How Long (Charlie Puth song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = How Long
| cover = How Long Charlie Puth Single Cover.png
| type = single
| artist = Charlie Puth
| album = Voicenotes
| released = {{start date|2017|10|05}}
| recorded =
| genre = Pop-funk{{cite magazine|last= Stubblebine|first=Allison |title=Charlie Puth Lets His Vocals Shine With 'How Long' Performance on 'Corden'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8054619/charlie-puth-how-long-james-corden-late-late-show-performance-video|accessdate=December 5, 2017|magazine=Billboard |date=November 30, 2017}}
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=18}}
| label = Atlantic
| writer = * Charlie Puth
| producer = Charlie Puth
| prev_title = Attention
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Sober
| next_year = 2017
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|CwfoyVa980U|"How Long"}}}}
}}
"How Long" {{Efn|Stylised on the cover art as "HOW L?NG".}} is a song recorded and produced by American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. He wrote the song with Jacob Kasher and DJ Frank E. It was released on October 5, 2017, by Atlantic Records as the second single from Puth's second studio album, Voicenotes (2018).{{cite news|last=Deepa|first=Lakshmin|title=Charlie Puth Really, Really Regrets Cheating In His New Song 'How Long'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3039957/charlie-puth-how-long-song-cheating/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006212448/http://www.mtv.com/news/3039957/charlie-puth-how-long-song-cheating/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 6, 2017|accessdate=October 6, 2017|work=MTV News|date=October 5, 2017}} Commercially, it has reached the top 10 in Belgium, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Philippines, Scotland, and the United Kingdom as well as the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland. The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Background
Puth teased the song in September 2017 on social media. He tweeted two photos in a row, which were captioned "how" and "long" respectively. In October 2017, he posted photos and video clips with the captions, "has", "this", "been" and "going".{{cite news|last=Johnni|first=Macke|title=Charlie Puth's Cryptic Tweets Leave Fans Wondering Whether New Music Is On The Way|url=http://peopleschoice.com/2017/10/03/charlie-puth-teases-fans-with-cryptic-tweets-about-new-music/|accessdate=October 6, 2017|work=People's Choice Awards|date=October 3, 2017}} On October 4, 2017, he posted a video of the voice note recording behind the song with the caption "on", eventually spelling out "how long has this been going on" altogether, as one of the lines in the song's lyrics.{{cite news|last=Katrina|first=Rees|title=Charlie Puth releases new track 'How Long' and announces details about new album VoiceNotes|url=http://celebmix.com/charlie-puth-how-long-voicenotes/|accessdate=October 6, 2017|work=CelebMix|date=October 5, 2017}}
Composition
Sheet music for this song shows the key of C# minor with a tempo ranging from 108 to 112 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.tunebat.com/Info/How-Long-Charlie-Puth/32DGGj6KlNuBr6WaqRxpxi|title=Charlie Puth "How Long" |website=tunebat.com|date=October 5, 2017}}
Critical reception
Chris Malone of Billboard felt the song "opens with a slinky bassline 'Attention'", featuring a catchy chorus and representing "a slight stylistic shift from the more straight forward pop sound that filled his debut album Nine Track Mind", and that Puth took "the funkier R&B-leaning direction" with "How Long".{{cite magazine|last=Chris|first=Malone|title=Charlie Puth Plays the Scorned Lover on Funky New Track 'How Long'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7989352/charlie-puth-how-long-voice-notes-song-stream|accessdate=October 6, 2017|magazine=Billboard|date=October 5, 2017}} James Dinh of iHeartRadio deemed it "a fitting follow-up to 'Attention' as the 25-year-old tackles yet another vulnerable narrative from the romance department", and expected it to enter the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite news|last=James|first=Dinh|title=Charlie Puth Is A Sorry Cheater In His New Song 'How Long'|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2017-10-05-charlie-puth-is-a-sorry-cheater-in-his-new-song-how-long/|accessdate=October 6, 2017|work=iHeartRadio|date=October 6, 2017}} Mike Wass of Idolator wrote that the song "picks up where 'Attention' left off". He described the song as "instantly addictive and could well turn out to be an even bigger hit".{{cite news|last=Mike|first=Wass|title=Charlie Puth's "How Long" Picks Up Where "Attention" Left Off|url=https://www.idolator.com/7669551/charlie-puth-how-long-review|accessdate=October 6, 2017|work=Idolator|date=October 5, 2017}} Katrina Rees of CelebMix regarded the song as "Charlie's latest infectious offering", and wrote that it "has a slick yet fairly stripped back vibe which showcases the singer's vocal range".
Chart performance
"How Long" reached the top 10 on seven charts, including the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20171103/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100|website=Official Charts Company|accessdate=December 5, 2017}} It debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of October 28, 2017.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2017-10-28|title=Music: Top 100 Songs – Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=February 5, 2018}} It eventually peaked at number 21, holding that position for five consecutive weeks. On April 3, 2018, the single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of a million digital copies in the United States.
Music video
The official music video was released on October 19, 2017, on Charlie Puth's official YouTube channel.{{Citation|last=Charlie Puth|title=Charlie Puth - "How Long" [Official Video]|date=October 19, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwfoyVa980U|accessdate=October 19, 2017}} It features Puth dancing in the street, walking on walls and defying gravity.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8006602/charlie-puth-how-long-music-video|title=Charlie Puth Lets Loose in New Video for 'How Long'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 19, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/10/19/charlie-puth-video-how-long/|title=Charlie Puth Shows Off His Smooth Moves & Walks On Walls In Trippy 'How Long' Music Video|last=Ginsberg|first=Gabriella|date=October 19, 2017|work=Hollywood Life|access-date=October 19, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025152852/http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/10/19/charlie-puth-video-how-long/|url-status=dead}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2017}}. The music video has over 712 million views as of October 2024.
Live performances
Puth performed the song live for the first time on Sounds Like Friday Night on October 27, 2017.{{cite web|title=Charlie Puth – How Long|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZo6bnAP4h4|website=YouTube|accessdate=December 27, 2017}} He later performed the song live on The Late Late Show with James Corden on November 29, 2017.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8054619/charlie-puth-how-long-james-corden-late-late-show-performance-video|title=Charlie Puth Lets His Vocals Shine With 'How Long' Performance on 'Corden'|magazine=Billboard|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=December 27, 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = How Long
| length1 = 3:18
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download - Remix{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-long-remix-feat-french-montana-single/1316637149 |title=How Long (Remix) [feat. French Montana] - Single by Charlie Puth on Apple Music |website=iTunes |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124016/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-long-remix-feat-french-montana-single/1316637149 |url-status=dead }}
| title1 = How Long
| note1 = Remix) (featuring French Montana
| length1 = 3:26
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download - Throttle Remix
| title1 = How Long
| note1 = Throttle Remix
| length1 = 4:21
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download - Roisto Remix{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-long-roisto-remix-single/1312015278 |title=How Long (Roisto Remix) - Single by Charlie Puth on Apple Music |website=iTunes |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209125951/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-long-roisto-remix-single/1312015278 |url-status=dead }}
| title1 = How Long
| note1 = Roisto Remix
| length1 = 3:45
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download - EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-long-edxs-dubai-skyline-remix-single/1318926197 |title=How Long (EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix) - Single by Charlie Puth on Apple Music |website=iTunes |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124525/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-long-edxs-dubai-skyline-remix-single/1318926197 |url-status=dead }}
| title1 = How Long
| note1 = EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix
| length1 = 3:12
| title2 = How Long
| note2 = EDX's Dubai Skyline Extended
| length2 = 4:52
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download - Two Friends Remix
| title1 = How Long
| note1 = Two Friends Remix
| length1 = 3:30
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
scope="col"| Chart (2017)
! scope="col"| Position |
---|
scope="row"| Hungary (Stream Top 40){{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/stream/2017|title=Stream Top 100 – 2017|publisher=Mahasz|accessdate=February 17, 2018}}
| 66 |
scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2017|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2017|publisher=Dutch Top 40|accessdate=October 13, 2019}}
| 88 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2017|certyear=2022|access-date=September 5, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Gold|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|certmonth=01|access-date=January 19, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=3|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=January 26, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|id=12160|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=February 28, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|award=Platinum|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2020|access-date=May 17, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|award=Gold|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|access-date=August 1, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|id=5370|access-date=March 19, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=December 30, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=January 28, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|access-date=May 30, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2022|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|award=Platinum|id=charlie-puth-how-long|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|type=single|access-date=November 11, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2019|access-date=July 12, 2019|id=14673-4155-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=3|artist=Charlie Puth|title=How Long|type=single|relyear=2017|certyear=2023|access-date=July 24, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
Notes
{{notelist}}