Spark (Amy Macdonald song)

Background

Macdonald began writing songs for her second album in spring 2009, in a brief break from her touring commitments. For the first time she began poring through her old notebooks, looking at song ideas, unlike her debut which consists mainly of songs that she wrote straight away. Many of the tracks were inspired by real-life personalities or events from her daily life. It is claimed that she wrote "Spark" for murdered toddler James Bulger, after watching a TV program on his violent death, though she denies this. She has stated that although the Bulger case was a catalyst, the song refers to a departed loved one in general. "What Happiness Means to Me" is dedicated to her footballer fiancé Steve Lovell, while "An Ordinary Life" is inspired by the "Z-list celebs" she saw flocking around Scots-born Hollywood actor Gerard Butler at a party he held in Glasgow late 2009 to mark the opening of his film Law Abiding Citizen. "My Only One" is partly about her late grandparents and partly about Michael Jackson. The tracks were recorded at Weller's BlackBarn Studios in Surrey.

Music video

The music video was filmed at Loch Lomond in Scotland. It starts with Macdonald walking down a slipway towards the Loch carrying a case she puts it down and starts playing the guitar with a caravan in the background, orange lines flash throughout the music video and the viewer can see different shots of the loch, the forest and Macdonald playing her guitar.

Track listing

1. "Spark" – 3:07
2. "Spark" (Acoustic Version - German Radio Tour) – 3:05

1. "Spark" – 3:07
2. "Your Time Will Come" (Farewell Olympic Studios Version) – 3:48
3. "Spark" (Tom Middleton Mix) – 8:22
4. "Don't Tell Me That It's Over" (Acoustic Version - German Radio Tour) – 3:07

1. "Spark" – 3:07
2. "Spark" (HR1 Acoustic Version) – 3:05
3. "Spark" (Tom Middleton Mix) – 8:22
4. "Don't Tell Me That It's Over" (HR1 Acoustic Version) – 3:07