21 Reasons

Album: single release only (2022)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, singer-songwriter Ella Henderson teams up with Nathan Dawe to outline the reasons she can't let go of her lover, even though he sometimes drives her crazy.
  • "21 Reasons" samples Danish DJ and producer Rune's 2003 dance tune "Calabria." Alex Gaudino famously sampled the track four years later for his hit "Destination Calabria."
  • Dawe is a huge fan of Rune's song and played it in just about every set he's done from the age of 15. "I've always wanted to do something with that record, and I really wanted to do it justice," he told Official Charts. "I didn't want to rush it. I think we finally found the perfect concept to fit the sample around - here's 21 reasons why I love you, I think that's very relatable."
  • Dawe previously worked with Henderson on his 2020 single "Lighter." In that instance, her vocals were heavily filtered, but this time it's her real, unembellished voice.

    Speaking about how Henderson became involved on "21 Reasons," Dawe said they had kept in touch after "Lighter," and upon finishing the demo, Henderson came to mind. He wanted "proper Ella" not "Chipmunk Ella" this time.

    Within a minute of Dawe sending the demo over, they'd set up a Zoom and the pair wrote the lyrics in two hours.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.