Maroon 5 - Memories
Maroon 5's globally successful single, "Memories," released on September 20, 2019, and later featured on their 2021 album Jordi, stands as a poignant tribute to loss and remembrance. The song was primarily conceived by Adam Levine, alongside co-writers Michael Pollack, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Jon Bellion, Vincent Ford, Stefan Johnson, and Jordan Johnson, with production handled by Levine and The Monsters & Strangerz. The profound inspiration behind "Memories" is the untimely passing of Jordan Feldstein, Maroon 5's longtime manager and a childhood friend of Adam Levine. Feldstein, who was also the brother of actors Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein, died unexpectedly in December 2017 at the age of 40 from a pulmonary embolism. Levine has openly spoken about the deep personal impact of this loss, describing Feldstein as someone he had known since childhood, making the song and the album title "Jordi" direct homages to his memory.
Musically, "Memories" is notable for its distinct composition, which prominently features the harmonic progression of Johann Pachelbel's renowned "Canon in D Major." The song adopts the classical piece's iconic eight-note chord sequence (I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V), transposed to B major, forming the backbone of its melody. Additionally, the track subtly incorporates melodic elements from Bob Marley & The Wailers' "No Woman, No Cry," with Vincent Ford receiving a writing credit. In contrast to Maroon 5's more elaborate productions, "Memories" employs a minimalist arrangement, characterized by a stripped-back combination of guitar, keyboards, and vocals, which serves to amplify the emotional depth of the lyrics. Lyrically, the song delves into themes of grief, nostalgia, and the act of cherishing those who are no longer present. Its widely recognized chorus, "Here's to the ones that we got / Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not," has resonated with audiences worldwide as an anthem for mourning and celebrating lost loved ones, capturing the bittersweet reality that everyday experiences, like having a drink, can evoke a flood of memories.
Upon its release, "Memories" achieved significant commercial success, reaching the top 10 in over 30 countries and peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Critical reception, however, was somewhat divided; while many praised the song's emotional honesty and simplicity, some critics found the direct interpolation of Pachelbel's Canon to be unoriginal or the production too sparse. The accompanying music video further underscored the song's personal nature, featuring a close-up shot of Adam Levine singing directly into the camera, concluding with a heartfelt dedication: "For Jordi." This visual element reinforced the song's sincere message, solidifying its place as a powerful and enduring tribute within Maroon 5's discography.
Maroon 5 - Memories Lyrics
Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
Tequila drinkin', double shot, yeah, I need you
I know this life it look nice but it get deeper
I run from reapers, dodge bullets from Glock, Ninas
I live my life tryna prove myself to non-believers, gotta stop that
The devil talkin', I block that
Got some homies in Heaven now, they watch my back
For all this pain, we numb it with champagne
Hunnid bottles in the club, that's a goddamn shame
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, ayy-ayy (4Hunnid)
But everything gon' be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, ayy
Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Memories bring back, memories bring back you
Look
I done lost love, lost fifties, lost dubs
Lost fights, nigga, lost life of loved ones
Lost time, pressin' rewind, it won't budge
It's alright, you can tell me your truth, I won't judge
I done lost too, relationships you could call true
You hit me up and I'm gon' fall through
Tellin' lies to sound true, like it's all you
Learn to love what's imperfect, that's what God do
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, ayy-ayy
But everything gon' be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, ayy
Here's to the ones that we got (oh-oh)
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through (no, no)
Toast to the ones here today (ayy)
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories (ayy)
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Memories bring back, memories bring back you
Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (ooh, yeah)
Memories bring back, memories bring back you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Memories bring back, memories bring back you