Sail (song)

"Sail"
Single by Awolnation
from the album Megalithic Symphony
Released November 8, 2010 (2010-11-08)
Format
Recorded 2010
Studio
  • Red Bull Recording Studio
  • (Los Angeles, CA)
Genre
Length
  • 4:19 (album version)
  • 3:42 (radio edit)
Label Red Bull
Songwriter(s) Aaron Bruno
Producer(s) Aaron Bruno
Awolnation singles chronology
"Sail"
(2010)		 "Not Your Fault"
(2011)

"Sail"
(2011)		 "Not Your Fault"
(2011)

"Sail" is a song by American rock band Awolnation. It was released as a single on November 8, 2010. The song was first featured on the band's debut extended play, Back from Earth (2010), and was later featured on their debut album, Megalithic Symphony (2011). The song was written and produced in Venice, California by group member Aaron Bruno, with Kenny Carkeet performing the audio engineering.

"Sail" is the band's most commercially successful song to date. It debuted at number 89 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 2011, spending 20 weeks on the chart before dropping out. The single re-entered the Hot 100 a year later, becoming a massive sleeper hit and reaching a new peak of number 17. "Sail" is the first song to climb to its peak after a year on the Hot 100.[1] It has spent the second longest time inside the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 79 weeks, only surpassed by Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive".

Background and composition

"Sail" is an electronic rock[2][3] and alternative rock[4] song. It has also been noted as featuring "industrial-tinged electropop".[5] While band frontman Aaron Bruno has never come out and spoken directly concerning what "Sail" is about, in a 2016 interview, he recalls contemplating that perhaps people needed a different, darker sort of song than some of the more happier ones that were on the radio, stating "I remember playing the song for a producer friend of mine, and he told me everything was great, but I needed a chorus." Bruno then tried to write a chorus, but failed to achieve what he thought the song needed. He ended up leaving out the chorus.[6]

Music video

The video for "Sail" opens with lead singer Aaron Bruno running to a house. He enters the house relieved to have escaped from the threat outside. He shuts the blinds. Bruno then finds a tape recorder, and starts singing into it. He enters a bathroom and looks into a mirror, still singing. A green strip of light enters the house and moves across it, scanning a spacesuit helmet and a military flight-suit. As the light climbs up the stairs towards him, Bruno hides inside a full bathtub. The beam scans him in the bath. Bruno is then depicted being pulled across the floor by an unknown force; he attempts to cling to a door-frame, but loses his grip. The scene is interspersed with shots of Bruno closing a door and playing the song's piano section. As the song's final chorus section begins, the house shakes. Lights and lamps turn on and off as gusts of wind blow. Bruno is pulled by the mysterious force outside the house, and he is subsequently levitated up into the sky as a set of floodlights flash on him. He drops the tape recorder.

A video recorded by YouTuber Nanalew two years prior to Awolnation's own video had nearly 250 million views, in comparison to the group's own video which has just over 77 million. On January 28, 2015, Nanalew's video was blocked from YouTube due to copyright issues, but returned several days later. A few months later, Nanalew took the video down again herself. She states:

For the last few years, Red Bull Records has been claiming all the earnings for the video. They'd agreed to working with me on a mutually beneficial partnership (including possible compensation for my video), but nothing has come through.

She then called for her fans to tweet to the record label if they wanted to see the video back up again.[7] As of June 2018, the Nanalew video has over 290 million views.

Covers, remixes and media appearances

Online

  • "Sail" was used as the soundtrack for a YouTube video of proximity wingsuit flying "Grinding the Crack" by extreme athlete Jeb Corliss, uploaded in August 2011, which went viral, receiving in excess of 30 million views.[8]

Movies

TV

  • A BMW commercial that aired during the 2012 Summer Olympics incorporated "Sail".[8]
  • In 2013, the song was used by TV channel History in a trailer for the show Vikings and in the trailer for The Counselor (2013).[8]
  • "Sail" was featured in "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot", the ninth episode of the third season of The Good Wife.[10]
  • A So You Think You Can Dance contestant danced to it in May 2012.[11]
  • "Sail" was featured in "The Walking Dead", the twenty-second episode of season four of The Vampire Diaries.[12]
  • "Sail" was played during the final scene of "Dog Soldier", the fifth episode (season one) of A&E's crime drama Longmire.
  • "Sail" was the soundtrack to the season highlights video of the Orange Emus rugby club's premiership win in 2016.
  • A brief excerpt of "Sail" was used in the BBC comedy and drama program, Fleabag, episode two, in 2016.
  • "Sail" was used in the eighteen episode of the fourth season of Pretty Little Liars, in 2014.

Music

Video games

Remixes

Formats and track listings

  • Digital download (United States)[14]
  1. "Sail" – 4:19
  2. "Sail" (Innerpartysystem Remix) – 5:26
  3. "Sail" (Dan the Automator Remix) – 4:34
  4. "Sail" (Unlimited Gravity Remix) – 5:49

Charts and certifications

Commercial performance

In July 2010, Austin DJ Toby Ryan premiered the song on KROX-FM and the response from the listeners was positive.[15]

"Sail" debuted at number 89 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on the week of September 3, 2011.[16] The single spent 20 weeks on the chart before dropping out following the issue date of January 14, 2012.[17] It eventually re-entered in mid-2013;[18] its use in various television shows and advertisements exposed the song to a wider audience.[19] Following its appearance in a History Channel trailer promoting Vikings, weekly downloads "more than tripled".[8] The song has since spent more than a year on the chart and peaked at number 17 on the Hot 100 in its fifty-sixth week on the chart, two years after its initial debut.[20] "Sail" was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in June 2013,[21] and as of May 2017, it has sold over 6.1 million copies in the US.[22]

"Sail" also peaked at number five on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in 2011. The song was featured in the introduction of the 2012 film Disconnect. Due to its extremely unusual longevity, it has become the only song in the history of the Hot 100 to spend a year on the chart without entering the top 20 first.

In Australia and New Zealand, the song peaked in September 2013, reaching number 27 on the Australian Music Chart,[23] and number 33 on the New Zealand Music Chart.[24] In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart in January 2014.[25]

On April 22, 2016, it was announced by the band that "Sail" had sold 10 million copies worldwide.

In an interview in late 2016, Aaron mentions that he has gotten used to fact that "Sail" was able to sell so many copies, but for a while he felt like he didn't deserve it. "Finally at a certain point you realize 'well I did write the song', and I've become used to it to a certain degree, but more than anything I feel like sort of a messenger of some greater methods that was meant to be heard by people in general."[6]

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[14][73][74] January 4, 2011 Alternative radio Red Bull
June 6, 2011 Active rock radio
June 13, 2011 Digital download
Germany[75] September 23, 2011
United Kingdom[76] September 25, 2011
France[77] September 26, 2011
Spain[78] September 27, 2011
United States[79][80] October 29, 2012 Hot AC radio
Contemporary hit radio

References

  1. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/ask-billboard/5740625/ask-billboard-how-does-the-hot-100-work?page=0%2C1
  2. ↑ Dolan, Jon (March 19, 2015). "Awolnation – Run". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  3. ↑ Teitelman, Bram (March 4, 2014). "Devildriver set 'Sail' with new lyric video". Metal Insider. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ Cridlin, Jay (November 29, 2011). "AWOLNATION'S Aaron Bruno talks 'Sail,' electronic influences and the art of melding genres". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Awolnation Run".
  6. 1 2 https://archive.org/download/WhatsNewInterviewsAaronBrunoOfAwolnation/WhatsNewInterviewsAaronBrunoOfAwolnation.mp3
  7. ↑ Nanalew (25 March 2015). "A bunch of you have noticed that SAIL has been taken down again..." Facebook. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Fekadu, Mesfin (April 28, 2014). "How 'Sail' sold: Story of Awolnation's Aaron Bruno". Businessweek. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ "When the Game Stands Tall (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Toepfer, Susan (November 21, 2011). "'The Good Wife' Season 3, Episode 9, 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot': TV Recap". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  11. ↑ "So You Think You Can Dance". Red Bull Records. May 30, 2012. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ "The Vampire Diaries Songs: Music From Season 4, Episode 22". Wetpaint. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Remixes of Sail by AWOLNATION". WhoSampled. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  14. 1 2 Heaney, Gregory. "Sail – AWOLNATION". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  15. ↑ Ugwu, Reggie (October 1, 2013). "AWOLnation: How 'Sail' Took the Scenic Route to Hot 100 Juggernaut". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  16. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100 – September 3, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 12, 2013. (Subscription required (help)).
  17. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100 – January 14, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 12, 2013. (Subscription required (help)).
  18. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (June 29, 2013). "The Slow Hit Movement: Year-Old Songs On The Pop Charts". NPR. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  19. ↑ Hooper, Ryan Patrick (March 28, 2012). "'Sail' by AWOLNATION Soars to Platinum Status". Red Bull. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Awolnation Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  21. ↑ "AWOLNATION's Sail goes triple platinum". Red Bull. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  22. 1 2 "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 5/13/2017" (PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2017.
  23. ↑ "AWOLNATION - SAIL (SONG)". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "AWOLNATION - SAIL (SONG)". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK (Week-ending 18th January 2014)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Awolnation – Sail". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Awolnation – Sail" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Awolnation – Sail" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Awolnation – Sail" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Awolnation Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Active Rock". America's Music Charts. Mediabase. October 25, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Alternative Rock". America's Music Charts. Mediabase. June 21, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  33. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201419 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Awolnation – Sail". Tracklisten. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Awolnation – Sail" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  36. ↑ "AWOLNATION – Sail". Charts.de. Media Control. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 46, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Awolnation – Sail" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Charts.nz – Awolnation – Sail". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Awolnation – Chart History: Portugal". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  43. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201436 into search. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Awolnation – Sail". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Awolnation – Sail". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  47. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Awolnation Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Awolnation Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  50. ↑ "Awolnation Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Awolnation Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Awolnation Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Alternative Songs: 2011 Year-End Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Rock Songs: 2011 Year-End Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2012" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  56. ↑ "End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Streaming Tracks 2013". ARIA. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2013" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  58. ↑ "End of Year 2013" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  59. ↑ "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  60. ↑ "Rock Songs: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  61. ↑ "Rock Songs: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  62. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  63. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Awolnation – Sail" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Awolnation in the field Interpret. Enter Sail in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  64. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Awolnation – Sail". Music Canada.
  65. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Awolnation – Sail" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  66. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Awolnation – Sail". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  67. ↑ "Awolnation - Sail" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  68. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Awolnation; 'Sail')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  69. ↑ "British single certifications – Awolnation – Sail". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Sail in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  70. ↑ "American single certifications – Awolnation – Sail". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  71. ↑ "Certificeringer - Awolnation - Sail" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  72. ↑ "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  73. ↑ "Alternative". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  74. ↑ "Going For Adds: Active Rock (Week Of: June 6, 2011)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  75. ↑ "AWOLNATION" (in German). 7digital (GER). Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  76. ↑ "AWOLNATION". 7digital. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  77. ↑ "AWOLNATION" (in French). 7digital (FRA). Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  78. ↑ "AWOLNATION" (in Spanish). 7digital (SPA). Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  79. ↑ "Going For Adds: Hot AC (Week Of: October 29, 2012)". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  80. ↑ "Going For Adds: CHR/Top 40 (Week Of: October 29, 2012)". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
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