Like I Would

## **Like I Would**Single by ZAYN

### Songwriter(s)

Zayn Malik, Chase Wells, James Griffin, Alex Oriet, Kevin Rains, Salvador Waviest

### Producer(s)

XYZ

"**Like I Would**" (stylized as **LIKE I WOULD**) is song of the English singer-songwriter Zayn's debut solo album, *Mind Of Mine (Deluxe Edition)*. It was released on March 10, 2016 as the second official single. It is only available on the deluxe edition of the album.

Lyrically, the song tries to prove to someone that he is the best thing she is ever going to get and that her new lover lacks the skills he brings to the bedroom.

## Background

As described by the *Billboard,* the song is like a "dancefloor-ready R&B jam". *The Independent* described it as "electro-R&B".

According to *Complex*, the song features an "upbeat backdrop and a catchy hook", and according to *Spin*, it has "a steady bass" and "funkyhook." It has been also described as a dance track.

 The song incorporates disco grooves in its chorus and brooding lyrics.

The song’s lyrics were met with immediate comparisons, on Twitter to his former group’s 2012 song “I Would.”

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

Hey what's up, it's been a while

Talking 'bout it's not my style

Thought I'd see what's up

While I'm lighting up

It's cold-hearted, cold-hearted

**[Verse 2]**

Know it's late but I'm so wired

Saw your face and got inspired

Guess you let it go, now you're good to go

It's cold-hearted, cold-hearted

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Oh, oh

It's probably gonna sound wrong

Promise it won't last long

Oh, oh

If we can never go back

Thought you'd like to know that

**[Chorus]**

He won't touch you like I do

He won't love you like I would

He don't know your body

He don't do you right

He won't love you like I would

Love you like I would

**[Verse 2]**

It's okay to want me, 'cause I want you

Been thinkin' it over, but I'm through

So stop wasting all my time, messing with my mind

It's cold-hearted, cold-hearted

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Oh, oh

It's probably gonna sound wrong

Promise it won't last long

Oh, oh

If we can never go back

Thought you'd like to know that

**[Chorus]**

He won't touch you like I do

He won't love you like I would

He don't know your body

He don't do you right

He won't love you like I would

Love you like I would, like I would

He won't touch you like I do

He won't love you like I would

He don't know your body

He don't do you right

He won't love you like I would

Love you like I would, like I would

**[Bridge]**

He can't love you like I would

He can't love you like I could

He don't know your body

He don't know your body

**[Chorus]**

He, won't touch you like I do

He, won't love you like I would

He don't know your body

He don't do you right

He won't love you like I would

Love you like I would

Like I would

He can't touch you like I would

Won't touch you like I do

He can't love you like I could

Won't love you like I would

He don't know your body

He don't do you right

He won't love you like I would

Love you like I would

Like I would

## Music Video

### Background

The music video for the song was uploaded onto his YouTube/VEVO account on 10 May 2016. It was shot by Director X in a Los Angeles studio. Zayn's appearance in the video, and the video's array of lights and lasers, takes inspiration from the *Tron* science fiction films. Director X had previously directed Usher's "Yeah", which he said he had "been wanting to redo" differently with "all laser" for a long time. He also cited *Tron* as inspiration. The video features the Cyclone, a large custom laser rig created by Zayn's laser designers. The video also features energetic dancing by a squad of dancers.

Zayn's appearance in the video, including a neon suit and a bright orange eye contact, takes inspiration from Marvel Comics' current Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes, who was in turn inspired by Malik. According to Director X, the orange eye contact was Zayn's idea. It is seen as part of Zayn's "man in the machine" theme, including his 2 May 2016 appearance at Met Gala's *Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology*, where he wore metal robot arms over his tuxedo. The music video reached number 15 on the UK TV Airplay Chart.

 **Length**
 **Director**
 **Location**
 **VEVO views**

### Synopsis

The video starts with Zayn "in the center of a beam of neon blue lines of light," as explained by *Rolling Stone*'s Brittany Spanos, who continued: "His full outfit is also covered with neon lines that glow against a black background and he's sporting an orange contact lens on one of his eyes. Elsewhere a crew of dancers, mostly made up of women, dance to the track amidst more neon lights.". Brennan Carley of *Spin* called it "pretty spectacular" with "a stunningly shot treatment."

## Live Performances

Malik performed "Like I Would" live on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* on March 24, 2016, and at the *Mind of Mine* iHeartRadio release party on March 25, 2016. He also performed the song at the 3rd iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 03, 2016. His performance was ranked the best performance at the show by *International Business Times*, and the third best performance by *Billboard*. He also performed the song at KIIS-FM's Wango Tango on May 14, 2016, and during the season 10 finale of *The Voice* on May 24, 2016.

## Remix Versions

These are the list of remix versions of "Like I Would".

## Commercial Performance

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada, it debuted at number 23 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 14 on the Canadian Digital Songs chart.

In the United States, it debuted at number 55 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 and number 18 on the Pop Digital Songs chart. It is Zayn's third Hot 100 hit, after "Pillowtalk" and "It's You". "Like I Would" also debuted at number 31 on the Digital Songs chart, selling 26,000 downloads, and number 42 on the Streaming Songs chart, with 5.6 million streams.

Commercially, the song reached the top-forty in eight countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. It also became his second song as a solo artist to reach the *Billboard* Hot 100 where it peaked at number 55, and also topped the country's dance charts.

## Reception

*The Fader* included it in their "11 Songs You Need In Your Life This Week" list, describing it as a "euphoric, super danceable breakup jam". Nate Scott of *USA Today* ranked it number two on his "10 best songs of the week" list, calling it "another step in the right direction," noting that "the dancey track has verve and Malik’s voice shows some range." Lewis Corner and Amy Davidson of Digital Spy also included it in their "10 tracks you need to hear" list, stating that they "were still waiting for that *BIG* pop banger we know he's capable of" and that "Like I Would" is "just that and then some." Corner later added that the song is "screaming louder than Zayn's fans to be a No.1 hit" as the "hook is contagious, the lyric is swoon-worthy arrogant, and the chorus is enough to pop off arena ceilings across the globe." Robbie Daw of Idolator called it "a glorious ’80s throwback". Andrew Milne of musicOMH called it an "exhilarating breakup banger," while Brittany Spanos of *Rolling Stone* enjoyed it for being a "clubby success."

Edwin Ortiz of *Complex* stated that it "has major potential to get burn in clubs across the country." Nicholas Parco of *New York Daily News* stated that the track "is primed to be an early contender for hit of the early summer". Brennan Carley of *Spin* praised "ZAYN’s rich, warm vocals" that "weave themselves around a backing choir before a huge funky hook kicks in." Carley also stated: "What 'Sorry' did to jumpstart Justin Bieber's 'Purpose', 'Like I Would' is the poppy kick in the ass 'Mind of Mine' needed pre-release." Leah Greenblatt of *Entertainment Weekly* noted that the song leans "headfirst into sleek, Weeknd-style hedonism," a sentiment that Maeve McDermott of *USA Today* also expressed, writing that it "give us another clue what R&B contemporary Malik is taking clues from on this record: the Weeknd." Nick Levine of *The Independent* also agreed with both critics about The Weeknd's reference. Michael Cragg of *The Guardian* thought it was weird that "the excellent, upbeat 'Like I Would' is relegated to the deluxe edition".

## Trivia

* Like I Would is Zayn first solo appearance in the *Just Dance 2017*.
* Including his appearance as a member in One Direction, this is his seventh appearance in the *Just Dance (Series)*.
* The background of Like I Would is inspired by its music video, as it has similar relationship with the glowing and dim lines in the background *Just Dance 2017 Gameplay* .

## Credits and Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of *Mind of Mine*, RCA Records

### Recording

* Recorded at Record Plant, Los Angeles, California; Grove Studios, Los Angeles.
* Mixed at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, California

### Personnel

* Zayn – vocals, writing.
* Chase Wells – writing, production, keyboards, programming, guitars.

* James Griffin – writing, production, keyboards, programming.
* Kevin Rains – writing, production, keyboards, programming.
* James Emerson – writing, production, keyboards, programming, guitars.

* Salvador Waviest – writing, production, keyboards, programming, guitars, recording.
* Couros Sheibani – keyboards, programming.
* Serban Ghenea – mixing
* Henrique Andrade – recording.
* Alex Layne – recording assistant.
* John Hanes – mixing engineer.

## References

1. ↑ Hear Zayn Malik's Dancey 'Like I Would'
2. ↑ Zayn Shifts Focus to Dancefloor on New Track 'Like I Would'
3. ↑ Zayn Malik new music
4. ↑ ZAYN Takes It to the Club With His New Song, "LIKE I WOULD"
5. ↑ ZAYN’s ‘Like I Would’ Moves ‘Mind of Mine’ to the Center of the Dance Floor
6. ↑ Zayn's "Like I Would" Lyrics Sing An Uptempo Ode To A Love Lost
7. ↑ Zayn channels The Weeknd on new song 'Like I Would'
8. ↑ Fans on Twitter
9. ↑ Fans troll Malik over One Direction similarities
10. ↑ https://justdance.fandom.com/wiki/Like\_I\_Would
11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB7eiCGpg6g