# Don't Wanna Know

"Don't Wanna Know" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5 featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The song was released on October 11, 2016, as the lead single from the former's sixth studio album Red Pill Blues (2017), included on both the deluxe and Japanese editions of the album. The song reached the top 10 in 23 countries, including number 6 in the United States. Critical reception to the song was mixed, with critics praising its production but criticizing Lamar's verse and repetitive chorus.

## Background and release

On October 11, 2016, Maroon 5 announced a single "Don't Wanna Know" featuring Kendrick Lamar, would be released worldwide at midnight on the following day, October 12. Previously "YOLO" by The Lonely Island featured the band's lead singer Adam Levine as well as Lamar.

## Composition

"Don't Wanna Know" is written in the key of G major in common time with a shuffling tempo of 100 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of CMaj7 – D6 – Em7 – Bm/E, and Levine's vocals span from D$_4$ to C$_6$.

## Critical reception

The song received mixed reviews by music critics. Mike Wass of Idolator stated "there's nothing bloated or excessive about the finished product. In fact, this is a case of less is more. [Don't Wanna Know] freshens up Maroon 5's sound and goes HAM on the repetition (the cornerstone of hitmarking circa 2016) — all but guarantees the band a smash hit in the process. Kendrick's verse feels like an afterthought, but apart from that, this is hard to fault." Vulture's Halle Kiefer said "it'll be on the soundtrack to every car commercial, Target ad, and drunken breakup you flounder through for the next three months" and went on to say "Don't Wanna Know has a distinctly non-Maroon 5 sound, putting a breezy, bouncy, lighthearted spin on drinking to forget, and dancing to dull the pain of losing the one true connection you ever had."

## Commercial performance

"Don't Wanna Know" was number one on the US iTunes chart after its release. Since its release, the song debuted at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 29, 2016, and jumped to number 9 in its second week on November 5. It later peaked at number 6, becoming the band's 12th and Lamar's third top ten hit.

## Music video

The music video for "Don't Wanna Know" was directed by David Dobkin and does not include Lamar, instead using the song's original version. It was shot starting on August 28, 2016, in Los Angeles, and premiered on The Today Show, on October 14, 2016. The video spoofed the augmented reality game Pokémon Go.
In the video, Adam Levine is dressed as a blue turtle dealing with heartbreak over an orange played by Sarah Silverman, with the Maroon 5 members also dressed the various costumes. In certain scenes, they're being chased and hiding from people who play the game to capture a creature onto the phone and other times eliminate themselves, as well as the set of shooting a music video in the studio complete with film crew, the band performing in a concert and the house party. The video also features cameos from Ed Helms, Amanda Cerny, Shaquille O'Neal and Vince Vaughn.

## Promotion

Upon the song being released, it was revealed to be included in the dance rhythm video game Just Dance 2017. In November 2016, Maroon 5 collaborated with Tumblr to launch a promotional campaign known as the Don't Wanna Know Confessional Wall, where encouraging fans to submit of their own darkest secrets, allowing them to write the wall in the most creative way possible. The wall is located at La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. It is also nominated at the 2017 Shorty Awards for Best Use of Tumblr. In December 2016, another campaign from Musical.ly, where fans to sing a lip sync video and chance to win a signed guitar.

## Live performances

On September 3, 2016, Maroon 5 debuted "Don't Wanna Know", to perform for the first time on their world tour at San Antonio. The band played the song during their live performances including The Ellen DeGeneres Show on November 3, and The Voice on November 28, 2016. Maroon 5 also performed along with Kendrick Lamar for closing ceremony at the 2016 American Music Awards on November 20, 2016. The band continuing the song live with the 2017 edition of Wango Tango on May 13.

## Accolades

| Year | Ceremony | Category | Result |
| 2017 | American Music Awards | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| 2017 | BMI London Awards | Pop Award | Won |
| 2017 | Circle Chart Music Awards | International Song of the Year | Won |
| 2017 | Melon Music Awards | Best Pop Award | Nominated |
| 2017 | Shorty Awards | Best Use of Tumblr | Nominated |
| 2017 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Pop Song | Nominated |
| 2018 | ASCAP Pop Music Awards | Award Winning Song | Won |
| 2018 | BMI Pop Awards | Award Winning Song | Won |
| 2018 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Nominated |

## Personnel
### Maroon 5

* Adam Levine – lead and backing vocals, songwriting
* Jesse Carmichael – guitar
* James Valentine – guitar
* Matt Flynn – drums, percussion
* PJ Morton – keyboards

### Additional personnel

* Kendrick Lamar – rap (featured artist)

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 5× Platinum | 350,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 2× Diamond | 500,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 5× Platinum | 400,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 66,666$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | 3× Platinum | 150,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 3× Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | 2× Platinum | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 5,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 40,000$^‡$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 20,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label(s) |
| Various | October 12, 2016 | Digital downloadstreaming | Originalsingle | 222Interscope |
| Italy | October 14, 2016 | Contemporary hit radio | Single | Universal |
| United States | October 18, 2016 | Contemporary hit radio | Single | 222Interscope |
| Various | December 23, 2016 | Digital download | Ryan Riback Remix | 222Interscope |
| Various | January 6, 2017 | Digital download | BRAVVO Remix | 222Interscope |
| Various | January 6, 2017 | Digital download | Fareoh Remix | 222Interscope |
| Various | January 6, 2017 | Digital download | Total Ape Remix | 222Interscope |
| Various | January 6, 2017 | Digital download | Zaeden Remix | 222Interscope |