Kissing Strangers
{{short description|2017 single by DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj}}
{{For|the Usher song|Coming Home (Usher album)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Kissing Strangers
| cover = DNCE Kissing Strangers.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = DNCE featuring Nicki Minaj
| album =
| released = {{start date|2017|4|14}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop Rap, Pop Rock, Disco Funk
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=22}}
| label = Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Onika Maraj|Justin Tranter|Mattias Larsson|Robin Fredriksson}}
| producer = Mattman & Robin
| chronology = DNCE
| prev_title = Body Moves
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
| next_year = 2017
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Nicki Minaj
| type = single
| prev_title = Light My Body Up
| prev_year = 2017
| title = Kissing Strangers
| year = 2017
| next_title = Swish Swish
| next_year = 2017
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|wzZWXrlDj-A|"Kissing Strangers"}}}}
}}
"Kissing Strangers" is a song by American band DNCE, featuring vocals from Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released as a single through Republic Records on April 14, 2017.{{Cite news|last=Mike Wass|date=April 13, 2017|title=DNCE Teams Up With Nicki Minaj For "Kissing Strangers"|url=http://www.idolator.com/7661120/dnce-kissing-strangers-nicki-minaj-review/|work=Idolator|access-date=June 12, 2017}} It was later included on the bonus edition of the band's self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 2016 and only available on the 2017 Japan version.{{Cite news|last=Holly Williams|date=May 13, 2017|title=Nicki Minaj Is An Absolute Queen On DNCE's New Song 'Kissing Strangers'|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/dnce/news/nicki-minaj-dnce-kissing-strangers_5684415|work=Contactmusic.com|access-date=June 11, 2017}} The remix was a collaboration with Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, who was added to the song, was released on July 28, 2017.{{Cite magazine|last=DiMeglio|first=Mary J.|date=August 4, 2017|title=Luis Fonsi Joins DNCE, Nicki Minaj on New 'Kissing Strangers' Remix: Listen|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7889914/despacito-luis-fonsi-dnce-nicki-minaj-kissing-strangers-remix-listen|magazine=billboard|access-date=August 17, 2017}} "Kissing Strangers" is a pop song.{{Cite magazine|last=Lauren Tom|date=April 14, 2017|title=DNCE Releases Video Teaser for Nicki Minaj Collab 'Kissing Strangers' Featuring Doug the Pug: Watch|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7760388/dnce-nicki-minaj-collab-kissing-strangers-video-teaser/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
Background
On April 6, 2017, the band posted a picture of Doug the Pug including a phone number listed on his dog tag, if dialed, an instrumental chorus of "Kissing Strangers" will be offered. DNCE and Nicki Minaj teased the collaboration via social media on April 10, 2017. Nicki Minaj revealed photos from the music video, while DNCE released a preview of the song, with an early snippet offered by dialing a phone number.{{Cite magazine|last=Colin Stutz|date=April 10, 2017|title=Nicki Minaj Teases DNCE Collab 'Kissing Strangers'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7752741/nicki-minaj-dnce-collaboration-tease-kissing-strangers/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
In an interview by CBS Radio, Joe Jonas of DNCE said: "'Kissing Strangers' is a song about having fun with a stranger, getting to know them a little better, [and then] they're no longer a stranger. Just finding yourself; finding who you want to be with."
"We have the amazing, beautiful, talented Nicki Minaj on the track as well. We shot the music video in L.A. a week ago, and we can't wait to share that." Jonas continued. "We're huge fans of her work, and it was an immediate thought to have her be a part of the song, so we sent her the track, she wrote her verse in like, five minutes, and came out exactly how we'd hopes and she kills it... in the best way."{{Cite news|last=Brian Ives|date=April 18, 2017|title=DNCE on 'Kissing Strangers': 'You Get to Know Them a Little Better'|url=http://radio.com/2017/04/18/dnce-explain-kissing-strangers/|work=CBS Radio|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
"I'm really proud of 'Kissing Strangers,'" Justin Tranter, co-writer of the song, told Billboard magazine. "The chorus is about being open-minded to the love that might be in front of you." Cole Whittle said: "I've been working with Justin since we were kids, he's like family to us. He introduced Joe and I, so he's a big part of why DNCE exists."{{Cite magazine|last=Patrick Crowley|date=May 8, 2017|title=DNCE Performs (and Grind on Debra Messing) at the 2017 GLAAD Media Awards|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/7785006/dnce-glaad-media-awards-2017-performance/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 8, 2017}}
Music video
Shortly after the song was released, the band posted a teaser of the music video on social media. The teaser is a behind-the-scenes exclusive look at the video production.
The music video was released on May 12, 2017, via Vevo on DNCE's YouTube channel.{{Cite magazine|last=Taylor Weatherby|date=May 12, 2017|title=DNCE & Nicki Minaj Get Their Party and Make Out On in 'Kissing Strangers' Video|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7792922/dnce-kissing-strangers-video-nicki-minaj/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2017}} It was directed by American music video director Marc Klasfeld, and included all DNCE members and Nicki Minaj. In the video, DNCE holds a house party. It starts with an innocent game of spin the bottle, then Nicki Minaj walks through the door, and is invited by Jonas to get up to the stage with him.{{Cite news|last=Tony Centeno|date=May 12, 2017|title=DNCE & Nicki Minaj Find Love By "Kissing Strangers" (Video)|url=http://www.vibe.com/2017/05/dnce-nicki-minaj-kissing-strangers-video/|work=Vibe|access-date=June 12, 2017}} She drops the microphone and grabs Jonas by his collar, then puts her lips close to his lips.
Live performances
On May 8, 2017, DNCE made their major performance debut of "Kissing Strangers" at the 28th GLAAD Media Awards in New York City, alongside their 2016 song "Cake by the Ocean". "The GLAAD Media Awards is an incredible ceremony," Joe Jonas told Billboard magazine at the event. "To be part of something like this, and to play this song — to have fun and celebrate, that's what it's about." On May 16, 2017, the band performed the track in the elimination episode of The Voice, it ended with dozens of lip-shaped balloons falling down on the band.{{Cite news|last=Shari Weiss|date=May 16, 2017|title=DNCE "The Voice" Video – Watch "Kissing Strangers" Performance!|url=http://www.gossipcop.com/dnce-the-voice-video-kissing-strangers-performance-watch/|work=Gossip Cop|access-date=June 12, 2017}}{{Cite news|last=Alyssa Norwin|date=May 16, 2017|title=DNCE Rocks 'The Voice' With Hot New Single 'Kissing Strangers'|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/05/16/dnce-performance-the-voice-kissing-strangers/|work=Hollywood Life|access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903120631/http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/05/16/dnce-performance-the-voice-kissing-strangers/|url-status=dead}} On July 6, 2017, DNCE performed the song at Univision's Premios Juventud 2017, the annual youth awards. It marks their first-ever performance on Spanish-language television.{{Cite magazine|last=Griselda Flores|date=June 8, 2017|title=Premios Juventud 2017 First Round of Performers Include DNCE, J Balvin & More: Exclusive|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7824733/premios-juventud-2017-performers-dnce-j-balvin|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download{{cite web|title=Kissing Strangers (feat. Nicki Minaj) - Single by DNCE on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/album/kissing-strangers-feat-nicki-minaj-single/1224709308|website=iTunes Store|date=14 April 2017 |access-date=August 17, 2017}}
| title1 = Kissing Strangers
| note1 = featuring Nicki Minaj
| length1 = 3:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download – Remix{{cite web|title=Kissing Strangers (Remix) [feat. Nicki Minaj] - Single by DNCE & Luis Fonsi on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/album/kissing-strangers-remix-feat-nicki-minaj-single/1264678799|website=iTunes Store|date=28 July 2017 |access-date=August 17, 2017}}
| title1 = Kissing Strangers
| note1 = Remix) (with Luis Fonsi featuring Nicki Minaj
| length1 = 3:22
}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/72574475/|title=Kissing Strangers / DNCE |publisher=Tidal|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
- Justin Drew Tranter – composer, lyricist, background vocalist
- Mattman & Robin – composer, lyricist, producer, background vocalist, bassist, clapper, drummer, guitarist, maracas player, percussion player, programmer, tambourine player
- Nicki Minaj – composer, lyricist
- Joe Jonas – composer, principal vocalist
- Jack Lawless – background vocalist, drummer
- JinJoo Lee – background vocalist, guitarist
- Cole Whittle – background vocalist, bassist
- Serban Ghenea – mixer
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
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Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Kissing Strangers"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|title=Kissing Strangers|artist=DNCE|award=Gold|relyear=2017|relmonth=4|certyear=2024|access-date=March 8, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|artist=DNCE|title=Kissing Strangers|award=Platinum|relyear=2017|certyear=2017|digital=true|access-date=September 4, 2017}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates for "Kissing Strangers" ! scope="row"| Region ! scope="row"| Date ! scope="row"| Format ! scope="row"| Version ! scope="row"| Label ! scope="row"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| April 14, 2017 | rowspan="3"| Original | rowspan="2"| Republic |
|---|
| scope="row"| United States
| April 18, 2017 | rowspan="2"| Contemporary hit radio |
| scope="row"| Italy
| April 21, 2017 |
| scope="row"| Various
| July 28, 2017 | Digital download | Remix | Republic |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DNCE}}
{{Nicki Minaj songs}}
{{Luis Fonsi}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Nicki Minaj
Category:Republic Records singles
Category:Songs written by Justin Tranter
Category:Songs written by Robin Fredriksson
Category:Songs written by Mattias Larsson
Category:Song recordings produced by Mattman & Robin