"Title" is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from her debut extended play and debut major-label studio album of the same name from 2014 and 2015, respectively. Kevin Kadish produced the track, and co-wrote it with Trainor. A doo-woprecording, "Title" also incorporates elements of folk music. In its lyrics, the singer demands her love interest to put a name on their relationship status. Trainor released a music video for "Title" on November 20, 2015, which was directed by Anthony Phan. Commercially, the song peaked at number 9 in New Zealand and at number 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100, being certified Gold in both countries. Trainor performed the song at MTV, in a session for the National Post, during the Jingle Ball Tour 2014 and on her That Bass and MTrain tours.
Background and composition
"Title" was written by Meghan Trainor and Kevin Kadish, and produced by the latter. Trainor felt that the song showcased what her artistic style was about, particularly noting a Caribbean drum before the chorus and a rapbridge that was a new sound for her. It was described by the singer as "call me your girlfriend, I'm sick of being your boo thing, so call me your girlfriend and give me that title". Trainor played ukulele on the song, while Kadish programmed, mixed, recorded and engineered it. He also played the electric guitar, bass, acoustic guitar and synthesizer on "Title". Mastering was handled by Dave Kutch whereas David Baron played piano and organ. "Title" is a doo-wop song which runs for a duration of 2 minutes and 54 seconds. It blends horns and background vocals with ukulele folk-pop and island percussion morphed into a programmed beat, further containing handclaps and subtle modern sound effects. Trainor uses an assertive throwback aural tone on the song. The rap verse was compared to the work of Australian rapper Iggy Azalea and American duo Karmin. The song's lyrics see Trainor demanding her lover to put a name on their relationship status. Christina Garibaldi of MTV News wrote that "Title" serves as a lesson for women not to settle for a friends-with-benefits relationship. L.V. Anderson from Slate called it the "cri de coeur" of a woman who is "tired of being seen as a casual hookup by the man in her life".
Music video and promotion
A music video for "Title" was shot in Los Angeles on October 7, 2014, at a downtown movie palace. Directed by Anthony Phan, its premise follows a theme inspired by the AAU Mr. America pageant. Trainor was accompanied by several film makers and male models who wore sashes, while sporting a sparkling dress and lime green fur for the shoot. The music video was released on November 20, 2015, on the special edition of the album. The video begins with Trainor performing "Title" accompanied by her ukulele and background dancers, interspersed with shots of Trainor's brother Ryan filming the performance. The venue is then revealed to be a "Mister America" pageant. Trainor then, while singing, introduces the contestants of the pageant, wearing a black-coloured coat. Trainor continues performing, while the contestants walk down the ramp. Trainor is shown singing, while sitting on a couch of flowers, donning a crown and a white gown. The contestants are depicted in a gymnasium, performing weight-lifting and other exercises. The half-naked contestants walk down the ramp, dance, and cycle, as Trainor's performance progresses. Trainor is then shown singing the song on royal staircases, in a pastel-coloured gown and lime fur, and later presents a crown to the winner of the pageant. The video ends with shots of Trainor's performance interspersed with her and the newly crowned winner walking down the ramp. For further promotion, Trainor performed "Title" live at MTV on October 6, 2014, and in a session for the National Post on October 14. She has also included it in her set lists for the Jingle Ball Tour 2014, the That Bass Tour and the MTrain Tour.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Title. ;Recording
