The rumor that Ellie Goulding’s global smash hit "Love Me Like You Do" was originally written for Justin Bieber is entirely false. Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Ali Payami, and Tove Lo wrote the track specifically for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie soundtrack, and it was pitched directly to Goulding. The persistent myth linking the song to Bieber stems from industry cross-collaboration gossip and the common practice of pop songwriters moving demos across major artist camps.
The True Origins of "Love Me Like You Do"
In late 2014, mastermind producer Max Martin and his frequent collaborators at MXM Studios crafted a sweeping, synth-driven power ballad for the cinematic adaptation of E.L. James’s erotic romance novel. The writing camp included Swedish hitmakers Ali Payami and Ilya Salmanzadeh, alongside pop architect Savan Kotecha and singer-songwriter Tove Lo.
The production team didn't write the track for a male pop star, nor did they hold back a demo from male rosters. They designed the song from its inception as a female-led vocal vehicle that mirrored the emotional arc of Anastasia Steele. Ellie Goulding recorded her vocals at MXM Studios and Studio at the Palms, infusing the track with a breathy yet soaring intensity that became her trademark. Released in January 2015, the single smashed international charts, topping the UK Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
Where Did the Justin Bieber Rumor Come From?
Pop music urban legends rarely appear out of thin air. Several overlapping industry realities fueled the online chatter that Justin Bieber was the intended recipient of the track:
- The Max Martin Connection: Max Martin and his co-writers regularly supplied material to top-tier pop acts of the era, including both Ellie Goulding and Justin Bieber. In pop songwriting circles, tracks frequently travel through multiple A&R channels before finding a home.
- The "Leftover" Song Trope: Fans often assume that massive global hits must have been rejected by bigger or different artists first. This narrative makes the history of chart-topping singles feel more dramatic.
- Overlapping Era Timelines: Around 2015, Bieber was working on his blockbuster Purpose comeback album, creating an online culture of speculation regarding unreleased demos, leaked tracks, and shared songwriting camps.
While Bieber did release a track titled "Love Me Like You Do" as a bonus track on his 2012 album Believe, it shares zero musical or lyrical DNA with Goulding's hit. That coincidence alone helped keep internet confusion alive across fan forums for years.
How the Song Was Shaped for Ellie Goulding
The track underwent specific sonic sculpting to fit Goulding's vocal register rather than sitting as a generic demo. Ali Payami’s production relied heavily on atmospheric synthesizers and driving percussion, stripping away excess pop polish to let Goulding's distinctive lower register cut through the wall of sound.
Director Sam Taylor-Johnson and the music supervisors for Fifty Shades of Grey wanted a track that felt both vulnerable and commanding. Goulding captured that exact duality, transforming what could have been a standard synth-pop number into a defining ballad of the 2010s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Justin Bieber ever record a demo of Love Me Like You Do?
No. There is no public record, leaked audio, or songwriter confirmation indicating that Justin Bieber ever recorded, heard, or passed on a demo of the track.
Who actually wrote Love Me Like You Do?
The track was written by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Ali Payami, and Tove Lo.
Was the song written specifically for Fifty Shades of Grey?
Yes. The writing camp created the song explicitly for the film's official soundtrack, tailoring its lyrical themes of longing and seduction to match the movie's central relationship.
Did Ellie Goulding write the lyrics herself?
Goulding did not participate in writing the song's lyrics or composition; she was brought in solely as the primary recording artist to interpret and vocalize the track.
