Memories

Album

Master Jack

Label

Interscope Records

Genre

Reggae

Duration

9:00

Composer(s)

Adam Levine;Jonathan Bellion;Jacob Kasher Hindlin;Michael Pollack;Jordan K. Johnson;Stefan Johnson;Vincent Ford

Entered Chart

Oct 5, 2019

Peak Date

Jan 11, 2020

Released

September 20, 2019

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

222

"Memories" is a sparse, reflective track in which Adam Levine looks back on the good times with a loved one while enjoying some drinks with friends. The effects of the alcohol and camaraderie with his pals cause his emotions to bubble up as he remembers their times together. Levine shared on Twitter: "This song is for anyone who has ever experienced loss. In other words, this song is for all of us." The wistful song's melody is based on the eight-chord progression (I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-IV-V) of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon In D Major." Other contemporary songs that borrow from the perennial popular 17th century work include The Bee Gees' debut hit "Spicks And Specks", Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Canon," Vitamin C's "Graduation (Friends Forever)," Cher's "The Greatest Thing," The Farm's "All Together Now," Blues Traveler's "Hook" and N-Dubz's "We Dance On." Adam Levine is the only Maroon 5 band member credited as a song writer. The others are: Songwriter Michael Pollack, whose other credits include Zara Larsson's "Ruin My Life" and Kelly Clarkson's "I Don't Think About You." Singer and rapper Jon Bellion, who is best known for his 2016 hit "All Time Low." American songwriter Jacob Kasher, who previously collaborated with Levine on Maroon 5's "Sugar." His other credits include Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad" and Charlie Puth's "Attention." Vincent Ford Jordan K. Johnson and Stefan Johnson of The Monsters and the Strangerz production team. Maroon 5 have worked with them several times in the past including "It Was Always You" and "Best 4 U". They are also credited with co-producing the track along with Levine. Maroon 5 teamed up with Apple Inc. to create a Personal Memories Photo App to promote the song. The idea is that iPhone and iPad users can bring their own memories to life within the photo app by creating a movie scored by the band's tune. Said Adam Levine, "No matter what happens in the world around you, think about those people you love and share some good memories. We wrote this song to bring people together. It's an important message for right now." Adam Levine wrote the song in honor of his former manager and best friend, Jordan Feldstein. "I was in diapers with this guy. And he passed away recently, and so this song came to me at a very interesting time," he explained on the October 7, 2019, episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "I filled in the holes with the proper words that I thought would match the experience that I had been going through. It's very heavy. I have never had a song about anything quite like this." Jordan Feldstein was the older brother of actor and comedian Jonah Hill. He passed away in December 2017 from a blood clot in his leg aged just 40. The song's music video was filmed by the American movie director David Dobkin (Shanghai Knights, Wedding Crashers) and cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth (Fight Club, The Social Network). Dobkin also helmed the band's clips for "Sugar," "Don't Wanna Know" and "Girls Like You." The minimalist visual features a stripped-down emotional performance of the song by Adam Levine. The camera opens on an extreme close-up of the Maroon 5 frontman, before slowly panning out. At the end of the video, the words "For Jordi" appear on-screen in a handwritten font as a dedication to Maroon 5's late manager. Dobkin was in London prepping for a big movie when Levine asked him to direct the clip. He ended up doing it remotely months before Zoom became commonplace in the COVID-19 era. "I directed the 'Memories' video from London with my director of photography in L.A... it was ridiculous! And it worked," Dobkin told ABC Audio. "I directed that video from 7,000 miles away! It's a one-take. But it was beautiful and it was emotional and it worked." In 2021, Evan Stanley, the son of Paul Stanley of Kiss, released a cover of "Memories" with a music video featuring Bryan Cranston. In the clip, they're stranded in the desert; Cranston is sent for gas but comes back with bongos. Maroon 5 included two versions of the song on their Jordi album: the original rendition and a remix featuring rappers Nipsey Hussle and YG. Nipsey Hussle, who was murdered outside his Los Angeles Marathon Clothing store on March 31, 2019, contributes a posthumous verse.

Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back
Memories bring back you

Tequila drinking, double shot, yeah, I need you
I know this life, it look nice, but it get deeper
I run from reapers, dodge bullets from Glock ninas
I live my life tryin' to prove myself to non-believer
Gotta stop that, the devil talkin', I block that
Got some homies in heaven now that watch my back
For all this pain, we numb it with champagne
Hundred bottles in the club, that's a goddamn shame

Everybody hurts sometimes, everybody hurts someday-ay-ay (Four Hunnid)
But everything gon' be alright, go on raise a glass and say-ay

Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back
Memories bring back you
Do-do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, do-do-do

Memories bring back
Memories bring back you

Look, I done lost love, lost 50s, lost dubs
Lost fights, nigga, lost life of loved ones
Lost time, press and rewind, it won't budge
It's alright, you could tell me your truth, I won't judge
I done lost two relationships you could call true
You hit me up and I'm gon' fall through
Telling lies to sound true like it's all you
Learn to love what's imperfect
That's what God do

Everybody hurts sometimes, everybody hurts someday-ay-ay
But everything gon' be alright, go on raise a glass and say-ay

Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back
Memories bring back you
Do-do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, do-do-do

Memories bring back
Memories bring back you
Do-do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, do-do-do (ooh yeah)

Memories bring back
Memories bring back you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, do-do

Memories bring back
Memories bring back you