Unkiss Me

{{Infobox song | name = Unkiss Me | cover = | alt = | border = yes | type = song | artist = [[Maroon 5]] | album = [[V (Maroon 5 album)|V]] | released = {{start date|2014|8|28}} | recorded = 2013–2014 | studio = {{flatlist| * [[MXM Studios|MXM]], Stockholm * [[Conway Recording Studios|Conway]], Los Angeles}} | genre = [[Power ballad]]<ref name="EntWeek">{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Kyle |title=V Reviewed by Kyle Anderson |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20849669,00.html |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904021932/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20849669,00.html |archive-date=4 September 2014 |date=4 September 2014 |quote=Things get mildly better when the band slows down for the Bruno Mars-ian soul jam ''Sugar'' and the middle-school-dance power ballad ''Unkiss Me,''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chin |first1=Aaron |title=MAROON 5 – V (ALBUM REVIEW) |url=https://crypticrock.com/maroon-5-v-album-review/ |website=Cryptic Rock |date=March 18, 2015 |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref> | length = {{duration|m=3|s=58}} | label = {{hlist|[[222 Records|222]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]}} | writer = {{flatlist| * Levine * [[Carolina Liar|Johan Carlsson]] * [[Ross Golan]] }} | producer = {{flatlist| * [[Carolina Liar|Johan Carlsson]] * Noah Passovoy }} }}

"'''Unkiss Me'''" is a song by American pop rock band [[Maroon 5]]. It is featured as the fourth track on band's fifth studio album, ''[[V (Maroon 5 album)|V]]'' (2014). Despite the song's popularity, it has never been performed live by the band.

== Composition ==

"Unkiss Me" starts off with a [[Trap music|trap]] beat,<ref name="EntWeek"></ref> which dissipates during the chorus in favor of a synth instrumental section.<ref name="EntWeek" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Floyd |first1=Marcus |title=Album Review: Maroon 5 – V (Deluxe Edition) |url=https://renownedforsound.com/album-review-maroon-5-v-deluxe-edition/ |website=Renowned For Sound |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref> The entire song is more mid-tempo, along with the next track, "[[Sugar (Maroon 5 song)|Sugar]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Iandoli |first1=Kathy |title=Maroon 5's 'V': Album Review |url=https://www.idolator.com/7533427/maroon-5-v-album-review?view-all&Exc_D_LessThanPoint002_p1=1&intexp=1&chrome=1 |website=Idolator |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=2 September 2014}}{{dead link|date=August 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Lyrically, "Unkiss Me" is about a failed relationship,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Adam R. Holz |title=ALBUM REVIEW V |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/maroon-5-v/ |website=Plugged In |access-date=21 November 2022 |quote=“Unkiss Me” asks a woman to respect a man enough to tell the hard truth about their failing relationship.}}</ref><ref name="Billboard Review">{{cite magazine |last1=Wete |first1=Brad |title=Maroon 5 Tightens Up on 'V': Track-By-Track Review |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/maroon-5-v-album-review-6236613/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=2 September 2014}}</ref> which Levine struggles to overcome.<ref name="Billboard Review" /><ref name="CultVult">{{cite web |last1=Donnellan |first1=Jimmy |title=REVIEW: Maroon 5 – 'V' |url=https://culturedvultures.com/review-maroon-5-v/ |website=Cultured Vultures |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=3 September 2014}}</ref> The song features Levine using his lower register in his voice more so than in other songs.<ref name="Musically Hype">{{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 Musically Hype |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=4 September 2014 |quote=“Unkiss Me” continues adding colorful synths. “Unkiss Me” proves more pop/urban-oriented than “It Was Always You.” Vocally, Levine’s tone is exceptional here, finding him using his lower register more. Lyrically it shines thanks to wise moments like, “You can’t light a fire, if the candle’s melted,” a larger statement of failed love.}}</ref>

== Reception ==

"Unkiss Me" had a mostly positive reaction from critics, with some saying it was the best track on the album,<ref name="Bark">{{cite web |last1=Matthews |first1=Katie |title=Review: 'V' sees Maroon 5 return to their roots |url=https://beardenbark.com/1376/entertainment/review-v-sees-maroon-5-return-to-their-roots/ |website=The Bark |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=album review: 'v' by maroon 5 |url=https://www.spectrum-pulse.ca/blog//2014/09/album-review-v-by-maroon-5.html |website=Spectrum Pulse |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref> although there were some more negative reviews.<ref>{{cite web |title=V Band: Maroon 5 Album: V |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/maroon-5/v/ |website=Rate Your Music |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref> Brad Wete from [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] nominated the song to be released as a single.<ref name="Billboard Review" /> It was noted as an album highlight by Jimmy Donnellin from Cultured Vultures.<ref name="CultVult" /> The song has been compared to [[Boyz II Men]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldstein |first1=Luke |title=Music Review: Maroon - 5 |url=https://blogcritics.org/music-review-maroon-5-v/ |website=BlogCritics |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=11 September 2014}}</ref>

=== Chart performance and streaming ===

Due to the success of ''[[V (Maroon 5 album)|V]]'', "Unkiss Me" (along with many other songs) charted due to strong sales numbers. It peaked at number 56 on the [[Canadian Hot 100]] chart,<ref name="Canada" /> and 15 on the South Korean [[Gaon Chart]].<ref name="Gaon" /> The song has over 66 million streams on [[Spotify]] as of November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unkiss Me |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/1m39XApxHXb2UkGItyyIUO?si=8984f967051e4d52 |website=Spotify |access-date=21 November 2022}}</ref>

== Charts ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Chart (2014) ! Peak<br>position |- | Canada ([[Canadian Hot 100]])<ref name="Canada">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/309663/maroon-5/chart?f=793|title=Maroon 5 Album & Song Chart History|publisher=[[Canadian Hot 100]]|accessdate=19 September 2014}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|56 |- | South Korea International Chart ([[Gaon Chart|GAON]])<ref name="Gaon">{{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 =Korean |accessdate =September 12, 2014}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|15 |- |}

== Personnel ==

Credits are adapted from [[AllMusic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/v-mw0002704238/credits|title=V – Maroon 5: Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref>

'''Maroon 5''' {{div col}} * [[Adam Levine]] – lead and backing vocals, additional drums, songwriting * [[Jesse Carmichael]] – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, backing vocals * [[Mickey Madden]] – bass guitar * [[James Valentine (musician)|James Valentine]] – lead guitar, backing vocals * [[Matt Flynn (musician)|Matt Flynn]] – drums, percussion * [[PJ Morton]] – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, backing vocals {{div col end}}

'''Additional musicians''' {{Div col}} * [[Sam Farrar]] – backing vocals, programming * [[Ross Golan]] – backing vocals, songwriting * [[Carolina Liar|Johan Carlsson]] – songwriting, additional instrumentation, keyboards, mixing, production, programming, vocal production, backing vocals {{div col end}}

'''Technical''' :''this list may be incomplete list of credits'' {{Div col}}

* [[Ryan Tedder]] – songwriting, production, additional instrumentation, programming * John Armstrong – assistant * Astma – additional instrumentation, production, programming * Tim Blacksmith – executive production * [[Max Martin]] – executive production, vocal production * Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy – production * [[Tom Coyne (music engineer)|Tom Coyne]] – mastering * Danny D. – executive producer * Eric Eylands – assistant * Rachael Findlen – assistant * Serban Ghenea – mixing * Clint Gibbs – engineer * John Hanes – mixing * Seif "Mageef" Hussain – production coordination {{div col end}}

== References ==

[[Category:2014 songs]] [[Category:Maroon 5 songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Adam Levine]] [[Category:Songs written by Ross Golan]] [[Category:Songs written by Johan Carlsson (musician)]]