Lean On

Regarding the creative process behind "Lean On", producer Diplo of Major Lazer said, "We wrote this song with MØ very early from an instrumental Jr Blender created in some sessions in Trinidad. It was a strong hook. Very big to me but the production was lacking an attitude we needed. A year later I remixed the song at a completely different tempo and asked DJ Snake for a signature post chorus. After he did his thing, me, MØ and Blender rewrote the song at the new tempo in Las Vegas and made something very unique that became our album's lead-off single. We're super proud of this song."{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34796761/major-lazers-lean-on-becomes-most-streamed-track-on-spotify-ever|title=Major Lazer's Lean On becomes most streamed track on Spotify ever|date=2015-12-11|website=BBC Newsbeat|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119032824/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34796761/major-lazers-lean-on-becomes-most-streamed-track-on-spotify-ever|url-status=live}} Diplo offered a slower reggae arrangement of the song to Rihanna, who rejected it. He also offered said arrangement of the song to Nicki Minaj, who turned it down as well. Diplo called this turn of events "a blessing in disguise," and that "MØ sounds better than anybody was going to sound on that record."{{cite web|first=Brennan|last=Carley|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/08/diplo-mo-major-lazer-lean-on-rihanna-nicki-minaj-dj-snake/|title=Diplo Says 'Lean On' Was Initially Meant for Nicki Minaj or Rihanna|work=Spin|access-date=June 15, 2015|archive-date=August 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820114957/http://www.spin.com/2015/08/diplo-mo-major-lazer-lean-on-rihanna-nicki-minaj-dj-snake/|url-status=live}}

The song has received critical acclaim. Brennan Carley of Spin wrote, "It's as if No Doubt met the C+C Music Factory".{{cite news|author=Carley, Brennan|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/03/major-lazer-mo-dj-snake-lean-on-song-stream/|title=Major Lazer Need Mø and DJ Snake to 'Lean On' in New Single|work=Spin|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015|archive-date=June 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629072218/http://www.spin.com/2015/03/major-lazer-mo-dj-snake-lean-on-song-stream/|url-status=live}} Consequence of Sound{{'}}s Michelle Geslani called the song a "bouncy banger" and complimented MØ's "siren-like" vocals.{{cite magazine|author=Geslani, Michelle|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/major-lazer-premieres-new-song-lean-on-featuring-dj-snake-and-mo-listen/|title=Major Lazer premieres new song 'Lean On' featuring DJ Snake and MØ — listen|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=March 2, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015}} David Jeffries from AllMusic praised MØ and DJ Snake for helping the track "deliver the sentimental lyrics and sensual house music at an intoxicating half-speed tempo."{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002836946|label=Peace Is the Mission|first=David|last=Jeffries|access-date=July 19, 2015}} Billboard{{'}}s Matt Medved praised the song, explaining, "Lean On" gives Major Lazer’s reggae, trap and moombahton blend a pop gloss. Already a festival favorite, it looks primed to follow Jack Ü and Justin Bieber's "Where Are Ü Now" as another Diplo product that both innovates and finds crossover appeal."{{cite magazine|last=Medved|first=Matt|date=June 5, 2015|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6590208/diplo-major-lazer-peace-is-the-mission-review|title=Diplo's Reggae Act Major Lazer Finds Its Footing -- In the World of Pop With 'Peace Is the Mission': Album Review|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 6, 2015}}

Rolling Stone ranked "Lean On" at number 48 on its year-end list to find the 50 best songs of 2015,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-songs-of-2015-144910/|title=50 Best Songs of 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=Rolling Stone|date=December 3, 2015|access-date=May 25, 2019}} while Billboard listed it number one on its Top 10 Dance/Electronic songs of 2015.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2015/6812922/best-songs-2015-dance-electronic-edm|title=The 10 Best Dance/Electronic Songs of 2015|first=Matt|last=Medved|date=December 17, 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 25, 2019}} The latter magazine also ranked "Lean On" at number 3 on its year-end critics' poll for 2015: "The Grammys got it wrong. It's rare that a dance record of this quality reaches this level of ubiquity—after all, this is Spotify{{'}}s most streamed song of all-time as of Nov. 2015. Despite being independently released, the infectious three-minute single became the poster child for dance crossover, dominating both radio and festival play and hitting No. 4 on the Hot 100. By Billboard's measure, 'Lean On' was the dance/electronic song of the year."{{cite magazine |date=December 17, 2015 |title=Billboard 25 Best Songs of 2015: Critics' Picks |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2015/6806155/billboard-25-best-songs-critics-picks |magazine=Billboard.com}} The prestigious Village Voice ranked "Lean On" at number 25 on their annual year-end critic's poll.{{cite news|url=http://furia.com/pjs/table_song_2015_total.html|title=Pazz & Jop Statistics|newspaper=The Village Voice|access-date=January 13, 2016|archive-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729142203/http://furia.com/pjs/table_song_2015_total.html|url-status=live}} On January 26, 2016, "Lean On" reached #3 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2015.

"Lean On" was a global commercial success. In the United States, "Lean On" debuted at the bottom of the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated April 25, 2015.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2015-04-25|title=Billboard Hot 100, April 25, 2015|magazine=Billboard.com}} The song later reached number four on August 29, 2015, spending 10 consecutive weeks in the top-10. This entry makes it Major Lazer and MØ{{'}}s highest-charting hit in the country at the time making Major Lazer's first top 10 and top 40, also making MØ's first top 10 and second top 40 ("Cold Water", a collaboration with Justin Bieber, reached number two in 2016); "Lean On" also ties with DJ Snake{{'}}s "Turn Down for What", which also reached number four in June 2014.

In the United Kingdom, "Lean On" debuted at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending April 11, 2015. The song entered the top-10 three weeks later, before reaching number two on June 27, 2015. The song spent 12 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10, becoming one of the few songs during 2015 to spend more than 10 weeks in the top 10 (even above several number-one singles). Elsewhere, in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway, "Lean On" reached number one. Additionally, the single reached number 3 on the Canadian Hot 100.

In November 2015, "Lean On" was announced to have overtaken "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran as the most streamed song ever on Spotify, with 526 million streams globally. It currently has over 2 billion streams on the site, making it the eighty-second most streamed song.

The accompanying music video for "Lean On" was directed by Tim Erem,{{YouTube|YqeW9_5kURI|"Lean On"}}. Note: see Description section (Director – Tim Erem). produced by Mikhail Mehra, Akshay Multani & Per Welen, director of photography Jacob Møller. It was shot at ND Studios, Karjat, and Kaul Heritage City, Vasai in Maharashtra, India. Some scenes of the video are filmed in the Golden Hall of the Stockholm City Hall.{{cite magazine|title = Watch: Major Lazer's New Video Lean On|url = https://rollingstoneindia.com/watch-major-lazers-new-video-lean-on/|date=March 23, 2015|magazine =Rolling Stone India|access-date = May 25, 2019|author=Rolling Stone India}}{{cite web|title = Major Lazer's new video shot in Mumbai, garners 1.5 million views on YouTube|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/a-major-video-release/|date = March 30, 2015|work = The Indian Express|access-date = June 14, 2015|archive-date = January 24, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160124022030/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/a-major-video-release/|url-status = live}} It follows a premise of Major Lazer, MØ and DJ Snake engaging in modernised Bollywood dance sequences. It was inspired by a previous tour Major Lazer embarked on in the country.{{cite web|author=Thompson, Hunter|url=http://runthetrap.com/2015/03/23/major-lazer-dj-snake-lean-on-feat-mo-official-music-video/|title=Major Lazer and DJ Snake – Lean On (featuring MØ) (Official Music Video)|publisher=Run The Trap|date=March 23, 2015|access-date=March 25, 2015|archive-date=March 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325150641/http://runthetrap.com/2015/03/23/major-lazer-dj-snake-lean-on-feat-mo-official-music-video|url-status=live}} Speaking about the music video, Major Lazer member Diplo said:

"When we toured there [in India] as Major Lazer, it was mind-blowing to see our fan-base and we wanted to incorporate the attitude and positive vibes into our video and just do something that embodies the essence of Major Lazer. Major Lazer has always been a culture mashup and to us, India feels like some kind of special creature with one foot in history and one firmly in the future."

In January 2022, MØ commented, "The video is so beautiful and amazing, but I definitely think it's cultural appropriation, for sure. And I'm so happy that people were making me aware of it, because, at the time, I didn't really understand."{{Cite web |last=Ahlgrim |first=Callie |date=January 30, 2022 |title=MØ says the music video for Major Lazer's 'Lean On' was 'cultural appropriation, for sure' |url=https://www.insider.com/mo-lean-on-music-video-major-lazer-cultural-appropriation-response-2022-1 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914092607/https://www.insider.com/mo-lean-on-music-video-major-lazer-cultural-appropriation-response-2022-1 |url-status=live }}

The lyric video for "Lean On" was uploaded on YouTube on March 2, 2015.{{Citation |title=Major Lazer & DJ Snake - Lean On (feat. MØ) (Official Lyric Video) | date=March 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9AQoI7mYU |access-date=2023-06-12 |language=en |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612125506/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9AQoI7mYU |url-status=live }}

On July 10, 2015, the official EP of remixes was released for digital download.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lean-on-remixes-feat-m-dj/1014209424|title=Lean On (Remixes) [feat. MØ & DJ Snake] – EP by Major Lazer on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes (US)|access-date=May 25, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715044936/https://music.apple.com/us/album/lean-on-remixes-feat-m-dj/1014209424|url-status=live}} The EP consists of seven remixes.

The official remix of "Lean On" features a guest appearance by American singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was premiered through Major Lazer's SoundCloud on June 17, 2015.{{cite magazine |author=Brodsky |first=Rachel |date=July 17, 2015 |title=Ty Dolla $ign Remixed Major Lazer's 'Lean On' |url=http://www.spin.com/2015/07/ty-dolla-sign-major-lazer-lean-on-remix/ |magazine=Spin |access-date=July 23, 2015}} Ty Dolla Sign starts the remix with his new verse while the rest of the song is the same as in the original version.

The remix was well received by music critics. Zach Frydenlund of Complex wrote; "While the song was already catchy as hell, Ty Dolla adds another element to the single".{{cite magazine |author=Frydenlund |first=Zach |date=July 17, 2015 |title=Major Lazer Links With Ty Dolla $ign For the "Lean On (Remix)" |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2015/07/major-lazer-new-song-lean-on-remix-f-ty-dolla-sign |magazine=Complex |access-date=July 23, 2015}} Rap-Up also gave a positive review to the remix with writing that Ty Dolla Sign starts the song with "electrifying verse that is guaranteed to get you lit".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/07/17/new-music-major-lazer-ty-dolla-sign-lean-on-remix/|title=New Music: Major Lazer feat. Ty Dolla $ign – 'Lean On (Remix)'|magazine=Rap-Up|date=July 17, 2015|access-date=July 23, 2015}} Elias Leight of The Fader wrote that Ty Dolla Sign added "some extra juice" to the song with his verse.{{cite magazine |author=Leight |first=Elias |date=July 17, 2015 |title=Hear Ty Dolla $ign's Hedonistic Remix Of Major Lazer's "Lean On" |url=http://www.thefader.com/2015/07/17/major-lazer-ty-dolla-remix |magazine=The Fader |access-date=July 23, 2015}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/56k0jdcAe2CBpCOsD1HE0A|title=Lean On by Major Lazer, DJ Snake on Spotify|publisher=Spotify|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914092608/https://open.spotify.com/album/56k0jdcAe2CBpCOsD1HE0A|url-status=live}}

| title1 = Lean On

| note1 = with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length1 = 2:56

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download (Remixes){{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5oOsIw3xQ84fAJ2ik7uV5l|title=Lean On (Remixes) by Major Lazer on Spotify|publisher=Spotify|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028042633/https://open.spotify.com/album/5oOsIw3xQ84fAJ2ik7uV5l|url-status=live}}

| title1 = Lean On

| note1 = Dillon Francis and Jauz Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length1 = 4:38

| title2 = Lean On

| note2 = CRNKN Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length2 = 3:24

| title3 = Lean On

| note3 = Ephwurd and ETC!ETC! Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ) (US non-enter

| length3 = 3:18

| title4 = Lean On

| note4 = Fono Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length4 = 5:09

| title5 = Lean On

| note5 = Malaa Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length5 = 6:17

| title6 = Lean On

| note6 = Moska Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length6 = 4:07

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download (Remixes Vol. 2){{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7jlm6XHaXiJffCz4ccDQ07|title=Lean On (Remixes, Vol.2) by Major Lazer on Spotify|publisher=Spotify|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922162841/https://open.spotify.com/album/7jlm6XHaXiJffCz4ccDQ07|url-status=live}}

| title1 = Lean On

| note1 = J Balvin and Farruko Remix

| length1 = 3:51

| title2 = Lean On

| note2 = Tiësto and MOTi Remix) (with DJ Snake featuring MØ

| length2 = 4:56

}}

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• List of best-selling singles in Australia
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{{MØ}}

{{Farruko}}

{{Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song}}

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Category:2015 singles

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