Scars (James Bay song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Scars

| cover = James Bay - scars.png

| alt = James Bay standing in a doorway with a hat on.

| type = single

| artist = James Bay

| album = Chaos and the Calm

| released = 2014

| recorded = 2013–14

| studio = Blackbird (Nashville, Tennessee)

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Blues rock|soul|folk rock}}

| length = 4:32

| label = Republic

| writer = James Bay

| producer = Jacquire King

| prev_title = Hold Back the River

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title = If You Ever Want to Be in Love

| next_year = 2015

}}

"Scars" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Bay from his debut studio album Chaos and the Calm (2014). It was released exclusively to digital retailers on 8 January 2015 by Republic Records. The song is to be released in September as the third single from Bay's debut studio album Chaos and the Calm (2014). An audio video supporting the song was also uploaded on January 8, 2014 on YouTube. The song was written by Bay himself and produced by Jacquire King.

Background and release

The song was released on 8 January 2015. Prior to this, it was also immediately available buy pre-ordering his debut studio album Chaos and the Calm, which was released on December 15, 2014.

Critical reception

The song earned early acclaim from Aimee Curran of Baeble Music, whom praised Bay's "soulful, indie sound" and that "there's no reason why you wouldn't want it in your permanent music catalog."{{cite web|url=http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/1-9-2015/James-Bay-Shows-Scars-In-New-Song.html|title=JAMES BAY SHOWS 'SCARS' IN NEW SONG|publisher=baeblemusic.com|year=2015|accessdate=January 12, 2015}} On 13 January 2015, Spotify listed the song at number 4 on the Top 10 Most Viral Tracks in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_27311718/spotifys-top-10-most-viral-tracks|title=Spotify's Top 10 most viral tracks|work=mercurynews.com|year=2015|accessdate=January 13, 2015}}

Music video

The music video was released on 28 August 2015 and directed by Benno Nelson and Nils d'Aulaire.{{cite web|url=http://www.vevo.com/watch/james-bay/Scars-(BTS)-(Vevo-LIFT)-Brought-To-You-By-McDonalds/USUV71502582|title=Scars (BTS) (Vevo LIFT): Brought To You By McDonald's|date=15 September 2015|work=VEVO}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVslvM30EWI|title=James Bay - Scars|publisher=YouTube.com|date= 28 August 2015|accessdate=1 September 2015}}

Live performances

Bay has performed the song at the Bing Lounge on 4 June 2014, at the Beacons Festival on 21 August 2014 and recently at BBC Radio 1's Future Festival in January 2015.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x76_ieoBbjo|title=James Bay - Scars (Bing Lounge)|date=4 June 2014|work=YouTube}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fVmXkq2WW0|title=James Bay - Scars. The Amazing Sessions (Beacons Festival 2014)|date=21 August 2014|work=YouTube}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulbz4HHQ1VA|title=James Bay - Scars (Live at the Future Festival 2015)|date=13 January 2015|work=YouTube}}

Track listing

Digital download{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tbkfglbtkirbfpnmz5irkrthnei|title=Scars - James Bay|work=google.com}}

"Scars" – 4:32

Charts

scope="col"\|Chart (2015) !scope="col"\|Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/singles\|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|date=2 November 2015\|accessdate=31 October 2015}} \| 40
{{singlechart\|Ireland3\|71\|artist=James Bay\|accessdate=27 January 2020\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\| New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2015-10-30\|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart - The Official New Zealand Music Chart\|work=THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART}} \| 4
{{singlechart\|UK\|48\|artist=James Bay\|date=2015-01-14\|rowheader=true}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|certmonth=3|title=Scars|artist=James Bay|type=single|award=Gold|source=radioscope|access-date=21 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|title=Scars|artist=James Bay|type=single|award=Silver|id=11489-4002-1|access-date=9 February 2018}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\|Country !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format !scope="col"\|Label
scope="row" \|Worldwide{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QN2CVMY/\|title=Amazon.com: Scars: James Bay: MP3 Downloads\|work=amazon.com}} \| rowspan="2"\|8 January 2015 \| rowspan="2"\|Digital download \|Republic
United Kingdom \|Virginhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Scars/dp/B00QLHCO9G/ref=pd_sim_dmt_dmusic_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1878R2FM8WBC7E05QGSY {{Dead link\|date=July 2022}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"|Country

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format

!scope="col"|Label

scope="row" |Worldwide{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QN2CVMY/|title=Amazon.com: Scars: James Bay: MP3 Downloads|work=amazon.com}}

| rowspan="2"|8 January 2015

| rowspan="2"|Digital download

|Republic

United Kingdom

|Virginhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Scars/dp/B00QLHCO9G/ref=pd_sim_dmt_dmusic_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1878R2FM8WBC7E05QGSY {{Dead link|date=July 2022}}