Stay (Zedd and Alessia Cara song)

"Stay" is a song by Russian-German electronic music producer Zedd and Canadian singer Alessia Cara. The single was released on 23 February 2017 through Interscope Records, and is also featured on the Japanese edition of Cara's second studio album, The Pains of Growing.^[4] The official music video was released on YouTube on 18 April 2017. Commercially, the song reached the top ten in ten countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. It is certified Platinum or higher in seventeen countries.

"Stay"
Single by Zedd and Alessia Cara
from the album Stay +
Released	23 February 2017 (2017-02-23)
Recorded	December 2016[1]
Genre	EDM[2] dance-pop[3]
Length	3:30
Label	Interscope Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Linus Wiklund Sarah Aarons Anders Frøen Alessia Caracciolo Anton Zaslavski Jonnali Parmenius
Producer(s)	Zedd Lotus IV
Zedd singles chronology
"Ignite" (2016) "Stay" (2017) "Get Low" (2017)
Alessia Cara singles chronology
"How Far I'll Go" (2016) "Stay" (2017) "1-800-273-8255" (2017)
Music video
"Stay" on YouTube

Composition

"Stay" is a dance-pop song influenced by contemporary R&B performed in the key of F minor in common time with a tempo of 102 beats per minute. It follows a chord progression of D♭–F5–E♭, and Cara's vocals span from F₃ to D♭₅.^[5] The song introduction contain a sample from Banks's 2016 track "Poltergeist".^[6]

Music videos

A lyric video for "Stay" was released on February 23, 2017, and has over 512 million views as of January 2024.^[7]

A music video for "Stay" directed by Tim Mattia was released on April 18, 2017, and has 111 million views as of December 2022.^[8]

Chart performance

"Stay" peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Mainstream Top 40, becoming both Zedd and Cara's third top ten song on the chart.

Track listing

Digital download^[9]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stay"	3:30

Digital download – acoustic^[10]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stay" (Acoustic)	3:15

Digital download – remixes EP^[11]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Stay" (Petit Biscuit Remix)	4:01
2.	"Stay" (The Kemist Remix)	3:36
3.	"Stay" (Jonas Blue Remix)	4:26
4.	"Stay" (Lophiile Remix)	3:23
5.	"Stay" (Yasutaka Nakata Remix)	4:30
6.	"Stay" (Tritonal Remix)	3:48

CD single^[12]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Get Low" (Zedd and Liam Payne)	3:24
2.	"Stay" (Zedd and Alessia Cara)	3:30

Stay +

Stay +
Compilation album by Zedd
Released	27 December 2017
Recorded	2016–2017
Length	54:03
Label	Universal Music Japan
Producer	Zedd
Zedd chronology
True Colors (2015) Stay + (2017) Telos (2024)
Singles from Stay +
"Candyman" Released: 26 February 2016 "Starving" Released: 22 July 2016 "Adrenaline" Released: 2 September 2016 "Ignite" Released: 23 September 2016 "Stay" Released: 23 February 2017 "Get Low" Released: 6 July 2017

Stay + is the debut compilation album by Zedd. It was released by Universal Music Japan on December 27, 2017. The compilation features collaborations with Alessia Cara, Liam Payne, Ariana Grande, Jon Bellion, Aloe Blacc, Grey, Hailee Steinfeld, Yasutaka Nakata, Kuuro, DJ Snake and Justin Bieber. The compilation peaked at number 23 in the Japanese charts.

Track listing

Stay + track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Stay" (with Alessia Cara)	Linus Wiklund Sarah Aarons Anders Frøen Alessia Caracciolo Anton Zaslavski Jonnali Parmenius	Zedd Lotus IV	3:30
2.	"Get Low" (with Liam Payne)	Charles Hinshaw Zaslavski Tristan Landymore Fabienne Holloway	Zedd	3:25
3.	"Break Free" (Ariana Grande featuring Zedd - from the album My Everything, 2014)	Zaslavski Max Martin Savan Kotecha	Zedd Max Martin	3:35
4.	"Beautiful Now" (featuring Jon Bellion - from the album True Colors, 2015)	Zaslavski Jon Bellion Antonina Armato David Jost Tim James Desmond Child	Zedd Rock Mafia	3:38
5.	"Candyman" (with Aloe Blacc)	Leslie Bricusse Anthony Newley	Zedd Grey Joseph Trapanese	2:59
6.	"Adrenaline" (with Grey)	Zaslavski Kyle Trewartha Michael Trewartha	Zedd Grey	2:50
7.	"Ignite (2016 League of Legends World Championship)"	Zaslavski	Zedd	3:15
8.	"Starving" (Hailee Steinfeld and Grey featuring Zedd)	Trewartha Trewartha Robert McCurdy Christopher Petrosino Asia Whiteacre	Grey Zedd Chris "Tek" O'Ryan	3:02
9.	"Stay (Yasutaka Nakata remix)" (with Alessia Cara)	Wiklund Aarons Frøen Cara Zaslavski Parmenius Yasutaka Nakata	Zedd Lotus IV Yasutaka Nakata	4:30
10.	"Get Low (Kuuro remix)" (with Liam Payne)	Hinshaw Zaslavski Landymore Holloway Luke Shipstad	Zedd Kuuro	3:38
11.	"Let Me Love You (Zedd remix)" (with DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber)	William Grigahcine Justin Bieber Andrew Watt Ali Tamposi Brian Lee Louis Bell Zaslavski	DJ Snake Andrew Watt Louis Bell Zedd	3:27
12.	"Zedd Mega Nonstop Mix"	Zaslavski	Zedd	16:14
Total length:				54:03

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Stay" Chart (2017) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 3 Australia Dance (ARIA)[14] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 21 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] 30 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 9 Colombia (National-Report)[19] 54 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[20] 10 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[21] 7 Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 20 France (SNEP)[24] 38 Germany (GfK)[25] 13 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[26] 25 Hungary (Single Top 40)[27] 34 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[28] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[29] 8 Italy (FIMI)[30] 21 Japan (Japan Hot 100) (Billboard)[31] 27 Malaysia (RIM)[32] 6 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[33] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 11 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 9 Norway (VG-lista)[37] 17 Portugal (AFP)[38] 11 Romania (Airplay 100)[39] 48 Scotland (OCC)[40] 7 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[41] 54 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[42] 10 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] 40 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 9 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[46] 8 UK Dance (OCC)[47] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[48] 7 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[49] 7 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[50] 2 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[51] 24 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[52] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[53] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[54] 12

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Stay" Chart (2017) Position Australia (ARIA)[55] 14 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[56] 31 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[57] 52 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[58] 81 Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[59] 97 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[60] 22 Denmark (Tracklisten)[61] 38 France (SNEP)[62] 92 Germany (Official German Charts)[63] 57 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[64] 19 Italy (FIMI)[65] 63 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[66] 66 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[67] 46 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[68] 33 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[69] 29 Portugal (AFP)[70] 39 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71] 92 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[72] 42 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[73] 52 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[74] 37 US Billboard Hot 100[75] 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[76] 16 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[77] 12 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[78] 3 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[79] 3 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[80] 50 Chart (2018) Position Japan (Japan Hot 100)[81] 87 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[82] 14 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[83] 12 Decade-end charts Decade-end chart performance for "Stay" Chart (2010–2019) Position US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[84] 11

Certifications

Certifications for "Stay"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[85]	7× Platinum	490,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[86]	Gold	15,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[87]	Platinum	20,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[88]	Diamond	250,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[89]	8× Platinum	640,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[90]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[91]	Diamond	333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[92]	Platinum	400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[93]	2× Platinum	100,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[94]	Gold	100,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[95]	2× Platinum+Gold	150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[96]	4× Platinum	120,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[97]	Platinum	50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[98]	Platinum	10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[99]	Platinum	40,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[100]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[101]	2× Platinum	1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[102]	5× Platinum	5,000,000‡
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[103]	Platinum	100,000,000†
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Riri version

"Stay (Covered by Riri)"
Single by Zedd and Riri
from the album Neo
Language	English Japanese
Released	20 June 2018 (2018-06-20)
Genre	EDM dance-pop
Length	3:19
Label	Interscope Sony Music Associated Records
Songwriter(s)	Linus Wiklund Sarah Aarons Anders Frøen Alessia Caracciolo Anton Zaslavski Jonnali Parmenius
Producer(s)	Zedd Lotus IV
Zedd singles chronology
"The Middle" (2018) "Stay (Covered by Riri)" (2018) "Happy Now" (2018)
Riri singles chronology
"Yes Be Free" (2016) "Stay (Covered by Riri)" (2018) "Maybe One Day" (2018)
Music video
"Stay (Covered by Riri)" on YouTube

Japanese singer Riri covered "Stay" during a live performance at a Line Live special event. The cover eventually was released to digital stores on 20 June 2018 due to fan requests, by Interscope Records and Sony Music Associated Records.

Background

In February 2017, Zedd performed "Stay" in Japan at a festival. He proposed a Japanese cover to Universal wanting the song to be "known to everyone in Japan".^[104] Amongst many candidates, Riri ultimately was chosen to cover the song. The cover was announced in March 2018 by Universal Music Japan.^[104] The song later was released digitally on 20 June 2018 in Japan only.^[105][106] The cover was included on the Japanese digital version of Riri's second studio album, Neo.

Music video

A music video of Riri performing the song live was released by Universal Japan on 18 March 2018.

Live performances

Riri performed the song live in Japan at a Line Live special event in Japan in March 2018. During the event, Zedd spoke with Riri regarding the cover.^[107]

Radio and release history

Release history and formats for "Stay"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
United States	23 February 2017	Digital download	Original	Interscope	[9]
Italy	24 February 2017	Contemporary hit radio		Universal	[108]
United States	7 March 2017			Def Jam Interscope	[109]
	4 April 2017	Rhythmic radio			[110]
Australia	2 June 2017	Digital download	Remixes EP	Interscope	[11]
United States	9 June 2017		Acoustic		[10]
Germany	31 October 2017	CD single	Original		[12]
Japan	20 June 2018	Digital Download	Covered by Riri	Interscope Sony Music Associated Records Universal Japan	[105]