The Chainsmokers and 5 Seconds of Summer aren’t new to summer hits. Both groups have had infectious chart toppers. And their collaboration, “Who Do You Love,” is no different.
A combination of pop, rock and EDM, this catchy song explores an age-old theme: what happens when love goes bad.
Put simply, this song tells the sad-but-familiar story of an unfaithful partner, a tale alternately narrated by both of these bands.
It seems a certain boyfriend is suspicious of his girlfriend’s behavior. So he takes matters into his own hands. While snooping around, he finds a few bits of incriminating evidence that unsettle him. Like “cigarettes in your Fendi coat/Even though you don’t even smoke.” Perhaps more alarming, she’s changed “access codes” to her home. No more showing up unannounced, I guess.
The guy also realizes that his partner is having trouble keeping her story straight (“Well, keep switchin’ your alibi/Or stutterin’ when you reply/You can’t even look me in the eye”) and that she’s flippantly dismissing his suspicions (“You flip it on me, say I think too much”). To top it off, things aren’t the same in bed, either (“You’re movin’ different when we makin’ love”).
All the evidence seems to be stacked against his lover. She’s “been actin’ so conspicuous.” And the thought of her with another man, well, that’s enough to haunt him (“This s— is keepin’ me up at night”), a profane confession in the chorus that’s repeated several times.
Now, this jilted guy just wants to know: “Who do you love, do you love now?”
Sometimes a song’s video mirrors the story it tells. Not this one. The video for “Who Do You Love” doesn’t give the song’s lyrics a second thought.
Instead, the Chainsmokers and 5 Seconds of Summer go head to head in a battle-of-the-bands musical war. As each group of guys step out of their vehicles, they head to stages opposite one another and play their various instruments with vigor. Cameras pan in on dramatic faces, aggressive guitar strokes (never mind that you can’t actually hear any guitars in the song itself, but whatever) and the pounding of drums.
Then their battle-of-the-bands one-upmanship escalates explosively. As in, guitars shooting flames … and band members and instruments being lit on fire, too. In the end, they’re all blown back by their own force. (Though no one is really the worse for wear.)
Most videos today try to capitalize on nearly naked women, drugs, alcohol and party scenes. Not this one. This video lampoons two groups of ridiculously hyper-masculine guys throwing everything they’ve got at each other.
It’s a nice change of pace from many music videos on YouTube. Unfortunately, the song’s sensual, profanity-laden lyrics themselves aren’t nearly as innocent.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
