Zero Gravity (Kate Miller-Heidke song) explained

Zero Gravity
Cover:Kate Miller-Heidke - Zero Gravity.png
Type:single
Artist:Kate Miller-Heidke
Genre:Pop-opera
Prev Title:You've Underestimated Me, Dude
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Ernie
Next Year:2019
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "Zero Gravity"
Year:2019
Country:Australia
Artist:Kate Miller-Heidke
Language:English
Place:9th
Points:284
Place Semi:1st
Points Semi:261
Prev:We Got Love
Prev Link:We Got Love (Jessica Mauboy song)
Next:Don't Break Me
Next Link:Don't Break Me
Next Year:2020

"Zero Gravity" is a song performed by Australian singer Kate Miller-Heidke. It was released as a single on 25 January 2019, and was Australia's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 after it won the jury and public vote on Eurovision – Australia Decides on 9 February 2019.[1] [2] In an interview with broadcaster SBS, Miller-Heidke said she has always known of Eurovision, but became more invested since Australia became involved. She said "I think what I love about Eurovision is the permission to go a bit bonkers and I love how it embraces all different genres and different levels of experimental music and performance. I love how theatrical it is."[3]

The song was performed during the first Eurovision semi-final on 14 May 2019, and qualified for the final.[4] It finished in ninth place with 284 points. The performance featured the singer and two dancers atop large bendy poles, using their body weight to sway themselves through the air above the stage.

At the APRA Music Awards of 2020, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year.[5]

Background

"Zero Gravity" has been called a pop-opera song. Miller-Heidke wrote the song following her experience with post-natal depression after the birth of her son, Ernie, and how she felt "weightless" as she recovered.[6] "Miller-Heidke said "For me, after the birth of my son, Ernie, I went through a long period of feeling like I'd lost my identity and feeling very sort of foggy and down in a lot of ways, and it took a couple of years after he was born for me to feel like I was regaining my strength and clarity, and motivation, and a sense of who I was as well. And that was just an amazing feeling and so that's what this song tried to capture."[3]

Critical reception

auspOp reviewed the track, calling it "cute, danceable, quirky, edgy and just a little bit bonkers. It blends pop, dance and even opera and allows Kate to showcase her extraordinary vocal ability. So pretty perfect, it seems."[7]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttall and Julian Hamilton, with lyrics by Miller-Heidke and Nuttall.

  1. "Zero Gravity" – 2:57
  2. "Zero Gravity" (Acoustic) – 3:38
  3. "Zero Gravity" (Radio Edit) – 2:39
  4. "Zero Gravity" (7th Heaven Remix) – 3:55
  5. "Zero Gravity" (Where It's ATT Remix) – 3:13
  6. "Zero Gravity" (Donatachi Remix) – 2:59

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 95
Lithuania (AGATA)[9] 64
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 2

Release history

RegionDateReleaseFormatLabel
Various25 January 2019Original[11] Digital download, streamingUniversal Music Australia
19 April 20197th Heaven Remix[12]
19 April 2019Where It's ATT Remix[13]
26 April 2019Radio edit[14]
3 May 2019Acoustic[15]
14 May 2019EP[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kate Miller-Heidke takes out Australian Eurovision spot after public vote. News.com.au. 9 February 2019. 10 February 2019.
  2. News: Holden . Steve . Eurovision 2019: The acts to look out for in Tel Aviv . 21 April 2019 . BBC News. 11 March 2019.
  3. Web site: Kate Miller-Heidke, on 'plumbing the depths' for 'Zero Gravity', and her love of all things Eurovision . Special Broadcasting Service. 7 February 2019. 4 March 2019.
  4. Web site: First Semi-Final: 10 acts qualify for Eurovision 2019 Grand Final. Eurovision.tv. 14 May 2019. 15 May 2019.
  5. Web site: APRA Has Revealed The 2020 Song Of The Year Finalists. The Music. 6 February 2020. 26 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Kate Miller-Heidke will represent Australia at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Perth Now. Richards. Natalie. 9 February 2019. 10 February 2019.
  7. Web site: Kate Miller Heidke Reveals Eurovision Track. auspOp. 25 January 2019. 4 March 2019.
  8. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #526. auspOp. 25 May 2019. 25 May 2019. 25 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190525073959/https://www.auspop.com.au/2019/5/aria-chart-watch-526/. dead.
  9. Web site: Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. 24 May 2019. 3 December 2019.
  10. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 21. Sverigetopplistan. 24 May 2019.
  11. Web site: Zero Gravity – Single. iTunes Store. 4 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Zero Gravity (7th Heaven Remix). Spotify. 15 May 2019.
  13. Web site: Zero Gravity (Where It's ATT Remix). Spotify. 15 May 2019.
  14. Web site: Zero Gravity (Radio Edit). Spotify. 15 May 2019.
  15. Web site: Zero Gravity (Acoustic). Spotify. 15 May 2019.
  16. Web site: Zero Gravity – EP. iTunes Store. 15 May 2019.