What Happened to Us
Encyclopedia
"What Happened to Us" is a song by Australian recording artist Jessica Mauboy
, featuring English recording artist Jay Sean. It was written by Sean, Josh Alexander, Billy Steinberg
, Jeremy Skaller, Rob Larow, Khaled Rohaim and Israel Cruz. "What Happened to Us" was leaked online in October 2010, and was released on 10 March 2011, as the third single from Mauboy's second studio album, Get 'Em Girls
(2010). The song received positive reviews from critics.
A remix of "What Happened to Us" made by production team OFM
, was released on 11 April 2011. A different version of the song which features Stan Walker
, was released on 29 May 2011. "What Happened to Us" charted on the ARIA Singles Chart
at number 14 and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA). An accompanying music video was directed by Mark Alston, and reminisces on a former relationship between Mauboy and Sean.
, Jeremy Skaller
, Rob Larow, Khaled Rohaim, Israel Cruz and Jay Sean. It was produced by Skaller, Cruz, Rohaim and Bobby Bass
. Before the release of Get 'Em Girls on 5 November 2011, the song leaked online in October. Upon its release as a single, "What Happened to Us" was sent to contemporary hit radio
in Australia on 14 February 2011. The cover art for the song was revealed on 22 February on Mauboy's official Facebook
page. A CD release was available for purchase via her official website on 10 March, for one week only. It was released digitally
the following day.
called the song a "Jordin Sparks
-esque duet", and wrote that it "has a nice innocence to it that rings true to the experience of losing a first love." Chris Urankar from Nine to Five wrote that it as a "mid-tempo duet ballad" which signifies Mauboy's strength as a global player. On 21 March 2011, "What Happened to Us" debuted at number 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart
, and peaked at number 14 the following week. The song was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA), for selling 70,000 copies.
for the song was shot in the Elizabeth Bay House in Sydney
on 26 November 2010. The video was shot during Jay Sean's visit to Australia for the Summerbeatz
tour. During an interview with The Daily Telegraph
while on the set of the video, Sean said, "the song is sick! ... Jessica's voice is amazing and we're shooting [the video] in this ridiculously beautiful mansion overlooking the harbour." The video was directed by Mark Alston, who had previously directed the video for Mauboy's single, "Let Me Be Me
" (2009). It premiered on YouTube
on 10 February 2011.
The video begins showing Mauboy who appears to be sitting on a yellow antique couch in a mansion, wearing a purple dress. As the video progresses, scenes of memories are displayed of Mauboy and her love interest, played by Jay Sean, spending time there previously. It then cuts to the scenes where Sean appears in the main entrance room of the mansion. The final scene shows Mauboy outdoors in a gold dress, surrounded by green grass and trees. She is later joined by Sean who appears in a black suit and a white shirt, and together they sing the chorus of the song to each other.
on 23 February 2011, for an interview and later performed the song. On 15 March, Mauboy performed "What Happened to Us" on Sunrise
. She also performed the song with Stan Walker
during the Australian leg of Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. Tour
. Mauboy and Walker later performed "What Happened to Us" on Dancing with the Stars (Australia)
on 29 May 2011.
Source:
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
, featuring English recording artist Jay Sean. It was written by Sean, Josh Alexander, Billy Steinberg
Billy Steinberg
William Endfield "Billy" Steinberg is an American songwriter. He has achieved most of his success as part of a song writing team, most notably with Tom Kelly. He has also co-written several hit songs with Rick Nowels.-Biography:...
, Jeremy Skaller, Rob Larow, Khaled Rohaim and Israel Cruz. "What Happened to Us" was leaked online in October 2010, and was released on 10 March 2011, as the third single from Mauboy's second studio album, Get 'Em Girls
Get 'em Girls
Get 'Em Girls is the second studio album by Australian R&B recording artist Jessica Mauboy, released in Australia on 5 November 2010 by Sony Music. Mauboy recorded the album in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta...
(2010). The song received positive reviews from critics.
A remix of "What Happened to Us" made by production team OFM
Orange Factory Music
Orange Factory Music is a production team formed in 1999 by producers and songwriters Jeremy Skaller and Robert Larow. Most noted for their discovery and development of Cash Money/Universal Records recording artist Jay Sean, the duo met at the University of Vermont before moving to New York to...
, was released on 11 April 2011. A different version of the song which features Stan Walker
Stan Walker
Stan Walker , is an Australian recording artist and actor. In 2009, Walker was the winner on the seventh season of Australian Idol. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia....
, was released on 29 May 2011. "What Happened to Us" charted on the ARIA Singles Chart
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...
at number 14 and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA). An accompanying music video was directed by Mark Alston, and reminisces on a former relationship between Mauboy and Sean.
Background
"What Happened to Us" was written by Josh Alexander, Billy SteinbergBilly Steinberg
William Endfield "Billy" Steinberg is an American songwriter. He has achieved most of his success as part of a song writing team, most notably with Tom Kelly. He has also co-written several hit songs with Rick Nowels.-Biography:...
, Jeremy Skaller
Orange Factory Music
Orange Factory Music is a production team formed in 1999 by producers and songwriters Jeremy Skaller and Robert Larow. Most noted for their discovery and development of Cash Money/Universal Records recording artist Jay Sean, the duo met at the University of Vermont before moving to New York to...
, Rob Larow, Khaled Rohaim, Israel Cruz and Jay Sean. It was produced by Skaller, Cruz, Rohaim and Bobby Bass
Orange Factory Music
Orange Factory Music is a production team formed in 1999 by producers and songwriters Jeremy Skaller and Robert Larow. Most noted for their discovery and development of Cash Money/Universal Records recording artist Jay Sean, the duo met at the University of Vermont before moving to New York to...
. Before the release of Get 'Em Girls on 5 November 2011, the song leaked online in October. Upon its release as a single, "What Happened to Us" was sent to contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
in Australia on 14 February 2011. The cover art for the song was revealed on 22 February on Mauboy's official Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page. A CD release was available for purchase via her official website on 10 March, for one week only. It was released digitally
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...
the following day.
Reception
Majhid Heath from ABC Online IndigenousABC Online
ABC Online is the brand name in Australia for the online services of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, managed by ABC Innovation. It covers a large network of websites including those for ABC News, television, radio, and video-on-demand through ABC iView.ABC Online is one of Australia's...
called the song a "Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
-esque duet", and wrote that it "has a nice innocence to it that rings true to the experience of losing a first love." Chris Urankar from Nine to Five wrote that it as a "mid-tempo duet ballad" which signifies Mauboy's strength as a global player. On 21 March 2011, "What Happened to Us" debuted at number 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart
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...
, and peaked at number 14 the following week. The song was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA), for selling 70,000 copies.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was shot in the Elizabeth Bay House in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 26 November 2010. The video was shot during Jay Sean's visit to Australia for the Summerbeatz
Summerbeatz
Summerbeatz is a 2010 concert tour held in Australia featuring Flo Rida, Jay Sean, Akon, Ciara, Ja Rule and Travie McCoy with special guests Stan Walker and DJ Nino Brown.- Background :...
tour. During an interview with The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
while on the set of the video, Sean said, "the song is sick! ... Jessica's voice is amazing and we're shooting [the video] in this ridiculously beautiful mansion overlooking the harbour." The video was directed by Mark Alston, who had previously directed the video for Mauboy's single, "Let Me Be Me
Let Me Be Me
"Let Me Be Me" is the sixth and final single released from Australian singer Jessica Mauboy's debut studio album, Been Waiting. The song was written by Jade Ewen of Sugababes, Azi Jegbefume of Kandy Rain, Narran McLean, Karen Poole, and Steve Robson and produced by Michael "Fingaz" Mugisha. It was...
" (2009). It premiered on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on 10 February 2011.
The video begins showing Mauboy who appears to be sitting on a yellow antique couch in a mansion, wearing a purple dress. As the video progresses, scenes of memories are displayed of Mauboy and her love interest, played by Jay Sean, spending time there previously. It then cuts to the scenes where Sean appears in the main entrance room of the mansion. The final scene shows Mauboy outdoors in a gold dress, surrounded by green grass and trees. She is later joined by Sean who appears in a black suit and a white shirt, and together they sing the chorus of the song to each other.
Live performances
Mauboy performed "What Happened to Us" live for the first time during her YouTube Live Sessions program on 4 December 2010. She also appeared on, Adam Hills in Gordon Street TonightAdam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight
Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight is an Australian television interview show on ABC1 hosted by comedian Adam Hills. The show features celebrity guests, comedy and live music....
on 23 February 2011, for an interview and later performed the song. On 15 March, Mauboy performed "What Happened to Us" on Sunrise
Sunrise (TV program)
Sunrise is an Australian breakfast television program, broadcast on the Seven Network. On weekdays the programme follows Seven Early News, and runs from 6am through to 9am.-History:...
. She also performed the song with Stan Walker
Stan Walker
Stan Walker , is an Australian recording artist and actor. In 2009, Walker was the winner on the seventh season of Australian Idol. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia....
during the Australian leg of Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. Tour
F.A.M.E. Tour
The F.A.M.E. Tour was a concert tour by American recording artist Chris Brown to support his fourth studio album, F.A.M.E. . The tour began in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia in April 2011, and Brown headlined 32 concerts in North America starting in September 2011.- Background :On January 19,...
. Mauboy and Walker later performed "What Happened to Us" on Dancing with the Stars (Australia)
Dancing with the Stars (Australian Season 11)
The 11th Season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on Sunday 8 May 2011 at 6:30pm on Channel Seven. Daniel MacPherson and Sonia Kruger returned as hosts, along with judges Todd McKenney and Helen Richey. Australian dancer Joshua Horner joined the judging panel as a replacement for Mark Wilson...
on 29 May 2011.
Track listing
-
- Digital download
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean – 3:19
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean (Sgt SlickSgt SlickSgt Slick is a house music DJ and electronic music producer from Melbourne, Australia, sometimes known as Andy J.Sgt Slick's track "White Treble, Black Bass" peaked at No. 9 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. It topped club charts in Australia and Europe. Sgt Slick won the 'Best Dance...
Remix) – 6:33 - "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean (Just Witness Remix) – 3:45
-
- CD single
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean (Album Version) – 3:19
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean (Sgt Slick Remix) – 6:33
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean (OFMOrange Factory MusicOrange Factory Music is a production team formed in 1999 by producers and songwriters Jeremy Skaller and Robert Larow. Most noted for their discovery and development of Cash Money/Universal Records recording artist Jay Sean, the duo met at the University of Vermont before moving to New York to...
Remix) – 3:39
-
- Digital download – Remix
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Jay Sean (OFM Remix) – 3:38
-
- Digital download
- "What Happened to Us" featuring Stan Walker – 3:20
Personnel
- SongwritingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
– Josh Alexander, Billy SteinbergBilly SteinbergWilliam Endfield "Billy" Steinberg is an American songwriter. He has achieved most of his success as part of a song writing team, most notably with Tom Kelly. He has also co-written several hit songs with Rick Nowels.-Biography:...
, Jeremy SkallerOrange Factory MusicOrange Factory Music is a production team formed in 1999 by producers and songwriters Jeremy Skaller and Robert Larow. Most noted for their discovery and development of Cash Money/Universal Records recording artist Jay Sean, the duo met at the University of Vermont before moving to New York to...
, Rob Larow, Khaled Rohaim, Israel Cruz, Jay Sean - ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
– Jeremy Skaller, Bobby BassOrange Factory MusicOrange Factory Music is a production team formed in 1999 by producers and songwriters Jeremy Skaller and Robert Larow. Most noted for their discovery and development of Cash Money/Universal Records recording artist Jay Sean, the duo met at the University of Vermont before moving to New York to... - Additional production – Israel Cruz, Khaled Rohaim
- Lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
– Jessica MauboyJessica MauboyJessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
, Jay Sean - MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Phil TanPhil TanPhil Tan is an Atlanta, GA-based music/audio engineer.He is a 3-time Grammy Award recipient, as mixing engineer for Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi" , Ludacris' "Release Therapy" and Rihanna's "Only Girl " .Among the artists on Tan's list of credits: Jill Scott, Jennifer... - Additional mixing – Damien Lewis
- MasteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
– Tom Coyne
Source:
Chart and certification
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| ARIA Singles Chart 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... |
14 |
Certification
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum |
Radio dates and release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 14 February 2011 | Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts... |
Sony Music Australia |
| 10 March 2011 | 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... |
||
| 11 March 2011 | 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... |
||
| 11 April 2011 | Digital download – remix single | ||
| 29 May 2011 | Digital download – feat. Stan Walker |