Bird Set Free
{{short description| 2015 promotional single by Sia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Bird Set Free
| cover = Birdsetfree albumartwork.jpg
| alt =
| type = promo
| artist = Sia
| album = This Is Acting
| released = 4 November 2015
| recorded =
| studio = Echo Studios (Los Angeles, CA){{Cite AV media notes|title=This Is Acting|others=Sia|date=2016|type=booklet|publisher=Monkey Puzzle Records/RCA Records|id=88875180552}}
| venue =
| genre = Power pop{{cite magazine|author= Rolling Stone Staff|date= June 28, 2023|title=The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-inspirational-lgbtq-anthems-pride-songs-1234773829/|access-date=September 3, 2023|magazine=Rolling Stone|quote=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...}}
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=15}}
| label = Inertia
| writer = {{flatlist|
}}
| producer = Greg Kurstin
| misc = {{External music video
| type = song
| header = Audio video
| 1 = {{YouTube|KrT_0J6m6y8|Bird Set Free}} }}
}}
"Bird Set Free" is a song recorded by Sia for her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016).{{cite web|last1=Gordon|first1=Jeremy|title=Sia Shares "Bird Set Free"|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/61928-sia-shares-bird-set-free/|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=3 November 2015|date=3 November 2015|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919200614/https://pitchfork.com/news/61928-sia-shares-bird-set-free/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Spanos|first=Brittany |date=3 December 2015|title=Sia on Reclaiming Adele, Rihanna's Unwanted Hits|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sias-reject-opus-songwriter-on-reclaiming-adele-rihannas-unwanted-hits-36006/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222083457/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sias-reject-opus-songwriter-on-reclaiming-adele-rihannas-unwanted-hits-36006/|archive-date=22 December 2019|access-date=14 March 2021|website=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web|last=Polanco|first=Luis|date=3 November 2015|title=Sia Releases Powerful Ballad 'Bird Set Free,' Originally Intended for Adele: Listen|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6752899/sia-bird-set-free-adele-listen|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611035945/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6752899/sia-bird-set-free-adele-listen|archive-date=11 June 2020|access-date=14 March 2021|website=Billboard}}
Composition
"Bird Set Free" is a piano-based power ballad{{Cite web|last=Tan|first=Monica|date=4 November 2011|title=Sia shares new song and release date for upcoming album This is Acting|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/nov/04/sia-shares-new-song-and-release-date-for-upcoming-album-this-is-acting|url-status=live|archive-url=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|archive-date=1 December 2015|access-date=14 March 2021|website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web|last=Somarriba|first=Mary Rose|date=1 September 2016|title=4 Chart-Topping Songs with Messages About Real Female Empowerment|url=https://verilymag.com/2016/09/authenticity-pop-music-katy-perry-mike-posner-meghan-trainor-daya-pink|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021021304/https://verilymag.com/2016/09/authenticity-pop-music-katy-perry-mike-posner-meghan-trainor-daya-pink|archive-date=21 October 2020|access-date=14 March 2021|website=Verily}} written in the key of F minor.{{cite web|title=Product MN0159570 "Bird Set Free"|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0159570|website=Music Notes|publisher=EMI Music Publishing|accessdate=9 February 2016|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819011245/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0159570|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
Rolling Stone said the song is "liberating".{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-sias-liberating-new-song-bird-set-free-34561/ | title=Hear Sia’s Liberating New Song ‘Bird Set Free’ | date=3 November 2015 | first=Brittany | last=Spanos | work=Rolling Stone | accessdate=5 February 2020 }} 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."{{cite web | url=https://www.idolator.com/7620730/sias-this-is-acting-album-review | title=Sia's 'This Is Acting': Album Review | date=29 January 2016 | first=Kathy | last=Iandoli | publisher=Idolator | accessdate=5 February 2020 }} Alex McCown of The A.V. Club called it the "best female empowerment sing-along Katy Perry never wrote."{{cite web |last=McCown |first=Alex |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/sias-charisma-holds-together-assembly-line-modern--231110 |title=Sia’s charisma holds together an assembly line of modern pop hits |work=The A.V. Club |date=29 January 2016 |accessdate=29 January 2016 |archive-date=31 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131122948/http://www.avclub.com/review/sias-charisma-holds-together-assembly-line-modern--231110 |url-status=live }} 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."{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Hugh |title=Sia, This is Acting review: a thrillingly intimate album that's so much more than just off-cuts |url=https://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 |work=The Independent |accessdate=28 January 2016 |archive-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}
Promotion
Sia performed "Bird Set Free" and "Alive" on the 7 November 2015 episode of Saturday Night Live.{{cite web|title=Sia Playing SNL with Host Donald Trump|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1837238/sia-playing-snl-with-host-donald-trump/news/|publisher=Stereogum|accessdate=14 October 2015|date=13 October 2015|first=Gabriela Tully|last=Claymore|archive-date=14 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114081057/http://www.stereogum.com/1837238/sia-playing-snl-with-host-donald-trump/news/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Donald Trump Hosts 'SNL', Sia Performs|url=http://popcrush.com/donald-trump-hosts-snl-sia-performs-watch-the-clips-here/|publisher=PopCrush|accessdate=8 November 2015|date=7 November 2015|first=Erica|last=Russell|archive-date=12 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112125918/http://popcrush.com/donald-trump-hosts-snl-sia-performs-watch-the-clips-here/|url-status=live}}
Personnel
- Sia Furler – vocals, songwriting
- Greg Kurstin – songwriting, production, engineering
- Jamie Wosk – additional studio production
- Alex Pasco – engineering
- Julian Burg – engineering
- Manny Marroquin – mixing engineering
- Chris Galland – assistant engineering
- Ike Schultz – assistant engineering
- Emily Lazar – mastering engineering
Usage in media
"Bird Set Free" was featured over the end credits of the horror film The Shallows.{{cite magazine|title='The Shallows' End-Credits Song Is A Pitch-Perfect Choice|url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/168464-the-shallows-end-credits-song-is-a-pitch-perfect-choice|magazine=Bustle|accessdate=1 August 2016|date=23 June 2016|first=Olivia|last=Truffaut-Wong}} It was also featured in the opening credits of the 2017 film Unforgettable.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Sia|title=Bird Set Free|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2019|id=6615|access-date=12 November 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Sia|title=Bird Set Free|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2022|access-date=10 November 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Sia|title=Bird Set Free|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2020|accessdate=23 July 2020|id=16518-3941-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Sia|title=Bird Set Free|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2022|accessdate=26 October 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | nosales=true | noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|KrT_0J6m6y8|Audio}}
{{Sia singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Greg Kurstin