Rooting For You

## Music video

"**Rooting For You**" is the second single from Alessia Cara's sophomore EP, *This Summer*. It was released on August 9, 2019 through Def Jam Recordings. The song impacted mainstream radio on August 27, 2019.

## Background

On August 7, 2019, Cara began teasing the song through her social media accounts. She soon revealed that the song would be released on August 9, 2019. Cara stated that "Rooting for You," along with "October," were her favorite songs from *This Summer*.

## Composition

"Rooting for You" is two minutes and fifty-six seconds long. The song's introduction is slow and consists of a guitar; the song's chorus, meanwhile, has a "synth-and-drum combo" that lasts until the end of the song. The song has been repeatedly described as "funky." The song also features a distorted saxophone.

The song's lyrics detail a failed summer romance which Cara deems "cold."

Genius Lyrics was told by Alessia Cara that this was actually inspired by the iconic clip of Tyra Banks in America’s Next Top Model where she screams: "I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How Dare You!" She also said that she tried to put that in the beginning and the end of the song, but Tyra’s crew did not answer her e-mail in time to approve the sample, although some radio stations played the version with the sample in it.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

Got me feeling like the elephant

In every room I'm walking into, yeah

We started out innocent

'Til I got pulled right into your issue, yeah

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I'm tired of sending hugs and kisses, oh

I'm tired of all your burning bridges

**[Chorus]**

It's like, damn

Why you gotta be so cold in the summertime, summertime?

I was really rooting for ya, yeah (I was rooting for ya)

I was really rooting for ya, yeah yeah (I was, I was rooting for ya)

It's like, man

Why you gotta be so cold in the summertime, summertime?

I was really rooting for ya (I was rooting for ya)

We were really rooting for ya, yeah-eh, yeah (Rooting for, rooting for ya)

**[Post-Chorus]**

I was rooting for ya, I was rooting for ya

**[Verse 2]**

Now I see you're having so much fun with everyone

You had so much fun making fun of

Did you go and bump your head?

Did you forget where you came from?

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I'm tired of sending my well wishes

I'm tired of all your burning bridges, yeah

**[Chorus]**

It's like, damn

Why you gotta be so cold in the summertime, summertime?

I was really rooting for ya, yeah (I was rooting for ya)

I was really rooting for ya, yeah yeah (I was, I was rooting for ya)

It's like, man

Why you gotta be so cold in the summertime, summertime?

I was really rooting for ya (I was rooting for ya)

We were really rooting for ya, yeah-eh, yeah (Rooting for, rooting for ya)

**[Bridge]**

I'm not even brokenhearted (Uh-uh)

I'm just a little disappointed (Uh-uh)

What a shame, we coulda had a good thing

You let go of a good thing

**[Chorus]**

It's like, damn

Why you gotta be so cold in the summertime, summertime?

I was really rooting for ya, yeah yeah

I was really rooting for ya (Oh, I was really rooting for ya)

It's like, damn (Damn)

Why you gotta be so cold in the summertime, summertime?

(In the summertime, in the summertime)

I was really rooting for ya, oh no (I was rooting for ya)

We were really rooting for ya, yeah yeah (Rooting for, rooting for ya)

(We were really rooting for ya)

## Music Video

The music video was released on September 20, 2019 and has surpassed 3 million views as of January 2021.

## Live Performances

Cara performed the song live for the first time during her opening gig of Shawn Mendes' self-titled tour on August 10, 2019. The song was also performed live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 7, 2019. She also performed the single at the 45th People's Choice Awards on November 10, 2019.

## References

1. ↑ https://hitsdailydouble.com/mediabase\_chart\_details&fmt=H1
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/alessiacara/status/1159512681117868034
3. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-alessia-cara-new-song-rooting-for-you-2537095
4. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/alessia-cara-rooting-for-you-this-summer-ep-869242/
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFIw3fyaw-E