Released 2014 Genre Dancehall, reggae | Format Digital download Length 3:36 | |
Label RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) Writer(s) Constantin Ionita
Fady Fatrouni (Faydee)
Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo
Orville Burrell (Shaggy)
Dimitriu Silviu Aurelian | ||
"Habibi (I Need Your Love)" is a song by Shaggy, Mohombi, Faydee and Costi. In a later specially released version targeting English language markets, the song is retitled "I Need Your Love" crediting Shaggy as main performer featuring Mohombi, Faydee and Costi. The song was written by the Australian recording artist of Lebanese origin Faydee and Romanian recording artist Costi. The song is in Arabic, English and Spanish. "Habibi" means "my love" in Arabic language. Additionally a number of mixed language versions were released including Bulgarian, French and Russian.
Contents
Releases
The main release of the single "Habibi (I Need Your Love)" has the vocal collaborations of the Jamaican Reggae singer and deejay Shaggy (Orville Richard Burrell), the Swedish singer of Congolese and Swedish origins Mohombi (Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo), as well as co-writers and performers the Australian-Lebanese singer Faydee (Fady Fatrouni) and Romanian Costi Ioniță.
The song was released in 2014 becoming very popular in night venues internationally. Prominent success has been in the Middle East and the Arab World, Australia, Continental Europe, particularly the Balkans, Eastern Europe (most prominently Romania and Moldova). Various local versions also became popular in Russia and on the Asian continent.
In 2015, it got even wider attention after charting on the US Billboard Hot 100 main chart peaking at number 66 with a version crediting Shaggy as main performer. The Shaggy-credited version also charted on other Billboard charts, notably the Mainstream Top 40, Dance/Mix Show Airplay and Rhythmic charts crediting Shaggy as main performer.
Music video
A music video was shot in Valencia, Spain with all four performers portrayed having fun at a public music venue, at a stadium, during a festival and on various tourist attractions in Spain and on a yacht in the sea. The video was produced by Romanian singer Costi through his record and video production company. Just like in the main release, there are two versions of the video one including Arabic as "Habibi (I Need Your Love)" and one excluding Arabic for English language markets as "I Need Your Love".
"I Need Your Love"
A special release targeting the American, UK, Japanese and Australian markets excludes the Arabic language segments, as Faydee performs his own parts in English instead. This special version excludes the Arabic word "Habibi" in the title retitling it as "I Need Your Love". The release is credited to Shaggy as main performer with the full credit as "Shaggy featuring Mohombi, Faydee, Costi".
This version on RED Associated Labels, a division of Sony Music Entertainment has been a hit in the United States and a minor hit in the United Kingdom.
In mid-May 2015, "I Need Your Love" charted at #66 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 becoming Shaggy's first Top 100 hit since "Angel" in America.
Language versions
The song proved popular and many local versions were also produced through collaborations with well-known local artists, notably:
Live performances
Faydee performed it live during the Media Music Awards in Romania broadcast on MTV Romania on 10 October 2014.
The Bulgarian version was performed live by Galena, Faydee and Costi during a gala broadcast on the Bulgarian Planeta HD station.
Faydee has also had a number of appearances in interviews on mainly Romanian television and radio stations performing live versions of the song.