Wanted (Jessie James song)

2009 single by Jessie James

"Wanted"

Single by Jessie James
from the album  Jessie James
Released| April 14, 2009 (2009-04-14)
Genre| Dance-rock[1][2]
Length| 3:05
Label| Mercury, Island Def Jam
Songwriter(s)| Jessie James, Kara DioGuardi, Mitch Allan, David Hodges
Producer(s)| Mitch Allan
Jessie James singles chronology
|  | "Wanted"
(2009)  | "I Look So Good (Without You)"
(2009)

|
|

"Wanted" is the debut single released by American country-pop singer-songwriter Jessie James, taken from her self-titled debut album (2009). It was first released to American contemporary hit radio through Mercury Records on April 14, 2009, as the album's lead single and was later released to digital retailers on May 12.

Upon release, "Wanted" was generally well received by contemporary music critics, who praised James's "powerful" voice and the song's pop radio appeal.[3][4] The song entered the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2010;[5] it also charted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 at 82.

## Composition

[edit]

"Wanted" is an upbeat dance-rock song with a duration of three minutes and five seconds (3:05).[2] The song also draws influences from pop rock in its production and country pop from James's "slight Southern twang."[6] It was written by Jessie James, Kara DioGuardi, Mitch Allan, and David Hodges, and was produced by Allan. According to the digital sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, the song was originally composed in the key of G major with a vocal range of G3–D5 and a moderate pop rock tempo of approximately 110 BPM.[7] James' vocal style on the song has been compared to Christina Aguilera.[4][8]

The song's lyrics describe a woman attracting the attention of a potential lover, but on her own terms, with James declaring "I only want to be wanted by you." It has been described as a message of female empowerment and praised for portraying James as being in control of the situation.[2]

## Critical reception

[edit]

In a review for the song, Michael Menachem of Billboard said that James had "what it takes to make a name for herself." He described the song as "alluring" and "forceful."[6] An uncredited editorial review of the album on Amazon Music described "Wanted" as a catchy, "full-throttle dance-rock scorcher."[2] Rudy K. of Sputnikmusic complimented James on producing a "fantastic pop single" and praised the song's structure for building up to the chorus.[4] Writing for Slant Magazine, Jonathan Keefe similarly applauded the song's dynamics for showcasing James's "powerful voice."[3]

## Commercial reception

[edit]

"Wanted" debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 30, 2009.[9] It fell off the chart for four weeks before re-entering at No. 98 on June 27, 2009.[10] It continued to rise and eventually reached a peak position of 40 for the chart dated August 29, 2009.[11] "Wanted" also peaked at number four on the Heatseekers Songs chart before entering the top 50 on the Hot 100 and becoming ineligible.[12] The song charted at number 23 and number 34 on the Pop Songs and Adult Pop Songs radio airplay charts, respectively, and also reaching 18 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart tracking airplay in American dance clubs. The song has sold 336,750 digital copies as of August 20, 2009.[citation needed] On December 8, 2010, "Wanted" was certified Gold by the RIAA, indicating sales of over 500,000.[5]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video of "Wanted" was shot in Los Angeles. Actor Erik Von Detten makes a cameo in the video as a police officer that chases after Jessie through a series of events and eventually "captures" her in a diner before leading her to his vehicle where they proceed to kiss. The music video was directed by Travis Kopach and premiered April 27, 2009, on VH1.[13]

## Tracklist

[edit]

The Remixes

1. "Wanted" (Wideboys Full Club) - 7:27
2. "Wanted" (Wideboys Dub) - 7:16
3. "Wanted" (Jason Nevins Extended) - 6:08
4. "Wanted" (Jason Phats Vocal Mix) - 8:19
5. "Wanted" (Jason Phats Bootleg Vocal Mix) - 7:41
6. "Wanted" (Jason Phats Dub Mix) - 8:36

## Charts and certifications

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Chart (2009)  | Peak
position

|

Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] | 82
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[15] | 45
US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 40
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[17] | 34
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[18] | 18
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[19] | 23

### Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[5] | Gold  | 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Country  | Date  | Format  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United States  | April 14, 2009  | Contemporary hit radio |

* Mercury Records
* Island Def Jam Music Group

| [20]
Australia  | April 27, 2009  | Radio airplay  |  | [citation needed]
United States  | May 12, 2009  | Digital download  | Mercury Records  | [21]
May 26, 2009  | Hot adult contemporary |

* Mercury Records
* Island Def Jam Music Group

| [22]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Top 40/M Artist Info" (Jessie James). All Access Media Group. September 13, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
2. ^ a b c d "Jessie James – Jessie James – Amazon.com Music". Amazon Music. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
3. ^ a b Keefe, Jonathan (August 10, 2009). "Jessie James Jessie James | Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
4. ^ a b c K., Rudy (August 14, 2009). "Review: Jessie James – Jessie James". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
5. ^ a b c "American single certifications – Jessie James – Wanted". Recording Industry Association of America.
6. ^ a b Menachem, Michael (June 13, 2009). "Billboard". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). 121 (23): 34. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
7. ^ "Jessie James "Wanted" Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jessie James – Jessie James". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
9. ^ "US Singles Top 100 (May 30, 2009)". aCharts. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
10. ^ "US Singles Top 100 (June 27, 2009)". aCharts. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
11. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart" (The Week Of: August 29, 2009). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
12. ^ "Jessie James – Chart history". Billboard Heatseekers Songs for Jessie James. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
13. ^ "Wanted – Jessie James". Vevo. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
14. ^ "Jessie James Decker Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
15. ^ "Jessie James Decker Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
16. ^ "Jessie James Decker Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
17. ^ "Jessie James Decker Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
18. ^ "Jessie James Decker Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
19. ^ "Jessie James Decker Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
20. ^ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: CHR/Top 40" (Week Of: April 14, 2009). Radio & Records. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
21. ^ "Wanted – Jessie James". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
22. ^ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Hot AC" (Week Of: May 26, 2009). Radio & Records. Retrieved September 21, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Jessie James Decker

Studio albums|

* Jessie James (2009)
* Southern Girl City Lights (2017)
* On This Holiday (2018)

EPs|

* Comin' Home (2014)
* This Christmas (2015)
* Gold (2017)
* Blackbird Sessions (2017)
* The Woman I've Become (2021)
* Decker the Halls (2023)

Singles|

* "Wanted"
* "Boys in the Summer"
* "I Do"
* "Lights Down Low"

Related|

* Eric & Jessie: Game On
* Eric Decker

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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