Given a unique falsetto and perfect pitch, before he dazzled the charts with his own hits, Charlie Puth had already written tracks for other artists such as Jason Derulo, Pitbull, CeeLo Green, and Thomas Rhett. In addition to recording his hits like “We Don’t Talk Anymore” and “Attention” —and the 2015 Furious 7 track “See You Again,” recorded by Wiz Khalifa and featuring Puth for the soundtrack of the 2015 film — the artist also went on to co-write and produce several songs for other artists, including the John Legend, Maroon 5, former One Member direction Liam Payne and many others.
Approaching the release of his third, and most personal, album, Charlie, Puth continued sharing his songs and co-writing across genres. Here’s a look at 10 songs Puth has written for other artists.
1. “Celebrate,” Pitbull (2014)
Written by Charlie Puth, Armando Perez (Pitbull), Andrew Cedar, Ben Maddahi, Breyan Isaac, Dino George Fekaris, Justin Franks, Nick Zesses
Featured in DreamWorks animated film Penguins of Madagascar, “Celebrate” was one of the first songs written by Charlie Puth. The song was later released on Pitbull’s eighth studio album Globalization.
2. “Broke,” Jason Derulo, featuring Stevie Wonder and Keith Urban (2015)
Written by Charlie Puth, Jason Derulo, David Brook
Jason Derulo’s fourth album All 4, which led to No. 4, featured several star collaborations, including Meghan Trainor on “Painkiller,” Julia Michaels on “Trade Hearts,” and Jennifer Lopez and Matoma on “Try Me.” For “Broke,” co-written with Charlie Puth and David Brook (Eminem, One Republic), Derulo brought in Stevie Wonder and Keith Urban. Apparently, the collaboration with Wonder began when the two met and had a chance to talk at a dinner at the White House.
“At that moment I had a ready song ‘Broke,’ which featured a harmonica, and so I suggested him play it thinking how delicious it would be to have the legendary Stevie Wonder in one of my songs,” said Derulo. “He enthusiastically accepted, and I also proposed to him to sing. His response was, ‘If I listen to the song on the radio and I can’t hear my voice, I get angry.’ ”
3. “I Feel Good,” Thomas Rhett (2015)
Written by Charlie Puth, Thomas Rhett, Douglas, Teddy Geiger, Jacob Hindlin, Gamal Lewis, Spargur
On Thomas Rhett’s second album, Entangled, “I Feel Good” was never released as a single, but features LunchMoney Lewis and Charlie Puth, who are recognized not only as a co-writer but as a musician. Puth plays the keyboard on the track.
4. “Working Class Heroes (Work), CeeLoo Green (2015)
Written by Charlie Puth, Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (CeeLo Green), Sean Phelan
Co-written and co-produced by Charlie Puth, CeeLo Green’s dance-y track “Working Class Heroes (Work),” the lyrics pay tribute to the hard-working—Early in the morning / I’m wrapped in the couch / Smell struggling / Will you open the door / Everyone is crying / I’m in a hurry with my blood / A little not enough—And released on Green’s fifth studio album, Heart Blanchefeaturing a collection of collaborations including Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Mark Ronson, and more.
5. “So Good,” Zara Larsson, featuring Ty Dolla $ ign (2017)
Written by Charlie Puth, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Gamal Lewis, Danny Schofield
Released as the fifth single in Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson’s international debut, Very good, the title track hit the Top 10 in Europe and Top 40 in the US and was co-written and produced by Puth. Released when Larsson was just 19, the album became “the second most-streamed debut on Spotify by a female artist ever.”
6. “Lips On You,” Maroon 5 (2017)
Written by Charlie Puth, Adam Levine, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Julia Michaels, Jason Evigan
Although Puth initially wanted to keep his collaboration with friend and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine a secret, he was credited with co-writing the band’s more intimate track, “Lips On You,” from their sixth album Red Pill Blues. “I want to see people’s reaction to music, and sometimes if my name is attached to it, they feel like they have to feel a certain way,” Puth said. “But it leaked that I wrote the album, which is really cool.”
7. “Bedroom Floor,” Liam Payne (2017)
Written by Charlie Puth, Jacob Kasher, Ammar Malik, Steve Mac, Aaron Jennings, Noel Zancanella
Produced by Mac and Ben Rice, “Bedroom Floor” is a single on the debut album of former One Direction member Liam Payne LP1 in 2017 and gave the artist some radio play and chart access in the US “It’s a great song,” Payne said of the track. “I will never hear it and be impatient.”
8. “Easier,” 5 Seconds of Summer (2019)
Written by Charlie Puth, Louis Bell, Ryan Tedder, Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt
A somewhat darker synth- and drum-induced track for Australian pop band 5 Seconds of Summer, “Easier” is the lead single on their fourth album Calm down. The video, which shows the group performing in a blue-lit cave, has garnered more than 62 million views (so far) on YouTube. In addition to the album version, the band also released alternative versions of “Easier,” including “Easier – Live from the Vault” with two remixes, one by Seeb and another by Charlie Puth.
9. “Minefields,” Faouzia and John Legend (2020)
Written by Charlie Puth, Faouzia, Ali Tamposi, Johnny Goldstein, Sam Martin, Jeff Halatrax, J-kash
Recorded by Moroccan artist Faouzia and featuring John Legend, “Minefields” was released as a single on the artist’s 2020 EP Citizens. The lyrics metaphorically explore the grief of the lovers once they have parted ways and tried to reconnect by walking through the mines.
I didn’t notice what I lost
Until all the lights went out
And not knowing what you’re up to tortured me
Now this could be a mistake
We are broken in many ways
But I slowly brought us together
Faouzia and Legend have performed the song together on several occasions, including a 2021 look at The Kelly Clarkson Show.
10. “Stay,” The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber (2021)
Written by Charlie Puth, Charlton Howard (The Kid Laroi) Justin Bieber, Magnus Høiberg, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Michael MuleIsaac De Boni, Subhaan Rahmaan
Australian rapper’s lead single The Kid Laroi’s mixtape, F*ck Love 3: Over You, “Stay” is the second collaboration between Laroi and Bieber. Both artists first worked together on Bieber’s song “Unstable,” from his sixth studio album, Justicewhich was also released in 2021. “Stay” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Laroi’s first chart-topping hit.
Photo: Gabriela Hansen/Atlantic Records
