Songfacts®:

• "Wanna Be Loved" is a heartfelt country-rock ballad where The Red Clay Strays' frontman Brandon Coleman explores the universal desire for human connection, affection and acceptance.
  
  Can you tell me I'm worthy, or important?
  Am I working hard enough?
  I just wanna be loved
• Brandon Coleman's siblings, Dakota and Matthew Coleman, wrote the song.
  
  "I feel like everybody can relate to it," the Red Clay Strays' singer said. "Everybody's just wanting to be accepted. Wanting to be heard. Wanting to be loved. I'm hoping people hear it and relate to it in that way. When the music connects to people and relates to it, that's when you make a difference."
• "Wanna Be Loved" was released on May 22, 2024 as the lead single from Made by These Moments, The Red Clay Strays' first major-label album after signing with RCA Records.
  
  Produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) and recorded at his Georgia Mae Studio in Savannah, the album showcases the band's blend of electric rock and southern soul. Across the 11 tracks, The Red Clay Strays delve into the complexities of the human experience, exploring themes of faith, love, and redemption.
• The song debuted at #100 on the Hot 100 dated August 10, 2024, marking the band's second appearance on the chart, following "Wondering Why," which peaked at #71.
• Made By These Moments feels like an end times face-off between good and evil. "The record definitely has a message," Coleman told Mojo magazine, "but I'd put it in terms of 'Do you want to give up or do you want to keep fighting?' It's about the human condition; the challenges that make us who we are. I'm only interested in singing songs that are meaningful."
• Dakota Coleman started the song during a rough patch in his life in April 2022, texting Matthew the first verse and chorus he had already written. Matthew then finished the second verse and shaped a melody for it. "I never expected anything to come about with it, certainly not platinum," Dakota later reflected.