Starving (song)

"Starving" is a song by American singer [[Hailee Steinfeld]] and American electronic music duo [[Grey]], featuring Russian-German DJ and record producer [[Zedd]]. It was released on July 15, 2016, through [[Republic Records]] and [[Island Records]].

Background and Release

The song was written by Hailee Steinfeld, Christopher J. Baran, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha, and Asia Whiteacre. It was produced by Grey and Zedd. Steinfeld described the song's lyrical content as being about "self-love" and "about knowing yourself and knowing what you want." Zedd was initially involved in producing the track but later brought Grey into the project, evolving it into a three-way collaboration. "Starving" marked Steinfeld's second major musical release, following her debut single "[[Love Myself]]" in 2015.

Composition

Musically, "Starving" is characterized as an [[electropop]] and [[dance-pop]] song. It features a blend of electronic production with pop sensibilities, incorporating a prominent synth-driven melody and a rhythmic, pulsing beat that aligns with the signature styles of Zedd and Grey. Steinfeld's vocals are central to the track. Lyrically, the song explores themes of intense desire and longing for another person, employing the metaphor of "starving" for their presence and affection.

Commercial Performance

"Starving" achieved considerable commercial success globally. In the [[United States]], the song peaked at number 12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] and reached the top position on the [[Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay]] chart. It also performed strongly internationally, securing top 10 positions in numerous countries, including number 5 on the [[UK Singles Chart]], number 5 in [[Australia]], number 9 in [[Canada]], and number 8 in [[Ireland]]. The track received multi-platinum certifications in various markets, including the US, UK, and Australia, reflecting its widespread popularity.

Music Video

The official music video for "Starving" was directed by Darren Craig and premiered on September 27, 2016. The video showcases Hailee Steinfeld in a series of artistic and stylized settings, often incorporating interpretive dance and visually striking imagery. Both Grey and Zedd also appear in the video, which visually complements the song's themes of desire and longing.

Track Listing

• Digital download
  1. "Starving" – 3:01

Charts

{| class="wikitable" |+Peak chart positions |- ! Chart (2016–2017) ! Peak
position |- | Australia (ARIA) | 5 |- | Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 9 |- | Ireland (IRMA) | 8 |- | UK Singles (OCC) | 5 |- | US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 | 12 |- | US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (''Billboard'') | 1 |}

Certifications

{| class="wikitable" |+Certifications |- ! Region ! Certification ! Certified units/sales |- | Australia (ARIA) | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |- | Canada (Music Canada) | 4× Platinum | 320,000^ |- | United Kingdom (BPI) | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000^ |- | United States (RIAA) | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |} ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See Also

• [[Hailee Steinfeld]]
• [[Zedd]]
• [[Grey (music duo)]]