Where U Are

## Music Video

"**Where U Are**" is a single recorded by Rina Sawayama, released on 28 January 2016. A rework of The Jackson 5's 70s hit "I Wanna Be Where You Are", the song was written and produced by Sawayama with Justin Tailor. The song serves as a lens to living in a digitally-driven world focused on ego and social media. An accompanying music video was released on 17 February 2016.

The song was set to be featured on Sawayama's cancelled debut extended play, *Alone Together*.

## Background

According to Sawayama, the song "started life as a cover of Michael Jackson's 1972 song "I Wanna Be Where You Are", she explained. "I really clicked with the rhythm of the lyrics and so I adapted it into a Garageband demo in 2013. I revisited the demo again in 2015 when I was obsessing over the idea of online life, so took the subject of longing and regret in the MJ chorus and started working on applying it to an original verse lyric."

On 9 November 2015, Sawayama shared a snippet of "Where U Are" through Twitter.

Rina explained about the song:

> As much as ‘Where U Are’ is about online relationships with others, it’s also about the online relationship you have with yourself. We live in a culture of self-surveillance that makes us forget who we really are, and what we really should be doing with our time. We want to be where they are, where future-you will be, where past-you was, but not pay attention to where you are now. Ali & I were inspired by Essena O’Neill’s recent departure from social media, alongside artists such as Petra Collins and Arvida Byström, whose work deals with online female insecurity.
> Whether you’re doing long distance, or meeting people on a dating app, being catfished, or sexting- the characteristics of an online-based relationship are super interesting to me. Online you can present your best edited self, and bypass lots of the messiness and awkwardness that comes with real human interactions. Your overheating phone substitutes human warmth. Weirdest of all- you’re together, but also very alone.
>
>

## Critical reception

Kim Taylor Bennett, from *Vice* magazine, described "Where U Are" as a "90s R&B pop perfection. Very lounge. A little Solange. A smidge of peak-era Mariah. With a beat that has just the right amount of boom, especially in those crucial opening bars." Doyle Smith from *Velvet Independent* called the song "Quite possibly the greatest cover you will ever hear. Ever." He wrote that "Where U Are" captures "breezy days by the pool perfectly. Using sublime electronica beats, layered together with Rina's unreal vocals, 'Where U Are' is the perfect track for a LA beach drive, whether underneath a pastel coloured sunrise or an intense sunset."

## Music video

### Background

The accompanying music video for "Where U Are" was released on 17 February 2016. It was directed and edited by Rina Sawayama and Alessandra Kurr. It was filmed in October 2015, on "£400 or something" at Kurr's bedroom and living room.

Sawayama said about making the music video:

> Me and Ali Kurr (the director) got together for this video a couple of months after my track “Tunnel Vision” was out. I wanted to continue this theme of technology and feminine despair/awkwardness in the narrative, but make a more classic music video and explore a richer, darker colour palette. We’ve worked together before, and I knew that Ali would bring some awesome references and experience with editing that would be invaluable to helping the idea come to life.
> We went through lots of different cool ideas – some we’ve shelved for future releases – but we had absolutely no budget to make it happen. Luckily, Ali’s friend had borrowed an incredible kit and kindly let us use it over the weekend. I quickly emailed everyone I knew, pulled a few favours, and got the production together within a week. The entire thing cost £200.
>
> — Rina Sawayama, *The digi-pop singer turning her online insecurities into art*, *Dazed* magazine

## Lyrics

I wanna be

I wanna be where you are

Oh, I

Oh, I

Can it be I stayed away too long?

Did I leave your mind when I was gone?

It's not like you're never getting back

This time let me tell you where I'm at

I wanna be where you are

Oh, I

The only time I see you these days

Is in my projections

I need to feel your pulse baby

And I'm holding onto

This unclear connection

And I'm staring at you that sees

But doesn't even (shh) listen

Can it be I stayed away too long (Too long)

Did I leave your mind when I was gone? (When I was gone)

It's not like you're never getting back to me (Back to me)

This time let me tell you what I need

The only time I see you these days

Is in my projections (Yeah)

I think I feel the love, love, love

And it's kind of crazy

'Cause I've never met you

Now I'm losing sight of who

I'm meant to be in this reality

Can it be I stayed away too long (Too long)

Did I leave your mind when I was gone? (When I was gone)

It's not my shit trying to get back (Back to me, me, me)

This time let me tell you where I'm at

Don't you know there's something

Lately, I've been hiding

Second guessing our love

Constantly

Don't you know there's one thing

You always protect me

Sick and tired of knowing you were never real

You were never real

Can it be I stayed away too long (You were never real)

Did I leave your mind when I was gone? (You were never real)

Funny how together we're alone (You were never real)

Thought you were the one, but I was wrong

## Credits and personnel

* Music video

 **Makeup** | Kristina Ralph Andrews

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *Vice.* Fall for the Smooth Curves of Rina Sawayama's "Where U Are"
2. ↑ *MuuMuse.* "Rina Sawayama Makes Music for Sexters, Catfishers & Lonely Digital Souls".
3. ↑ *Apple Music*. "Where U Are - Single by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music".
4. ↑ Rina Sawayama - Where U Are (Official Video)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 *Dazed.* The digi-pop singer turning her online insecurities into art
6. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "preview of my next single guys it's so hot it makes u dribble @TomGlitter #whereuare"
7. ↑ *FM for Music.* "Rina Sawayama Shares ‘Where U Are’ Video: ‘Your Overheating Phone Substitutes Human Warmth’".
8. ↑ *Velvet Independent.* Rina Sawayama – Where U Are
9. ↑ Rina Sawayama - Where U Are (Official Video)
10. ↑ "RINA SAWAYAM on Twitter". Twitter (17 January 2018). Retrieved on July 11, 2021. “this was shot on £400 or something (!) in the director Ali's bedroom + living room it was soooo fun <3”