When Love Takes Over

Album: One Love (2009)
Charted: 1 76
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • David Guetta is a French dance producer who is recognised as one of the world's top DJs. This song was the lead single from Guetta's fourth studio album One Love.
  • This features vocals by former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland. She first came across Guetta at one of the DJs techno shows in Cannes. Rowland later met up with the Frenchman and during their conversation he played her a vocal version of this track. The American singer told Billboard magazine that it moved her to tears. She explained: "I felt so much emotion from the track; something happened the first time I heard it, and it was just beautiful." Rowland agreed to take the song to London where she wrote and recorded some vocals.
  • Guetta said to Billboard of this ode to the excitement of being in love: "The track with Kelly has made me experiment with a more American urban influence. Musically, it's opened a new world for me. It's pure pop with a lot of detail, and Kelly had this Whitney Houston vibe and nailed it."
  • Guetta commented in the video's teaser, that its plot is similar to the song's He explained: "You see Kelly walking her path, her story and me on the other side."
  • A number of reviewers have commented on the piano riff's similarity to Coldplay's "Clocks."
  • A note-by-note remake of this song by Airi L appeared simultaneously in the UK Top 40 singles chart. The appearance of Airi L's version on the iTunes chart caused Guetta's original to be rush released in the UK four days earlier than originally intended.
  • When this reached #1 in the UK, Guetta became the first Frenchman to top the charts since Romain Tranchart and Yann Destagnol of Modjo did with "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" in September 2000.
  • Guetta recalled to Billboard magazine: "I met Kelly in a club and after I played the instrumental version of 'When Love Takes Over,' she came to me with tears in her eyes. She told me she wanted to sing on it, and I decided to go for it. I was worried at that point because I thought a project with all these collaborators would be a nightmare to organize with the labels and lawyers, but it all came together very easily."
  • The song topped the charts in a number of countries, including the UK, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Turkey, and on the European Hot 100 Singles. In North America it became Guetta's second Hot 100 hit, following "Love Is Gone."
  • This won the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical prize at the 52nd Grammy Awards. It was the first time Guetta had won a Grammy.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Crystal Waters

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.