When I Wasn't Watching

"When I Wasn't Watching"
Image of a brunette woman in a red dress against a blue sky
Single by Mandy Moore
from the album Silver Landings
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2019 (2019-09-17)
GenrePop
Length3:29
LabelVerve Forecast
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Viola
Mandy Moore singles chronology
"Wind in My Hair"
(2017) 		"When I Wasn't Watching"
(2019) 		"I'd Rather Lose"
(2019)
Music video
"When I Wasn't Watching" on YouTube

"When I Wasn't Watching" is a song by American singer Mandy Moore from her sixth studio album, Silver Landings (2020). It was released on September 17, 2019, by Verve Forecast Records as the first single from the album. The song was written by Jason Boesel, Moore, Mike Viola and Taylor Goldsmith, with production by Viola.

Background

In July 2018, Mandy Moore announced she was back in the studio and working on new music; in a post on social media, she stated: "It's time. I miss it. I'm not scared anymore. No more excuses. No more allowing someone's else insecurities to dictate my relationship to music and singing. Boom. Also– this is just a little demo of something @themikeviola and I worked on yesterday... but still, it's a start."[1] In June 2019, she revealed she was working with her husband, musician Taylor Goldsmith, on new music,[2] and by August, she told Entertainment Tonight that music would be coming "soon", later clarifying the release as "imminently".[3] That same month, she teased the release of new music on her social media, with the caption, "Stay tuned."[4]

Upon the song's release, Moore released a statement, stating: "The idea of diving back into music after so much time and personal change was really intimidating to me for a while. But then I finally realized: I'm the only person who can make this move. It all has to start with me."[5]

Critical reception

In a positive review, Halle Kiefer of Vulture stated: "Lucky, Mandy Moore is here with a new song to act as the perfect autumnal segue. 'When I Wasn't Watching,' Moore's first new original song [...] sounds like orange and brown leaves falling directly into your pumpkin spiced latte."[6] In their review of the song, Rolling Stone credited the song for its "Seventies California pop", while also calling the song "breezy" and "refreshing".[5] Vice described the song as "breathy" and "introspective", while describing the lyrics as a "confessional".[7]

Commercial performance

"When I Wasn't Watching" debuted at number twenty-four on the Billboard Alternative Digital Song Sales, becoming Moore's first song to enter the chart.[8]

Music video

The music video was released on the same day as the song.[5] It was directed by Lauren Dukoff.[9]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal metadata.[10]

  • Jason Boesel – background vocalist, composer, guitar, lyricist
  • David Boucher – recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Eric Boulanger – mastering engineer, Studio personnel
  • David Cerminara – mixer, studio personnel
  • Davey Faragher – electric bass
  • Taylor Goldsmith – composer, lyricist,
  • Mandy Moore – composer, lyricist, vocals
  • Wesley Seidman – assistant recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Mike Viola – background vocalist, composer, guitar, lyricist, mixer, piano, producer, recording engineer, studio personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "When I Wasn't Watching"
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11] 24

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 17, 2019
Verve Forecast [10][12][13]

Other version

On July 2, 2021, Cody Carrera released a cover of "When I Wasn't Watching."[14]

References

  1. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (July 15, 2018). "Mandy Moore Reveals New Music Is in the Works: 'No More Excuses'". Billboard. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 7, 2019). "Mandy Moore in the Studio Working on New Music: See the Pics". Billboard. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  3. ^ Tailor, Leena (August 12, 2019). "Mandy Moore Reveals Her New Music Is 'Imminent' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Ballhaus, Louisa (August 19, 2019). "Mandy Moore Just Teased a New Music Video & We're So Ready For This Comeback". Stylecaster. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Spanos, Brittany (September 17, 2019). "Mandy Moore Returns With First New Song in a Decade, 'When I Wasn't Watchin'". Rolling Stone. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  6. ^ Kiefer, Halle (September 17, 2019). "Hear 'When I Wasn't Watching,' Mandy Moore's First New Song In a Decade". Vulture. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Corry, Kristin (September 17, 2019). "Mandy Moore Is Making Music Again, Thank God". Vice. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Cabral, R. J. (June 9, 2020). "Alternative Digital Song Sales". Billboard. United States: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  9. ^ Yoo, Noah (September 17, 2019). "Mandy Moore Shares First New Original Song in 10 Years: Listen". Pitchfork. United States. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "When I Wasn't Watching / Mandy Moore – TIDAL". Tidal. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  11. ^ "Mandy Moore Chart History (Alternative Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "When I Wasn't Watching by Mandy Moore". Apple Music. United States. September 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "When I Wasn't Watching". Spotify. Sweden. September 17, 2019.
  14. ^ News, E. I. N.; Carrera, Cody (2021-07-13). "Dark Pop Artist & Actor, Cody Carrera releases cover of Mandy Moore's "When I Wasn't Watching"". EIN News. Retrieved 2021-07-23. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)