Courage to Change (song) explained

Courage to Change
Cover:Courage to Change Sia.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Sia
Genre:Pop
Length:4:52
Label:
Prev Title:Let's Love
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Cold
Next Year:2020

"Courage to Change" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Sia, released on 24 September 2020 through Monkey Puzzle and Atlantic Records. It is taken from her album, Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture, which features songs from musical film Music, co-written and directed by herself. It is the second single from the album, following "Together".[1]

Release and promotion

"Courage to Change" is the second single released from Sia's ninth studio album, Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture, which features songs written, by Sia, for and inspired by musical film Music. The album was released on 12 February 2021 in connection with the release of Music.[2] [3]

The single was announced on Sia's social media accounts on 23 September 2020, the day before its release.[4] Sia performed "Courage to Change" at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards on 14 October 2020[5] and at the NRJ Music Awards on 5 September. A lyric video for the track premiered on 11 January 2021.[6] The Michael Calfan remix of the song was released on 10 June 2022.

Composition

"Courage to Change" was written by Sia, Pink and frequent collaborator Greg Kurstin, and production was handled solely by Kurstin.[7] At a length of 4:52, it interpolates Pink's song "Courage", from her album Hurts 2B Human, also co-written by Sia.[8] The song is composed in the key of B minor.[9] Opening with an intro of "moody" strings, "Courage to Change" builds into an "enormous",[10] "soaring" chorus[11] that has simple, repetitive but inspirational lyrics, with a "driving message of empowerment;[12] "Have I the courage to change?/ Have I the courage to change today?".[13]

Wongo Okon of Uproxx described the song as "another graceful effort, aiming to empower its listeners to be their most [courageous] selves".[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020–2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 180
France (SNEP)[16] 48
Global 200 (Billboard)[17] 194
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 55
France (SNEP)[20] 191

Release history

Release history and formats for "Courage to Change"! Region! Date! Format!Version! Label!
Various24 September 2020Original[21]
10 June 2022Michael Calfan remix[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 26 September 2020. Listen to Sia's powerful new song 'Courage To Change'. 23 December 2020. NME. 18 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118081933/https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-sias-powerful-new-song-courage-to-change-2762194. live.
  2. Web site: Sia drops trailer for film 'Music,' new single "Hey Boy" from upcoming album - Music News. 6 December 2020. ABC News Radio. 27 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127124558/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/11/19/sia-drops-trailer-for-film-music-new-single-hey-boy-from-upc.html. live.
  3. Web site: Strauss. Matthew. Sia Announces Album, Shares New Song "Hey Boy". 6 December 2020. Pitchfork. 4 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210204233819/https://pitchfork.com/news/sia-announces-album-shares-new-song-hey-boy-listen/. live.
  4. CFfOHxZH0wo. siamusic. Sia. 23 September 2020. "Courage To Change" - out tomorrow - Team Sia.
  5. Web site: Sia - Courage to Change (Live at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards). YouTube. 5 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201205173023/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4OXRtQy5As. live.
  6. 1348695510471864324. Sia. You're not alone in all this ❤️ Watch the new "Courage To Change" lyric video ✨ - Team Sia. 11 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112002034/https://twitter.com/Sia/status/1348695510471864324. 12 January 2021. dead.
  7. Web site: 25 September 2020. Sia Drops Inspiring Anthem "Courage To Change". 6 December 2020. idolator. 22 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422173246/https://www.idolator.com/7914821/sia-drops-inspiring-anthem-courage-to-change. live.
  8. Web site: Sia Drops New Song "Courage To Change" from Musical Film "Music" Soundtrack. 6 December 2020. pm studio world wide news. ja. 1 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201101110417/https://www.pmstudio.com/music/music.html?page=20200925-12130. live.
  9. Web site: Furler. Sia. Courage to Change - Digital Sheet Music. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210206172251/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0218832. 6 February 2021. 6 February 2021. MusicNotes.
  10. Web site: Levine. Nick. Sia – Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture review: better than the movie. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210218111523/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/sia-music-songs-from-and-inspired-by-the-motion-picture-review-2882539. 18 February 2021. 18 February 2021. NME.
  11. Web site: Sharratt. Joe. 19 February 2021. Sia releases soundtrack from her feature film Music. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210219014427/https://musictalkers.com/reviews/7745-sia-releases-soundtrack-from-her-feature-film-music. 19 February 2021. 25 February 2021. Music Talkers.
  12. Web site: Sia Shares Powerful New Anthem 'Courage to Change'. 2020-12-23. Warner Music New Zealand. 28 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210328191723/https://warnermusic.co.nz/news/sia-shares-powerful-new-anthem-courage-to-change. live.
  13. Web site: Strazzabosco. Domenic. 8 February 2021. ALBUM REVIEW: Sia fails to strike a chord with 'MUSIC'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210212123805/https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/sia-music/. 12 February 2021. 12 February 2021. RIFF Magazine.
  14. Web site: 26 September 2020. Sia's 'Courage To Change' Delivers An Empowering Message To Listeners. 23 December 2020. Uproxx. 15 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115121454/https://uproxx.com/pop/sia-courage-to-change. live.
  15. Web site: Sia ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in May 2024. ARIA. Imgur.com. 12 July 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  16. Web site: Top Singles (Week 7, 2021). SNEP. 22 February 2021. 20 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420221010/http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=7%3F&annee=2021&categorie=Top%20Singles. live.
  17. Web site: Sia Chart History Billboard Global 200. 23 December 2020. Billboard. 30 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221130183932/https://www.billboard.com/artist/sia/chart-history/glo/. live.
  18. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 40, 2020. sv. Sverigetopplistan. 11 April 2021. 14 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210114204344/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2020&dspp=40. live.
  19. Web site: Rapports annuels 2021. Ultratop. 5 January 2022. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104091926/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2021. live.
  20. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2021. SNEP. fr. 15 April 2022. 17 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220417210043/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?categorie=Top%20Single%20de%20l%E2%80%99ann%C3%A9e&annee=2021. live.
  21. Web site: Courage to Change (From the Motion Picture "Music") - Single. Sia. https://web.archive.org/web/20210222090625/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/courage-to-change-from-the-motion-picture-music-single/1531768168. Apple Music (GB). 22 February 2021. 22 February 2021.
  22. Web site: Courage to Change (Michael Calfan Remix) - Single. Sia. https://web.archive.org/web/20220709142857/https://music.apple.com/us/album/courage-to-change-michael-calfan-remix-single/1627371882%7C. Apple Music(US). 22 October 2022. 9 July 2022. live.