Sax (song)
{{short description|2015 single by Fleur East}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sax
| cover = Fleur East - Sax.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Fleur East
| album = Love, Sax and Flashbacks
| released = 6 November 2015
| recorded = 2015
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Dance-pop|funk|hip hop soul}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=56}}
| label = Syco
| writer = {{hlist|Fleur East|Edvard Førre Erfjord|Henrik Michelsen|James Abrahart|Camille Purcell}}
| producer = {{hlist|Electric|Afterhrs}}
| prev_title = Could You Be the One
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = More and More
| next_year = 2016
|misc={{External music video|{{YouTube|3JZ4pnNtyxQ|"Sax"}}}}}}
"Sax" is the debut single by English singer, rapper and songwriter Fleur East, from her debut album Love, Sax and Flashbacks (2015). It was released as the lead single from the album on 6 November 2015 by Syco Records.
The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 3 in the UK. In September 2016, "Sax" was certified platinum by the BPI.
Background
After being announced as the runner-up of 11th series of The X Factor, East signed a recording contract with Syco Music in January 2015. She began working on her debut studio album after the X Factor tour was over,{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a620807/x-factors-fleur-east-signs-record-deal-with-simon-cowells-label-syco.html#~psPfcH3cRnW1dp|title=X Factor's Fleur East signs record deal with Simon Cowell's label Syco|work=Digital Spy|date=12 January 2015 }} splitting her time between London and Los Angeles to record it. During recording, she was inspired by "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, and described the songs on the album as "very uptempo and very energetic with lots of attitude. [The album has] got loads of influences from the old school. Lots of funk, hip-hop, soul; loads of different sounds fused together. Everything about that song - the uptempo vibe, the high energy, the brass, the old school funk sound - was just right up my street. I've definitely taken a few influences from that."{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a664816/fleur-east-theres-definitely-a-few-uptown-funk-influences-on-my-album.html|title=Fleur East: 'There's definitely a few Uptown Funk influences on my album'|work=Digital Spy|date=22 August 2015 }}
In July 2015, Syco's head Simon Cowell told The Sun: "I've heard it and it's world class. She has discovered who she wanted to be. Sometimes you just spot someone who's not obvious and Fleur's a good example of that".{{cite web|url=http://www.reveal.co.uk/showbiz-celeb-gossip/news/a653430/x-factors-simon-cowell-fleur-easts-album-is-world-class.html|title=X Factor's Simon Cowell: 'Fleur East's album is world class'|work=Reveal}} "Sax" was originally slated for release on 23 October 2015, then on 30 October, before being finally released on 6 November 2015 to coincide with her performance of the song on X Factor.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a674756/fleur-east-pushes-back-new-single-sax-but-theres-an-extended-preview-online/|title=Fleur East pushes back new single 'Sax'|author=Lewis Corner|work=Digital Spy|date=21 October 2015 }}
Critical reception
Digital Spy's writer Lewis Corner noted that the song was clearly inspired by "Uptown Funk", but its "brassed-up chorus, sassy lyrics and funky hook means it stands tall as a potential smash hit in its own right".{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a773020/fleur-east-releases-huge-new-single-sax/|title=Fleur East releases big and brassy new single 'Sax'|date=6 November 2015 |publisher=Digital Spy}}
Music video
The official music video for "Sax" was released on 26 November 2015. It was directed by Colin Tilley.{{cn|date=February 2023}} It shows East smiling and walking in a five-colour square tunnel, and later shows her with some dancers in a colourful changing background. On 15 June 2016, another music video, titled "Sax in the City", was released for the song. It features East in different parts of New York City.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eYKqaX9_I|title=Fleur East - Sax in the City|last=FleurEastVEVO|date=15 June 2016 |publisher=|via=YouTube}}
Live performances
"Sax" was first performed by East on Oxford Street Christmas lights switch-on event on 1 November 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/02/fleur-east-sax-new-song-video-x-factor-single_n_8450084.html|title=Fleur East's 'Sax' Revealed As 'X Factor' Star Performs New Song At Oxford Street Christmas Light Switch-On (VIDEO)|work=The Huffington Post UK|date=2 November 2015 }} She also performed it on the 12th series of The X Factor on 8 November.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/news/a675877/fleur-east-pushes-back-single-sax-yet-again-to-coincide-with-her-x-factor-performance.html|title=Fleur East pushes back single 'Sax' yet again to coincide with her X Factor performance|last=Lee|first=Ben|date=27 October 2015|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=27 October 2015}} She performed the track on Alan Carr: Chatty Man on 20 November 2015,{{cite news|last=McGeorge|first=Alistair|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/fleur-east-beaming-ray-sunshine-6855679|title=Fleur East is a beaming ray of sunshine despite all-grey outfit for ITV studios visit|date=18 December 2015|accessdate=19 January 2016|work=Daily Mirror}} and also performed on The One Show on 27 November 2015,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pwc83|title=BBC One - The One Show, 27/11/2015|website=BBC}} East returned to the final of the 12th series of The X Factor where she performed with girlband Little Mix, along with their song "Black Magic".{{cite news|last=Baillie|first=Katie|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/12/12/the-x-factor-final-did-fleur-east-and-little-mix-give-the-performance-of-the-night-5561926/|title=The X Factor final: Did Fleur East and Little Mix give the performance of the night?|date=12 December 2015|accessdate=19 January 2016|work=Metro}} On 25 December, East performed "Sax" on the Christmas special of Top of the Pops.{{cite news|last=Darvill|first=Josh|url=http://www.tellymix.co.uk/videos/245378-watch-x-factors-fleur-east-storm-top-of-the-pops-with-sax.html|title=Watch X Factor's Fleur East storm Top of the Pops with Sax|date=25 December 2015|accessdate=19 January 2016|publisher=Tellymix}}
For her US debut, East performed "Sax" on the season finale of Dancing with the Stars on 25 May 2016. The following day, she performed the single on The Late Late Show with James Corden. On 2 June 2016, she made her debut on The Today Show where she was interviewed by Tamron Hall and Al Roker and performed the single.
Track listing
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Sax" ! scope="col"| Chart (2015–2016) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"|Argentina (Los 40 Principales){{cite web | url =
http://los40.com.ar/lista40/2016/09 | publisher = PRISA | title = Lista del 27/02/2016 | accessdate = 27 February 2016}} | 13 |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Australia|25|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 January 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Austria|41|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 April 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Flanders|25|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 February 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Wallonia Tip|1|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=25 March 2016}} |
| scope="row"|Costa Rica (Los 40 Principales){{cite web | url =
http://los40.co.cr/lista40/2016/7| publisher = PRISA | title = Lista del 09/04/2016 }} | 2 |
| {{singlechart|Czech Republic|99|year=2016|week=10|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 March 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Czechdigital|43|year=2015|week=31|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 August 2015}} |
| scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen latauslista){{cite web|title= IFPI - Fleur East: Sax |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/artistit/fleur+east/sax |date=8 February 2016 |publisher= IFPI|language=Finnish}}
| 20 |
| {{singlechart|France|200|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=23 February 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Germany|42|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|songid=1493832|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2020}} |
| {{singlechart|Hungary|1|year=2016|week=7|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 February 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Hungarydance|18|year=2016|week=20|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 May 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Hungarytop10|4|year=2016|week=7|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 February 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Ireland2|5|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2020}} |
| {{singlechart|Israelairplay|8|year=2016|week=19|artist=Jess Glynne|song=Hold My Hand|accessdate=5 April 2016|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|19|year=2015|week=50|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 December 2015}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|35|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 February 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Poland|50|year=2016|chartid=1873|rowheader=true|accessdate= February 1, 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Scotland|2|date=2015-11-19|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 November 2015}} |
| {{singlechart|Slovakia|41|date=2015-11-19|year=2016|week=12|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 March 2016}} |
| {{singlechart|Spain|24|artist=Fleur East|song=Sax|rowheader=true|accessdate=27 January 2016}} |
| scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20151127|title=Vecolista Heatseeker – Vecka 49, 4 december 2015|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=Swedish|accessdate=1 April 2018}}
| 8 |
| {{singlechart|UK|3|date=2015-11-19|rowheader=true|accessdate=13 November 2015}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Sax" !scope="col"|Chart (2015) !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20150104/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=9 June 2020}}
| 87 |
|---|
| scope="col"|Chart (2016)
!scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"| Hungary (Dance Top 40){{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/dance/2016|title=Dance Top 100 - 2016|accessdate=22 March 2020|publisher=Mahasz}}
| 59 |
| scope="row"| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2016|title=Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2016|accessdate=22 March 2020|publisher=Mahasz}}
| 2 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Sax"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|artist=Fleur East|title=Sax|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|region=Australia|award=Gold|access-date=10 April 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Fleur East|title=Sax|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2020|award=Gold|access-date=23 February 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Fleur East|title=Sax|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2015|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=20 April 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Fleur East|title=Sax|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2015|certyear=2024|id=fleur-east-sax-2|access-date=18 February 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Fleur East|title=Sax|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|id=13510-4110-1|access-date=16 September 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}