{{other uses}} {{Infobox song | name = It Was Always You | cover = Maroon 5 - It Was Always You Single Cover.png | alt = | border = yes | type = [[Promotional recording|Promotional single]] | artist = [[Maroon 5]] | album = [[V (Maroon 5 album)|V]] | released = {{start date|2014|7|29}}<ref>{{cite web |title=It Was Always You - Single |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0t0pUZSbSfU305juszE1en |website=Spotify |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref> | recorded = 2013–2014; <br> [[Conway Studios]] <br> {{small|([[Los Angeles, California]])}} | studio = | venue = | genre = [[Electronic rock|Electro-rock]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Maroon 5 returns with its fifth studio album, V. Adam Levine and company focus on delivering slick, modern pop songs. |url=https://themusicalhype.com/maroon-5-v-album-review/ |website=The Musical Hype |access-date=20 November 2022 |date=4 September 2014}}</ref> | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=00}} | label = {{hlist|[[222 Records|222]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]}} | writer = {{hlist|[[Adam Levine]]|[[Sam Martin (singer)|Sam Martin]]|[[Jason Evigan]]|[[The Monsters and the Strangerz|Marcus Lomax]]|[[The Monsters and the Strangerz|Jordan Johnson]]|[[The Monsters and the Strangerz|Stefan Johnson]]}} | producer = {{hlist|Jason Evigan|[[The Monsters and the Strangerz]]}} | chronology = [[Maroon 5]] promotional singles | prev_title = [[Lucky Strike (Maroon 5 song)|Lucky Strike]] | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = [[Help Me Out]] | next_year = 2017 }}
"'''It Was Always You'''" is a song by American band [[Maroon 5]]. It was released through [[222 Records|222]] and [[Interscope Records]] on July 29, 2014, as the first and only promotional single from their fifth studio album ''[[V (Maroon 5 album)|V]]'' (2014). Critical reception for the song was mixed to positive, with reviewers noting its upbeat electropop sound and a departure from the band's rock roots, though some critics found the song to be a bit generic.
== Composition and recording ==
"It Was Always You" was written by Maroon 5's lead singer [[Adam Levine]], [[Sam Martin (singer)|Sam Martin]], [[Jason Evigan]], [[The Monsters and the Strangerz|Marcus Lomax]], [[The Monsters and the Strangerz|Jordan Johnson]] and [[The Monsters and the Strangerz|Stefan Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/v-deluxe-version/id900751540 |title=''V (Deluxe Version)'' by Maroon 5 |date=July 29, 2014 |work=[[iTunes Store]] |publisher=[[Interscope Records]] |access-date=July 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310095847/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/v-deluxe-version/id900751540 |archive-date=March 10, 2015 }} Information available by purchasing "It Was Always You", or by viewing the [[iTunes Store]] (with version 11.3 of [[iTunes]]) in Column Browser mode, selecting Music > Pop > Pop/Rock > Maroon 5 > V (Deluxe Version), right-clicking "It Was Always You", and selecting "Get Info".</ref> It was produced by [[Jason Evigan]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Billboard Hot 100|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/the-billboard-hot-100|website=www.billboard.com|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=2014-09-13}}</ref> and [[The Monsters and the Strangerz]].<ref name="Garibaldi">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1883527/maroon-5-new-track-it-was-always-you/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803220546/http://www.mtv.com/news/1883527/maroon-5-new-track-it-was-always-you/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 3, 2014|title=Adam Levine Crosses The Line From Friends To Lovers On Maroon 5′s New Track: Listen Now|last=Garibaldi|first=Christina|date=July 30, 2014|work=[[MTV News]]|publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|access-date=July 31, 2014}}</ref> The upbeat ballad, lyrically about friends becoming lovers,<ref name="Garibaldi"/><ref name="Wass">{{cite news|url=http://www.idolator.com/7528768/maroon-5-it-was-always-you|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806203949/http://www.idolator.com/7528768/maroon-5-it-was-always-you|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2014|title=Maroon 5 Embrace Synths On 'It Was Always You': Listen To The Upbeat 'V' Buzz Track|last=Wass|first=Mike|date=July 29, 2014|work=[[Idolator (website)|Idolator]]|publisher=[[Spin Media]]|access-date=July 31, 2014}}</ref> features Levine singing such lyrics as: "Woke up sweating from a dream / With a different kind of feeling", "Hazel eyes, I was so color blind", "It was always you / Can't believe I could not see it all this time, all this time", "Now I know why my heart wasn't satisfied, satisfied" and "All my hidden desires finally came alive" in his signature [[falsetto]], [[Belting (music)|belted]] over synthesizers.<ref name="Simone">{{cite news|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/564317/is-maroon-5-s-it-was-always-you-about-adam-levine-s-hot-model-wife-listen-now|title=Is Maroon 5's Newest Single 'It Was Always You' About Adam Levine's Hot Model Wife?|last=Simone|first=Chima|author-link=Chima Simone|date=July 29, 2014|work=[[E! Online]]|publisher=[[NBCUniversal]]|access-date=July 31, 2014}}</ref> [[E! Online]]'s [[Chima Simone]] noted that these lyrics might refer to Levine's wife [[Behati Prinsloo]].<ref name="Simone"/> "Sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you," [[MTV News]]' Christina Garibaldi noted as the song's central message.<ref name="Garibaldi"/> Levine is joined on the song by fellow Maroon 5 members: keyboardist and rhythm guitarist [[Jesse Carmichael]] (who did not perform on the band's 2012 album ''[[Overexposed (album)|Overexposed]]''), drummer [[Matt Flynn (musician)|Matt Flynn]], bassist [[Mickey Madden]], keyboardist [[PJ Morton]] and lead guitarist [[James Valentine (musician)|James Valentine]].<ref name="Simone"/>
In a departure from the band's usual [[pop rock]] songs and their previous pop-leaning single "[[Maps (Maroon 5 song)|Maps]]", "It Was Always You" incorporates electronic synthesizers (opening with "jittery synths", according to ''[[Idolator (website)|Idolator]]'''s Mike Wass)<ref name="Wass"/> and is an [[electropop]] song.<ref name="Garibaldi"/><ref name="Simone"/> Its sound has been compared to [[1980s music]].<ref name="Garibaldi"/> While noted as a different musical style for the band, Wass described it as "unmistakably Maroon 5".<ref name="Wass"/> Carolyn Menyes from ''Music Times'' explained: "This song takes the band's new poppy direction and makes it dark, with yearning vocals and deep twists".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/8090/20140729/review-maroon-5-it-was-always-you-new-song-v-listen.htm|title=REVIEW: Maroon 5 'It Was Always You', New Song from 'V' Explores Friends Falling In Love [LISTEN]|journal=Music Times|last=Menyes|first=Carolyn|date=July 29, 2014|access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>
== Live performances ==
On August 26, 2014, Maroon 5 performed "It Was Always You" for the first time at the [[iHeartRadio]] Theater in [[Burbank, California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/573587/maroon-5-performs-seven-songs-during-v-album-release-party-teases-upcoming-tour-all-the-details|title=Maroon 5 Performs Seven Songs During V Album Release Party, Teases Upcoming Tour—All the Details!|last=Johnson|first=Zach|work=[[E! News]]|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> On August 30, 2014, the song was performed on ''[[ESPN Saturday Night Football]]'', with the accompanying performance video being released the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMcBz3EgNw4|title=Bellaluca — Saturday Night Football Opener with Maroon 5|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=June 16, 2020}}</ref>
The band also performing with the track live on ''[[Today (American TV program)|The Today Show]]'' at [[Rockefeller Center#Rockefeller Plaza|Rockefeller Plaza]] in [[New York (state)|New York]], on September 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://directlyrics.com/video-maroon-5-perform-v-songs-on-the-today-show-news.html|title=Video: Maroon 5 Perform "V" Songs On "The Today Show"|work=Direct Lyrics|last=Apaza|first=Kevin|date=September 1, 2014|access-date=September 8, 2018}}</ref> and the 2014 [[iTunes Festival]] at the [[Roundhouse (venue)|Roundhouse]] in [[London]] on September 11, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/ek9nhw/maroon-5-itunes-festival-performance-review|title=Maroon 5 Ensure iTunes Festival Performance Is Anything But 'One More Night'|work=[[MTV UK]]|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=October 22, 2014}}</ref>
The track has been performed 48 known times by the band.<ref>{{cite web |title=It Was Always You performed by Maroon 5 |url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/maroon-5-4bd6bfea.html?songid=5bc56b34 |website=Setlist.FM |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>
== Charts == === Weekly charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2014) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Australia|43|artist=Maroon 5|song=It Was Always You|rowheader=true|access-date=August 16, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Canada|19|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true|access-date=August 7, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Czechdigital|39|year=2014|week=32|rowheader=true|access-date=August 12, 2014}} |- !scope="row"|Europe ([[Euro Digital Songs]])<ref name="Europe">{{cite magazine|title=Euro Digital Songs |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/euro-digital-songs |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317132644/http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/euro-digital-songs |archive-date=March 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|35 |- {{single chart|France|76|artist=Maroon 5|song=It Was Always You|rowheader=true|access-date=August 8, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Germany|88|artist=Maroon 5|song=It Was Always You|songid=1315731|rowheader=true|access-date=October 19, 2018}} |- {{single chart|ItalyFIMI|50|artist=Maroon 5|song=It Was Always You|rowheader=true|access-date=April 18, 2015|week=37|year=2014|chartid=1883}} |- !scope="row"|Portugal (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2014-29-08/portugal|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=16 August 2014|title=Portugal Digital Songs - Peak}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|34 |- {{single chart|Scotland|19|date=2014-08-16|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Slovakdigital|38|year=2014|week=32|rowheader=true|access-date=August 12, 2014}} |- !scope="row"| South Korea ([[Gaon Chart|GAON]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/digital.php?f_type=week&f_year=2014&f_month=&f_week=32&f_chart_kind_cd=T |title=Gaon Chart |language=ko |publisher=[[Gaon Chart]] |access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref> |65 |- !scope="row"|South Korea International Chart ([[Gaon Chart|GAON]])<ref>{{cite web |url =http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/digital.php?f_chart_kind_cd=E&f_week=32&f_year=2014&f_type=week |title =Gaon Chart |publisher =[[Gaon Music Chart|GAON]] |language =ko |access-date =August 7, 2014 |url-status =dead |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140924040817/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/digital.php?f_chart_kind_cd=E&f_week=32&f_year=2014&f_type=week |archive-date =September 24, 2014 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- {{single chart|Spain|32|artist=Maroon 5|song=It Was Always You|rowheader=true|access-date=August 9, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Sweden|53|artist=Maroon 5|song=It Was Always You|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2014}} |- {{single chart|UK|40|date=2014-08-16|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|45|artist=Maroon 5|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2014}} |}
=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2014) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"|South Korea International Chart ([[Gaon Digital Chart|Gaon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php?f_type=year&f_year=2014&f_month=3&f_week=&f_chart_kind_cd=E |title=Gaon Chart |publisher=[[Gaon Music Chart|Gaon]] |language=ko |access-date=January 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110030430/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php?f_type=year&f_year=2014&f_month=3&f_week=&f_chart_kind_cd=E |archive-date=January 10, 2015 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 62 |- |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Maroon 5|title=It Was Always You|relyear=2014|certyear=2016|access-date=18 March 2016}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Maroon 5|title=It Was Always You|relyear=2014|certyear=2018|access-date=20 December 2018}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| Australia | rowspan="4"| July 29, 2014 | rowspan="4"| [[Music download|Digital download]] | rowspan="4"| {{hlist|[[222 Records|222]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]}} | <ref>{{cite web|title=It Was Always You|url=https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Maroon_5_It_Was_Always_You?id=Bjcneh4qs4f66olei2uiddxdgke&hl=en|website=[[Google Play|Google Play Store]]|publisher=[[Google|Google Inc.]]|access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| France | <ref>{{cite web|title=It Was Always You - Maroon 5|url=http://www.qobuz.com/fr-fr/album/it-was-always-you-maroon-5/0060253797264|website=Qobuz|publisher=Qobuz Media|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045712/http://www.qobuz.com/fr-fr/album/it-was-always-you-maroon-5/0060253797264|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United Kingdom | <ref>{{cite web|title=It Was Always You|url=http://www.7digital.com/artist/maroon-5/release/it-was-always-you-1|publisher=[[7digital]]|access-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815235805/http://www.7digital.com/artist/maroon-5/release/it-was-always-you-1|archive-date=15 August 2014}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United States | <ref>{{cite web|title=It Was Always You|url=http://us.7digital.com/artist/maroon-5/release/it-was-always-you|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810062656/http://us.7digital.com/artist/maroon-5/release/it-was-always-you|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2014|publisher=[[7digital|7digital US]]|access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
{{Maroon 5}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:2014 singles]] [[Category:2014 songs]] [[Category:2010s ballads]] [[Category:Maroon 5 songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Adam Levine]] [[Category:Songs written by Jason Evigan]] [[Category:Songs written by Sam Martin (singer)]] [[Category:Songs written by Marcus Lomax]] [[Category:Songs written by Stefan Johnson]] [[Category:Songs written by Jordan Johnson (songwriter)]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by the Monsters & Strangerz]] [[Category:222 Records singles]] [[Category:Interscope Records singles]] [[Category:Electropop ballads]] [[Category:Torch songs]]