Possibility (song)

Last updated
"Possibility"
Lykke Li - Possibility.png
Promotional single by Lykke Li
from the album The Twilight Saga: New Moon
B-side "Possibility (Slowed Down)"
Released2 December 2022 (2022-12-02)
Recorded2009
Studio Decibel Studios
(Stockholm, Sweden)
Genre Chamber pop [1]
Length5:06
Label
Songwriter(s) Lykke Li
Producer(s) Lykke Li
Music video
"Possibility" on YouTube

"Possibility" is a song recorded by Swedish recording artist Lykke Li for the soundtrack to the 2009 film The Twilight Saga: New Moon . Li had been asked to write a song for the film soundtrack, but she was initially reluctant to commit to the project. After seeing an early film screening, she decided she wanted to contribute to the soundtrack.

Contents

Following the soundtrack's release on 16 October 2009, "Possibility" charted at number 59 on the Swedish Singles Chart for the week of 4 December 2009, based on download sales from the album. The song was also featured in the season one finale of the ABC sitcom Suburgatory , originally aired on 16 May 2012. [2] On 2 December 2022, "Possibility" was released as a promotional single through LL Recordings. [3]

Background and writing

Li commented on the song in an October 2009 interview with MTV News, saying, "Everyone kept asking me if I wanted to do it, how [the song] was going, when would I have it finished, and I was like, 'Eh, I don't know, maybe I'll do it, maybe I won't.' I mean, I had heard of the Twilight phenomenon, but I didn't read the books or watch the first movie or anything. I mean, I'm Swedish." She also added, "I stayed [in Los Angeles] and watched the movie, when it only had green screen on it. I had this hook in my mind, even before I saw the movie, and then I was watching it, and I was like, 'That's the hook!' So it was very much like a discovery, inside myself and musically. I had this song growing inside of me that I had to get out, and [the film] was the trigger. Because I really connected with Bella and Edward's tortured love story." [4]

The following year, in December 2010, Li told The Guardian : "I was sitting in a car in England [when I got the call] eating a sandwich from Tesco, and I had no idea what Twilight was. Somebody explained it as this thing about vampires and I'm like, 'I hate vampires.' But when I thought about it, there are so few pop culture things today, where people are really crazy about something, like Beatlemania, so I thought, how cool to be part of something that so many young, open hearts listen to." [5]

Critical reception

"Possibility" was well received by music critics. Todd Martens wrote for the Los Angeles Times that Li "could melt the coldest of hearts with this sparse tearjerker. A slight scratch in her vocals cuts through the song's intimately innocent feel. 'Tell me when you hear my heart stop,' she sings, while a backing choir inflects the sparse piano with gospel undertones—a brief, largely a cappella prayer." [6] Dose magazine referred to the song as "one of the more gripping mope-outs on the disc. The Swedish pop-singer coos in a cracked-with-emotion whisper, accompanied by a barely-there piano, as she pines for a lover." [7] Consequence of Sound critic Anthony Balderrama noted that Li "channels some of the more intimate moments of her short career on 'Possibility'. It evokes the vulnerability she's so good at cooing, just as she did in the simple 'Time Flies' and 'Tonight' off of [her album] Youth Novels . At five minutes, the locomotive rhythm and clunky piano borders on plodding, but the overall effect is so depressing that it works better than it should." [8]

IndieLondon rated the song four out of five, stating it is "as beautiful and haunting as we've come to expect from this Swedish performer... and perfectly ethereal to accompany staring out the window at a snowy landscape. If it wasn't essential beforehand, it damn sure is now!" [9] Marc Hogan of Pitchfork commented that the "feedback-streaked piano ballad 'Possibility' is a relative bright spot, but like the rest of the tracks [on the soundtrack], it pales in comparison to the work on her own records." [10] Krista Richmond of KillerFilm called the song "lovely in its haunted, enchanting way" and added that it is "soft and melodic enough to pull at even the toughest of heartstrings". [11] MusicRadar's Joe Bosso opined that "[t]his stark, piano-based hymn is spiritual stuff, and Li's arresting vocal powers will have you on your knees in worship." [12] Adam Pfleider of AbsolutePunk expressed that "Lykke Li is where the problem of the soundtrack lies. I can't listen to this music without thinking of where it will end up in the melodrama of some teenager metamorphosing into a CGI werewolf. 'Possibility' is a beautiful song, but I can't help feeling its placement in the film would kill its blossoming melody in the end." [13]

In December 2009, the song was announced as one of the sixty-three songs to be shortlisted for the Best Original Song category at the 82nd Academy Awards, [14] but did not make it to the final list. [15]

Music video

The music video for "Possibility" consists of Li's live performance of the song at Stockholm's Decibel Studios on 9 March 2010, and was directed by Marcus Palmqvist and Frode Fjerdingstad. [16] The singer posted the video on her official website on 18 March 2010—coinciding with her twenty-fourth birthday [17] —, saying:

Here you go, Internet. The first live performance EVER of this song. An homage to an idea lost in the fire. Fortunately for us all, two camera men happened to be lurking in the shadows while me and my band got our groove on for the first time since we recorded it. Why the wait one might think? Well, me as well as other things had to dwell and change shapes for a while but now... Winter became spring. There is hope again! [16]

Reception

Mikela Floyd of Filter described the video as "the perfect visual representation of her ballad". [18] Tyler Grisham of Pitchfork wrote it is "about as somber as the tune itself". [19]

Track listing

Digital download and streaming [3]

  1. "Possibility" – 5:06
  2. "Possibility (Slowed Down)" – 6:23

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack . [20]

Charts

Chart performance for "Possibility"
Chart (2009–2012)Peak
position
France (SNEP) [21] 166
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [22] 59
UK Singles (OCC) [23] 133
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [24] 20
US Heatseeker Songs ( Billboard ) [25] 19
US Rock Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [26] 39

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bat for Lashes</span> English musician (born 1979)

Natasha Khan, known professionally as Bat for Lashes, is an English singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. She has released five studio albums: Fur and Gold (2006), Two Suns (2009), The Haunted Man (2012), The Bride (2016), and Lost Girls (2019). She has received three Mercury Prize nominations. Khan is also the vocalist for Sexwitch, a collaboration with the rock band Toy and producer Dan Carey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lykke Li</span> Swedish singer (born 1986)

Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, known as Lykke Li, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, model and actress. Her music often blends elements of indie pop, dream pop and electronic. Her debut studio album, Youth Novels, was released in 2008, and has been followed by Wounded Rhymes (2011), I Never Learn (2014), So Sad So Sexy (2018), and Eyeye (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santigold</span> American singer (born 1976)

Santi White, known professionally as Santigold, is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut studio album, Santogold (2008), received widespread critical acclaim for its cross-genre combining dub, new wave, and hip-hop. The album's second single "L.E.S. Artistes", reached the top 40 in the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Youth Novels</i> 2008 studio album by Lykke Li

Youth Novels is the debut studio album by Swedish singer and songwriter Lykke Li, released on 30 January 2008 on her own label, the EMI-distributed LL Recordings. The album was entirely produced by Björn Yttling of Swedish indie pop band Peter Bjorn and John and co-produced by Lasse Mårtén. Youth Novels spawned four singles: "Little Bit", "I'm Good, I'm Gone", "Breaking It Up" and "Tonight".

<i>The Twilight Saga: New Moon</i> 2009 American romantic fantasy film

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is a 2009 American romantic fantasy film directed by Chris Weitz from a screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, based on the 2006 novel New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. The sequel to Twilight (2008), it is the second installment in The Twilight Saga film series. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, reprising their roles as Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meet Me on the Equinox</span> 2009 single by Death Cab for Cutie

"Meet Me on the Equinox" is a song by American indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie that was released as the first single from the soundtrack to the 2009 film The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The song debuted on September 13 during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. The music video, directed by the Walter Robot team, premiered in October.

<i>The Twilight Saga: New Moon</i> (soundtrack) 2009 soundtrack albums

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is the official soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The score for The Twilight Saga: New Moon was composed by Alexandre Desplat while the rest of the soundtrack was chosen by music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who also produced the Twilight soundtrack. The New Moon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album was released on October 16, 2009 by Patsavas' Chop Shop label, in conjunction with Atlantic Records.

<i>The Twilight Saga</i> (film series) Series of romance fantasy films about vampires

The Twilight Saga is a series of romance fantasy films based on the book series Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. The series has grossed over $5.28 billion worldwide. The first installment, Twilight, was released on November 21, 2008. The second installment, New Moon, followed on November 20, 2009. The third installment, Eclipse, was released on June 30, 2010. The fourth installment, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, was released on November 18, 2011, while the fifth installment, Breaking Dawn – Part 2, was released on November 16, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)</span> 2010 single by Muse

"Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)" is a song by the English alternative rock band Muse, featured on the soundtrack to the 2010 film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Recorded by the band in 2010, the song was released as the lead single from the album on 17 May 2010.

<i>The Twilight Saga: Eclipse</i> (soundtrack)

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), commonly referred to as Eclipse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), is the official soundtrack to Eclipse, released on June 8, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavy in Your Arms</span> 2010 single by Florence and the Machine

"Heavy in Your Arms" is a song by English indie rock band Florence and the Machine. It was released on 14 November 2010 as the third single from the soundtrack of the 2010 film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The track was written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, with production handled by the latter. The song is a gothic rock ballad that has inspirations from hip hop and gospel music. Lyrically, the song is about "the weight of love and how sometimes it can be a burden between two people". The track was also featured in some of the band's later works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Some (song)</span> 2010 single by Lykke Li

"Get Some" is a song by Swedish singer and songwriter Lykke Li from her second studio album, Wounded Rhymes (2011). It was released on 22 October 2010 as the album's lead single. Li wrote the song with its producer Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Bit</span> 2007 single by Lykke Li

"Little Bit" is a song by Swedish singer Lykke Li from her debut studio album, Youth Novels (2008). Produced by Björn Yttling and co-produced by Lasse Mårtén, the track was released on 24 September 2007 as the album's lead single. It was included on the soundtrack to the HBO series Bored to Death, while a snippet of the song was used in the commercial for Victoria's Secret Ipex bra starring Heidi Klum. Also, rapper Charles Hamilton sampled the song on his track Starchasers from his mixtape It's Charles Hamilton. Canadian singer Drake remixed the song for his 2009 mixtape So Far Gone.

<i>Wounded Rhymes</i> 2011 studio album by Lykke Li

Wounded Rhymes is the second studio album by Swedish singer and songwriter Lykke Li. It was released on 25 February 2011 by LL Recordings and Atlantic Records. Written in Los Angeles and recorded in Stockholm, the album was produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John, who also handled production for Li's debut album, Youth Novels (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Follow Rivers</span> 2011 single by Lykke Li

"I Follow Rivers" is a song by Swedish recording artist Lykke Li from her second studio album, Wounded Rhymes (2011). Produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John, it was released on 21 January 2011 as the album's second single. The track premiered exclusively on SPIN.com on 10 January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Will Rain</span> 2011 single by Bruno Mars

"It Will Rain" is a song by American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on September 27, 2011 by Atlantic Records as the lead single from the soundtrack of the film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. Mars composed the song with his production team the Smeezingtons, and it was partially written during the Hooligans in Wondaland Tour in the United States, being finished after the singer watched an early version of the movie which inspired him. The soundtrack for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 was a much expected release and Mars's song was chosen as the lead single by the album's executive producer, Alexandra Patsavas, to promote it. Musically, "It Will Rain" is a pop and pop-soul ballad. Its lyrics tell the agony and torment of a heartbreak and its various stages.

<i>The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1</i> (soundtrack)

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is the soundtrack album to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. It is the fourth soundtrack in the saga's chronology, and was released on November 8, 2011. The soundtrack was once again produced by Alexandra Patsavas, the music director for the previous three films. The track list for the album was revealed on September 26, 2011, followed by the release of the album's lead single the following day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lykke Li discography</span>

Lykke Li is a Swedish singer and songwriter. Her discography consists of five studio albums, four extended plays (EPs), twenty-four singles, and twenty-two music videos. Eager to pursue a music career, Li began working with producer Björn Yttling of Swedish indie rock band Peter Bjorn and John when she was 19. The sessions resulted in her debut EP Little Bit, which she released on her own label LL Recordings in 2007. The release garnered attention from indie pop and mainstream publications in Sweden, while its title track peaked at number 20 on the Sverigetopplistan singles chart. Li soon released her debut studio album, Youth Novels (2008), which peaked at number three on the Swedish albums chart and spawned three more singles, including her second chart entry "I'm Good, I'm Gone". She then signed with Atlantic Records to distribute her releases worldwide. Youth Novels received widespread critical praise, but sales were poor.

<i>I Never Learn</i> 2014 studio album by Lykke Li

I Never Learn is the third studio album by Swedish singer Lykke Li, released on 2 May 2014 by LL Recordings and Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Li, Björn Yttling and Greg Kurstin. It spawned the singles "No Rest for the Wicked", "Gunshot" and "Never Gonna Love Again".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lykke Li videography</span>

Lykke Li is a Swedish singer, songwriter, actress and model. She has appeared in music videos, films and commercials. Li made her acting debut in the 2014 Swedish crime film Tommy, directed by longtime collaborator Tarik Saleh. In 2017, Li starred in Terrence Malick's Song to Song where she played one of Ryan Gosling's love interests. Her song "Gunshot" was used in the television commercial for the Peugeot 108, which stars Li. She also starred in a short film for Gucci's Spring/Summer 2015 collection, which featured her song "Just Like a Dream".

References

  1. ↑ Herrera, Monica (13 October 2009). "'New Moon' Exclusive Song Premiere: Lykke Li, 'Possibility'". Billboard . Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Suburgatory – Music Lounge". American Broadcasting Company . Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 Li, Lykke (2 December 2022). "Possibility – Single". Apple Music . United States. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Montgomery, James (12 October 2009). "Lykke Li's 'New Moon' Song Mixes Love, Death And Robert Pattinson". MTV News. Viacom . Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (13 December 2010). "Lykke Li: 'I'm intense, and I get psychopathic, too'". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Martens, Todd (16 October 2009). "'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' soundtrack: Track-by-track reactions". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Review: New Moon Soundtrack". Dose . Postmedia Network. 16 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  8. ↑ Balderrama, Anthony (27 October 2009). "Album Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Music – Singles of the Week – Monday, January 11, 2010". IndieLondon. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  10. ↑ Hogan, Marce (26 October 2009). "Various Artists: The Twilight Saga: New Moon OST". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  11. ↑ Richmond, Krista (21 October 2009). "The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Soundtrack Review". KillerFilm. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  12. ↑ Bosso, Joe (18 October 2009). "Twilight: New Moon soundtrack reviewed". MusicRadar. Future. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  13. ↑ Pfleider, Adam (20 October 2009). "Various Artists – The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack". AbsolutePunk. Buzz Media . Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  14. ↑ "63 Original Songs Tune Up For 2009 Oscar®". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  15. ↑ "Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  16. 1 2 Li, Lykke (18 March 2010). "Possibility live video (Directed by: Marcus Palmqvist & Frode Fjerdingstad)". lykkeli.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  17. ↑ Slater, Luke (29 March 2010). "Watch: Lykke Li – 'Possibility'". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  18. ↑ Floyd, Mikela (22 March 2010). "Lykke Li, Possibility". Filter . Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  19. ↑ Grisham, Tyler (18 March 2010). "Premiere: Lykke Li Video for "Possibility"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  20. ↑ The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD liner notes). Various artists. Atlantic Records. 2009. 519421-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ↑ "Lykkw Li – Possibility" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Lykke Li – Possibility". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009". Zobbel. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  24. ↑ "Lykke Li Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  25. ↑ "Lykke Li Chart History (Heatseeker Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Lykke Li Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.