B-side "Lone Ranger" Recorded 2014 Label Columbia | Format Digital download Length 3:22 | |
Released February 19, 2015 (2015-02-19) | ||
"Fight Song" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Rachel Platten, released as a single by Columbia Records on February 19, 2015. It appears on her extended play (EP) of the same name (2015) and on her major label debut studio album, and third overall, Wildfire (2016). Platten co-wrote the song with Dave Bassett.
Contents
- Background
- Composition
- Critical reception
- Commercial performance
- Music video
- Live performances
- Usage in media
- Track listing
- References
The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and also reached number one of the Adult Contemporary and Adult Pop Songs airplay charts. Outside the United States, "Fight Song" topped the charts in the United Kingdom and also peaked within the top ten of the singles charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland and the top twenty of the charts in Slovakia. It has sold two million copies in the United States, earning a double platinum certification by the RIAA.
Background
Rachel Platten said of her inspiration: "'Fight Song' was inspired by a lot of experiences that were hurting me and that were making me feel like maybe I didn’t have a chance in this industry. I wrote it because I needed to remind myself that I believed in myself. No matter what, I still was gonna make music, even if it was on a small scale. Even if it was just for me." She also said: "I really challenged myself in writing the past couple of years to be vulnerable in my lyrics. I didn’t want to skate past what was hurting. It didn’t scare me to be vulnerable because I think that’s when you get something great."
Composition
According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Platten Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of G major with a moderate tempo of 88 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of G – G5/F♯ – Em – Csus2, and Platten's vocals span from G3 to E5.
Critical reception
"Fight Song" has received positive reviews from critics, agreeing that the song's positive message and Platten's vocals were the song's strongest features. A review by Markos Papatados from the Digital Journal stated "The lyrics for "Fight Song" are captivating and they tug at the heartstrings. It is a track from her Fight Song EP, which was released on May 15. Platten's vocals are crisp and impressive, where the listener can recall such songstresses as Taylor Swift and Tristan Prettyman. Her lyrics are powerful and they paint a vivid picture in the minds of her listeners."
Commercial performance
The song first charted in Australia, debuting at 35 on the ARIA Charts on April 12, 2015. The song eventually peaked at number 2 in Australia on July 12, 2015. It later reached number 8 in New Zealand after first being covered as a charity single by The X Factor top 12.
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of May 2, 2015 at number 80, becoming Platten's first entry on the chart. On July 18, 2015, the song entered the top 10 at number 10, becoming her first top 10. On August 19, 2015, the song eventually peaked at number 6. It has also reached double platinum sales in the US, selling over 2 million copies in Platten's home country. "Fight Song" also peaked at number one on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for 4 weeks, number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 4 weeks, number 3 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, number 6 on the Billboard Radio Songs chart, and number 8 on the Pop Songs chart. Elsewhere, it peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.
In the United Kingdom, the song jumped from number sixty eight to the top of the UK Singles Chart on August 28, 2015 – for the week ending date September 3, 2015 – becoming Platten's first chart-topping song, and overall top ten hit, in Britain.
In the Republic of Ireland, the song peaked at number six on the Irish Singles Chart.
On April 25, 2016, this song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart.
Music video
An accompanying music video directed by James Lees was released on May 19, 2015. The shooting lasted four days. Platten said of the concept: "I wanted my video to show both sides of that – my fear and pain – but I also hoped to show that sometimes to overcome battles we just have to let go."
Live performances
Platten appeared as a special guest during Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour in Philadelphia on June 13, 2015, where Platten and Swift performed "Fight Song" together. On August 16, 2015, Platten performed the song at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles. On July 12, 2016, Platten performed "Fight Song" at the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Petco Park in San Diego, where baseball fans and players held up cards with the names of people they knew were battling cancer to dedicate the performance to them. On New Year's Eve 2016−17, Platten sang the song as part of her lineup during the Times Square Ball festivities in New York City's Times Square, which she co-headlined.
Usage in media
Track listing
- "Fight Song" – 3:22
- "Lone Ranger" – 3:07