Round & Round (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)
Encyclopedia
"Round & Round" is a song by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene
. The song was written and produced by Kevin Rudolf
, Andrew Bolooki, and Jeff Halavacs, and co-written by Jacob Kasher and Fefe Dobson
. It was released on June 22, 2010 as the lead single
from the band's second album, A Year Without Rain
(2010). "Round & Round" is an electronica
-based dance-pop
song with rock
and disco
beats. The song received positive reviews, with critics taking note of the song's instant attraction beyond the expected demographic. It peaked at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100
, becoming the band's second highest charting single in the United States behind "Who Says
". It charted moderately in several international markets, including Austria, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Gomez & the Scene performed the song multiple times, including on America's Got Talent
.
song with a length of three minutes and eight seconds, composed by Kevin Rudolf
, Andrew Bolooki, and Jeff Halavacs, Jacob Kasher and Fefe Dobson
. The song is also disco
-influenced electropop, with an uptempo dance vibe, featuring a light rock
edge during the verses. Mikael Wood of Billboard
said the song "rides a fist-pumping electro groove." According to Amar Toor of AOL Radio Blog
, the song pulls influence from Kylie Minogue
circa 2001. The song's lyrics speak of a relationship going around in circles. The song's middle eight is a sing-speak breakdown, in which Gomez raps her lyrics in a Kesha
-esque fashion.
praised Gomez's vocal maturity and rock edge likely thanks to producer Kevin Rudolf
, calling the song "effortless" and would "sound good after months of airplay." Lamb commented the song was "catchy" and "will catch adult listeners right away", even though it was not deep and "pure fluff." Lamb also predicted with Miley Cyrus
, "exploring adulthood around the corner
, and threatening to leave pop music entirely, Selena Gomez is set to take the female teen pop crown in crowd pleasing fashion." Tim Sendra of Allmusic said that the song was "well sung" and noted it as one of the top tracks on the album. Becky Bain of Idolator said the song had an "infectious tune", and said "might actually be the song to get the non-Disney-centric demographic interested in Selena’s tunes." Although commenting that the "glossy electro-pop rock" of the song showed a sophisticated side of Gomez, and the lyrics showed emotional growth, Robert Cospey of Digital Spy
said the good work was squandered by the "rusty" chorus. Overall, Copsey complimented Gomez for "avoiding the predictable Hilary
/Miley teen-rawk route" and recommended she stay under the Disney umbrella to "perfect her craft further."
chart, "Round & Round" debuted at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100
, becoming the band's second consecutive top thirty single in the United States. It also appeared on the Billboard charts the Hot Dance Club Play
and Pop Songs charts at two and thirty-four. However, it did not match the peaks of its predecessor "Naturally
" on those charts, where the latter peaked at one and twelve. The song performed moderately in international markets. It reached fifty-one on the Canadian Hot 100
. In the United Kingdom, it reached forty-seven, and was on the chart for three consecutive weeks. "Round & Round" charted in the top sixty in Austria
, and Germany, and appeared on the Belgian Flanders
tip chart, as well as charting in Slovakia.
. Gomez posted two previews of the song on her Twitter
on June 17, 2010 to precede the video's premiere on June 20, 2010 on Disney Channel
and subsequently VEVO
. Along with singing on a stage with the Scene, the video features Gomez acting as a secret agent and donning spy apparel, as she plants bugs, takes photos, passes off packages, and other duties. She is then caught and involved in a chase throughout the city. Nadine Cheung of AOL JSYK
said, "We love the storyline for the video and how it's mixed in with performance shots of Selena and her band the Scene. Of course, the 17-year-old star is decked out in amazing outfits, no matter if she's rocking out on stage or being followed by cloaked agents."
on July 14, 2010. It was also performed on Good Morning America
on September 23, 2010 along with "A Year Without Rain
". While promoting in the United Kingdom, Gomez appeared on Daybreak
on September 27, 2010, and on Blue Peter
on the following day, September 28, 2010. Gomez performed the song on MTV
's The Seven on October 1, 2010.
Round & Round (Dave Audé
Remix) – Single
Australian / UK Remixes EP
Australian digital single
UK single
UK Promo CD Single
Selena Gomez & the Scene
Selena Gomez & the Scene is an American pop band formed in Hollywood, California in 2009. Along with lead singer and founder Selena Gomez, the band consists of bassist Joey Clement, guitarist Ethan Roberts, drummist Greg Garman and keyboardist Dane Forrest. Selena Gomez & the Scene have released...
. The song was written and produced by Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
, Andrew Bolooki, and Jeff Halavacs, and co-written by Jacob Kasher and Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson
Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
. It was released on June 22, 2010 as the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from the band's second album, A Year Without Rain
A Year Without Rain
A Year Without Rain is the second studio album by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The album was released on September 17, 2010 via Hollywood Records. The band once again worked with writers and producers from their debut, Kiss & Tell such as Rock Mafia duo Tim James, and Antonina Armato, as...
(2010). "Round & Round" is an electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
-based dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
song with rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
beats. The song received positive reviews, with critics taking note of the song's instant attraction beyond the expected demographic. It peaked at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, becoming the band's second highest charting single in the United States behind "Who Says
Who Says (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)
"Who Says" is a song performed by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene. It was written by Priscilla Renea and Emanuel Kiriakou, with the latter also producing the track. The song was released on March 14, 2011, as the lead single from the band's third album, When the Sun Goes Down...
". It charted moderately in several international markets, including Austria, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Gomez & the Scene performed the song multiple times, including on America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
.
Composition
"Round & Round" is a dance-popDance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
song with a length of three minutes and eight seconds, composed by Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
, Andrew Bolooki, and Jeff Halavacs, Jacob Kasher and Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson
Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
. The song is also disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
-influenced electropop, with an uptempo dance vibe, featuring a light rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
edge during the verses. Mikael Wood of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
said the song "rides a fist-pumping electro groove." According to Amar Toor of AOL Radio Blog
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
, the song pulls influence from Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
circa 2001. The song's lyrics speak of a relationship going around in circles. The song's middle eight is a sing-speak breakdown, in which Gomez raps her lyrics in a Kesha
Kesha
Kesha village is a small village nestled in the mountains of Yongshun County, northwestern Hunan province, China, located at latitude 29 05' 50", longitude 109 57' 9". The name is pronounced in Standard Chinese. The official language is Manderin Chinese....
-esque fashion.
Reception
Critical reception
Bill Lamb of About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
praised Gomez's vocal maturity and rock edge likely thanks to producer Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
, calling the song "effortless" and would "sound good after months of airplay." Lamb commented the song was "catchy" and "will catch adult listeners right away", even though it was not deep and "pure fluff." Lamb also predicted with Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
, "exploring adulthood around the corner
Can't Be Tamed
Can't Be Tamed is the third studio album by American recording artist Miley Cyrus, first released on June 18, 2010 by Hollywood Records. Writing and recording commenced while Cyrus traveled on the 2009 Wonder World Tour. 19 live performances and backstage interviews from a performance at London's...
, and threatening to leave pop music entirely, Selena Gomez is set to take the female teen pop crown in crowd pleasing fashion." Tim Sendra of Allmusic said that the song was "well sung" and noted it as one of the top tracks on the album. Becky Bain of Idolator said the song had an "infectious tune", and said "might actually be the song to get the non-Disney-centric demographic interested in Selena’s tunes." Although commenting that the "glossy electro-pop rock" of the song showed a sophisticated side of Gomez, and the lyrics showed emotional growth, Robert Cospey of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
said the good work was squandered by the "rusty" chorus. Overall, Copsey complimented Gomez for "avoiding the predictable Hilary
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
/Miley teen-rawk route" and recommended she stay under the Disney umbrella to "perfect her craft further."
Chart performance
Propelled by a debut at number fifteen on the US Hot Digital SongsHot Digital Songs
The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of...
chart, "Round & Round" debuted at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, becoming the band's second consecutive top thirty single in the United States. It also appeared on the Billboard charts the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
and Pop Songs charts at two and thirty-four. However, it did not match the peaks of its predecessor "Naturally
Naturally (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)
"Naturally" is a song performed by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene from their debut album, Kiss & Tell. The song serves as the album's second single in the United States and a few other countries, and as the album's lead single in most European markets. It was produced by Antonina Armato and...
" on those charts, where the latter peaked at one and twelve. The song performed moderately in international markets. It reached fifty-one on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
. In the United Kingdom, it reached forty-seven, and was on the chart for three consecutive weeks. "Round & Round" charted in the top sixty in Austria
Ö3 Austria Top 40
Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann...
, and Germany, and appeared on the Belgian Flanders
Ultratop
Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts...
tip chart, as well as charting in Slovakia.
Music video
The filming of the video was made by Phillip Andelman, and took place in late May 2010 in Budapest, Hungary during the filming of her film, Monte CarloMonte Carlo (2011 film)
Monte Carlo is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Thomas Bezucha. Nicole Kidman, Denise Di Novi, Arnon Milchan and Alison Greenspan produced the film for Fox 2000 Pictures and Regency Enterprises...
. Gomez posted two previews of the song on her Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
on June 17, 2010 to precede the video's premiere on June 20, 2010 on Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
and subsequently VEVO
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
. Along with singing on a stage with the Scene, the video features Gomez acting as a secret agent and donning spy apparel, as she plants bugs, takes photos, passes off packages, and other duties. She is then caught and involved in a chase throughout the city. Nadine Cheung of AOL JSYK
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
said, "We love the storyline for the video and how it's mixed in with performance shots of Selena and her band the Scene. Of course, the 17-year-old star is decked out in amazing outfits, no matter if she's rocking out on stage or being followed by cloaked agents."
Live performances and promotion
The song was performed by the band on America's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
on July 14, 2010. It was also performed on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
on September 23, 2010 along with "A Year Without Rain
A Year Without Rain (song)
"A Year Without Rain" is a song by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene. It was written by Lindy Robbins and Toby Gad, with the latter also producing the song. The song was released on September 7, 2010 as the second and final single from the band's second album of the same name. A...
". While promoting in the United Kingdom, Gomez appeared on Daybreak
Daybreak (ITV)
Daybreak is the weekday breakfast television programme on the British commercial ITV network that broadcasts on weekday mornings from 06:00 to 08:30 and is currently presented by Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley from Monday to Thursday with Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway on Fridays...
on September 27, 2010, and on Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
on the following day, September 28, 2010. Gomez performed the song on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's The Seven on October 1, 2010.
Track listing
US digital download- "Round & Round" – 3:05
Round & Round (Dave Audé
Dave Audé
Dave Audé is a Grammy nominated producer, house DJ, and remixer. He has done production for musicians such as KoЯn, t.A.T.u., DJ Keoki, Barenaked Ladies, Faith No More, Cause and Effect, Hilary Duff, Wanessa, Ashley Tisdale, The Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga, Lunascape, Madonna, Britney Spears, CeCe...
Remix) – Single
- "Round & Round" (Dave Audé Remix) – 3:32
Australian / UK Remixes EP
- "Round & Round" (WideboysWideboysThe Wideboys are UK house, Bassline and UK garage Record producers and remixers.The Wideboys are managed by Matt Waterhouse from MWR/Hyperactive. In 2008, they signed to Sony ATV Music Publishing. Prior to this, The Wideboys had been signed in various deals with the likes of Warner, Univeral and...
Club Mix) – 5:56 - "Round & Round" (Fascination Club Mix) – 6:11
- "Round & Round" (7th Heaven Club Mix) – 6:08
- "Round & Round" (Dave Audé Club Remix) – 6:23
Australian digital single
- "Round & Round" – 3:05
- "NaturallyNaturally (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)"Naturally" is a song performed by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene from their debut album, Kiss & Tell. The song serves as the album's second single in the United States and a few other countries, and as the album's lead single in most European markets. It was produced by Antonina Armato and...
" (Ralphi RosarioRalphi RosarioRalphi Rosario was a founding member of the influential Chicago DJ group, The Hot Mix 5. When this group formed in 1981 on radio station WBMX, Rosario, the youngest member of the group, was still in high school...
Remix) – 3:39
UK single
- "Round & Round" – 3:05
- "Naturally" (Ralphi Rosario Remix) – 3:39
UK Promo CD Single
- "Round & Round" – 3:05
- "Round & Round" [Instrumental] – 3:05
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... ) |
80 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | June 22, 2010 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| Australia | September 3, 2010 | Digital download, Remixes |
| United States | September 14, 2010 | Dave Audé Dave Audé Dave Audé is a Grammy nominated producer, house DJ, and remixer. He has done production for musicians such as KoЯn, t.A.T.u., DJ Keoki, Barenaked Ladies, Faith No More, Cause and Effect, Hilary Duff, Wanessa, Ashley Tisdale, The Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga, Lunascape, Madonna, Britney Spears, CeCe... Remix Radio Edit |
| United Kingdom | September 23, 2010 | Remixes |
| Germany | September 24, 2010 | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
| United Kingdom | September 27, 2010 | CD single, digital download |