How a rejected reggae track became a global streaming phenomenon
In short: Before it dominated the charts, 'Lean On' was a rejected demo. Offered to Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, the song was turned down by both superstars. Yet, this electronic mashup eventually became one of the most streamed songs in history, proving that sometimes, the best hits are found in the unexpected.
Released on March 2, 2015, 'Lean On' by Major Lazer, DJ Snake, and MØ is a masterclass in genre blending, mixing EDM, electronic, and moombahton. The track's evolution was unconventional; producer Diplo revealed that the song began as an instrumental created by Jr Blender during sessions in Trinidad. A year later, the production was overhauled in Las Vegas, where Diplo and DJ Snake adjusted the tempo and added a signature post-chorus to create the unique version that became the lead single for the album 'Peace Is the Mission'.
The song's commercial dominance was unprecedented. In November 2015, Spotify named it the most streamed song of all time with 526 million global streams, overtaking Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud'. While it was later surpassed by hits from Drake, Ed Sheeran, and The Weeknd, it remains a massive commercial force, having achieved over 1 billion streams by June 2017 and over 2.4 billion streams on Spotify as of recent counts. Globally, the single has sold approximately 13.1 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles ever.
Beyond the music, the track's visual identity was equally impactful. The music video, which premiered on March 22, 2015, features modernized Bollywood dance sequences filmed in India and at the Stockholm City Hall. While the video has amassed over 3.8 billion views on YouTube, it has also sparked conversation regarding cultural representation; in January 2022, singer MØ admitted that she viewed the video as an instance of cultural appropriation, a nuance she did not fully grasp during its initial release.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Lean On
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