Real Friends (Camila Cabello song)
"Real Friends" is a song recorded by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Camila Cabello for her debut solo studio album, Camila (2018). Written by Cabello, William Walsh, Louis Bell, Brian Lee and its producer, Frank Dukes, it was released as a promotional single with "Never Be the Same" on December 7, 2017. "Real Friends" has an acoustic guitar foundation. In its lyrics, Cabello reflects on her life and asks for an honest friendship. The song's minimalist production has elements of reggae, Latin and tropical music. The reimagined version of the song featuring American musician Swae Lee was released on August 16, 2018.[2][3][4]
"Real Friends"
December 7, 2017
Electric Feel Recording Studio
(West Hollywood, California)
3:34
- Camila Cabello
- Adam Feeney
- William Walsh
- Louis Bell
- Brian Lee
- Frank Dukes
- Vinylz (add.)
- Bell (voc.)
"Real Friends" was inspired by Cabello's dissatisfaction and loneliness from work-focused life in Los Angeles while she was finishing recording Camila. Music critics praised its acoustic sound and Cabello's vocals. "Real Friends" debuted in the top 100 of several countries, including Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Ireland. Although it did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, it debuted at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
Composition and lyrics[edit]
"Real Friends" is a low-key song characterized by a minimalist production, with an acoustic guitar as the main instrument and a solo pop handclap as percussion.[10][11] The verses are sung gently, with Cabello using her low register instead of her soprano voice. In the lyrics, she reflects on being surrounded by negative things and people, while asking for an honest friendship.[12][13] In the chorus, Cabello sings: "I'm just lookin' for some real friends / All they ever do is let me down / Every time I let somebody in / Then I find out what they're all about".[14] According to Mike Nied of Idolator, the singer "laments her ability to find true companionship over acoustic strings".[14]
Lasting three minutes and 33 seconds, the song is influenced by tropical, reggae and Latin music.[15][16][17][18] According to sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing on Musicnotes.com, "Real Friends" is composed in the key of C minor and set in common time at a moderate tempo of 92 beats per minute. Cabello's voice ranges from a low of B♭3 to a high of C5, and the music has a Cm7–Fm7–B♭–E♭/D chord progression.[19]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
"Real Friends" received media attention for its lyrics, which were speculated to be about Cabello's relationship with her former girl group Fifth Harmony.[20][21][22] Cabello denied that speculation in an Access interview, saying that the song did not refer to anyone in particular but was about her lonely experience in Los Angeles while she was recording the album.[23]
Alex Petridis of The Guardian felt that the lyrics explored "nights spent feeling isolated while on tour".[24] Elias Leight of Rolling Stone called "Real Friends" Cabello's sparest song in comparison with her past work.[11] Variety described it as a "gentle, sparsely arranged ballad" that resembles "Love Yourself" (2015) by Canadian singer Justin Bieber.[25] Jamieson Cox of Pitchfork complimented the softness of the track and Cabello singing "with real delicacy".[26] Sam Lansky of Time cited the song and the "heartfelt" track, "Consequences", as "pretty" ballads which showcased Cabello's voice.[27]
Chart performance[edit]
"Real Friends" debuted in the top 100 in Canada, the Netherlands, Scotland, Slovakia and Australia, while reaching the top 40 in Portugal, Denmark, Ireland and Belgium.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34] The song never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, but it debuted at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[35]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Camila.[6]
Publishing
Recording
Personnel