"Lucky Strike"
Promotional single by Maroon 5
from the album Overexposed
ReleasedJanuary 20, 2014 (2014-01-20)
RecordedMid 2011–Early 2012
StudioConway Recording Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
GenreDance rock,[1] funk
Length3:05
LabelA&M Octone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ryan Tedder
  • Noel Zancanella
Maroon 5 promotional singles chronology
"Is Anybody Out There"
(2011) 		"Lucky Strike"
(2014) 		"It Was Always You"
(2014)

"Lucky Strike" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5, and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album Overexposed (2012). The song was released on January 20, 2014, in Belgium, as the album's first and only promotional single.[4] It was written by band frontman Adam Levine with producers Ryan Tedder and Noel Zancanella.

The song received generally positive reviews from critics, and is generally regarded as one of the best tracks on Overexposed. Following the release of the album, the song peaked on many different charts, including number two on the singles chart in South Korea and number nine on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

Background

Composition

"Lucky Strike"
A sample of "Lucky Strike", a funk song[5] that contains instrumentation consisted of piano, "driven guitar" accompanied with Levine's vocals.[6]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Lucky Strike" is a funk song that features dubstep and soul influences.[7][5][8][6] The song's instrumentation consists of piano and guitar accompanied with Levine's vocals.[9][6] "Lucky Strike" is written in the key of B minor, in common time (4/4), with a tempo of 144 beats per minute.[9][10] Levine's vocal range spans from the low note of A4 to the high note of B5.[9] According to Robert Copsey of Digital Spy, the song contains the same "bells-and-whistles template" that is present in the band's previous single "Moves Like Jagger".[11] Chuck Arnold of People shared the same opinion as Copsey and described the song as "lightning-paced".[12] Lyrically, the song discovers the theme of sexual intercourse that can be seen through the lines, "Your body rockin', keep me up all night/One in a million, my lucky strike".[13]

Live performances

"Lucky Strike" is the fifteenth most performed song live by Maroon 5,[14][15] being played 252 times by the band.[15] The song was debuted live on the Overexposed Tour, and was played at many shows on the tour.[16][17][18][19][20]

The song was played during most (if not all) shows on the band's Maroon V Tour.[21][22][23]

It was played very few times on the Red Pill Blues Tour,[24] and has been played only semi-often since then.[14]

Critical reception

Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly labeled "Lucky Strike" and "Payphone" as the best tracks on Overexposed and described the former as "a funk-spiked strut".[5] Suzanne Byrne of RTÉ.ie wrote that "Lucky Strike" alongside "Daylight", "The Man Who Never Lied" and "Love Somebody" are all worthy of a single releases (Daylight and Love Somebody were later released as singles).[25] Digital Spy's Robert Copsey named the track together with "One More Night" and "Ladykiller" as the most worthy for download.[11] Chris Payne of Billboard wrote that on the song "Maroon 5's guitars finally come out to play in the opening bars here. Though not a rock song per se, it still packs the energy of the band's earlier, more band-based material."[26] Cameron Adams of Herald Sun described "Lucky Strike" as "uncharacteristically clubby".[27]

Contact Music's Alex Lai wrote that Levine has exchanged his "angelic vocals for singing in favor of more universal hooks" on the album, pointing out Lucky Strike specifically.[28] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters called the song a "danceable carbon copy" of "Second Chance" (Gimme Some, 2011) by Peter Bjorn and John. According to him, "Lucky Strike" imitates the latter "down to the guitar tone" and replaces the original by also adding additional dance beats.[29] The song was compared to the electronic duo 3OH!3 by a writer from The Triangle.[30]

Commercial performance

Upon the release of Overexposed, due to strong digital downloads "Lucky Strike" debuted on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number two on June 24, 2012, with sales of 53,090 copies.[31] The next week it fell to number four and sold an additional 39,392 copies.[32] Following the release of the album, the song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart.[33]

The song has received over 100 million streams on Spotify.[34] As of November 2022, the song has 110.5 million streams.[35]

Personnel

Based on the liner notes of Overexposed, A&M Octone Records.[36]

Maroon 5
Production

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–14) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[37] 3
Canada AC (Billboard)[38] 37
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[39] 39
Canada (Canadian Digital Song Sales)[40] 68
South Korea (Gaon Digital Chart)[41] 3
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[33] 9
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 33

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea (Gaon Chart) — 424,152[43][44]
United States (RIAA)[45] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Guerra, Joey (25 June 2012). "Shine covers weakness from Brown and Maroon 5". My San Antonio. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. ^ ""Overexposed" của Maroon 5: Nghe là sởn da gà". Kenh14. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  3. ^ Kimpel, Dan (20 August 2013). "Songwriter Profile: Noel Zancanella (Maroon 5, One Republic, the Wanted)". Music Connection. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Maroon 5 – Lucky Strike". Hit Parade. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Markovitz, Adam (June 27, 2012). "Overexposed Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Florino, Rick (June 21, 2012). "Maroon 5 'Overexposed' Album Review — 5 out of 5 stars". Artistdirect. Peer Media Technologies. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  7. ^ "Overexposed by Maroon 5". iTunes Store (US). Apple. January 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  8. ^ "Maroon 5 - 'Overexposed'". NME. IPC Media. June 22, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike". Musicnotes.com Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "LUCKY STRIKE Maroon 5". Get Song BPM. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  11. ^ a b Copsey, Robert (June 25, 2012). "Maroon 5: 'Overexposed' - Album review". Digital Spy. Nat Mags. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  12. ^ Arnold, Chuck (June 26, 2012). "Maroon 5's New Album Overexposed: Solid, Not Superior". People. Time Inc. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  13. ^ "Maroon 5 Overexposed". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Lucky Strike performed by Maroon 5". Setlist.FM. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Songs played total". Setlist.FM. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  16. ^ Adams, Mark (31 December 2013). "5 THOUGHTS ON MAROON 5'S DECEMBER 30 MANDALAY BAY SHOW". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  17. ^ Serba, John (26 February 2013). "Maroon 5 live review: Adam Levine's laryngitis prompts short, but mostly sweet, Van Andel Arena show". MLive. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  18. ^ Krewen, Nick (19 February 2013). "Maroon 5 thrills the ACC: concert review". The Star. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  19. ^ CAÑA, John (26 September 2012). "Maroon 5: Overexposed and loving it". Rappler. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  20. ^ Ford, Rebecca (20 October 2012). "Adam Levine Reveals Where Maroon 5's Biggest Hits Came From at Intimate Hometown Show". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  21. ^ Wendowski, Andrew (13 December 2015). "Maroon 5 Makes The Crowd Roar Like Animals at The Wells Fargo Center". Music Mayhem Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Average setlist for tour: Maroon V Tour". Setlist.FM. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  23. ^ Bill Brownlee (March 22, 2015). "Maroon 5 reprises lightweight hits at Sprint Center show". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  24. ^ "Maroon 5 playing Lucky Strike on tour Red Pill Blues Tour". Guest Spectacular. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  25. ^ Byrne, Suzanne (June 30, 2012). "Maroon 5 - Overexposed". RTÉ.ie. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  26. ^ Payne, Chris (June 26, 2012). "Maroon 5, 'Overexposed': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  27. ^ Adams, Cameron (June 20, 2012). "Album review: Overexposed by Maroon 5". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  28. ^ Lai, Alex (17 July 2012). "Maroon 5 - Overexposed Album Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  29. ^ Sawdey, Evan (July 10, 2012). "Maroon 5: Overexposed". PopMatters. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  30. ^ Nowotnik, Helen (6 July 2012). "'Overexposed' lacks familiarity". The Triangle. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  31. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, June 24, 2012 to June 30, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  32. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, July 1, 2012 to July 7, 2012)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Bubbling Under Hot 100 – Issue Date: 2012-07-14". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  34. ^ ""Lucky Strike" has now surpassed 100 Million streams on spotify". Twitter. Maroon 5 On Charts. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  35. ^ "Lucky Strike". Spotify. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  36. ^ Overexposed (inlay cover). Maroon 5. A&M/Octone Records. 2012.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. ^ "Maroon 5 – Lucky Strike" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  38. ^ "Maroon 5 Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  39. ^ "Maroon 5 Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 09, 2014.
  40. ^ "Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  41. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  42. ^ Caulfield, Keith; Trust, Gary (November 11, 2013). "Chart Highlights: Cage The Elephant Returns To No. 1 On Rock Airplay, Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  43. ^ "Online download – 2014". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. To view sales from 2014, select "2014 년". Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  44. ^ "Online download – 2014 Month End Chart - September". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. To view sales from September "2014년 1월", "2014년 2월", and "2014년 3월", respectively. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  45. ^ "American single certifications – Maroon 5 – Lucky Strike". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
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