Bird Set Free Explained
Bird Set Free |
Cover: | Birdsetfree albumartwork.jpg |
Type: | promo |
Artist: | Sia |
Album: | This Is Acting |
Released: | 4 November 2015 |
Genre: | Power pop[1] |
Label: | Inertia |
Producer: | Greg Kurstin |
"Bird Set Free" is a song recorded by Sia for her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016).[2] It was released as the first promotional single from the album on 4 November 2015.
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 for her album 25, but later decided to let Sia keep it.[3] [4]
Composition
"Bird Set Free" is a piano-based power ballad[5] [6] written in the key of F minor.[7]
Critical reception
Rolling Stone said the song is "liberating".[8] 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."[9] Alex McCown of The A.V. Club called it the "best female empowerment sing-along Katy Perry never wrote."[10] 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."[11]
Promotion
Sia performed "Bird Set Free" and "Alive" on the 7 November 2015 episode of Saturday Night Live.[12] [13]
Usage in media
"Bird Set Free" was featured over the end credits of the horror film The Shallows.[14] It was also featured in the opening credits of the 2017 film Unforgettable.
Charts
Notes and References
- Rolling Stone Staff. June 28, 2023. The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time. September 3, 2023. Rolling Stone. A power-pop battle cry from Sia’s 2015 LP, This Is Acting, “Bird Set Free” features themes that often resonate with the queer community....
- Web site: Gordon. Jeremy. Sia Shares "Bird Set Free". Pitchfork Media. 3 November 2015. 3 November 2015. 19 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919200614/https://pitchfork.com/news/61928-sia-shares-bird-set-free/. live.
- Web site: Spanos. Brittany. Brittany Spanos . 3 December 2015. Sia on Reclaiming Adele, Rihanna's Unwanted Hits. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222083457/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sias-reject-opus-songwriter-on-reclaiming-adele-rihannas-unwanted-hits-36006/. 22 December 2019. 14 March 2021. Rolling Stone.
- Web site: Polanco. Luis. 3 November 2015. Sia Releases Powerful Ballad 'Bird Set Free,' Originally Intended for Adele: Listen. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200611035945/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6752899/sia-bird-set-free-adele-listen. 11 June 2020. 14 March 2021. Billboard.
- Web site: Tan. Monica. 4 November 2011. Sia shares new song and release date for upcoming album This is Acting. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151201010858/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/nov/04/sia-shares-new-song-and-release-date-for-upcoming-album-this-is-acting. 1 December 2015. 14 March 2021. The Guardian.
- Web site: Somarriba. Mary Rose. 1 September 2016. 4 Chart-Topping Songs with Messages About Real Female Empowerment. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021021304/https://verilymag.com/2016/09/authenticity-pop-music-katy-perry-mike-posner-meghan-trainor-daya-pink. 21 October 2020. 14 March 2021. Verily.
- Web site: Product MN0159570 "Bird Set Free". Music Notes. EMI Music Publishing. 9 February 2016. 19 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011245/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0159570. live.
- Hear Sia’s Liberating New Song ‘Bird Set Free’ . 3 November 2015 . Brittany . Spanos . Rolling Stone . 5 February 2020 .
- Web site: Sia's 'This Is Acting': Album Review . 29 January 2016 . Kathy . Iandoli . Idolator . 5 February 2020 .
- Web site: McCown . Alex . Sia’s charisma holds together an assembly line of modern pop hits . . 29 January 2016 . 29 January 2016 . 31 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131122948/http://www.avclub.com/review/sias-charisma-holds-together-assembly-line-modern--231110 . live .
- News: Montgomery . Hugh . Sia, This is Acting review: a thrillingly intimate album that's so much more than just off-cuts . . 28 January 2016 . 27 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160127165307/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/sia-this-is-acting-review-a-thrillingly-intimate-album-thats-so-much-more-than-just-off-cuts-a6836636.html . live .
- Web site: Sia Playing SNL with Host Donald Trump. Stereogum. 14 October 2015. 13 October 2015. Gabriela Tully. Claymore. 14 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160114081057/http://www.stereogum.com/1837238/sia-playing-snl-with-host-donald-trump/news/. live.
- Web site: Donald Trump Hosts 'SNL', Sia Performs. PopCrush. 8 November 2015. 7 November 2015. Erica. Russell. 12 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151112125918/http://popcrush.com/donald-trump-hosts-snl-sia-performs-watch-the-clips-here/. live.
- 'The Shallows' End-Credits Song Is A Pitch-Perfect Choice. Bustle. 1 August 2016. 23 June 2016. Olivia. Truffaut-Wong.
- Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 November 2015. 14 November 2015. 17 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140317123606/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/singles. live.
- Web site: NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart . . 16 November 2015 . 13 November 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120622102743/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles . 22 June 2012 .
- Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 46, 2015. sv. Sverigetopplistan. 2 May 2021.