| Artist | Julia Michaels featuring Niall Horan |
|---|---|
| Ep | Inner Monologue Part 1 |
| Released | March 29, 2019 |
| Recorded | 2018 |
| Genre | Pop[1] |
| Length | 2:53 |
| Label | Republic |
| Writer | Julia Michaels · Justin Tranter · Casey Barth · Riley Knapp |
| Producer | Kirkpatrick · RKCB |
| Chronology | Julia Michaels |
| Prev year | 2019 |
| Next year | 2019 |
"What a Time" is a song by American singer and songwriter Julia Michaels featuring Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, from her fourth EP, Inner Monologue Part 1 (2019). The song was written by Michaels, Justin Tranter, Casey Barth, and Riley Knapp, and produced by Ian Kirkpatrick and RKCB. It was sent to Australian radio on March 29, 2019, as the lead single from the EP and was the second most added song days after its release.[2][3] It was nominated at the Teen Choice Awards 2019 for Choice Collaboration.
Composition
"What a Time" has been described as a slow pop song.[1] Lyrically, "What a Time" has been referred to as "mourn[ing] the end of a relationship".[4] The chorus, which contains the lyrics "I think of that night in the park, it was getting dark / And we stayed up for hours / What a time, what a time, what a time," has been described by MTV as "powerful".[5]
Live performances
On February 18, 2019, Michaels and Horan performed the song for the first time on The Late Late Show with James Corden.[6][1] On January 15, 2020, Michaels performed a solo version of the song at the House of Blues Chicago on the Honda Stage.
Music video
The music video was released on February 7, 2019, and was directed by Boni Mata.[7] The video features the singer and a look-alike of Horan in a flower-strewn apartment where the two reminisce about past relationships.[8] An acoustic video was released on March 28, 2019.[9]
Accolades
| Year | Organization | Award | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Collaboration | Julia Michaels | [10] |
Charts
| Chart (2019–2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] | 23 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | March 29, 2019 | Contemporary hit radio | Republic | [12] |
References
- ^ "Julia Michaels and Niall Horan Break Out of Escape Room to Perform Duet 'What a Time' on 'Late Late Show': Watch". Billboard
- ^ "SINGLES TO RADIO ISSUE 1230". The Music Network. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "SOTD: 'What A Time' to be Julia Michaels". The Music Network. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Nied, Mike (January 24, 2019). "One Day Early! Stream Julia Michaels 'Inner Monologue Part 1' EP". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ Alston, Trey. "Julia Michaels And Niall Horan Recall The Heights Of Relationship Ecstasy IN Corden Duet". MTV. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (February 19, 2019). "Watch Niall Horan, Julia Michaels' Recreate 'What a Time' Video on 'Corden'". Rolling Stone
- ^ Silver, Michael. "Julia Michaels Releases Emotional Video for 'What a Time,' Feat. Niall Horan". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ Nied, Mike (February 7, 2019). "Julia Michaels & Niall Horan's Emotional "What A Time" Video". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (March 28, 2019). "Julia Michaels and Niall Horan's Acoustic 'What a Time' Video Hits Even Harder Than the Studio Version". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 19, 2019). "Lil Nas X & Post Malone Lead 2019 Teen Choice Awards Nominations: See the List". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ "New Release Schedule". auspOp. March 29, 2019. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2019.