| A Thousand Years | |
| Cover: | AThousand Years.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Christina Perri |
| Album: | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| Released: | October 18, 2011 |
| Recorded: | 2011 |
| Genre: | Pop[1] |
| Length: |
|
| Label: | Atlantic Records |
| Producer: | David Hodges |
| Prev Title: | Arms |
| Prev Year: | 2011 |
| Next Title: | Distance |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
"A Thousand Years" is a ballad recorded by American singer and songwriter Christina Perri, written by Perri and its producer David Hodges, for . The song was released worldwide as a digital download on October 18, 2011 and serves as the second single by Atlantic Records from the movie's official soundtrack.[2] Perri re-recorded the song with vocals from Steve Kazee for the sequel (2012). It was also produced by Hodges.
"A Thousand Years" is in the key of B-flat major, in 3/4 waltz time with a vocal range of F3 to C5.[3]
The song was written about the love affair between Edward and Bella in the novel and subsequent film series Twilight.[4]
An official lyric video of the song was premiered on October 17, 2011, via Perri's official Facebook and Twitter pages as well as her official website. On October 26, 2011, she released an official video for the song on her YouTube channel. The video begins with Perri holding a candle. It features a few clips from interspersed between scenes with Perri singing in a room with a floor full of candles. Perri ends the video singing into a sunset.
As of May 2024, the video has accumulated 2.5 billion views.[5]
In March 2018, mothers of children with Down syndrome in the United Kingdom produced a video cover of the song for World Down Syndrome Day that went viral. Christina Perri declared her support for the idea and waived any copyright claim to the music in support of the campaign.[6] As of June 2024, the video has over 11 million views.[7]
"A Thousand Years" became a sleeper hit globally, accumulating its sales over several years.
On the week of October 23, 2011, the song debuted at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart,[8] and number 70 on Canadian Hot 100. It eventually peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Perri her second top 40 hit. By July 2013, the song has sold over three million digital downloads in the US.[9] As of June 2014, the song had sold 3,657,000 copies in the US.[10] On March 3, 2022, the single was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling ten million units in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 32 on its original release in 2011. The following year, after the release of , it peaked at number 13. In 2013, it reached a new peak of 11. It has since been certified four-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting sales equivalent to 2.4 million units.
| Chart (2011–21) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)[11] | 58 |
| Italy (FIMI)[12] | 30 |
| Chart (2012–13) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)[13] | 98 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 27 |
| Chart (2012) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[14] | 67 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 50 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 110 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 87 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] | 21 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[19] | 24 |
| Chart (2013) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Crowley)[20] | 71 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[21] | 57 |
| Chart (2010–2019) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[22] | 46 | |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] | 79 |
| Country | Date | Format | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | October 18, 2011 | Digital download | Atlantic | |
| Canada[24] | WEA International Inc. | |||
| Australia[25] | ||||
| United Kingdom | November 7, 2011 | Digital download (album only) | Atlantic |