Bird Set Free

"Bird Set Free" is a song recorded by Sia for her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016).[1] It was released as the first promotional single from the album on 4 November 2015.

"Bird Set Free"
Promotional single by Sia
from the album This Is Acting
Released4 November 2015
Length4:15
LabelInertia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kurstin

Background

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sia said that the song was written for Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack, but they rejected it in favour of "Flashlight". Afterwards she pitched it to Rihanna, who rejected it, then to Adele, who initially recorded it but later decided to let Furler keep it.[2]

Composition

The song is written in the key of F minor.[3]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone said the song is "liberating".[4] In a review of the song's parent album This Is Acting, Kathy Iandolf of Idolator wrote "This album is dark, indicated by the lead single 'Alive,' but also by the opener 'Bird Set Free,' where Sia takes a solemn vow to emotional liberation amidst strong piano keys."[5] Alex McCown of The A.V. Club called it the "best female empowerment sing-along Katy Perry never wrote."[6] Calling the song a "ginormo self-empowerment anthem", Hugh Montgomory of The Independent wrote "Sia produces something more complex, battle-cries from a volatile soul."[7]

Promotion

Sia performed "Bird Set Free" and "Alive" on the 7 November 2015 episode of Saturday Night Live.[8][9]

Usage in media

"Bird Set Free" was featured over the end credits of the horror film The Shallows.[10] It was also featured in the opening credits of the 2017 film Unforgettable.

Charts
Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 36
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 98
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 69
France (SNEP)[14] 49
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 9
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] 65
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 69
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 92

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Keala Settle version
"Bird Set Free"
Single by Keala Settle
Released6 March 2018
GenrePop
Length3:42
Songwriter(s)Sia, Greg Kurstin
Keala Settle singles chronology
"This Is Me"
(2017)		 "Bird Set Free"
(2018)

A cover version of the song by Keala Settle was released on 6 March 2018.

References
  1. Gordon, Jeremy (3 November 2015). "Sia Shares "Bird Set Free"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. Sia talks reclaiming unwanted hits
  3. "Product MN0159570 "Bird Set Free"". Music Notes. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  4. Spanos, Brittany (3 November 2015). "Hear Sia's Liberating New Song 'Bird Set Free'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. Iandoli, Kathy (29 January 2016). "Sia's 'This Is Acting': Album Review". Idolator. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  6. McCown, Alex (29 January 2016). "Sia's charisma holds together an assembly line of modern pop hits". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. Montgomery, Hugh. "Sia, This is Acting review: a thrillingly intimate album that's so much more than just off-cuts". The Independent. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  8. Claymore, Gabriela Tully (13 October 2015). "Sia Playing SNL with Host Donald Trump". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  9. Russell, Erica (7 November 2015). "Donald Trump Hosts 'SNL', Sia Performs". PopCrush. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  10. Truffaut-Wong, Olivia (23 June 2016). "'The Shallows' End-Credits Song Is A Pitch-Perfect Choice". Bustle. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  11. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  12. "Sia Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201549 into search. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  14. "Lescharts.com – Sia – Bird Set Free" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  15. "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  16. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201549 into search. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Sia – Bird Set Free". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  19. "British single certifications – Sia – Bird Set Free". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 July 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Bird Set Free in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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