muller 2010s ballads Hidden categories : CS1 errors : missing author or editor Articles needing additional references from December 2013 All articles needing additional references Wikipedia introduction cleanup from August 2014 All pages needing cleanup Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from August 2014 All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify Articles with multiple maintenance issues Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Canada Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardrocksongs Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Հայերեն Italiano עברית Português Русский ไทย Türkçe 中文 3 more Edit links This page was last edited on 28 March 2018, at 01 : 30 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sings with john mayer on who you love
Answer: Katy Perry