On the Loose (Niall Horan song)

"On the Loose" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan from his debut studio album Flicker. It was written by Horan, John Ryan and its producer Julian Bunetta. The song was released to the US Mainstream Top 40 radio on 20 February 2018 as the album's fourth single. The radio version was released commercially on 16 February 2018 and was labeled as the "alternative version".^[3]

"On the Loose"
Single by Niall Horan
from the album Flicker
Released	16 February 2018 (2018-02-16)
Genre	Pop[1] pop rock[2]
Length	3:43
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	John Ryan Niall Horan Julian Bunetta
Producer(s)	Julian Bunetta
Niall Horan singles chronology
"Too Much to Ask" (2017) "On the Loose" (2018) "Seeing Blind" (2018)
Music video
"On the Loose" on YouTube

Background

Horan debuted the song on 13 May 2017 during his performance at Channel 93.3's Summer Kick Off concert in San Diego.^[4] On 29 May 2017, Horan performed on The Today Show's Citi Concert Series, closing the show with a live TV debut of "On the Loose".^[5]

Horan admitted in an interview with Herald Sun that he channelled Fleetwood Mac for the song. "You can hear the 'Mac in that. Everyone's always trying to write their own Dreams. I'm only 24, Fleetwood Mac is the music I've listened to since I was four years old. I listen to a lot of other types of music but that's the stuff that always stuck around with me. I was going through a punk rock phase when I was 15, I like punk rock now but I wouldn't pick up my iPod and go straight to it, I'd probably go to the 'Mac and Crosby Stills and Nash and Jackson Browne and Tom Petty. They're the artists in my head, you can hear that on the album I think."^[6]

He announced on 5 February 2018 via social media that the song would be the fourth single from the album. The accompanying single artwork, illustrated by Kyler Martz, features a drawing of a woman holding a heart, surrounded by flowers, some of which have legs and eyes on them.^[7][8] An animated lyric video for the song was released on 12 February 2018, after Horan posted a 20-second teaser the day before.^[9][10] It features a lady seducing multiple men,^[11] while cruising through a city in a convertible.^[12]

Critical reception

Christina Lee of Idolator wrote that the song "sounds like a cautionary tale", in comparison to "Slow Hands".^[13] Mike Wass of the same publication opined that the song is "similarly upbeat" as "Slow Hands", and found it "more radio-friendly" than Horan's "stripped-back songs".^[14]

Track listing

Digital download – alternate version^[15]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"On the Loose" (alternate version)	2:38

Digital download – acoustic version^[16]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"On the Loose" (acoustic)	3:13

Digital download – Basic Tape remix^[17]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"On the Loose" (Basic Tape remix)	2:59

Digital download – Slenderbodies remix^[18]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"On the Loose" (Slenderbodies remix)	2:43

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[19]

• Niall Horan – vocals, guitar
• Julian Bunetta – production, background vocals, percussion, record engineering
• Nathan Dantzler – master engineering
• Tommy King – keyboard
• Michael Freeman – assistant mixing
• Matt Chamberlain – drums
• Mark Goldenberg – guitar
• Val McCallum – guitar
• Spike Stent – mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017–18) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 24 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 49 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[23] 38 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[24] 45 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 47 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[26] 10 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[27] 38 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 35 New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[29] 3 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[30] 20 Scotland (OCC)[31] 66 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 94 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] 29 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[35] 16 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[36] 31 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[37] 22

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[38] 97 Iceland (Plötutíóindi)[39] 81

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40]	Gold	35,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	February 16, 2018	Digital download	Alternate	Capitol	[15]
Australia		Contemporary hit radio			[41]
United States	20 February 2018				[42]
	9 March 2018	Digital download	Basic Tape remix		[17]
	15 March 2018		Acoustic		[16]
	23 March 2018		Slenderbodies remix		[18]