Stop This Flame#Music video

{{short description|2020 single by Celeste}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Stop This Flame

| cover = Stop This Flame - Celeste.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Celeste

| album = Not Your Muse

| released = 9 January 2020

| recorded = March 2019

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|jazz}}

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=29}}

| label = Polydor

| writer = * Jamie Hartman

| producer = * Jamie Hartman

| prev_title = Strange

| prev_year = 2019

| next_title = I Can See the Change

| next_year = 2020

}}

"Stop This Flame" is a song by British singer and songwriter Celeste. The single was released on 9 January 2020 through Both Sides and Polydor Records as the second single from her debut studio album Not Your Muse. It was written by Celeste and Jamie Hartman, who produced the track with John Hill.{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/127059412/credits|title=Credits / Stop This Flame by Celeste|website=Tidal|access-date=19 January 2020}} The song samples Nina Simone's version of "Sinner Man" and Simone is credited as a co-composer.

The song was released following Celeste's win of BBC's annual music poll Sound of 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/01/09/celeste-bbc-sound-2020-winner-stop-this-flame|title=British soul singer Celeste named BBC Sound 2020 winner|last=Renshaw|first=David|date=9 January 2020|website=The Fader|access-date=19 January 2020}} It became her first-ever solo single, and second single overall (since "Sing That Song" with Tieks), to chart in her home country, spending 8 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|title=Celeste {{!}} full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/46916/celeste/|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=1 May 2020}} From September 2020, it became the theme song for Sky Sports' coverage of the Premier League.{{Cite web|last=Homewood|first=Ben|date=11 September 2020|title=Celeste to soundtrack Sky Sports Premier League coverage for new season|url=https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/celeste-to-soundtrack-sky-sports-premier-league-coverage-for-new-season/081098|access-date=20 September 2020|website=Music Week}} The song is also featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 21. The song also appears in the 2021 Peloton and Royal Mail TV adverts.

Background and composition

"Stop This Flame" was Celeste's first single of 2020, the year in which she was critically tipped for success by many major publications. Celeste told Dork, "In essence, 'Stop This Flame' is a song about seeing it through to the end. Whether it’s about not letting go of love, not letting go of a dream or stridently coming through some form of adversity. The song has always evoked those feelings within me.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.readdork.com/news/celeste-stop-this-flame-single|title=Celeste has dropped her new single 'Stop This Flame', and topped the BBC Sound of 2020 poll|date=9 January 2020|website=Dork|access-date=19 January 2020}} She told Apple Music, "For me when I sing the song, it's about like never ending determination to get that point."{{Cite web|title=Celeste on "Stop This Flame" on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/music-movie/celeste-on-stop-this-flame/1509322580|website=Apple Music|language=en-us|access-date=1 May 2020}} The song is "driven by an insistent minor-key piano vamp."{{Cite news|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|last2=Caramanica|first2=Jon|last3=Russonello|first3=Giovanni|date=2020-01-10|title=Justin Bieber's Flavorless Pivot to R&B, and 10 More New Songs|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/arts/music/playlist-justin-bieber-mac-miller.html|access-date=2020-01-19|issn=0362-4331}}

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Leonn Ward and shot in New Orleans. It premiered on YouTube on 7 February 2020,{{Citation|title=Celeste - Stop This Flame (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE3sTF3oj6w|language=en|access-date=2020-02-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B70bUDDFYJ3/|title=Celeste on Instagram: "2 Days ago in New Orleans new stuff for Stop disss Flame coming soon 🎺"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2020-02-10}} and was later nominated for Best British R&B/Soul Video at the 2020 UK Music Video Awards.{{Cite web|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=September 30, 2020|title=Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Beyoncé lead UK Music Video Awards nominations|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/uk-music-video-awards-dua-lipa-the-weeknd-and-beyonce-lead-nominations__31116/|access-date=October 2, 2020|website=Official Charts Company}}

Critical reception

The single was described by Robin Murray of Clash as "a piano-driven stomper that carries a level of euphoria that rivals club culture", whilst comparing it to "You've Got the Love" by Florence and The Machine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/celeste-drops-new-single-stop-this-flame|title=Celeste Drops New Single 'Stop This Flame'|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=9 January 2020|website=Clash|access-date=9 January 2020}} Peter Helman from Stereogum described as "a catchy and vaguely jazz-indebted uptempo R&B song".{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2069370/celeste-bbc-musics-sound-of-2020-winner-shares-new-song-stop-this-flame/news/|title=Celeste, BBC Music's Sound Of 2020 Winner, Shares New Song "Stop This Flame"|last=Helman|first=Peter|date=9 January 2020|website=Stereogum|access-date=19 January 2020}} The song was described by The Times as "up-tempo, piano-driven Amy Winehouse".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-best-new-music-from-georgia-to-king-krule-ndll9ww5q|title=The best new music, from Georgia to King Krule|date=17 January 2020|work=The Times|access-date=2020-02-10|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal:

  • Celeste Epiphany Waite: vocals, composer, lyricist
  • Jamie Hartman: producer, composer, lyricist, bass programming, guitar, Mellotron, organ, percussion, piano, recording engineer, strings, synthesizer
  • John Hill: producer, bass, drums, guitar, programming
  • Nina Simone: composer, lyricist
  • Jeremie Inhaber: assistant remix engineer
  • Robin Florent: assistant remix engineer
  • Scott Desmaris: assistant remix engineer
  • Blake Mares: engineer
  • Rob Cohen: engineer
  • John Davis: mastering engineer
  • Chris Galland: mixing engineer
  • Manny Marroquin: mixing engineer
  • Rafa Padilla: percussion
  • Davide Rossi: strings
  • Stuart Crichton: synthesizer programming

Charts

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{{col-2}}

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020–2021)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Flanders|5|artist=Celeste %5BUK%5D|song=Stop This Flame|rowheader=true|accessdate=7 March 2020|refname=Flanders}}
{{single chart|Flanders Urban|2|artist=Celeste %5BUK%5D|song=Stop This Flame|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 February 2020|refname=Flanders Urban}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|6|artist=Celeste %5BUK%5D|song=Stop This Flame|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 June 2020|refname=Wallonia}}
{{single chart|Czech Republic|7|year=2020|week=23|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 June 2020}}
{{single chart|Denmark Airplay|17|artist=Celeste|song=Stop This Flame|year=2020|week=04|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 March 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardeurodigital|19|artist=Celeste|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 June 2020}}
{{single chart|Hungary|21|artist=Celeste|song=Stop This Flame|year=2020|week=25|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 June 2020}}
scope="row"| Iceland (Tónlistinn){{Cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Lög, Vika 9 – 2020|website=Plötutíðindi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301162658/https://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/|archive-date=March 1, 2020|access-date=March 1, 2020}}

| 27

scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA){{cite web|url=http://irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles|title=IRMA – Irish Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=14 August 2021}}

| 81

{{single chart|Dutch40|23|year=2020|week=7|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 February 2020}}
scope="row"| Netherlands (Mega Top 50){{cite web|title=Lijst van 18-04-2020 – Mega Top 50|url=https://www.npo3fm.nl/megatop30/lijst/2020-04-18|publisher=Mega Top 50|language=Dutch|accessdate=1 May 2020}}

| 2

{{single chart|Dutch100|80|artist=Celeste %5BUK%5D|song=Stop This Flame|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 June 2020}}
{{single chart|Scotland|12|date=20200214|rowheader=true|accessdate=14 February 2020}}
scope="row"| Slovenia (SloTop50){{cite web|url=https://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2020&week=22|title=SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart|publisher=slotop50.si|accessdate=6 April 2020}}

| 44

{{single chart|UK|47|date=20200221|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 February 2020}}

{{col-2}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2020|title=Jaaroverzichten 2020|publisher=Ultratop|accessdate=18 December 2020}}

| 17

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2020|title=Rapports Annuels 2020|publisher=Ultratop|accessdate=18 December 2020}}

| 26

scope="row"| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40){{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2020|title=Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020|accessdate=18 February 2021|publisher=Mahasz}}

| 64

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2020|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2020|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|accessdate=28 December 2020}}

| 81

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Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Celeste|title=Stop This Flame|award=Gold|id=17348-5657-1|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|accessdate=June 13, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true| noshipments=true}}

References