Am I Wrong (song)

"Am I Wrong"
Single by Nico & Vinz[upper-alpha 1]
from the album Black Star Elephant
Released	12 April 2013 (as Envy) 21 January 2014 (as Nico & Vinz)
Format	CD single digital download
Recorded	2012–13
Length	4:07 (album version) 3:39 (radio edit)
Label	5 Star Entertainment EMI Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	William Wiik Larsen Nico Sereba Vincent Dery
Producer(s)	William Wiik Larsen (IDAP Music)
Envy singles chronology
"One Song" (2011) "Am I Wrong" (2013) "In Your Arms" (2013)
Nico & Vinz singles chronology "In Your Arms" (2013) "Am I Wrong" (2014) "When the Day Comes" (2014) Original cover art with Envy artist credit

"Am I Wrong" is a song by Norwegian musical duo Nico & Vinz (previously known as Envy). Produced by William Wiik Larsen ("Will IDAP"),^[2] the song was initially released as a digital download single in Norway on 12 April 2013, credited to the duo's previous name Envy, and became a hit in various Scandinavian countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Upon being released internationally, and following the duo's name change to Nico & Vinz, the song attained commercial success in various other countries, reaching number one in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the top ten in Australia and the United States, among other nations.

Background

During an interview on Good Morning America, when asked about the meaning of the song and what inspired them to make it, Nico Sereba said: "Inspiration is coming from a small country, but having huge dreams and people telling you, man, that's not realistic, come on, you can't be on the top of America or the top of the world or whatever we dream of."^[3]

Release

"Am I Wrong" was originally released under the duo's previous name Envy on 12 April 2013, following the moderately successful singles "Set to Go" (2010), "One Song" (2011) and "Go Loud" (2012). In January 2014, the duo signed to Warner Bros. Records in the United States and changed their name to Nico & Vinz to avoid being confused with other artists with a similar name.^[4]

Critical reception

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote that while "lines like 'Am I wrong/For trying to reach the things that I can't see?' [are sung] with dead-eyed earnestness... the slide guitar and backing harmonies keep the song an airy affair."^[5]

Commercial performance

Envy's "Am I Wrong" charted in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland and was credited as such in the charts of those countries. The single peaked at number two in Norway in June 2013 and in Denmark and Sweden in August 2013, and at number five in Finland in November 2013.

Following the success of the single in the Scandinavian countries and the duo's name change to Nico & Vinz, the song entered several other international singles charts. In the United States, the song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song by a Norwegian artist since a-ha's "Take On Me" in 1985.^[6] The song reached its first million sales mark in the US in June 2014,^[7] and its second million in September 2014, having sold 2.2 million by the year's end.^[8][9] In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number one, making Nico & Vinz the first Norwegian act to top the UK Singles Chart since a-ha's "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." in 1986.^[10]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Am I Wrong" was first released onto YouTube on 20 June 2013 at a total length of five minutes and five seconds. The video was directed and edited by Kavar Singh.^[11] The video takes place in Africa – namely Maun in Botswana Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Namibia – where the duo walk around with a TV each, trying to find a signal to locate the other.^[12] According to the band, it was put together in an effort to present a positive side of Africa, with the continent too often mired in negative news stories.^[13]

Cover versions

• In 2015, Lower Than Atlantis released a Live Lounge performance of the song on the 2015 reissue of their self-titled album.^[14]

Track listings

• Digital download^[15]

1. "Am I Wrong" – 4:07

• CD single (Germany)^[16]

1. "Am I Wrong" – 4:08
2. "Am I Wrong" (instrumental) – 4:06

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2013–14) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 13 Brazil (Billboard Hot 100)[21] 35 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] 1 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[23] 7 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 2 Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] Norwegian issue 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] Norwegian issue 5 France (SNEP)[27] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 3 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[29] 23 Hungary (Single Top 40)[30] 18 Ireland (IRMA)[31] 3 Israel (Media Forest)[32] 1 Italy (FIMI)[33] 10 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[34] 17 Luxembourg (Luxembourg Digital Songs)[35] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[39] Norwegian issue 2 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[40] 1 Poland (Dance Top 50)[41] 8 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[42] 1 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[43] 2 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[44] 1 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[45] 2 South Africa (EMA)[46] 3 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[47] 16 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[48] Norwegian issue 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[49] 7 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[50] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[51] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[52] 1 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[53] 1 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[54] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[55] 18 US Latin Airplay (Billboard)[56] 35 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[57] 23 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[58] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[59] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position Australia (ARIA)[60] 16 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[61] 13 Germany (Official German Charts)[62] 18 Israel (Media Forest)[63] 15 Italy (FIMI)[64] 27 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[65] 13 Poland (ZPAV)[66] 8 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[67] 21 US Billboard Hot 100[68] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[69]	3× Platinum	210,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[70]	Gold	15,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[71]	Platinum	80,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[72]	Gold	15,000^^
Germany (BVMI)[73]	Gold	0^^
Italy (FIMI)[74]	2× Platinum	60,000^*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[75]	Platinum	15,000^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[76]	14× Platinum	140,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[77]	Platinum	40,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[78]	Gold	15,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[79]	Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)[80]	2× Platinum	2,200,000[9]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Finland[15]	12 April 2013	Digital download	5 Star Entertainment EMI
Norway[81]			5 Star Entertainment Parlophone
Australia[1]	21 January 2014		Warner Bros. Records
Germany[82]
United States[83]
Germany[16]	21 February 2014	CD single
United States[84]	1 April 2014	Contemporary hit radio
United Kingdom[85]	3 August 2014	Digital download

See also

• List of number-one singles from the 2010s (New Zealand)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 2014 (U.S.)

Notes

1. Previously credited to the duo's original name, Envy. Later international releases from 21 January 2014 onwards, coinciding with the duo's name change, were credited to Nico & Vinz.^[1]

References

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