You and Me (Lifehouse song)

Background and release

The song was written by Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade and American record producer Jude Cole. It was recorded and produced by John Alagía at his home studio in Easton, Maryland. In an interview with MTV, Wade explained his experience working with Alagía, and said, "When we walked into John's house, we didn't know what to expect, and we get in there and the mixing board is in the living room, the B3 [organ] is in the kitchen and the piano is over there. And he's so nonchalant about all his stuff — there'd be a triple-platinum Dave Matthews Band plaque sticking out from under the bed." "You and Me" was first released via digital download on January 28, 2005. It was then solicited to mainstream radio on March 15, 2005. An extended wedding version of the song was released on July 26, 2005.

Composition and critical reception

John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout described the song as "a tender acoustic love ballad" noting how the song was "noticeably more mellow and stripped-down than the band's previous singles." Ultimate Guitar called the song "a tender love-ballad" and noted how it would be "a perfect soundtrack for a wedding." Alternative Addiction said that the song was embraced by fans in the same way "Hanging by a Moment" was when Lifehouse started as a band. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is set in 6/8 time with a "slow" tempo of 46 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of G major with Wade's vocal range spanning from the low-note of C₃ to the high-note of E₄. The song has a basic chord progression of G₅–G₅/C–G₅/F♯–G₅/B–Em₇–D_sus4–C.

Chart performance

"You and Me" debuted at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of February 12, 2005. It stayed on the chart for 62 non-consecutive weeks, and eventually peaked at number five. On the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, the song debuted at number 29 for the week of July 23, 2005. It eventually peaked at number one after it stayed on the chart for 34 non-consecutive weeks. The song debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart for the week of February 19, 2005. After moving around the chart for 39 consecutive weeks, the song peaked at number one for nine non-consecutive weeks. Because of its success on the chart, "You and Me" became the number one song on Billboard's list of the Top 40 Adult Pop Songs from 1996–2011 on March 16, 2011. On the Billboard Digital Songs chart, the song debuted at number 38 for the week of April 23, 2005. After moving around the chart for 31 non-consecutive weeks, the song eventually peaked at number three. "You and Me" debuted at number 37 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart during the week of May 21, 2005. It eventually peaked at number four after it spent 26 consecutive weeks on the chart. On the Billboard Radio Songs chart, the track debuted at number 74 during the week of May 21, 2005. It proceeded to move around the chart for 26 consecutive weeks, until it eventually peaked at number nine. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "You and Me" was the ninth top selling digital song of 2005. On May 19, 2005, "You and Me" was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling more than 500,000 units of the song.

The song also managed to achieve international success. In Australia, the song debuted at number 30 on the ARIA Charts for the week of May 29, 2005. That later became its peak after it spent four weeks on the chart. On the New Zealand Singles Chart, "You and Me" debuted at number 39, which later became its peak after it spent only one week on the chart during the week of October 31, 2005.

Television appearances

On April 20, 2005, Lifehouse made an appearance in the Smallville episode "Spirit" and performed "You and Me" among other songs. It also appeared in the The 4400 episode "Life Interrupted" on July 17, 2005. Several months later, "You and Me" also made an appearance in the Grey's Anatomy's episode "Much Too Much" that premiered on November 27, 2005. The song appeared in the Everwood episode "Getting to Know You" on December 8, 2005 and in the Cold Case episode "One Night" on March 19, 2006. On May 13, 2007, the song appeared in the pilot episode of Gavin & Stacey.

Background

The music video, directed by Bill Yukich, premiered on MTV.com on March 21, 2005. It was then released on iTunes for digital download on March 30, 2005.

Synopsis

The video starts with a woman exiting the taxi and going to the Los Angeles Union Station. A man exits a car and follows her. Wade then plays the first verse and first chorus in the waiting area of the L. A. Union Station. As the band plays the second verse, they are shown playing at the rooftop with Iron Mountain clearly visible. When the chorus plays again, they are shown at the roof with lights from the buildings of Los Angeles at night. When Wade sings the bridge, he is on the roof of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood Boulevard. The man and the woman are also seen running in the boarding area of the Los Angeles Union Station. They later meet up and kiss in one of the boarding platforms of the station in front of a train which later starts to move. The video ends with the band sitting down in the waiting hall.

Credits and personnel

Source: Allmusic