Would You Mind

## Single by PrettyMuch

"**Would You Mind**" is the debut single by PrettyMuch, released through Syco Music and Columbia Records on July 21, 2017. It is the lead track from their first extended play, *PrettyMuch So Far...* (2018), and landed on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 Airplay chart. The accompanying music video was uploaded to YouTube on September 15, 2017. To MTV, Austin Porter said, "This song is basically showing that chivalry isn't dead."

## Synopsis

Simon Cowell's newest pop hopes PRETTYMUCH make an assured step toward stardom on this debut single. A showcase for the L.A. five-piece's honeyed, vice-tight harmonies, "Would You Mind" rolls back 30 years to the swingbeat era while also packing in a timelessly addictive pop hook and a dash of woozy alt-R&B.

## Background

To *Idolator*, the group collectively agreed that it was based on a "real-life experience," where they recalled the times of being uncertain to approach someone they found attractive. In another interview, Edwin Honoret said, "It's a song when you see a girl, and you're like, "Dang, I wanna pull that girl closer." You do the gentleman-ly thing and ask, "Would you mind," like a lowkey pickup line. Getting that girl in the most polite way." Brandon Arreaga added, "It's high-energy; we want to get people dancing. We want to surprise the world a little bit with those harmonies, throw something at the radio that they haven't heard."

They did a live performance at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards, where their performance aired on August 13th, on FOX. They also performed it on MTV in August 2017, and at Scala for their headline London show in June 2019.

## Music video

### Background

A dance visual video was uploaded to YouTube on August 11, 2017, filmed and edited by Noah Duran. A month later, the official music video, directed by Emil Nava, was released on September 15th. Shot on the streets of Los Angeles with low-angle shots and vintage cameras, Nava shared in an interview with *MTV*, "The thing that I wanted to do, and what I said in my treatment right from the onset, is I really want to become one of the band, almost like the sixth member. I'm definitely a lot older than them, but I still feel pretty young. I wanted to become one of them and I wanted them to feel like I was one of them so I could push them as far as I needed to." He continued that his vision was to "throw back to those eras" of the 90s, such as the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, "where it just feels so raucous and free." The band themselves said they wanted to "go for that old school Beastie Boys feel."

### Synopsis

The video pans over each member, and incorporates movement shots and closeups. It concludes with the message, "To be continued..."

## Personnel

* Austin Porter - vocals
* Brandon Arreaga - vocals
* Chris Gehringer - masterer
* Cory Bice - assistant engineer
* Edwin Honoret - vocals
* Ilya Salmanzadeh - background vocals, writer, producer, bass, drums, keyboards, programmer
* Jacob Kasher Hindlin - writer
* Jeremy Lertola- assistant engineer
* John Hanes - engineer
* Max Martin - background vocals, keyboards
* Nick Mara - vocals
* Peter Karlsson - producer
* Peter Svensson - writer
* Sam Holland - engineer
* Savan Kotecha - background vocals, writer, producer
* Serban Ghenea - mixer
* Zion Kuwonu - vocals

## Gallery

PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (Teaser 1)PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (Audio)PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (Dance Visual)PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (Behind the Scenes)PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (Teen Choice Awards)PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (A Cappella)PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (MTV)MTV - PrettyMuch Break Down 'Would You Mind'PrettyMuch - Would You Mind (Scala)
## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Zion, *All*]

If I pulled you closer, would you *mind*?

Would you *mind*? Would you *mind*?

(Let's go!)

[Verse 1: Brandon]

Say you don't catch feelings, say you ain't the love type

I'ma have to work, then, (uh) the whole night

Nothing like your ex, no, this ain't what you used to

Just give me that chance, girl, (uh) won't lose you

[Pre-Chorus: Zion, *Austin*]

And I know you've been hurt before, but

I'll make it better for ya

I'll make it better for ya, for ya (*Ow!*)

And you heard it all before, but

I've got a question for ya, I've got a question

[Chorus: All]

If I pulled you closer, would you mind?

Would you mind?

Would you mind?

If my hands get lower when we grind

When we grind, would you mind?

If I pulled you closer, would you

[Verse 2: Zion *All*]

Let's not waste a moment

Ain't no need to be shy

I got room for your friends

If your friends want a ride (*Ahh*)

Tell them not to stress, though (*Oh*)

I'll treat you so special (Special)

Just give me that chance, girl, and

I won't let go

[Pre-Chorus: Edwin, *Austin*]

And I know you've been hurt before, but

I'll make it better for ya

I'll make it better for ya, for ya (*Ow!*)

And you heard it all before, but

I've got a question for ya, I've got a question

[Chorus: All]

If I pulled you closer, would you mind?

Would you mind?

Would you mind?

If my hands get lower when we grind

When we grind, would you mind?

If I pulled you closer, would you

[Bridge: Brandon, *Austin* & **All**]

**Mind, mind,** (c'mon) **mi-i-ind**

Tell me, baby, would you mind?

Tell me, baby, would you mind? (*Aye, aye*)

**Mind, mind, mi-i-ind**

Tell me, baby, would you mind?

Tell me, baby, would you mind?

[Pre-Chorus: Nick, *Brandon*]

Girl, I know you've been hurt before, but

I'll make it better for ya

I'll make it better for ya, for you

*I'll make it better*

[Chorus: All, *Edwin*, **Brandon**]

If I pulled you closer, would you mind?

Would you mind?

Would you mind?

If my hands get lower when we grind

When we grind, would you mind?

(*Oh! Tell me would you mind, girl*)

If I pulled you closer, would you mind?

(I know you've been hurt before, but)

Would you mind?

(I'll make it better for ya)

Would you mind?

(**I'll make it better for ya, oh oh oh, babe**)

If my hands get lower when we grind

(And you heard it all before, but)

When we grind

(I got a question for ya)

Would you mind?

(I got a question)

If I pulled you closer, would you mind (**Babe**)

(Mind, mind, mi-i-ind)

## References

1. ↑ Armstrong, Megan (January 29, 2021). "PrettyMuch Wants to Be the Anti-Boy Band". *GQ*. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
2. ↑ "PRETTYMUCH Break Down ‘Would You Mind’ | MTV Push: Artist to Watch". *YouTube*. October 6, 2017.
3. ↑ Wass, Mikey (July 21, 2017). "PRETTYMUCH On Boy Band Life & Debut Single "Would You Mind": Interview". *Idolator*. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
4. ↑ Ginsberg, Gabriella (July 21, 2017). "PRETTYMUCH Dishes On First Single 'Would You Mind' & Upcoming French Montana Collab". *Hollywood Life*.
5. ↑ "PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind (Live at Teen Choice Awards)". *YouTube*. August 17, 2017.
6. ↑ "PRETTYMUCH - Would You Mind (Dance Visual)". *YouTube*. August 11, 2017.
7. ↑ Hosken, Patrick (September 19, 2017). "PrettyMuch Director Breaks Down the Influences Behind 'Would You Mind' Video". *MTV*.
8. ↑ Salud, April (September 26, 2017). "PRETTYMUCH Wanted an 'Old School Beastie Boys' Feel to 'Would You Mind': Watch Interview". *Billboard*.