"Count On Me"
Single by Bruno Mars
from the album Doo-Wops & Hooligans
ReleasedNovember 7, 2011 (2011-11-07)
Genre
Length3:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Smeezingtons
Bruno Mars singles chronology
"Young, Wild & Free"
(2011)		 "Count On Me"
(2011)		 "Locked Out of Heaven"
(2012)
Lyric video
"Count On Me" on YouTube

"Count On Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars from his debut studio album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010). The song was first unveiled on Mars's debut extended play, It's Better If You Don't Understand (2010). It was released as a radio single in Australia and served as the overall sixth single from Doo-Wops & Hooligans, being serviced to contemporary hit radio and adult contemporary radio in on November 7, 2011. It was composed by Mars, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine, under their alias, the Smeezingtons. Musically, "Count On Me" is a folk and tropical record that lyrically details the importance of friendship and conveys a positive message.

The song received generally positive to mixed reviews. Some music critics noted the resemblance to "Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, praising its arrangement and "uplifting" vibe, others criticized its "saccharine sound" and cheesy lyrics. The single peaked at number two in the Czech Republic and it was able to reach the position of 19 in Australia and 13 in New Zealand. It was certified three platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), respectively. Mars performed "Count on Me" on television shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and included it on The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour (2010–12), the Hooligans in Wondaland Tour (2011), and once on the Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–14). It has been covered a number of times and has been used in a couple of commercials.

Production and release

"Count On Me" was first recorded by Bruno Mars for his debut EP, It's Better If You Don't Understand, which was released on May 11, 2010, under Elektra Records.[1] It was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, while production was handled by the same three under their alias, the Smeezingtons. Levine was responsible for engineering the song, which he did at Levcon Studios in Los Angeles. Levine and Mars played and recorded all of the instruments on the track. The single was mixed by Manny Marroquin and assistants Christian Plata and Erik Madrid at Larrabee Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California.[2] "Count on Me" was issued to contemporary hit radio and adult contemporary radio on November 7, 2011, in Australia by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Australia as a single.[3][4]

Composition

"Count On Me" has been labelled as a folk by reviewer Pete Rivas from The AU Review and as tropical song by critic Bill Lamb from ThoughtCo (former About.com).[4][5] The Scotsman found it to be influenced by reggae.[6] It features a laid back groove and tropical vibes, resembling Mars's "Hawaiian background."[7][5] An acoustic guitar and "beach-bound bongos" are part of its instrumentation.[4][8] According to the sheet music, the song is composed in the key of C major with a time signature in common time, and a moderate groove of 88 beats per minute.[9]

AllMusic's Tim Sendra described the song as a "bittersweet ballad", while Katie Hasty from HitFix classified it as a "sandy-sweet tune".[10][8] It draws musical elements from the works of Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and David Cook.[6][11] MTV UK Joanne Dorken and Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine said that the recording's sound was "reminiscent" of "Over The Rainbow" (1993) by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.[12][13] It conveys the message of comfort found in a friend and being present for those who are important in your life.[5]

Critical reception

"Count On Me" received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Pete Rivas of The AU Review gave the song a 7 out of 10 saying that it is an "uplifting and chilled sounds" and that it "hits all the right spots". Rivas found the lyrics to convey a "nice" and "positive" message, adding that the single "shows some similarities with his other singles but not to much detriment".[4] The Boston Globe critic Ken Capobianco exalted Mars's vocals on the recording as "one of his best" on the album.[14] While reviewing Mars's debut EP, It's Better If You Don't Understand, Bill Lamb of About.com stated that "there is a dreamy wistfulness here that is irresistible, regarding "Count On Me". He added, that the song is "perfect for summer days".[7] However, while reviewing the parent album, Tim Sendra from AllMusic found that the song lacked deepness and that "it's not poetry". Nevertheless, Sendra did say that the track is "sweetly played and sung" and is able to "project a cuddly image and will melt hearts".[10]

On the other hand, Now's Kevin Ritchie criticized the song for its "cutesy lyrics" and "insipid rhymes like "You can count on me like one, two, three". He added that the song doesn't contribute for the album cohesion, but add for a "no-brainer radio references to Coldplay, U2, Michael Jackson, Sade, Feist and so on".[15] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian concurred with the latter on the "saccharine sound" and explained that during the recording "you start to boggle that Britain's teens are being fed something so sugary without Jamie Oliver getting a campaign up about it".[16]

Commercial performance

In New Zealand, "Count on Me" spent two weeks at its peak position of 13, after debuting at number 21 on August 29, 2011.[17] It was awarded a platinum plaque by Recorded Music NZ (RIANZ).[18] The single first appeared on the UK Singles Chart on September 24, 2011, peaking at number 78 on the following week. It was able to spend four weeks on the chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[19][20] In 2012, the song debuted at the Ö3 Austria Top 40 at number 15, peaking at number five on the following week. It was able to spend 14 weeks on the chart and it ended up being certified gold.[21][22] "Count On Me" debuted on Switzerland on the issue date of June 24, 2012, spending six weeks on the chart and peaking at number 55.[23]

"Count on Me" debuted in Australia on December 11, 2012, at number 41, peaking at number 19 four weeks after its debut.[24] It was the eleventh most played song in the Australian radio in 2012 and was certified three times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[25][26] In 2013, it peaked at number seven on the Spanish Singles Chart and left the charts after two weeks.[27] Despite never charting at German Top 100, the track reached the top position of the German airplay chart and was certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).[28][29] It was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), despite never being promoted as a single in the US.[5][30] In 2020, the song entered the Scottish Singles Chart for the first time, peaking at number 21.[31]

Live performances

In September 2010, "Count on Me" was performed in front of a small crowd of fans at the Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas.[32] Mars sung live the song on September 27, 2010, during a MTV Push Live session held in the United Kingdom.[33] Mars, who was the opening act in an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December 2012, performed the track as a tribute to the victims of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.[34] It was the ninth song of his debut world tour, The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour (2010) and on the Hooligans in Wondaland Tour (2011).[35][36] It was performed only once during the Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–2014) in Jakarta.[37]

Cover versions and usage in media

"Count on Me" has been covered by British child singer Connie Talbot and included on her album Beautiful World (2012).[38] South Korean artists Lee Ki-chan and G.NA released a cover of the song as a CD single on May 12, 2011. The CD single, also includes an acoustic version, instrumental version and acoustic instrumental version of the track.[39] It was sung live by 5,000 children from the Voice in a Million Choir at the Wembley Arena.[40] In 2015, Olivia Holt performed a cover of the song on the series finale of I Didn't Do It.[41] In 2019 it was covered by Gabriel Mann on Season 2 Episode 4 of the television show A Million Little Things (ABC Signature).[42] It was also covered by the Willis Family for the first episode of the second season of their show by the same name, aired by TLC.[43] In 2020, American singer-songwriter Josie Dunne and Australian singer-songwriter Wafia covered "Count On Me", in different instances, as part of the tenth anniversary of Mars's debut album.[44][45]

The recording is part of the Belgian/American animated film A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures and the TV show Suburgatory.[46][47] It has been featured on two different commercials for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, both took place one in Illinois.[48] and was used for a Hyundai 's commercial, during the Super Bowl XLVIII’s fourth quarter, entitled "Dad's Sixth Sense", that featured the 2016 Hyundai Genesis and Mars's song. It was chosen "for reasons separate and coincidental from Mars' previously announced Half Time gig".[49] The track was included on the Songs for the Philippines relief album, which was compiled to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan since "all proceeds" were donated to the Philippine Red Cross.[50] It is featured in the film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) and on a commercial for Ferrero SpA.[51][52] The song is also featured in the official trailer for the 2021 film, Tom & Jerry.[53]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Elektra Records:[2]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[22] Gold 15,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[64] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[29] Gold 150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[18] Platinum 15,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[23] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[30] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Australia November 7, 2011 Contemporary hit radio
  • Atlantic
  • Warner Music Australia
 [3]
Adult contemporary radio

References

  1. ↑ "Bruno Mars Blasts Off into the Top Ten Albums Chart on iTunes With New Digital EP" (Press release). Marketwire. May 5, 2010. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Doo-Wops & Hooligans (CD booklet). United States: Elektra Entertainment Group. 2010. 2-525393.
  3. 1 2 "Bruno Mars – Count On Me". The Music Network. Australia: Peer Group Media (861). November 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Rivas, Pete (November 21, 2011). "Single Review: Bruno Mars – Count on Me (2011)". The AU Review. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Lamb, Bill (June 30, 2016). "Top 10 Graduation Songs for 2014". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Album review: Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops & Hooligans". The Scotsman. January 14, 2011. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Lamb, Bill (May 11, 2010). "Bruno Mars – It's Better If You Don't Understand". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  8. 1 2 Hasty, Katie (October 4, 2010). "Album Review: Bruno Mars' solo debut 'Doo-Wops and Hooligans'". HitFix. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Bruno Mars – Count on Me Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Sendra, Tim. "AllMusic (Doo-Wops & Hooligans > Overview)". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  11. ↑ Jeffries, David. "It's Better If You Don't Understand > Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  12. ↑ Dorken, Joanne (January 25, 2011). "Live Review: Bruno Mars". MTV UK. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  13. ↑ Henderson, Eric (October 7, 2010). "Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  14. ↑ Capobianco, Ken (October 25, 2010). "Bruno Mars, 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  15. ↑ Ritchie, Kevin (November 11, 2010). "Bruno Mars: Now Toronto Magazine". Now. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (January 20, 2011). "Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  17. 1 2 "Bruno Mars – Count on Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  18. 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – Bruno Mars – Count on Me". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  19. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  20. 1 2 "British single certifications – Bruno Mars – Count On Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  21. 1 2 "Bruno Mars – Count on Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  22. 1 2 "Austrian single certifications – Bruno Mars – Count On Me" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  23. 1 2 "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Count On Me')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Bruno Mars – Count on Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  25. ↑ "The biggest songs on radio this year". Radio Today. December 4, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  27. 1 2 "Bruno Mars – Count on Me" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  28. 1 2 "Airplay Charts Deutschland – Woche 18/2012". German Charts. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bruno Mars; 'Count on Me')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  30. 1 2 "American single certifications – Bruno Mars – Count On Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  31. 1 2 "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  32. ↑ Watson, Stephanie (January 2014). Bruno Mars:: Pop Superstar. United States of America: ABDO Publishing Company. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-62403-225-7.
  33. ↑ "Count On Me (MTV Push Live Session)". MTV (UK and Ireland). September 27, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Bruno Mars Performs 'Count on Me' in Tribute to Newtown Victims". Rolling Stone. December 18, 2012. Archived from the original on December 18, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  35. ↑ Escudero, Nicki (November 21, 2010). "Bruno Mars at Martini Ranch Last Night (Video)". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  36. ↑ Gray, Chris (May 19, 2011). "Last Night: Bruno Mars & Janelle Monae At Reliant Arena". Houston Press. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  37. ↑ Asih, Ratnaning (March 26, 2014). "Bruno Mars Thrills Jakarta". Tempo. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Beautiful World by Connie Talbot". iTunes Store. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Count On Me – G.NA & Lee GiChan" (in Korean). Daum. May 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  40. ↑ "5000 children sing – Bruno Mars' Count on Me". VIAMTV. March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  41. ↑ "I Didn't Do It Count On Me by Olivia Holt". YouTube. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Every song from S2E4 - A Million Little Things, "the perfect storm"".
  43. ↑ Longs, Herb (March 18, 2016). "The Willis Clan Cover Bruno Mars "Count On Me"". The Christian Beat. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Josie Dunne - Count On Me (Bruno Mars Cover) - 10th Anniversary 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans'". Youtube. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Wafia - Count On Me (Bruno Mars Cover) - 10th Anniversary 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans'". Youtube. December 4, 2020. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Sammy's avonturen: De geheime doorgang Soundtrack". theost.com (in German). Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  47. ↑ Nowalk, Brandon (March 26, 2014). "Suburgatory: "Catch And Release"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  48. ↑ Blue Cross and Blue Shield commercials
  49. ↑ Hampp, Andrew (December 13, 2013). "Hyundai Taps Bruno Mars' 'Count On Me' For Super Bowl Spot". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  50. ↑ Billboard Staff (November 26, 2013). "The Beatles, U2, Eminem, One Direction Contribute To 'Songs for the Philippines' Relief Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) – Song Credits". Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics, LLC. May 19, 2017. Archived from the original on May 28, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  52. ↑ HREF (December 26, 2019). "Bruno Mars : ses chansons utilisées par le cinéma" (in French). NRJ. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  53. ↑ Sharma, Divyanshi (November 18, 2020). "Tom and Jerry trailer out. The cat and mouse chase begins". India Today. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  54. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201216 into search. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  55. ↑ "Bruno Mars Portugal Digital Songs Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  56. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20128 into search. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  57. ↑ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Bruno Mars – Count on Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  59. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  60. ↑ "Bruno Mars Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  61. ↑ "New Zealand Top Selling Singles of 2011". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  62. ↑ "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2012". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  63. ↑ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles year end chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  64. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Bruno Mars – Count On Me". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 1, 2019.

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