"Sparks" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Hilary Duff | ||||
from the album Breathe In. Breathe Out. | ||||
Released | April 7, 2015 | |||
Recorded | February 2015; Sweden | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:05 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Hilary Duff singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Hilary Duff - Sparks" on YouTube | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Hilary Duff - Sparks (Fan Demanded Version)" on YouTube |
"Sparks" is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff for her fifth studio album, Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015). It was written and produced by Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson and Peter Thomas,with additional writing from Tove Lo and Sam Shrieve,and co-production from Svidden. The song was released on April 7,2015,by RCA Records as the album's official leading single.
The music video was released on May 14,2015,and features Duff on various Tinder dates. Less than a month later,Duff released a "Fan-Demanded" version video,which does not show the Tinder material and instead focuses more on Hilary and her choreographed dancing to the song. "Sparks" experienced only moderate success on the Billboard Hot 100,peaking at 93,but became her fourth top ten entry on the dance chart. It additionally charted in Australia and Canada.
On July 23,2014,Duff announced that she had signed a recording contract with RCA Records and would be releasing her first single in five years,"Chasing the Sun",on July 29. [1] Later that same week,she revealed that she would finish and release her fifth studio album,her first since 2007's Dignity ,in between filming of her new television show, Younger . She planned to do a little bit of promotion for the album during this period,but would not begin a "full press push" until filming of the show wrapped on December 12. [2] Less than a month after the release of "Chasing the Sun",Duff revealed that she would release a second single,"All About You",on August 12. [3] She announced later that same month that the album would not be released in October as originally planned and that fans would have to wait a "few more months" for it to be released. [4]
On January 10,2015,Duff revealed that recording for the album would continue now that the filming of Younger was completed. While her music career was originally her primary focus,she had to "take a step back" while filming of the show was underway. [2] [5] According to Duff,she was disappointed that she never got a chance to "properly promote" the singles,but that their releases gave her "a little taste of it again" after "being out of the music game for seven years". [6] "It’s just a balancing act of trying to have two careers that take up a lot of my time. And also being a mom —the most important one for me",Duff said. [6] In late January,she travelled to Sweden,where she collaborated with Swedish singer Tove Lo and record producer Jason "Ginni" Gill. [6] [7] According to Duff,she "knocked out" about four songs while she was there that "created a cool vibe for the record". [6]
On February 5,she posted a short clip on Instagram previewing a new song,with the caption:"Remember when I said I’d die for you". [7] Duff hinted on March 25 that she would be releasing a sneak peek of a new song,writing on her Twitter page:"Excited for you guys to hear a sneak peek of what @iamtovelo,Bloodshy,@iamPeterThomas and I have been working on..stay tuned tomorrow!" [8] The following day,she posted a one-minute long sneak peek of Younger on YouTube,which was accompanied by a preview of a new song called "Sparks". [9] After posting the video,she revealed that the full song would be released on April 7,and that fans could Shazam the song "to unlock the single cover". [8]
"Sparks" is a dance-pop and synthpop song with an approximate length of three minutes and five seconds. [10] [11] According to Nolan Feeney of Time magazine,it is a "bubbly slice" of Swedish dance-pop. [10] The song's instrumentation contains tribal elements,which according to Carolyn Menyes of Music News,gives it the "infectious dance-ability that could really only be found in 2015". [12] Writing for Entertainment Weekly ,Madison Vain drew comparisons of the song to the work of American singer Britney Spears,specifically her 2004 single "Toxic",which was co-produced by Bloodshy. [13] Carolyn Menyes of Music Times likened the song to the musical style of Australian singer Kylie Minogue. [12]
"Sparks" opens with a whistled melody that is backed with "low key blips",before Duff begins singing the first verse:"I can't hear a single word / Just know you're talking ‘cause your lips keep moving / Every thing I thought I'd learned / Goes out the window / All I want is one thing". [12] [14] Her "light" and "sweet-sounding" vocals are surrounded by "high twinkles",which Vanessa Golembewski of Refinery29 called "bubble gum enough you want to listen to it,but not so saccharine you feel like you stole your little sister's Disney channel CD." [12] [15] Writing for Ryan Seacrest's entertainment website,Marc Inocencio noted that instead of "crescendoing into a synth-heavy drop",the song "pulls back" with an "infectious whistle" in between choruses. [16] Madeline Boardman of Us Weekly noted that the song's "steamy lyrics" are a "change of tone" for Duff. [14]
Bradley Stern of Idolator wrote that unlike Duff's previous "folk-tinged" singles,"Chasing the Sun" and "All About You","Sparks" marks the return to a "more familiar" dance-pop sound for the singer. The writer found the whistle breakdown in the song to be "unstoppably catchy",and wondered if it could be the "infectious hit" that she needs to be "propelled back onto pop radio". [11] According to Vanessa Golembewski of Refinery29,"Sparks" has all of the defining characteristics of not just "a summer jam",but "the summer jam",writing that the beat is "good enough for both dancing and chilling out at home",and that the whistle is "definitely gonna be in your head for the next three months". [15] Writing for Entertainment Weekly ,Madison Vain called the song an "easy-to-digest summer jam" of the "most charming sort". [13]
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of July 4,2015,at number 93. [17] 'Sparks' later debuted at number 47 on the Dance Club songs chart,and has reached a peak of number 6, [18] becoming Duff's fourth top ten hit on the US dance chart following three consecutive number ones from 2007 to 2008.
On May 14,2015,Duff released a video for the single that featured her dancing while simultaneously chronicling her experiences on Tinder dates in a documentary style unusual for music videos. [19] On May 28,following fan backlash,a "fan-demanded version" of the video was released in which the Tinder portions were cut. [20] This version takes the form of a more traditional music video. It was directed by Hannah Lux Davis.
Duff performed "Sparks" for the first time at The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 14,2015. [21] Duff performed the song again on May 16,2015,at the "Kiss Concert 2015" along with 2 other songs. [22] The song was also performed live on Good Morning America and The View.
Credits adapted from Qobuz.com [26]
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [27] | 104 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [28] | 63 |
CIS (TopHit) [29] | 182 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [30] | 59 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [31] | 93 |
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [32] | 6 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Mexico (AMPROFON) [33] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
France | April 7, 2015 | Digital download | Sony | [34] |
Germany | [35] | |||
Italy | [36] | |||
Spain | [37] | |||
United States | RCA | [23] | ||
Japan | April 8, 2015 | Sony | [38] | |
United States | April 27, 2015 | Hot/Modern/AC radio | RCA | [39] |
Russia | April 28, 2015 | Contemporary hit radio | Sony | [40] |
"Come Clean" is a song by American singer Hilary Duff for her second studio album, Metamorphosis (2003). It was written by Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks, while production was handled by Shanks. The song contains influences of electronica and techno, with the lyrics chronicling the protagonist wanting to "come clean" with her love interest, from a strained relationship. "Come Clean" was received by critics with mixed reviews. The song was released on January 12, 2004, as the album's second single.
Bloodshy & Avant are a Swedish songwriting and production duo consisting of Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson and Pontus "Avant" Winnberg. They have worked with many prominent artists, including Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Ms. Dynamite, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Kelis, Girls' Generation, Christina Milian, Sky Ferreira, Hikaru Utada and BoA. In addition to their production work, Karlsson and Winnberg are also members of the synth-pop group Miike Snow, alongside lead vocalist Andrew Wyatt.
"Wake Up" is a song by American actress and singer Hilary Duff from her first compilation album Most Wanted (2005). Written by Duff and the Dead Executives, a record production team consisting of Jason Epperson, Joel Madden, and Benji Madden, "Wake Up" was crafted with the intention of having a "totally different sound" from Duff's previous material. Although she thought of the work to be a new milestone in her career, she was at the same time nervous about how her fans would react to the material. "Wake Up" was released as the lead single from Most Wanted in the United States on July 12, 2005, by Hollywood Records. It was released also digitally in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2005.
American actress and singer Hilary Duff has released five studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), one live album, four compilation albums, five video albums, 21 singles, four promotional singles, and 16 music videos. Duff released her debut studio album Santa Claus Lane through Buena Vista Records in October 2002. The holiday album peaked at the 154th position on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Dignity is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Hilary Duff. It was released on March 21, 2007, by Hollywood Records. After launching her third studio album Hilary Duff (2004), she experienced an eventful personal life, including a stalking incident, her parents getting divorced and her breakup with her boyfriend Joel Madden after two years of dating. Consequently, Duff assumed an integral position in its production, co-writing almost every track with longtime collaborator Kara DioGuardi instead of her previously-limited involvement.
"With Love" is a song recorded by American recording artist Hilary Duff for her fourth studio album, Dignity (2007). It was written by Duff and Kara DioGuardi with the song's producers Vada Nobles and Julius "Logic" Diaz. According to Duff, the song is about having a "crazy job" but being kept "sane" by a lover. Musically, "With Love" has a dance-rock guitar throughout its hook while it presents more mature vocals by Duff in contrast to her previous works. The song was released as the second single from Dignity on February 20, 2007, by Hollywood Records.
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer, author and businesswoman. She is the recipient of various accolades, including seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards, and two Young Artist Awards. She began her acting career at a young age, quickly being labeled a teen idol as the title character in the Disney Channel comedy series Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004) and in the film based on the series, The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003).
"Stranger" is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff for her fourth studio album, Dignity (2007). It was written by Duff and Kara DioGuardi with the song's producers Vada Nobles, Derrick Harvin, and Julius "Logic" Diaz.
"Piece of Me" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). It was released on November 27, 2007, by Jive Records as the second single from the album, but was actually the last song recorded. It was written and produced by Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant and Klas Åhlund as a response to the media scrutiny and sensationalism of the singer's private life, which they had witnessed firsthand after working with her over the years. The song, acting as the singer's manifesto, has biographical lyrics retelling Spears's mishaps. It can be classified as an electropop, dance-pop and EDM-pop song that features an "electro instrumental track" and runs through a down-tempo dance beat. Spears's voice is heavily synthesized and her pitch constantly shifts; backing vocals are provided by Bloodshy & Avant and Robyn.
"Reach Out" is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff from her first greatest hits album Best of Hilary Duff (2008). It was released on October 20, 2008, by Hollywood Records as the only single from the album. The song was initially recorded for inclusion on a scrapped re-release of Duff's fourth studio album Dignity (2007). The song features uncredited vocals from American rapper R. Prophet. It was written by Martin Gore, Ryan "Alias" Tedder, Evan Bogart, Mika Guillory and produced by Tedder.
"Little Lies" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac from their 14th studio album, Tango in the Night (1987). It was written by band member Christine McVie and her then-husband, Eddy Quintela, with lead vocals performed primarily by McVie; the chorus features backing vocals by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. The song was released in August 1987 by Warner Bros. Records, as the third single from Tango in the Night. McVie recalled that she wrote the song at her pool with a pad and paper; while Quintela was listed as one of the songwriters, McVie stated in an interview with MOJO that his role in the creation of "Little Lies" was minimal.
Best of Hilary Duff is the first greatest hits album by American singer Hilary Duff, released on November 11, 2008, by Hollywood Records. The standard 12-track edition consists of eight of Duff's previous singles, as well as two new recordings: "Reach Out" and "Holiday". It also includes three new remixes: two of the former, and one of her 2003 single, "Come Clean". Alternate editions of the album with additional tracks were released in Australia, Europe, and Japan.
"I Look to You" is a pop-soul song performed by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her seventh and final studio album of the same name. It was released as a worldwide promotional single and as the first US single from the album on July 23, 2009 on US radio following highly favorable reviews at pre-release album listening parties.
Lars Christian Karlsson, also known by his stage name Bloodshy, is a Swedish DJ, percussionist, record producer and remixer known for his work with the musical groups Bloodshy and Avant, Miike Snow, Ingrid, and Galantis. He started his international music career as one half of the electro pop duo Bloodshy & Avant with Pontus Winnberg, producing and co-writing tracks for pop stars such as Madonna, BoA, Kylie Minogue, and Katy Perry. Bloodshy & Avant notably co-wrote and produced Britney Spears' single "Toxic", which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2005. While continuing to work with Bloodshy and Avant, Karlsson also became a member of the indie pop band Miike Snow around 2007. Miike Snow, the group's debut album, was released in 2009, and peaked at number 11 on the Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. Miike Snow won the 2011 European Border Breakers Award, and their second album Happy to You reached No. 1 on the Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart and 43 on the Billboard 200.
Most Wanted is the first compilation album by American actress and singer Hilary Duff. It was released on August 10, 2005, by Hollywood Records. The album comprises ten previously released tracks, and three new recordings: "Wake Up", "Beat of My Heart", and "Break My Heart". A deluxe edition of the album, subtitled The Collector's Signature Edition, was also released, containing additional remixes and another new recording "Supergirl". At first, Duff was concerned about the reaction of fans to the new songs, since they carry a "totally different sound" and are more dance-oriented than her previous music.
"The Way" is the breakout single by American singer Ariana Grande, featuring American rapper Mac Miller. It was released on March 26, 2013 by Republic Records as the lead single from her debut studio album Yours Truly (2013). The song was written by Amber Streeter, Al Sherrod Lambert, Jordin Sparks, Brenda Russell, Miller, and the producer Harmony Samuels. The song samples Big Pun's 1998 song "Still Not a Player", which itself samples Russell's 1979 song "A Little Bit of Love".
"Habits (Stay High)" is a song recorded by Swedish singer Tove Lo from her debut extended play (EP), Truth Serum, and her debut studio album, Queen of the Clouds (2014). It was written by Lo with Ludvig Söderberg and Jakob Jerlström, while it was produced by the latter two under the production name the Struts. Initially, the singer self-released the song under the title "Habits" on 15 March 2013 as her second independently released single. After Lo was signed to Universal Music, the track was re-released on 6 December 2013 under the title of "Habits (Stay High)" as both the second single from Truth Serum and the lead single from Queen of the Clouds. Musically, it is a pop and electropop song which features a minimal and upbeat electronic instrumentation. Its lyrics delve into the singer's attempts to forget her previous boyfriend through substance abuse, drinking and other hedonistic practices. Consequently, some critics and Lo herself noted a contrast between the song's production and its lyrical content.
"Chasing the Sun" is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff. It was written by Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves, and Toby Gad, the latter of whom also produced the track. It was Duff's first single release under her new recording contract with RCA Records. Undecided between "Tattoo", "All About You" and "Chasing the Sun" as her first single with RCA, Duff and the label eventually chose the latter as the first single, describing it as a "top-down, carefree, super catchy singalong song". The song is featured in a March of Dimes public service announcement.
"All About You" is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff. It was released on August 12, 2014 by RCA Records. Written by Duff, Kristian Lundin, Savan Kotecha, and Carl Falk, "All About You" a folk pop and pop rock song, having a banjo, handclaps, and a "heavy hand" drum as the song's instrumentation. Lyrically, the song talks about how the protagonist is so hooked on her boyfriend that she is willing to prove her true love for him anywhere.
Breathe In. Breathe Out. is the fifth studio album by American singer Hilary Duff. It was released on June 12, 2015, by RCA Records. Duff began work on the album in January 2012, but after scrapping the songs she recorded, she resumed the sessions in September 2013, continuing throughout 2014 and 2015. After being signed to RCA Records in 2014, she released the singles, "Chasing the Sun" and "All About You". Following the release of these two singles Duff recorded more songs in Sweden in February 2015, and released the album's lead single, "Sparks". Musically, Breathe In. Breathe Out. is a dance-pop record with EDM and folk-pop elements. Singer-songwriter Kendall Schmidt is featured on the final cut, "Night Like This".
{{cite magazine}}
: Unknown parameter |agency=
ignored (help){{cite magazine}}
: Unknown parameter |agency=
ignored (help){{cite magazine}}
: Unknown parameter |agency=
ignored (help){{cite magazine}}
: Unknown parameter |agency=
ignored (help)