"Sledgehammer" | ||||
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Single by Fifth Harmony | ||||
from the album Reflection | ||||
A-side | "Boss" | |||
Released | October 28, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2014 | |||
Studio | Windmark Recording Studios (Santa Monica) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Fifth Harmony singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Fifth Harmony - Sledgehammer (Official Video)" on YouTube |
"Sledgehammer" is a song recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony for their first studio album, Reflection (2015). The song was released on October 28, 2014 by Epic Records and Syco Music as the record's second single. It was written by Jonas Jeberg, Meghan Trainor and Sean Douglas, and produced by Jeberg and Harvey Mason Jr. Musically, "Sledgehammer" is a synthpop song with influences of electronic dance music, new wave and 1980s pop music. Its lyrics utilize a sledgehammer metaphor to describe the effects of being infatuated.
Music critics generally gave positive reviews of the song, praising its production. Commercially, "Sledgehammer" peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Fifth Harmony's first top 40 entry in the United States. It was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over one million copies. The song also reached the top 40 in, New Zealand, The Czech Republic and Slovakia.
An accompanying music video for the track was choreographed and directed by Fatima Robinson. It features silhouette visuals and the members swinging on a scaffold, among other scenes. Critics noted the video's simple aesthetics as a growth in the group's visuals. Fifth Harmony performed the song live at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards, Good Morning America , The Talk , Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show .
During a live stream on October 23, 2014, Fifth Harmony announced that "Sledgehammer" would be serviced as the second single from their debut studio album, Reflection (2015). [1] They described it as a transition from their precedent single "Boss" (2014). [2] The track was written by Jonas Jeberg, Meghan Trainor, and Sean Douglas, while production was handled by Jeberg and Harvey Mason Jr. [3] The group's vocals were produced and recorded by Heberg, Mason Jr. and Andrew Hey at Windmark Recording Studios in Santa Monica, California. [3] In an interview with Official Charts Company, Trainor revealed that "Sledgehammer" was one of the songs she wrote for her solo debut album – later called Title (2015) – however, Epic Records decided to release "All About That Bass" as a lead single, so Trainor offered the song to Fifth Harmony. [4]
"Sledgehammer" is a heavy synthpop production backed by an electronic dance music (EDM) beat, taking influence from new wave and 1980s music. [1] [3] [5] [6] Lyrically, the song expresses the physical sensations of being infatuated, comparing it to a sledgehammer motif: "If you take my pulse right now, it would feel just like a sledgehammer." [7] Jessica Hyndman of MTV suggested that the song is about a kind of love that just "can't be contained". [1] According to music sheet published at Musicnotes.com by BMG Rights Management, "Sledgehammer" is written in the key of G major and is set in a 4
4 common time at 100 bpm with an upbeat pop melody. The quintet's vocals span from G3 to F5 and follow a chord progression of C–G–D–C–Em–D. [8]
"Sledgehammer" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard praised the song's "EDM-meets-new-wave beat" and its "immediate hook", believing that "Sledgehammer" is "the best pop track about the physical effects of lovesickness since Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack" (2013)". It was tied as the best ranked song of the week, sharing the honor with "Don't It" (2014) by country singer Billy Currington. [6] Mike Wass of Idolator called it "a sugary sweet synth-pop anthem with serious radio appeal". [3] Jessica Hyndman from MTV noted that "'Sledgehammer' takes on a fun pop vibe" that lacked in the group's previous single, "Boss". [1] A reviewer from Teen Vogue deemed the track as "catchy", [9] while Carolyn Menyes from Music Times gave "Sledgehammer" a mixed review. She praised the group's performance, commending that their distinctive voices sound "perfectly", but expressed that the single fell "completely into average territory." [5]
In a 2017 article published on Idolator, Mike Neid covered the song in the website's "Should Have Been Bigger" feature, stating that the track was one of the group's most "underrated" songs. Neid further commented on how their visuals were not as "sexy" as the music video for their 2016 single "Work from Home", but served as a "joyful and chic" reminder of their "youthful beginnings." [10] Billboard ranked the song at number 57 on their 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time list. [11] Lipshutz stated that though one of the lines is "more than a bit confusing", the group manage to "sell their tale of unsaid infatuation with dedicated melismas and gooey production". [11]
In 2017, Billboard ranked "Sledgehammer" at number 57 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks. [12]
Upon its release, "Sledgehammer" debuted on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart at number 28. It peaked at number 21 in December 2014, becoming their highest position–surpassing their debut single "Miss Movin' On" (2013) at the time. [13] The song went on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at its peak position. [14] For the week dated December 4, 2014, "Sledgehammer" debuted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100. [15] It eventually rose to a peak of 40 in its fifth week on the chart, with sales of 85,000–aided by a price reduction on digital download services, which reported a 277 percent spike in sales. This marked Fifth Harmony's best week sales, as well as their highest-charting single and first top 40 hit; [16] It has since been surpassed by "Worth It" (2015) and "Work from Home" (2016). [17] On June 26, 2015, "Sledgehammer" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States for sales of one million units. [18] It also received a Gold certification in both Canada. [19]
An accompanying music video for "Sledgehammer" was uploaded onto Fifth Harmony's official Vevo account on November 25, 2014. It was directed and choreographed by Fatima Robinson, who also directed the music video for "Boss". Scenes in the visual include a swing set, a unicorn sculpture, and a silhouetted man swinging a sledgehammer while the group is dressed in colorful dresses and silky hair. [20] MTV released an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of "Sledgehammer" on November 21, 2014. [21]
The video begins with the members of Fifth Harmony standing in a background of white and blue shades, where Camila Cabello takes her pulse, the band starts dancing and the screen goes dark. The group is subsequently standing in a pyramid stair, with Cabello moving her hands in rhythm of the song before switching back to the prior scene. Following this, the screen goes dark several times, switching from a shot of a shirtless man moving a sledgehammer and the members in the white and blue shade background. [22] The next scene turns into color, revealing the faces of the group for the first time, with each pounding their heart with their hands as the lyric "If you could take my pulse right now, it would feel like a sledgehammer" is sung. Choreographed dance moves such as the members throwing their fists in the air and the shot between the shirtless man moving the sledgehammer are alternated. Another seen has the girls on a swing set/scaffolding area barefoot and wearing different dresses. Normani is in a light green dress, Ally Brooke is in a red dress, Camila is in an orange dress, Dinah Jane is in a purple dress, and Lauren Jauregui is in a blue dress.
The screen then shows blue and orange colors, in a special effect mimicking lights moving around them. Final scenes shows the members individually singing, all wearing a different dress from the first shot. The video continues with repeating several scenes with the negative special effects becoming more present. In a different shot, the silhouette one of the group is seen with a fan blowing air towards her, waving her hair and dress simultaneously. The video rewinds the moment the shirtless man breaks pieces of brick apart to make it seem as if though the pieces are reforming, similar to when one is going through heartbreak. Writing for Billboard, Lipshutz said the video's monochromatic setting allows the group to "demonstrate their maturity". He also states that the video is "more of a relax fest" and called the "giddiness radiation" of the girls "pretty infectious". [20] As of July 2020, the video has surpassed over 170 million views.
On November 9, 2014, Fifth Harmony performed "Sledgehammer" for the first time at the pre-show of the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards. [23] The following week, the group performed the song on Good Morning America [24] and performed an acoustic version on Access Hollywood Live . [25] Nearly a month later, the group performed a stripped down jazz version on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live [26] and closed the year by performing the song on "Pitbull's New Year's Revolution" that aired on Fox. [27] Upon the release of Reflection , the group performed the song on The Today Show on February 3, 2015 [28] and on The Talk . [29] Several weeks later, the group presented the song on Sunrise while promoting the album in Australia [30] and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . [31] Sledgehammer also appeared on the set list for Fifth Harmony's performances at the 2015 New York, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and Sunrise, Florida Jingle Ball concerts. [32] It was also included on the setlist for the group's headlined international tours, the Reflection Tour and the 7/27 Tour. [33] [34]
Credits adapted from Reflection's liner notes. [35]
Chart (2014–16) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [36] | 88 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [37] | 49 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [38] | 21 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [39] | 63 |
Canada CHR/Top 40 ( Billboard ) [40] | 34 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [41] | 27 |
Ireland (IRMA) [42] | 83 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [43] | 36 |
Scotland (OCC) [44] | 77 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [45] | 30 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [46] | 75 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [47] | 112 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [48] | 40 |
US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) [49] | 36 |
US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) [50] | 21 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [19] | Gold | 40,000* |
Sweden (GLF) [51] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [52] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States [53] | October 28, 2014 | Digital download | |
United Kingdom [54] | December 7, 2014 |
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"Boss" is a song recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony, released as the lead single from the group's debut studio album, Reflection (2015). Serviced to contemporary hit radio on August 19, the song was written by Eric Frederic, Joe Spargur, Daniel Kyriakides, Gamal Lewis, Jacob Kasher and Taylor Parks, and was produced by Frederic, Spargur and Daylight. Musically, "Boss" is a dance-pop song with additional instrumentation including trumpets, handclaps, horns and heavy bass that create a rhythmic militaristic sound. Lyrically, the song focuses on themes of feminism, female empowerment, confidence and reversed gender roles. Critics drew comparisons to the works of previous girl groups such as Destiny's Child.
Reflection is the debut studio album by American girl group Fifth Harmony. It was released on January 30, 2015, by Syco Music and Epic Records. Lyrically, the album discusses themes of female-empowerment, romance, heartbreak and confidence. Musically, Reflection is primarily a pop record and showcases synthpop, "grungy" hip hop and R&B sounds. The album features guest appearances by American rappers Kid Ink and Tyga, as well as American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, and collaborations with several producers including Ori Kaplan, Dr. Luke and Stargate.
"Worth It" is a song by American girl group Fifth Harmony, featuring American rapper Kid Ink. The song impacted American rhythmic crossover radio on March 2, 2015, as the third and final single from the group's first studio album, Reflection (2015). Written by Priscilla Renea and its producers Stargate, "Worth It" is a dance-pop and R&B song that incorporates a strong use of Balkan music and Middle Eastern music in its production, the trademark of its producer and songwriter, Ori Kaplan. The lyrics discuss themes of feminism, self-worth and confidence, and include double entendres.
"Work from Home" is a song recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony, featuring American singer Ty Dolla $ign. The song impacted contemporary hit radio four days after its initial release on March 1, 2016, and was released as the lead single from the group's second studio album, 7/27 (2016). "Work from Home" was written by Daniel Bedingfield, Jude Demorest, Eskeerdo, Brian Lee, Ty Dolla $ign, Ammo, & DallasK with production from the latter two. The song is primarily an R&B track that incorporates elements of trap music and tropical house beats with lyrics depicting "work" as a euphemism for sex. Many music publications included it in their lists of best songs of the year.
7/27 is the second studio album by American girl group Fifth Harmony, released by Syco Music and Epic Records on May 27, 2016. The record is the follow-up to the group's debut studio album Reflection (2015). Its lyrics discuss themes of female empowerment and love. It features guest appearances by American R&B and hip hop artists Ty Dolla Sign, Fetty Wap and Missy Elliott, and collaborations with producers Jack Antonoff, Kygo and Norwegian duo Stargate. 7/27 is primarily a pop, tropical house and R&B record that includes elements of reggae, funk, electronic dance music, hip hop and trap. Unlike the genres explored on Reflection, 7/27's songs incorporate new genres like tropical house. This is the final Fifth Harmony album to feature Camila Cabello before she left the group in December 2016 to pursue a solo career.
"That's My Girl" is a song recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony. It was released and serviced to contemporary hit radio on September 27, 2016, through Epic Records and Syco Music as the third and final single from the group's second studio album, 7/27 (2016) as the opening track. The song was written by Tinashe Kachingwe, Alexander Kronlund, and Lukas Loules, with production handled by Kronlund and Loules. "That's My Girl" is mainly an R&B anthemic track with elements of electro-pop and lyrical themes focused on female empowerment, encouragement and feminist influences. Several critics noted similarities from the group's previous singles, which also feature an indistinguishable militaristic production. The song is also noted for being the last single to feature band member Camila CabeIIo as she left in 2016.
"All in My Head (Flex)" is a song recorded by American group Fifth Harmony, featuring vocals by rapper Fetty Wap, for their second studio album, 7/27 (2016), which was released on May 27, 2016. It was produced by Stargate and Brian Garcia with additional production by Sir Nolan. Musically, "All in My Head (Flex)" is a reggae-trap song backed by synths, percussion, and guitar, containing an interpolation of the 1992 song "Flex" by Mad Cobra. The song was released as second single after a special encore performance on Xfinity following the 2016 Billboard Music Awards on May 22, 2016. The single was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States on May 31, 2016.
"Down" is a song recorded by American girl group Fifth Harmony for their self-titled third studio album (2017). It features additional vocals by American rapper Gucci Mane. Written by Jude Demorest, Gucci Mane and its producers Joshua Coleman and Dallas Koehlke, "Down" was released on June 2, 2017, through Epic Records as the lead single from the album. The song was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio four days after its initial release and then contemporary hit radio on June 13, 2017. A dancehall number, "Down" has a production consisting of bass, snare drums, synths and soft snaps. The lyrics are structured in verse–pre-chorus–chorus form. Although it is written from a romantic perspective, "Down" was inspired by the group's bond as a quartet and the adversities they have faced together and individually.
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