Safe (Westlife song) explained

Safe
Cover:Westlifesafe.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Westlife
Album:Gravity
B-Side:Please Stay
Released:November 14, 2010
Recorded:August 2010;
Henson Recording Studios
(Hollywood, California)
RAK Studios
(London, England)
Genre:Pop rock
Length:3:52
Prev Title:Everybody Hurts
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Lighthouse
Next Year:2011

"Safe" is a song by Irish pop group Westlife from their tenth studio album Gravity (2010) and this pop rock ballad was released on 14 November 2010 as the album's lead and only single in the United Kingdom.[1] It was written by John Shanks and James Grundler, and the single version was produced by Shanks, Richard "Biff" Stannard, and Ash Howes. This song is the group's last physical single under the tutelage of Simon Cowell, having left Syco and Cowell in March 2011. "Safe" debuted at number four in Ireland. It charted at number ten in the UK, becoming their twenty-fourth and last top ten single, meaning that they had one top ten hit in three different decades. The song was featured in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale starring Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Morgan Freeman.[2]

Background

The decision to release 'Safe' as the first and only single from the group's new album came from executive producer Simon Cowell. The track was written by album producer John Shanks and James Grundler, frontman of American rock group Golden State.[3]

The single was first performed live on BBC Radio 2 Weekend Wogan Show.[4]

It was composed in the traditional verse–chorus form in D major, with Filan and Feehily's vocal ranging from the chords of D4 to A5.[5]

Release

The single's b-side, a cover version of "Please Stay", was recorded in 2009, and was promised to be included on the next single released following "What About Now".[6] It is their first original lead song and single released off a new album since their 2002 single "Unbreakable".

Soundtrack

The song was featured in the end credits of the 2011 American film Dolphin Tale. On 11 October 2011, the soundtrack album was released.[2]

Other versions

The song was also featured on the debut season of US X Factor. When a part of studio version of "Safe" was played on the reality television show X Factor, two different versions were played on different episodes. The first version was the version that was released as a single and included on the album while the second unreleased version was that it included the lyric "unlock the door" in the middle part of the song between the second verse chorus and the bridge.

Critical reception

The single received general positive reviews from fans and critics.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Promotion

Premiere week

A 30-second snippet of the song was first heard on September 19, on the final audition show of ITV1 talent competition The X Factor. On September 26 and October 2, the song received a 60-second preview with different parts, becoming the theme for the Boys' Boot Camp results, once again on X Factor. On October 3, a 40-second official snippet was posted on the band's website.[12] Amazon.co.uk was the first to have the pre-order link of the single on October 4.[13] On October 5, the full version was released on their official YouTube site. On October 6, the official lyrics were released.[14]

They sent the single to UK and Irish radio stations on 4 October.[15] The single debuted on B-List of BBC Radio 2 on the week commencing 2010 October 16.[16] They had a radio tour confirmed first on Real Radio Scotland, Northwest.[17] [18] On 22 October 2010, they announced their UK regional radio tour with schedule of complete date, time, and venue.[19] HR3 radio station first confirmed the airplay of the single on Germany on 16 October 2010.[20] They performed this single in The Dome 56, Germany on 26 November 2010 and broadcast on RTL II Germany on 4, 18 December 2010 but was later cancelled.[21] Afterwards, they are opt to promote on international market as they had meetings about it.[22] They had interviews with RTHK Radio 2 in Hong Kong, Kawanku Magazine and Tabloid Nova in Indonesia, Daily Joong-ang in South Korea, and Sayidaty in Middle East on 5 November 2010.[23] [24] At the same day, Nicky tweeted he will do a lot of phone call interviews on other countries not mentioned above such as Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Sweden, Switzerland, and South Africa.[25] After the radio tour comes the promo tour in television shows.[26] One of it was their performance live on X Factor on 14 November 2010 that coincides the promotion of Gravity and the face-off with other boybands, Take That and JLS.[27] [28] (See Schedule)

Tours performed at

Track listing

  1. "Safe" (Single Mix) – 3:52
  2. "Please Stay" – 3:45

Credits and personnel

Source:[29]

Charts

Safe peaked #40 on UK Radio airplay, and #34 on UK TV Airplay Chart or Digital Subscription Plays Chart.[30] [31]

Chart (2010)Peak
position
Euro Digital Tracks (Billboard)[32] 18
Europe75
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[33] 18
Ireland Digital Tracks (Billboard)[34] 5
Ireland Download (GfK Chart-Track)[35] 6
Lithuania26
Slovenia26
South Korea (Gaon International Digital Chart)[36] 20
South Korea (Gaon International Download Chart)[37] 12
South Korea (Gaon International Streaming Chart)[38] 29
Taiwan3
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Westlife Album and Single Release Dates . Westlife.com . 9 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101030114620/http://www.westlife.com/gb/news/gb/2010/10/27/new_westlife_album_and_single_release_dates . 30 October 2010 .
  2. Web site: The music of 'Dolphin Tale': No Harry Connick Jr. Or Kris Kristofferson, but lots of Mark Isham. 2014-01-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20140110092024/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/music-dolphin-tale-no-harry-connick-jr-or-kris-kristofferson-lots-mark-isham/2053164. 2014-01-10. dead.
  3. http://www.goldenstateband.com/ Golden State - Official Website
  4. Web site: Radio 2 Programmes - Weekend Wogan, 07/11/2010 . BBC . 2010-11-07 . 2011-08-16.
  5. Web site: Safe BY WESTLIFE - DIGITAL SHEET MUSIC. Musicnotes. 2 January 2012.
  6. Web site: Official News (GB) - Pre-Order Westlife - Safe . Westlife . 2010-10-08 . 2011-08-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003094837/http://www.westlife.com/gb/news/gb/2010/10/08/pre_order_westlife_safe . 2011-10-03 .
  7. Web site: Westlife confirm new album release . . 2010-10-06 . 2010-10-07 . dead . https://archive.today/20120630164010/http://www.4music.com/artist/westlife/confirm-new-album-release.html . 2012-06-30 .
  8. Web site: Music All Stars - Westlife - Safe (New Song) . 2010-10-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714133718/http://www.musicallstars.com/?p=1004 . 2011-07-14 . dead .
  9. Web site: Westlife - Safe . Entertainment Focus . 2010-11-15 . 2011-08-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710200953/http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music/articles/westlife-safe-0 . 2011-07-10 .
  10. Web site: music . Next Week's Releases – Boyfest! (And some freebies for you too) Music blog - MSN Music, MSN UK . Music.uk.msn.com . 2011-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809233101/http://music.uk.msn.com/blog/editor-blogpost.aspx?post=65a32d04-977f-4d11-822e-bc365676fc1b . 2011-08-09 . dead .
  11. Web site: Released on Monday, November 15, 2010 . Westlife: 'Safe' - Music Singles Review . Digital Spy . 2010-11-15 . 2011-08-16.
  12. Web site: Official News (GLOBAL) - Westlife Announce New Single : SAFE . Westlife . 2010-10-04 . 2011-08-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101009105936/http://www.westlife.com/global/news/global/2010/10/04/westlife_announce_new_single_safe . 2010-10-09 .
  13. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0045Y17O0 Safe - Westlife - Amazon.co.uk
  14. Web site: SAFE : the lyrics to Westlife's new single . Westlife.com . 7 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101009004851/http://www.westlife.com/gb/news/gb/2010/10/05/safe_the_lyrics_to_westlife_s_new_single . 9 October 2010.
  15. Web site: MarkusFeehily . Twitter / MarkusFeehily: Right,the single is being . Twitter.com . 2010-10-04 . 2011-08-16.
  16. Web site: Radio 2 - Playlist . BBC . 2009-04-06 . 2011-08-16.
  17. Web site: Twitter / Paul Harper: Westlife will be here next . Twitter.com . 2010-10-18 . 2011-08-16.
  18. Web site: Twitter / Real Radio NorthWest: So guys... our lucky Irish . Twitter.com . 2010-10-19 . 2011-08-16.
  19. Web site: Official News (GB) - Westlife's Regional Radio Tour! . Westlife . 2010-10-22 . 2011-08-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111003095025/http://www.westlife.com/gb/news/gb/2010/10/22/westlifes_regional_radio_tour . 2011-10-03 .
  20. Web site: Twitter / gracie: @MarkusFeehily @KianEganWL . Twitter.com . 2010-10-15 . 2011-08-16.
  21. Web site: THE DOME - Stars . Thedome.de . 2011-08-16.
  22. Web site: MarkusFeehily . Twitter / MarkusFeehily: We love our fans internati . Twitter.com . 2010-10-04 . 2011-08-16.
  23. Web site: MarkusFeehily . Twitter / MarkusFeehily: Hello to everyone in Indon . Twitter.com . 2010-11-04 . 2011-08-16.
  24. Web site: MarkusFeehily . Twitter / MarkusFeehily: Other interviews tomorrow . Twitter.com . 2010-11-04 . 2011-08-16.
  25. Web site: Twitter / Nicky Byrne: Lots and lots of internat . Twitter.com . 2010-11-05 . 2011-08-16.
  26. Web site: Westlife Promo Schedule . Facebook . 2011-08-16.
  27. Web site: Westlife, Susan Boyle, Shayne Ward & Mariah Carey for X Factor live shows unrealitytv. unrealitytv.co.uk. Lisa. McGarry. 2010-10-05. 2010-10-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20101008221440/http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/x-factor/westlife-susan-boyle-shayne-ward-mariah-carey-for-x-factor-live-shows/#more-35943. 2010-10-08. dead.
  28. Web site: Take That, Westlife, JLS for 'X Factor' - X Factor News - TV . Digital Spy . 2010-11-01 . 2011-08-16.
  29. Safe . . 2010 . liner notes . Syco Music, Sony Music Entertainment, RCA Records. 88697724492.
  30. Web site: The UK Radio Airplay Chart . Ukairplaychart.com . 2011-08-16.
  31. Web site: The UK Radio Airplay Chart . Ukairplaychart.com . 2011-08-16.
  32. Euro Digital Song Sales - Westlife - Chart Search. Billboard. 4 February 2019.
  33. Web site: QQ邮箱 .
  34. Ireland Digital Song Sales - Westlife - Chart Search. Billboard. 4 February 2019.
  35. Web site: TOP 20 DOWNLOADS, WEEK ENDING 18 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20190204174506/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240006&arch=t&lyr=2010&year=2010&week=46. dead. 4 February 2019. GfK. 4 February 2019.
  36. Web site: Gaon Digital Chart . Gaon Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association . June 1, 2015 . ko . mdy-all . https://web.archive.org/web/20150112021312/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/chart/digital.php . January 12, 2015 . dead .
    • Web site: Safe . November 5, 2010 .
  37. Web site: Gaon Download Chart . Gaon Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association . June 1, 2015 . ko . mdy-all . https://web.archive.org/web/20140729145211/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php . July 29, 2014 . dead .
    • Web site: Safe . November 5, 2010 .
  38. Web site: Gaon Streaming Chart . Gaon Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association . June 1, 2015 . ko . mdy .
    • Web site: Safe . November 5, 2010 .
  39. Web site: Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company. OfficialCharts.com.

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