Recorded 2015 Length 4:11 | Label AtlanticWarner Bros. | |
Released February 17, 2016 (2016-02-17) Writer(s) Garrett NashOlivia O'Brien | ||
"I Hate U, I Love U" (stylized as "i hate u, i love u") is a song by American singer Gnash featuring American singer Olivia O'Brien. It was released on February 17, 2016, as the first single from Gnash's third extended play, Us (2016). The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the United States, the song topped the charts in Australia, a first for both Gnash and O'Brien, and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
Contents
On December 9, 2016, O'Brien released her solo version of the song titled "Hate U Love U".
Background and release
Gnash enlisted San Francisco singer-songwriter Olivia O'Brien, who originally wrote the song, to provide the vocals for the track. O'Brien had already worked with Gnash, having covered his song "Disposable". Gnash originally released the song on July 26, 2015, on his SoundCloud page. It was released commercially on iTunes on February 17, 2016, becoming the lead single of Gnash's extended play, Us (2016).
Lyrical interpretation
The song is a stripped-back piano ballad with minimal beats, and it expresses the aftermath of a sad breakup when both ex-lovers are still missing each other. While O'Brien is still in the same emotional place as when they broke up, Gnash has partly been able to move on.
Music video
The music video for "I Hate U, I Love U" premiered on March 7, 2016.
Critical reception
Time was negative towards "I Hate U, I Love U", writing, "Forget the Chainsmokers and Halsey's chart-conquering smash 'Closer'—the most depressingly zeitgeist-defining song of 2016 is gnash's piano ballad 'i hate u, i love u,' with singer-songwriter Olivia O'Brien, which inexplicably rose to the Top 10 of the Hot 100 this year. The singsongy melody is obnoxious as an ice cream truck jingle, while the lifeless production drains it of any energy.”
In 2017, the song was nominated for a Radio Disney Music Award for Best Breakup Song.