Animals

"Animals" by Maroon 5 explores the themes of sexual obsession, primal desire, and a toxic relationship dynamic through an extended predator-prey metaphor. The lyrics depict a narrator who is consumed by an inescapable carnal need for a woman, comparing his pursuit to that of a wild animal hunting its target. Phrases like "Baby, I'm preying on you tonight / Hunt you down, eat you alive" establish a dark and aggressive tone, framing the romantic and sexual pursuit as a hunt. The song suggests a relationship that is dysfunctional on a communicative level ("It's like we can't stop, we're enemies") but intensely passionate physically ("But we get along when I'm inside you"). This creates a narrative where the only resolution to their conflict is through raw, animalistic intimacy. The song's meaning has been a subject of significant controversy, with many critics and organizations arguing that it glorifies stalking and predatory behavior, trivializing serious crimes against women. The lyrics imply a lack of consent and the dismissal of the woman's attempts to distance herself, as seen in lines like "Maybe you think that you can hide / I can smell your scent for miles." Adam Levine, however, defended the song and its accompanying video as a work of art depicting a specific, creepy character and exploring "animalistic tendencies," not to be taken literally.

The song's narrative centers on a protagonist consumed by an overwhelming and predatory obsession with a former or current lover. The relationship is depicted as a toxic mix of conflict and intense physical connection, described with the line, "It's like we can't stop, we're enemies, but we get along when I'm inside you." This duality establishes a theme of a dysfunctional bond where harmony is only found in raw, physical intimacy.

The central metaphor of the song is the comparison of this desire to the instincts of a predator hunting its prey. The narrator explicitly states his intention to "prey on you tonight, hunt you down, eat you alive, just like animals." This imagery is not subtle; it's a raw and visceral depiction of an all-consuming lust. He believes their connection is primal and inescapable, suggesting she cannot hide from him because he "can smell your scent for miles." This reinforces the idea of an almost supernatural, instinctual pursuit that transcends normal human interaction.

Throughout the lyrics, there's a dismissal of the woman's attempts to move on or create distance. Lines like, "Yeah you can start over, you can run free, you can find other fish in the sea... but you can't stay away from me," portray the narrator's arrogant confidence that their bond is unbreakable, whether she wants it to be or not. He interprets her resistance as a facade, claiming she can't deny "the animal that comes alive when I'm inside you." This suggests he sees her as being driven by the same base instincts, even if she consciously rejects him.

The song creates a dark and unsettling atmosphere, blurring the lines between passionate desire and dangerous stalking. The narrator's perspective is the only one given, painting a one-sided picture of a relationship defined by a fierce, almost violent craving. The repetition of the "just like animals" hook, combined with Adam Levine's howling vocalizations, drives home the central theme: a love that has devolved into a primitive, uncontrollable, and ultimately predatory chase.

"Animals" was written by Adam Levine, Benny Blanco, and Johan "Shellback" Schuster, with Shellback also handling production. It was recorded at MXM Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The track was released on August 25, 2014, as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, V. The song's creation continues the successful collaboration between Maroon 5, Blanco, and Shellback, who had previously worked on hits like "Payphone" and "Moves Like Jagger". The song was promoted through a commercial for the Kia Soul EV, which featured the track and offered it as a free download for a limited time on Kia's website, premiering around August 21, 2014. A lyric video was released on August 22, 2014, followed by the official music video on September 29, 2014. The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, featured Adam Levine alongside his wife, model Behati Prinsloo, and was inspired by the film American Psycho.

"Animals" is characterized by a simple, effective rhyme scheme and a propulsive rhythm that drives the song forward. The verses largely follow an AABB couplet structure, seen in lines like "So what you trying to do to me / It's like we can't stop, we're enemies" and "I cut you out entirely / But I get so high when I'm inside you." This straightforward rhyme scheme makes the lyrics easy to follow and adds to their direct, punchy quality. The chorus employs repetition as its main rhythmic and lyrical device, with the phrase "Just like animals, animals, like animals" creating a powerful, chant-like hook. The rhythm is built on a steady, four-on-the-floor dance beat combined with a prominent, funky bassline, giving the song a high-energy, pop-rock feel. This upbeat tempo and danceable rhythm create a stark juxtaposition with the dark, predatory lyrical content, a stylistic choice that makes the song both catchy and unsettling. Adam Levine's vocal rhythm often plays with syncopation, especially in the verses, adding a layer of complexity against the steady instrumental pulse. The song is set in the key of E Minor.

Musically, "Animals" is built on a shimmering, funky bass line and a driving, danceable drum beat that creates a sense of urgent momentum. Adam Levine's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; he transitions from smooth, melodic verses to a high-pitched, almost screaming falsetto in the chorus, culminating in a literal howl near the end. This raw vocalization audibly mimics the "animal" theme. The song's structure heavily relies on repetition, with the chorus and the word "animals" repeated extensively, making the central hook highly memorable and relentless. Lyrically, the song employs similes ("Just like animals") to make its central comparison explicit. It also uses vivid, and often graphic, imagery ("Hunt you down, eat you alive") to convey its themes of obsession and primal desire. The narrative voice is that of an obsessive stalker, creating a dark and unsettling tone that contrasts sharply with the song's upbeat, pop-rock instrumentation. The production by Shellback is slick and polished, a hallmark of his work, which adds a layer of radio-friendly appeal to the otherwise dark lyrical content.

Upon its release, "Animals" became a significant commercial success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Maroon 5's tenth top-10 single in the US. The song charted well internationally, reaching the top 10 in numerous countries including Canada and the UK. However, its cultural impact is most defined by the intense controversy surrounding its lyrics and music video. Feminist groups and organizations like the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) publicly condemned the video, stating that it was a "dangerous depiction of a stalker's fantasy" and that it trivialized serious crimes by confusing stalking with romance. Critics lambasted the video for glamorizing violence against women and drawing parallels to rape culture. Despite, or perhaps partly because of, the controversy, the song received significant airplay and has remained a recognizable part of Maroon 5's discography. It has been used in various media, notably in a Kia commercial and as part of the soundtrack for the film The Maze Runner. The song also inspired remixes featuring rappers J. Cole and Big Boi.

The dominant literary device in "Animals" is the extended metaphor comparing human desire to the primal instincts of predator and prey. This is established immediately with lyrics like, "Baby, I'm preying on you tonight / Hunt you down, eat you alive / Just like animals." This isn't just a comparison; it frames the entire relationship through the lens of a violent, instinctual chase, stripping away romanticism for a raw, almost carnal hunger. The act of "preying" and "hunting" symbolizes an obsessive and relentless pursuit, while "eat you alive" serves as a graphic metaphor for sexual consumption. The line "I can smell your scent for miles" further dehumanizes the woman, reducing her to a physical trail for the predator to follow, emphasizing the narrator's perceived inescapable connection and her inability to hide. The music video deepens this symbolism, with Adam Levine portraying a butcher who literally handles raw meat, visually connecting the lyrical objectification of the woman to animal carcasses. This imagery reinforces the idea of women as consumable objects, a concept explored in feminist critiques of the song and video.

The most significant recurring motif in "Animals" is the central lyrical phrase and hook: "Just like animals, animals, like animals." This line is repeated extensively throughout the song, acting as the core of the chorus and the anchor for the entire thematic concept. Its constant repetition drills the predator-prey metaphor into the listener's mind, reinforcing the idea of primal, uncontrollable desire. Another recurring phrase is the opening of the chorus, "Baby, I'm preying on you tonight / Hunt you down, eat you alive," which appears multiple times to reiterate the song's aggressive and obsessive tone. The motif of the hunt is also reinforced by the line, "Maybe you think that you can hide / I can smell your scent for miles," which appears in the pre-chorus sections, emphasizing the inescapable nature of the narrator's pursuit. Musically, the song's primary motif is its distinctive, shimmering bassline that runs throughout, providing a funky, recognizable foundation. Adam Levine's high-pitched howl is another key recurring element, serving as a non-lyrical reinforcement of the song's title and theme.