I Can Pay Your Rent

"I Can Pay Your Rent" is a song by American indie pop band Curriculum. The song was released as a the second single from their 2014 sophomore album Sophomore on 19 May 2014, with the single version featuring guest vocals from highly popular American superstar Syd Wolfe.

"I Can Pay Your Rent" lyrically talks about a ordinary supposedly "working class" man who gets enamored with a wealthy lady who is more than willing to spend lots of money on him and spoil him with gifts. Sonically, the song continues the band's foray into experimenting with more urban and pop sounds.

"I Can Pay Your Rent" became a commercial success for the band, becoming their third single to peak at #2 on the UK Singles Chart, and becoming their sixth overall top three hit. The same week, the single debuted at #2 was also when another single involving Wolfe (her duet with singer Kleo titled "Broken Hearts of Yesterday") was at #1, giving Wolfe the distinction of being only the second artist ever in chart history to occupy the the top two positions on the singles chart. Currently, the single has sold more than 300,000 copies in the UK and has been certified Platinum by the Urapopstar Recording Association Phonographic Society (URAPS).

Background, writing, and composition
"I Can Pay Your Rent" was written and recorded in July 2012, making it one of the oldest songs on their album Sophomore. The song was produced and recorded at a recording studio in Los Angeles.

"I Can Pay Your Rent" lyrically speaks about common and ordinary working young man who falls in love and is seduced by a wealthy woman who is willing to spend lots of money on him, spoil him with gifts, and expose him to a life of luxury as the perks of their romantic relationship. Gregory Preston Olivier, who started off the writing of the song, states that it was not "necessarily" inspired by anyone particular though he would admit that the song reminds him of his relationship with his wife Virginia, who is a high-powered businesswoman who comes from a wealthy family (Gregory Preston also comes a wealthy family as well).

Sonically, the band once again experiment with the urban genre as the song is an indie pop song with strong influences from urban-sounding pop.

On the album version of "I Can Pay Your Rent", it features uncredited vocals by Cerise + Victor member Stephanie Kesh, who had recorded the song when she was still professionally associated with them. The "uncredited female vocals" by Kesh, which is what they would be referred to, only chanted the final line of a verse and then would vocally dominate the chorus while singing along with Olivier and band member Phillip Mandelbaum. The uncredited female vocals also chanted the middle eight of the song.

The single version featuring Wolfe turns the song into more of a duet as she takes over the part of the "uncredited female vocals". The single version was also slightly re-written so Wolfe can be heard more on the song.

Release
"I Can Pay Your Rent" was released as the second official single from Curriculum's sophomore album Sophomore on 19 May 2014. The single was released on the digital download and CD single formats in various bundle EPs. The various single formats has two different single covers.

The single has four different b-sides. The honor their collaborative partner for the single release Wolfe, they covered "Destroying Diamonds" and later "John Galliano's In Jail". The band also covered "À l'infini", originally done by Elice Bellamy. The band recorded an original b-sided titled "Shrug Shoulders", which experiments with a pop-oriented sound.

Various remixes and "alternate" versions of the song were produced. The band recorded a "gay version" of the song where the female vocals of the "powerful rich woman" were replaced by male vocals, essentially becoming a "powerful rich man" instead. A "bisexual version" was also made where the male and female vocals were combined in harmony to sing the part of the rich seducer/seductress. A version was also made to be partially instrumental except leaving Wolfe's vocals on the song only.

Critical reaction
"I Can Pay Your Rent" received positive reviews from critics, fans of both the band and Wolfe, and the general public. Many complimented the band's experimentation with an urban sound, the song's production, lyrical content, wordplay, and message, and, for the single release, Wolfe's contribution.

United Kingdom
"I Can Pay Your Rent" debuted and peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart, selling 77,116 copies in its first week. The song was Curriculum's third consecutive #2 single in the UK and their sixth top three hit overall; meanwhile, it was Wolfe's umpteenth top three UK single.

The same week, "I Can Pay Your Rent" peaked at #2 was the same week that Wolfe's duet with popular American singer Kleo titled "Broken Hearts of Yesterday", remained at #1. As such, Wolfe became the second ever artist to dominate the top two positions on the UK Singles Chart. "I Can Pay Your Rent" still remained at #2 in its second week.

The single sold 355,577 copies and was certified Platinum by the Urapopstar Recording Association Phonographic Society (URAPS). It stayed on the charts for nine weeks.

"I Can Pay Your Rent" peaked at #4 on the UK Digital Chart and #1 on the UK Top 40 Airplay chart, becoming their first number one single on the latter and also on any chart in the UK.

Internationally
"I Can Pay Your Rent" peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song has also reached #25 on the Billboard Alternative Songs, becoming one of their lowest charting singles on their to date. Meanwhile, the single has peaked at #3 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart, becoming their highest peaking single there. The single has sold over 500,000 copies and has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Meanwhile, the single has peaked at #6 on the Canadian Hot 100 in Canada, #2 in both Australia and New Zealand, #10 in Ireland, and #11 on the Dutch Top 40 and #10 on the Single Top 100 in the Netherlands. The single also peaked at #7 in Germany and #3 on the Greece Digital Songs chart as compiled by Billboard.

Music video
The music video for "I Can Pay Your Rent" premiered on 16 May 2014 via YouTube and VEVO. Various product placements, such as various Syd Wolfe and Fusion Records merchandise, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, and various Apple products, make an appearance in the video.

The video begins the band being employees at a high-end store called Canis, which actually sells exclusive merchandise from Wolfe and her brothers (hence why the store is called "Canis" in the first place because "Canis" is the species name for wolves and other comparable animals). Gregory Preston is working behind the counter, Dana is stocking a glamorous version of Wolfe's album The Scientist 2 on shelves, and Wyatt and Phillip are heard discussing positive things about the Wolfe family.

Suddenly, Wolfe walks into the store causing the guys to express excitement. Though she acknowledges them all, she really has her sights set on Gregory Preston. She flirtatiously says hello to him and flirts with him and eventually begins dating him. She takes him on various destinations such as Paris, Rome, and Maui and then takes him on a shopping spree, though he ends up holding all of her bags and packages. Towards the end of the shopping spree, Wolfe lures Gregory Preston to her bedroom. Just as the two make it to the bedroom, Wolfe opens the door, pulls him in, and then shuts the door.

Intercut throughout the video are sequence shots of Gregory Preston singing against a gold backdrop with raining diamonds, dancers doing an elaborate and complicated "pop/hip-hop styled" choreography against a silver backdrop with raining money, the rest of the band trying to catch the raining money against the silver backdrop, and for the middle eight, Syd is seen sitting a desk in a all-Platinum room pretending as if she is talking on her luxurious cellphone chanting her middle eight.

The video ends in a twist as Wolfe's son, Max, comes into Canis to tell Gregory Preston that his mother has been transferred to Europe to oversee the Canis store operations there and that Canis stores in the US will be now overseen by her brother, Taylor. As his uncle Taylor's messenger, Max lets Gregory Preston know that he has been fired because his uncle Taylor thinks of him as a "gold digging gigolo geek slag". Max also lets the rest of the band know that they have been fired by Taylor as well. Max says that his mother says hi to Gregory Preston, bids them a nice day, smiles at them innocently, and then runs out the store. The band, in shock from being fired, looks at the camera in disbelief.

Live performances
The band performed the song live without Wolfe at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. Mandelbaum sang the female vocals instead in his high voice.

Track listings

 * Digital download
 * 1) I Can Pay Your Rent (feat. Syd Wolfe)


 * Digital EP/CD Single
 * 1) I Can Pay Your Rent (feat. Syd Wolfe)
 * 2) Destroying Diamonds
 * 3) A' l'infini
 * 4) I Can Pay Your Rent (Album Version)


 * Alternate Versions ("Remixes") EP
 * 1) I Can Pay Your Rent (Instrumental except for Syd Wolfe vocals only)
 * 2) I Can Pay Your Rent (Gay Version)
 * 3) I Can Pay Your Rent (Sugar Mom Remix)
 * 4) I Can Pay Your Rent (Live At BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)


 * Deluxe single (digital download, streaming, CD single, and vinyl)
 * 1) "I Can Pay Your Rent" (featuring Syd Wolfe)
 * 2) "I Can Pay Your Rent" (Gay Version)
 * 3) "I Can Pay Your Rent" (Bisexual Version)
 * 4) "Shrug Shoulders"
 * 5) "John Galliano's In Jail"
 * 6) "I Can Pay Your Rent" (Album Version)