Savage Love by Jason Derulo arrived in June 2020 as a short, catchy single that mixed global sounds with pop sensibilities.
The track began as a viral siren jam from New Zealand producer Jawsh 685 and became a full song when the American artist joined the project. At 2:51, the concise runtime made the tune radio-friendly and easy to share online.
The record blends siren beat, dancehall, and reggaeton, and it climbed to number one in many countries. A later remix pushed it to the top of the US charts, giving the single extra staying power.
This introduction sets the scene for a deeper look at origins, credits, lyrics, production, and the cultural forces—like streaming and TikTok—that turned a regional jam into an international pop hit.
Key Takeaways
- The song grew from a viral instrumental into a global pop hit.
- Jawsh 685 and the credited artist shaped the final single.
- The 2:51 runtime helped its radio and streaming success.
- Siren beat elements gave it an instantly recognizable hook.
- Streaming platforms and social trends drove much of its reach.
- A high-profile remix amplified its US chart impact.
Savage Love by Jason Derulo
On June 11, 2020 the official single titled “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” formalized a viral clip into a chart-ready release. The record credited Jawsh 685 as co-artist and sole producer and listed songwriters Joshua Nanai, Jason Desrouleaux, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and Phil Greiss.
The 2:51 runtime and bright, percussive arrangement made the track easy to stream and add to playlists. Clean, catchy vocals and an immediate name tag helped the song stand out on radio and social feeds.
The collaboration showed how producer-driven hooks can pair with pop toplines to scale globally. Columbia issued the single, which later reached number one in multiple countries and earned multi-platinum certifications worldwide.
- Hook-first format: short, memorable, radio-friendly.
- Producer + singer: an online instrumental given a melodic topline.
- Global impact: fast streaming growth and heavy playlisting.
From “Laxed (Siren Beat)” to a Global Smash: How the Track Began
A simple instrumental posted online in 2019 quietly sparked a global moment. Teen producer Jawsh 685 uploaded “Laxed (Siren Beat)” to YouTube, and the short loop spread across apps and playlists.
The instrumental saw an official release on April 24, 2020, and the timing mattered. As TikTok use surged, creators paired the siren beat with quick choreography and heritage-themed clips.
Rooted in Pasifika street culture, the siren jam paid tribute to Samoan and Cook Islands identity. The number 685 references Samoa’s calling code, and that pride helped the beat stand out.
How TikTok primed the track
- Culture Dance: people wore traditional attire and shared dances that amplified the sound.
- Fast familiarity: millions heard the beat before it became a radio-ready song.
- Industry doors: the track’s buzz led to a Columbia signing in May 2020.
That grassroots momentum turned a local siren loop into the backbone of a pop single. Early virality gave the later collaboration a running start on streaming charts.
Credit, Clearance, and Collaboration: The Story Behind the Official Release
A public credit dispute in May 2020 turned an online beat into a high-profile conversation about attribution. On May 11, 2020 an early teaser used the siren beat sample without prior clearance, and that unauthorized usage prompted swift backlash across social platforms.
The May 2020 unauthorized usage controversy and online backlash
The teaser sparked calls for proper credit and raised questions in music media about rights in the streaming era. Fans and creators pressed for recognition of the original producer, driving rapid public scrutiny.
June 11, 2020: Agreement reached, dual credit, and title “(Laxed – Siren Beat)”
After negotiations an official agreement was announced on June 11, 2020. Columbia confirmed dual artist credit: the producer was named as co-artist, co-writer, and sole producer, and the cleared version appended “(Laxed – Siren Beat)” to the title.
That resolution preserved the instrumental’s lineage and acknowledged creative ownership. The outcome also signaled a shift toward clearer deals for producer-driven hits and helped align followers of the original upload with the mainstream release.
“I made the instrumental in about four hours,” the producer said, noting that an agreement was reached after outreach and team discussions.
- The May 2020 moment highlighted why clearance matters for ethics and business.
- The June 11 agreement ensured proper credit and protected the original creator’s role.
- Appending the source title and artist name strengthened authenticity for fans and media.
Lyrics and Meaning: Why “Savage Love” Hit a Nerve
The lyrics tap into the push-pull of modern dating, using sharp imagery and a repeating hook to make the feeling stick.
Heartbreak, temptation, and the push-pull of modern relationships
The chorus frames attraction as thrilling and damaging at once. It reads like a short confession that keeps starting over.
That tension is easy to relate to, so listeners replay the song to feel understood and to sing along.
The phrase as a pop hook — and what it suggests
The two-word hook acts like a label for messy romance. Its simplicity helps the phrase spread across platforms and covers.
Simple language makes the hook universal, aiding the song’s global reach in playlists and user clips.
Vocals and vibe: delivery and the signature name tag
The record starts with a clear vocalization of “Jason Derulo,” which marked the official release. That audible tag set it apart from earlier uploads.
Derulo’s clean vocals float over the siren beat, giving the chorus a bright lift that boosts replay value.
“I made the instrumental in about four hours,” the producer noted about the original loop.
| Element | Feature | Impact | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | Short, repeatable phrase | Easy shareability | Chorus chant on videos |
| Topline | Clear, nimble vocals | Memorable melody | Radio and playlists |
| Rhythm | Siren beat percussion | Distinct groove | TikTok dance clips |
- The phrase captured an emotional shorthand for attraction that hurts.
- Derulo’s tag and the jawsh 685 production linked artist and source instantly.
- Combined, lyrics, vocals, and the beat made the pop hit easy to remix and reuse.
Inside the Sound: Production, Genre Blend, and Creative Credits
The production blends tight, island-rooted percussion with pop gloss to create a contagious, succinct single.
Who shaped the record
Production was handled by Jawsh 685, with songwriting credits to Joshua Nanai, Jason Desrouleaux, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and Phil Greiss.
Phil Greiss added guitar; Matthew Spatola played guitar and bass. Robert Soukiasyan mixed the track and Chris Quock assisted engineering.
Genre fusion and arrangement
The arrangement fuses a siren jam aesthetic with dancehall swing and reggaeton pulse. Short percussion hits, bright guitar accents, and a focused low end keep the energy lean.
At 2:51 the version is radio-ready and playlist-friendly. That compact length helps repeat plays and algorithmic traction.
- Producer-led: rhythm-first approach from jawsh 685.
- Writers: topline and phrasing shaped around an already-viral beat.
- Mixing choices: clarity in vocals and space for rhythmic motifs.
“I made the instrumental in about four hours,” the producer noted.
Chart Run and Certifications: From Viral Buzz to Record Books
A steady climb on streaming charts turned a viral clip into a mainstream commercial force. The single moved from modest online traction to measurable chart success across multiple territories.
Billboard movement: the track debuted at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 27, 2020 and reached the top 10 by the week of August 8, 2020. A high-profile remix pushed it to No. 1 on October 17, 2020, giving the artist a second Hot 100 chart-topper since Whatcha Say in 2009.
Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200 highlights
The remix also sent the record to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200. Each week of climbing streams and radio adds reinforced momentum and broadened the single’s reach.
Number ones across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe
The song topped the UK for three weeks and hit No. 1 in Canada (Aug 15, 2020), Australia (six non-consecutive weeks), New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and more. International playlisting and social clips kept it visible in many markets.
RIAA, BPI, and worldwide platinum milestones
Commercially, the track earned major certifications: RIAA 4× Platinum in the US, BPI 2× Platinum in the UK, ARIA 5× Platinum in Australia, and RMNZ 6× Platinum in New Zealand. Multiple platinum awards across Europe and Latin America reflected sustained consumption.
“TikTok virality planted the seeds; radio and remixes turned them into chart weeks of growth.”
The BTS Remix Effect: New Verse, New Audiences, New Heights
An October release introduced new verses that blended Korean rap with English hooks and widened the audience. The remix, issued October 2, 2020, arrived with an animated lyric video that fans shared rapidly.
Jungkook, Suga, and J‑Hope’s English‑Korean additions
Jungkook anchors the chorus with melodic lines while Suga and J‑Hope add rap-infused Korean verses. Their parts created dynamic contrast and a bilingual vibe that crossed markets.
October 2, 2020 remix powering a Hot 100 number one week
The remix triggered a surge in consumption. In the Hot 100 issue dated October 17, 2020 the track reached No. 1 after earning 16M US streams, 70.6M radio impressions, and 76,000 sales that week.
Globally it logged about 77.5M streams and 62,000 downloads. Suga and J‑Hope were added as songwriters, formalizing their creative input.
- Strategy: animated lyric video amplified sharing and engagement.
- Chart mechanics: BTS received a Hot 100 credit for the single week the remix outperformed the original.
- Legacy effect: the collaboration linked jason derulo to new fanbases while spotlighting jawsh 685’s siren beat for fresh listeners.
For more deep dives into how remixes reshape a song’s arc, see this short case study on viral hits: the remix impact explained.
Pop Culture Footprint: Videos, Dance Challenges, and Media Buzz
Short clips and dance trends turned the siren groove into a visual movement across apps.
From TikTok challenges to official visuals and viral moments
Early creators choreographed to the siren beat and sparked a Culture Dance that reached millions. Those quick moves made the song easy to copy and remix.
Official visuals and lyric clips followed. They gave fans sharable video assets that kept the hook in feeds.
How mainstream media framed the rise in 2020
News outlets highlighted the track’s origin, the clearance fix, and the collaboration arc as a rare good-news story in pop. That framing helped the single cross into broadcasts and playlists.
Before the remix went digital, BTS, jason derulo, and jawsh 685 even joined a joint TikTok dance, which spiked engagement and brought new people into the cycle.
| Element | Role in spread | Result |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok dance | Creator choreography | Rapid global reach |
| Official video | Shareable clips | Sustained streams |
| High-profile joins | Artist collaboration | Chart and media boosts |
“Short-form video put the siren beat into motion and kept the song in view.”
Key Dates and Versions: Your Quick Timeline
This timeline lays out the key dates and version drops that turned an online beat into a mainstream chart mover. It highlights release moments, radio strategy, and the three main versions that steered the single’s life cycle.
April–July 2020 and the U.S. radio push
2019 began it all with the YouTube upload of “Laxed (Siren Beat)”. On April 24, 2020 the instrumental saw an official release that seeded broad recognition.
May 11, 2020 brought a preview that lacked clearance and led to talks. By June 11, 2020 the official dual‑credit single dropped as savage love (Laxed – siren beat).
U.S. contemporary hit radio added the track on July 7, 2020, converting app buzz into steady airplay through the summer.
Alternate versions: original, artist version, and remix
The campaign relied on three key versions. The original instrumental kept discovery alive. The artist version added topline vocals for mainstream playlists.
The October 2, 2020 BTS remix introduced new English‑Korean parts and expanded the audience, powering a top Hot 100 week later that month.
- 2019: YouTube upload of Laxed (siren beat)
- Apr 24, 2020: official instrumental release
- May–June 2020: preview, clearance talks, June 11 dual credit
- Jul 7, 2020: U.S. radio add
- Oct 2, 2020: BTS remix and chart surge
“Each version served a phase: discovery, mainstream breakthrough, and audience expansion.”
Why It Still Matters: The Lasting Legacy of a 2020 Pop Phenomenon
What started online became a blueprint for how producers can lead mainstream singles today.
The single reached global No. 1s, earned multi‑platinum awards (including RIAA 4× Platinum and BPI 2× Platinum), and rode a short, viral siren beat from jawsh 685 into mainstream playlists.
The May–June 2020 clearance moment set a precedent for credit and collaboration. The later bts remix pushed the record to a Billboard Hot 100 week at No. 1 and widened its audience.
Beyond charts, the song endures because people connected with the hook, the vocals, and the cross‑cultural mix. It stands as a time capsule of 2020 pop and a template for future singles.
FAQ
What is the meaning behind the song "Savage Love by Jason Derulo"?
The track explores heartbreak, temptation, and the push-pull of modern relationships. Its catchy hook frames a conflicted attraction — equal parts playful and possessive — while the vocals and production highlight a dance-pop vibe that made it widely relatable.
How did the song originate from "Laxed (Siren Beat)"?
The melody began as Jawsh 685’s 2019 YouTube upload titled “Laxed (Siren Beat).” The instrumental drew on Pasifika siren beat traditions, then gained massive traction on TikTok before evolving into the official single released in April 2020.
What are the Pasifika roots of the siren beat?
The siren beat reflects Samoan and Cook Islands musical influences. Jawsh 685, who is of Pasifika heritage, created a minimalist, syncopated rhythm that resonated across Pacific communities and then worldwide via social media.
How did TikTok contribute to the track’s rise?
TikTok’s dance and “culture dance” trends turned the instrumental into a global phenomenon. Short-form choreography and user-generated videos amplified the beat, priming mainstream artists and labels to adopt the sound for a pop single.
Was there controversy over the song’s release and credits?
Yes. In May 2020 there was backlash over unauthorized usage of Jawsh 685’s beat. By June 11, 2020, an agreement granted dual credit and the official title included a nod to the original: “(Laxed – Siren Beat),” resolving the dispute and recognizing creative contribution.
Who receives songwriting and production credit on the official release?
Credits list Jawsh 685 alongside other contributors such as Jacob Kasher and Phil Greiss, with Jason Derulo adding lyrics and vocals. The collaboration combined the original producer’s instrumental with pop songwriting and studio production.
What genres and production elements shape the single?
The track blends siren jam elements with dancehall, reggaeton, and mainstream pop. The radio-ready cut runs about 2:51, balancing a sparse island-inflected groove with crisp pop vocal production.
How did the song perform on charts and certifications?
The single charted strongly on the Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200, and reached number one in markets like the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It earned RIAA and BPI certifications and multiple platinum milestones worldwide.
What was the impact of the BTS remix?
The October 2, 2020 remix featuring Jungkook, Suga, and J-Hope added English-Korean verses and helped the song reach new audiences. The collaboration boosted streaming, radio play, and contributed to a week at number one on the Hot 100.
Are there multiple versions of the song to know about?
Yes. Notable versions include the original Jawsh 685 instrumental, the pop single with added vocals, and the BTS remix. Radio and streaming pushed different edits, including shorter radio cuts and extended mixes for dance playlists.
What visual and viral moments accompanied the release?
The song spawned official visuals, dance challenges, and countless TikTok clips. Media coverage emphasized its rapid climb from an online beat to a global hit, highlighting both the viral choreography and the cross-cultural collaboration.
What are the key dates fans should remember?
Jawsh 685 uploaded the instrumental in 2019; the pop single was released officially in April 2020; the credit agreement happened in June 2020; and the BTS remix arrived October 2, 2020. Radio promotion and chart runs continued through mid-2020.
Why does the song still matter in pop culture?
It demonstrated how a small online instrumental can morph into a global pop hit, bridging Pasifika sounds with mainstream pop and K-pop fandom. The collaboration model, viral dance culture, and cross-genre production left a lasting imprint on 2020’s music landscape.
