Heartless (Diplo song)

"Heartless"
Single by Thomas Wesley featuring Morgan Wallen
from the album Chapter 1: Snake Oil
ReleasedAugust 16, 2019 (2019-08-16)
Genre
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Diplo singles chronology
"JustYourSoul"
(2019)
"Heartless"
(2019)
"Lonely"
(2019)
Morgan Wallen singles chronology
"Chasin' You"
(2019)
"Heartless"
(2019)
"More Than My Hometown"
(2020)
Music video
"Heartless" on YouTube

"Heartless" is a song by American producer Diplo featuring American country music singer Morgan Wallen. It was released through Mad Decent and Columbia Records on August 16, 2019. The music video was directed by Brandon Dermer and premiered on September 5, 2019.[3]

Background

[edit]

"Heartless" is a part of Diplo's first "country project" and album Chapter 1: Snake Oil where he collaborated with many different artists, creating songs with a mashup of trap, pop, country, and dance/electronic music. The album was released on May 29, 2020.[4] Writing credits were given to Diplo, Wallen, King Henry, Ryan Vojtesak, Ernest Keith Smith, and Ryan Hurd.[5]

Andrew McInnes, Diplo's manager, reached out to Seth England, who is Wallen's manager, along with Florida Georgia Line and Chris Lane. Diplo and Wallen did not even meet until the making of the music video.[6]

Commercial performance

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"Heartless" was certified gold by the RIAA on November 19, 2019, platinum on February 12, 2020, and double platinum on June 16, 2020, for 2 million units in sales and streams.[7] The song has sold 73,000 copies in the United States as of March 2020.[8]

Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Heartless" was released onto YouTube on September 5, 2019. In the video, Wallen and Diplo are seen exploring Atlantic City. In the beginning, the camera shifts from the men playing games at a carnival to them singing on the beach and boardwalk. Later the pair is seen getting in a car where they are taken to a casino, when finally, they are performing a concert on stage for a crowd until the ending where the two share a hug.[9]

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 99
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 62
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 39
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 10
US Rolling Stone Top 100[15] 31

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (2019) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] 75
Chart (2020) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] 55

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18] 4× Platinum 280,000
Canada (Music Canada)[19] 7× Platinum 560,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[7] 7× Platinum 7,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Julia Michaels version

[edit]
"Heartless"
Single by Thomas Wesley and Julia Michaels featuring Morgan Wallen
from the album Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1: Snake Oil
ReleasedJanuary 31, 2020 (2020-01-31)
GenrePop
Length2:53
Julia Michaels singles chronology
"Cool Anymore"
(2019)
"Heartless"
(2020)
"Give It to You"
(2020)
Music video
"Heartless" on YouTube

A re-recorded version of the song featuring American singer Julia Michaels was released on January 31, 2020.[21] A second video clip was released on the same day.[22] The video was filmed in Nashville and again, directed by Brandon Dermer. The clip takes place at a motel where Wallen and Michaels appear to be having issues in their respective relationships. When both of them step outside for fresh air, they ditch their lovers and run away together.[23] The remix impacted pop radio in the US on February 25, 2020.[24][25]

Music video

[edit]

The alternate music video with Julia Michaels was released to YouTube on January 31, 2020.[26] In the video, both Wallen and Michaels are seen at the same motel, both with a significant other. First, Michaels is seen having trouble connecting with her man, as he shrugs her off when she attempts to put her head on his shoulder. It then shifts to Wallen who is also seen having the same trouble with his girl, as she shrugs him away when he attempts to put his arm around her. After a few shots of them singing in their rooms, they both then walk out of the door and lean on the walls next to each other, where they share a smile and a nod. They both go back in to pack their bags. Finally they both meet outside to get in Wallen's truck and drive off where the video comes to an end.[27]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 35
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[29] 19
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[30] 37
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 22

Wallen Album Mix

[edit]
"Heartless (Wallen Album Mix)"
Promotional single by Morgan Wallen
from the album Dangerous: The Double Album
ReleasedAugust 28, 2020 (2020-08-28)
GenreCountry
Length2:49
Label
Producer(s)Joey Moi
Music video
"Heartless (Wallen Album Mix)" on YouTube

Wallen released a solo re-recorded version of the song in August 2020.[32] A studio video was released several days later.[33] This version of the song was solely produced by Joey Moi and instrumentally changed to sound like country music.[34] It was included on Wallen's sophomore album Dangerous: The Double Album.[35]

Critical reception

[edit]

Wes Langeler of Whiskey Riff called the album mix "way better than the original", crediting the production choices and highlighting the use of real drums, banjos, slide guitar, and the mandolin.[32]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (August 18, 2019). "Diplo shares new country song "Heartless," featuring Morgan Wallen". The Fader. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Freeman, Jon (August 16, 2019). "Hear Diplo, Morgan Wallen's New Trap-Country Ballad 'Heartless'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ^ "Diplo presents: Thomas Wesley - Heartless feat. Morgan Wallen (Official Music Video)". YouTube. September 5, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Freeman, Jon (2020-04-20). "Diplo Recruits Orville Peck, Morgan Wallen for 'Snake Oil' LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  5. ^ "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ "How Diplo And Morgan Wallen Collaboration Came About".
  7. ^ a b "American single certifications – Diplo – Heartless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 4, 2020). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Sales Chart: March 2, 2020". Rough Stock. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #544". auspOp. September 28, 2019. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "Diplo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  13. ^ "Diplo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "Diplo Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Songs, June 26, 2020 - July 2, 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  16. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  17. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Diplo – Heartless". Music Canada. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "British single certifications – Diplo – Heartless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  21. ^ "Heartless - single by Diplo and Julia Michaels". Apple Music. January 31, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  22. ^ "Diplo, Thomas Wesley "Heartless" ft. Julia Michaels & Morgan Wallen". Forevery One Now. February 1, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  23. ^ "Morgan Wallen Teams With Diplo and Julia Michaels For New Version of "Heartless"". Country Now. January 31, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  24. ^ "Top 40/M: Impacting Songs". AllAccess. February 25, 2020. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Heartless: Diplo & Julia Michaels feat. Morgan Wallen". Radio Date. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020.
  26. ^ "Diplo presents: Thomas Wesley - Heartless ft. Julia Michaels & Morgan Wallen (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 31 January 2020.
  27. ^ Diplo presents: Thomas Wesley - Heartless ft. Julia Michaels & Morgan Wallen (Official Music Video), 31 January 2020, retrieved 2020-05-09
  28. ^ "Diplo Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  29. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  30. ^ "Diplo Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  31. ^ "Diplo Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  32. ^ a b Langeler, Wes (September 5, 2020). "Morgan Wallen Drops "Heartless (Wallen Album Mix)" & It's Way Better Than The Original". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  33. ^ "Diplo Presents: Thomas Wesley - Heartless feat. Morgan Wallen (Wallen Album Mix) (Studio Video)" (video). YouTube. 2020-09-01. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  34. ^ Kaufman, Gil (November 12, 2020). "Morgan Wallen Announces 30-Track Double Album 'Dangerous': The 'Idea Started Off As Just a Joke'". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  35. ^ "Morgan Wallen Announces Dangerous: The Double Album, Out January 8". Umusic. November 12, 2020. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.