"Moves like Jagger" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5 featuring American singer Christina Aguilera. It was released on June 21, 2011, as the fourth and final single from the re-release of the group's third studio album Hands All Over (2010). The song was written by band frontman Adam Levine, Ammar Malik, and producers Benny Blanco and Shellback.
Genre and composition. "Moves like Jagger" is an electropop, disco, and dance-pop song backed by synths and electronic drums, with a tempo of 128 beats per minute in the key of B minor. The lyrics refer to a male's ability to impress a love interest with his dance moves, which he compares to those of Mick Jagger, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. The song is introduced by a distinctive whistle melody and light, funky guitar. Christina Aguilera appears during the song's bridge, with lyrics that directly reference her own 1999 hit "Genie in a Bottle."
Background. The initial concept for the song, including the phrase "moves like Jagger" and the characteristic whistle, was originated by producer Shellback. Adam Levine stated that the song was "definitely a risk" and "a bold statement." Aguilera was brought in to "curb the cockiness" of the male bravado. Mick Jagger himself acknowledged the song, calling the concept "very flattering."
Commercial performance. The song was a massive commercial success, topping the charts in over 20 countries. In the United States, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Maroon 5's second number-one single and Aguilera's fifth. It made Aguilera only the second female artist (after Janet Jackson, alongside Madonna and Britney Spears) to score a number-one single in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. The song sold over 6 million digital copies in the U.S. and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2021. In the UK, it spent seven consecutive weeks at number two, equaling the record for the longest stay at number two without reaching number one, and became the UK's biggest-selling single never to top the charts. It was the ninth-best-selling digital single of 2011 worldwide, with sales of 7 million copies.
Music video. The music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and filmed at the Los Angeles Theater. It features archival footage of Mick Jagger interspersed with performances by Maroon 5 and Aguilera, along with Jagger look-alikes.
Critical reception. The song received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising the chorus and Aguilera's vocals. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards. The British Journal of Psychology named the song a classic "earworm."
Live performances. The song was first performed on an episode of The Voice (where Levine and Aguilera both served as coaches). Maroon 5 later performed it as the closing number of the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in 2019.
