: Perri noted that the audience and band felt a unique chemistry during that first performance, which led them to record the duet version for the deluxe single release.
: The video takes place in a "cool house" where Perri and Mraz are in separate rooms, singing the song without ever appearing on screen together.
Perri wrote the song based on her personal experience in the summer of 2010 when she fell in love with someone she worked with closely. Because she had to hide her feelings, the lyrics focus on the "tension" of being near someone your heart longs for without being able to show it. christina perri feat. jason mraz - distance
Christina Perri ft. Jason Mraz - Distance [Behind the Scenes] YouTube · Christina Perri Christina Perri & Jason Mraz Live at Anthology San Diego YouTube · Anthology San Diego Jason Mraz, Christina Perri perform duet 'Distance' The Today Show · TODAY
: The video concludes with Perri stripping down a wall of photos and tearing through a physical wall, signifying the moment of letting go and breaking the emotional tension. : Perri noted that the audience and band
: Perri chose a simple, natural look—a white dress and minimal makeup—to ensure the video felt like a "real life experience" rather than a dream.
: Perri describes the song as being about a love that is either "too soon" or "too late," leading to a self-imposed emotional distance to keep the secret. Because she had to hide her feelings, the
The duet version was not originally planned for the album. Perri and Mraz first performed the song together during a radio show in San Diego in December 2011.