Cake by the Ocean
"Cake by the Ocean" is the debut single by American band DNCE. It was released through Republic Records as the lead single from their debut extended play, Swaay, on September 18, 2015.[1][2] It was also included on their self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 2016. "Cake by the Ocean" is a 1970s-inspired pop, R&B, dance, and disco-funk song.[3][4] The song reached the top 10 on multiple national record charts including those of Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also topped the U.S. Billboard Adult Pop Songs airplay chart and has been certified Gold or higher by a number of recording industry associations. Billboard ranked "Cake by the Ocean" at number 44 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list.[5] Nielsen Music declared "Cake by the Ocean" the second most-played song in Canada for 2016, behind only Canadian singer Justin Bieber's single "Love Yourself".[6]
"Cake by the Ocean"
September 18, 2015
3:39
Composition[edit]
"Cake by the Ocean" was co-written by Joe Jonas, Justin Tranter, and Swedish duo Mattman & Robin, who also produced the song.[7] Lyrically, the song is about sexual intercourse,[8] but is also often interpreted to be referring to the cocktail Sex on the Beach.[9] The song's title originated from Mattman & Robin's repeatedly confusing the phrase "sex on the beach" for "cake by the ocean".[7] The original version includes the phrases, "go fucking crazy" and "God damn", which necessitated the production of "clean" versions with altered wording to ensure broadcasting obscenity requirements were met.[10][11]
"Cake by the Ocean" is composed in the key of E minor and has a tempo of 119 beats per minute, with DNCE's vocals ranging from E3 to D5.[12]
Chart performance[edit]
"Cake by the Ocean" debuted at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for November 7, 2015.[13] On March 5, 2016, the song moved from number 11 to number 10 and became Jonas' fourth career top-10 entry, making him the sixth artist to reach the top 10 as a soloist and with two groups.[14] It peaked at number nine in its 19th week on the chart and spent 46 weeks in total.[15][16] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single 5× Platinum, which denotes five million units based on sales and track-equivalent on-demand streams.[17] On the Canadian Hot 100, "Cake by the Ocean" peaked at number seven and was certified 2× Platinum by Music Canada.[18][19]
The song reached number four in the United Kingdom and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it 3× Platinum.[20][21] In Italy, it peaked at number 11 and was certified 4× Platinum.[22][23] "Cake by the Ocean" reached number six in Australia and was certified 7× Platinum.[24][25] In New Zealand, the song peaked at number 10 and was certified 2× Platinum.[26][27] "Cake by the Ocean" charted within the top five of national record charts, at number one in Argentina,[28] Ecuador,[29] Israel,[30] number two in Slovenia,[31] number five in Austria,[32] the Czech Republic,[33] Serbia.[34] It received a 2× Platinum certification Poland,[35] Spain,[36] and Platinum in France,[37] Germany,[38] the Netherlands,[39] Sweden.[40]
Music video[edit]
The video, directed by Black Coffee and Jonas' then-girlfriend Gigi Hadid,[41] was released on October 16, 2015. It depicts DNCE performing "in front of a giant piece of cake on the beach" when a cake-throwing battle ensues between The Fat Jewish (Josh Ostrovsky) and "a bunch of bikini clad women who are 'Team DNCE'". Both vie "to become the 'cake fight champion', but as it turns out, everyone is a winner, as the scene becomes one giant beach party".[42] It features product placement scenes by the dating app Bumble, including a shot of a hand swiping through photos of women and a Bumble-branded towel being waved. By March 2024 the video had attracted more than 507 million views on YouTube.
Performances[edit]
DNCE have performed the song as musical guests on The Ellen DeGeneres Show[43] and The Graham Norton Show.[44] The band performed the song live at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards, the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards, and the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in the US, and the 2016 Royal Variety Performance in the UK.
DNCE performed a 1950s rock-inspired version of "Cake by the Ocean" for their cameo in Grease: Live as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers.[45]
The Jonas Brothers, Joe's group at the time, performed the song as part of the medley of hits along with Nick's debut hit "Jealous" and the recently released "Sucker" at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.[46] DNCE joined the Jonas Brothers in performing the song during the Global Citizen Festival 2022.[47] Jonas Brothers also performed the song at Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium on June 11, 2023.[48]
Usage in media[edit]
The song is featured in the films Pitch Perfect 3, Bad Moms, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, Malibu Rescue, The King of Staten Island, Sing 2, and in trailers for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,[49] Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation[50] and The Lost City.[51] It has also been featured in the television series Telenovela, South Park, No Tomorrow, The Real O'Neals, The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30, Mary + Jane and The Wilds, and My Life with the Walter Boys, and appeared in an Indonesian Mizone commercial in August 2016.[52] The clean version of the song is a playable track in Just Dance 2017. It was also featured in the Brazilian teen soap-opera Malhação during its 24th season.