Polaroid

Album: Blue (2018)
Charted: 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A polaroid is an instant photo that is taken from a camera which creates chemically developed prints shortly after the picture was taken. This Jonas Blue song, featuring the voices of One Direction's Liam Payne and Canadian singer Lennon Stella, is about an instant attraction.

    We took a Polaroid
    You signed your name upon it
    I put it in my wallet
    Hoping I'd see your face again


    After Liam takes a Polaroid of Lennon, she signs it, and then she disappears. Though they don’t see each other again, Liam keeps the Polaroid as a reminder of his lost love.
  • Most of you will familiar with Liam Payne but Lennon Stella will be a new name to some. She is best known for her role as Maddie Conrad in the CMT musical drama series Nashville.
  • This is the first duet that Jonas Blue has done. The producer told Billboard that he felt it was the perfect time to do it as the song is sung from both the male and female perspectives. "In verse one, you have Liam coming from the guy’s point of view," he explained, "then verse two from the girl’s perspective, and in the third verse, it’s what they’re both feeling."
  • Jonas Blue made 28 different versions of "Polaroid" before coming up with one he was happy with. He told HMV.com. "I had demo-itis on that song. I start all my songs on piano and then build them for there. I had a version with the bells on the intro for three minutes and I couldn’t think how to build it up. I went over and over it. In the end, I left it alone for a few weeks and then came back and nailed it."
  • Jonas Blue penned the song with his "Mama" collaborators RØMANS and Ed Drewett. Manchester singer/songwriter J.P .Cooper, who was the featured vocalist on Jonas Blue's 2016 single "Perfect Strangers" also contributed to the writing of the tune.
  • While we're on the subject of Polaroids, here's a music based fun fact about the company behind the instant photos. After OutKast sang "Shake it like a Polaroid picture" on their 2003 single "Hey Ya", Polaroid issued this statement: "Shaking or waving can actually damage the image."
  • The song was included both on Jonas Blue's Blue and Liam Payne's LP1 albums.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."