"I Don't Wanna Live Forever", alternatively titled "I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)", is a song recorded by English singer Zayn and Taylor for the soundtrack to the 2017 film "Fifty Shades Darker". It was written by Taylor, Sam Dew and Jack Antonoff, and produced by the latter. The single was released on December 9, 2016 by Universal Music Group. The music video was released on January 27, 2017.

BACKGROUND AND RELEASE

The song's lyrics and composition were based on situations portrayed in the film. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" is an electro-R&B ballad. On the track, the pair trade "romantic overtures", while Zayn uses a falsetto on parts of the song, and Taylor ponders what the relationship means.

Nolan Feenery of Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+ rating: "Welcome to Taylor Swift’s Sexy Side." He also praised the vocals of both artists.

COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE

The song upon release was available only on iTunes and Tidal. It was not serviced on Spotify upon launch but was later added the following week. In the United States, it sold 188,000 in its first week, in addition to a 25 million radio audience and 3 million streams. It debuted at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is Taylor's 20th top 10, making her the 16th artist and sixth woman to do so. It debuted at number-one on the Digital Songs chart, as Taylor's 11th song to top the chart, tying her with Katy Perry for the second-most in the chart's history, behind Rihanna.

The song later reached a new peak of number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, behind Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" with 109 million radio audience and 25.7 million streams, becoming Zayn's second top 5 single (as solo artist), Taylor's 11th top 5 single, and the highest-charting "Fifty Shades" single. The song is RIAA-certified four times platinum in the US.

Across European charts, the song debuted at number-one in Spain and Sweden, becoming Taylor's first number-one single in both countries. It was certified platinum there. It reached the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

MUSIC VIDEO

The official music video of the song was released in January 27, 2017 through both Zayn and Taylor's official YouTube account at the same time, and was later uploaded through the official "Fifty Shades" Vevo account as well. It was directed by Grant Singer and was produced by Saul Germaine.

The video starts with Zayn emerging from his car on a rainy night as the paparazzi take photos. As Zayn enters a hotel he starts singing his part and as the chorus begins he reaches the elevator with red lights and then pans over to another elevator with Taylor singing her part and proceeds to her hotel room. Zayn in his room sings the chorus and Swift pours some champagne in a glass. The rest of the video is Zayn and Taylor throwing objects like glasses, lamps, pillows across their rooms in anger with flashing blue and red lights. Zayn and Taylor are seen standing together facing backs and singing the chorus together and looking at each other. The video ends with Taylor on her bed singing the last part of the song.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

The song received a nomination for "Best Collaboration" at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards and won the award for "Best Collaboration" in the 2017 MTV Millennial Awards. It was also nominated for "Choice Music Collaboration" award in Teen Choice Awards 2017.

The music video won the MTV Video Music Award for "Best Collaboration" at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards and the song was nominated for "Best Song Written for Visual Media" at the 2018 GRAMMY Awards.