Wild Things (song)

"Wild Things" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Cara for her debut studio album, Know-It-All (2015). It was released to digital retailers on October 27, 2015, as a promotional single before being sent to contemporary hit radio on February 2, 2016, as the album's second official single.^[3][4] The song was written by Alessia Caracciolo, Coleridge Tillman, Thabiso "Tab" Nkhereanye, and James Ho, and was produced by the latter.^[5] Official remixes were commissioned in the spring of 2016 and were released on an extended play on May 13, 2016,^[6] one of which features a guest verse from American rapper G-Eazy.^[7]

"Wild Things"
Single by Alessia Cara
from the album Know-It-All
Released	February 2, 2016 (2016-02-02)
Recorded	December 2014
Studio	Los Angeles, California
Genre	Indie pop jazz^[1]^[2]
Length	3:08
Label	Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Alessia Caracciolo Coleridge Tillman Thabiso "Tab" Nkhereanye James Ho
Producer(s)	Malay
Alessia Cara singles chronology
"Here" (2015) "Wild Things" (2016) "Wild" (2016)
Music video
"Wild Things" on YouTube

Since its release, "Wild Things" has charted at number fifty on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has also attained top-forty peaks in multiple territories including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In Cara's native Canada, the song peaked at number 14, five positions higher than her highly successful debut, "Here". The song has been certified Gold by ARIA, 2× Platinum by the RIAA, while being certified Platinum by RMNZ.

Production

"Wild Things" was recorded in Los Angeles in December 2014; the inspiration for the song came about after a conversation between Cara and her A&R Thabiso Nkhereanye, regarding some hats that bore a message that Cara disapproved of.^[8]

Critical reception

 

2016 VOA news segment on "Wild Things"

A March 2016 Voice of America news segment on Cara and "Wild Things"

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Mike Wass of Idolator called it "Another fiery celebration of outsiders."^[9] Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos labeled it "anthemic" and a "celebration of youth", saying "[Wild Things] follows in the vein of the anti-cool kid stance on 'Here.' Unlike her debut single, however, Cara goes for more straight-up pop on the more fast-paced, percussive tune."^[1] Jessie Morris of Complex stated that the song is "another infectious and insightful coming-of-age track."^[10]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Wild Things" was directed by Aaron A and premiered on March 7, 2016.^[11] Opening with a monologue in which Cara describes what "wild" means to her in the song, the video features Cara and her friends exploring Brampton and the suburbs of Toronto, engaging in carefree activities such as drawing fake tattoos on one another and setting off fireworks at Cherry Beach.^[12][11][13] "To me," Cara says during the video's introductory sequence, "Where The Wild Things Are is a place that exists in our minds. It's a place of liberty and shamelessness. It can take a split second or a lifetime to find it, but once you do, you'll be free."^[13] The video was nominated for Best Pop Video on the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.

Track listings

Digital download^[14] No. Title Length 1. "Wild Things" 3:08 Digital download – NuKid Remix^[15] No. Title Length 1. "Wild Things" (NuKid Remix) 5:15

Digital download – Remixes EP^[6] No. Title Length 1. "Wild Things" (featuring G-Eazy) (Remix) 3:44 2. "Wild Things" (featuring G-Eazy) (Young Bombs Remix) 4:02 3. "Wild Things" (MK Remix) 5:15 4. "Wild Things" (NuKid Remix) 5:15 Digital download – Fedez remix^[16] No. Title Length 1. "Wild Things" (featuring Fedez) 3:46

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2015–16) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[17] 25 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[18] 14 Canada AC (Billboard)^[19] 12 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)^[20] 5 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)^[21] 5 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[22] 26 Germany (Official German Charts)^[23] 76 Iceland (RÚV)^[24] 13 Ireland (IRMA)^[25] 66 Italy (FIMI)^[26] 67 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27] 58 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[28] 12 Portugal (AFP)^[29] 44 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[30] 25 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[31] 61 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[32] 51 UK Singles (OCC)^[33] 63 US Billboard Hot 100^[34] 50 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[35] 34 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)^[36] 20 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[37] 13 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[38] 14 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[39] 34

Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position Australia (ARIA)^[40] 98 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[41] 27 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[42] 41 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[43] 50

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[44]	2× Platinum	140,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[45]	Platinum	60,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[46]	3× Platinum	240,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[47]	Gold	45,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)^[48]	Gold	25,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[49]	Platinum	15,000^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)^[50]	Gold	30,000^‡
Sweden (GLF)^[51]	Platinum	40,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[52]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[53]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^‡
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio and release history

List of release dates, showing region, format(s), label(s) and reference(s)

Country	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	October 27, 2015^[a]	Digital download	Original	Def Jam UMG	^[54]
United States	February 2, 2016	Contemporary hit radio		Def Jam	^[3]
Various	April 15, 2016	Digital download	NuKid Remix	Def Jam UMG	^[15]
	May 13, 2016		Remixes EP		^[6]
United States	July 5, 2016	Hot / Modern / AC radio	Original	Def Jam	^[55]
Italy	July 8, 2016	Digital download	Fedez remix	Def Jam UMG	^[16]

Notes

1. Release as a promotional single.

References

1. Spanos, Brittany (October 27, 2015). "Hear Alessia Cara's Rebellious New Song, 'Wild Things'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
2. Elone, Emmanuel; Ingalls, Chris; Stroud, Pryor; Miller, Chad (March 16, 2016). "Alessia Cara - "Wild Things" (Singles Going Steady)". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
3. . FMQN. January 15, 2016. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
4. . 6 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-01-06. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
5. "Wild Things - Alessia Cara - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. October 27, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
6. "Wild Things (The Remixes) - EP by Alessia Cara". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple Inc. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
7. "Hear Alessia Cara, G-Eazy's Confident 'Wild Things (Remix)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
8. "TRACK 6: WILD THINGS". Alessiastumblah.tumblr.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
9. Wass, Mike (October 27, 2015). "Alessia Cara Reveals 'Know-It-All' Tracklist, Remains Defiant On New Track "Wild Things"". Idolator. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
10. Morris, Jessie (October 27, 2015). "Listen To Alessia Cara's New Song "Wild Things"". Complex. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
11. Roth, Madeline (March 7, 2016). "Alessia Cara Breaks Out Of The Party In New 'Wild Things' Video". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
12. "Wild Things- Official Video (BEHIND THE SCENES)". YouTube. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
13. Spanos, Brittany (March 7, 2016). "Watch Alessia Cara's Youthful, Celebratory 'Wild Things' Video". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
14. "iTunes (U.S.) - Music - Alessia Cara - Know-It-All (Deluxe) - Wild Things". iTunes Store (U.S.). November 13, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
15. "Wild Things (NuKid Remix) - Single by Alessia Cara". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
16. "Wild Things (feat. Fedez) - Single by Alessia Cara on Apple Music" (in Italian). iTunes Store. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
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18. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
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20. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
21. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
22. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201615 into search. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
23. "Alessia Cara – Wild Things" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
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25. ". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
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29. "Portuguesecharts.com - Singles (Week 24)". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
30. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201614 into search. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
31. "Alessia Cara – Wild Things". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
32. "Alessia Cara – Wild Things". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
34. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
35. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
36. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
37. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
38. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
39. "Alessia Cara Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
40. "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
41. "Canadian Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
42. "Top Selling Singles of 2016". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
43. "Pop Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
45. "Brazilian single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
46. "Canadian single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things". Music Canada.
47. "Danish single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
48. "Italian single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
49. "New Zealand single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
50. "Norwegian single certifications – Alessia Cara" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
51. "Sverigetopplistan – Alessia Cara" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
52. "British single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
53. "American single certifications – Alessia Cara – Wild Things". Recording Industry Association of America.
54. "Wild Things - Alessia Cara | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
55. . All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on May 24, 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.