# What Lovers Do

"What Lovers Do" is a song by American band Maroon 5 featuring singer SZA. It was released on August 30, 2017, as the third single from the band's sixth studio album Red Pill Blues (2017). The song contains an interpolation of the 2016 song "Sexual" by Neiked featuring Dyo, therefore Victor Rådström, Dyo and Elina Stridh are credited as songwriters.

## Background and release

After extensive touring in support of their fifth studio album V (2014), Maroon 5 began the writing and recording sessions for their sixth studio album. On October 12, 2016, the band released the tropical house single "Don't Wanna Know", featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar. Another single, entitled "Cold", featuring American rapper Future, was released on February 14, 2017. Both songs later appeared in the deluxe and Japanese editions of Red Pill Blues. The band later announced with the single's release date on August 30.

## Composition

"What Lovers Do" runs for approximately three minutes and 16 seconds. It was written by Adam Levine, Starrah, Jason Evigan and Solána Imani Rowe and was produced by Evigan, Ben Billions, Sam Farrar and Noah Passovoy. Victor Radstrom, Dyo, and Elina Stridh are also credited songwriters on the record, as songwriters of "Sexual" by Neiked.
The song is performed in the key of B♭ major with a tempo of 110 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of E♭5–Gm–F–B♭–E♭, and the vocals in the song span from F$_3$ to D$_5$ in common time.

## Commercial performance

In the United States, "What Lovers Do" reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Maroon 5's 13th and SZA's first top 10. By September 2017, it had sold 116,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan; later, it would reach double platinum status as certified by the RIAA. The track reached number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart, becoming the band's tenth single in Australia to reach the top 10.

## Music video

The music video for "What Lovers Do" was released on Vevo, on September 28, 2017, and was directed by Joseph Kahn. The video follows a young Adam Levine and SZA chasing each other through a meadow. Now, as adults, they chase each other through the Arctic, a running field, the ocean, and underwater. Later in Las Vegas, Levine plays with SZA in a poker game until he loses to her and grabs SZA, transforming into a 50-foot version of himself. As SZA disappears on Levine's hand and turns into a doll, he attacks the city until the police, military, and Boy Scout troopers eliminate him. At the end, Levine is in a hospital, injured with SZA as his nurse.

### Lyric video

A lyric video was released on September 15, 2017. This video using as found footage, which features a red and white lollipop when it melts into slime.

## Live performances

Maroon 5 performed "What Lovers Do" for the first time of the Rock in Rio concert at Barra Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro on September 16, 2017. On September 28, they performed the song at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. The band promoted "What Lovers Do" live during their appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (with SZA), The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Voice and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, respectively.

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Red Pill Blues album liner notes.
Recording locations
* Recorded in Los Angeles, California at Conway Recording Studios and Westlake Recording Studios, and Chumba Meadows in Tarzana, California
* Mixed and mastered in Virginia Beach at Mixstar Studios
Maroon5
* Adam Levine – lead vocals, songwriting, executive production
* Jesse Carmichael – guitar
* Mickey Madden – bass
* James Valentine – guitar
* Matt Flynn – drums, percussion
* PJ Morton – keyboards
* Sam Farrar – bass, additional percussion, digital editing, additional producer, additional vocals
Additional personnel
* SZA – featured vocals
* Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy – keyboards, digital editing, additional percussion, engineer, backing vocals, additional producer, vocal producer
* Starrah – additional vocals, songwriting
* Ammo – additional vocals
* John Armstrong – assistant engineer
* Benjamin "Ben Billions" Diehl – writer, co-producer, keyboards, programming
* Eric Eylands – assistant engineer
* Jason Evigan – writer, producer, vocal producer, programming
* Serban Ghenea – mixing
* John Hanes – mixing engineer
* Gian Stone – engineer, vocal producer, programming

## Certifications

Certifications and sales for "What Lovers Do" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 7× Platinum | 490,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 2× Diamond | 500,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 4× Platinum | 320,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 133,333$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 400,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | 3× Platinum | 150,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 5× Platinum | 150,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | 2× Platinum | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | 2× Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 40,000$^‡$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | 3× Platinum | 24,000,000$^†$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release dates for "What Lovers Do" :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label(s) |
| Various | August 30, 2017 | Digital downloadstreaming | Original | 222Interscope |
| United States | September 5, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | 222Interscope |
| United States | September 5, 2017 | Hot adult contemporary radio | Original | 222Interscope |
| United States | September 5, 2017 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Original | 222Interscope |
| Italy | September 15, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Universal |
| United Kingdom | September 15, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Polydor |
| Various | September 15, 2017 | Digital download | Slushii Remix | 222Interscope |
| Various | November 2, 2017 | Digital download | A-Trak Remix | 222Interscope |