Big Big World (song)

"Big Big World" is a song by Swedish singer Emilia. It was released in September 1998 as the lead single from the album of the same name and was written by Emilia and Lasse Anderson. The song was a hit in Europe, where it reached number-one in eight countries and peaked within the Top 5 in several others, but it fared less well in the United States, where it remained at the bottom of the Billboard Hot 100, though it did reach the top 40 on two other Billboard charts. The song was given a Grammis award for "Song of the Year" in 1998 and also won a Rockbjörnen award as "Swedish Song of the Year" in 1998.[1] The song is about love, with references to the autumn season. The melody opening is based on the Swedish springtime song "Nu grönskar det",[2] which in turn is based on the Peasant Cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

"Big Big World"
Single by Emilia Rydberg
from the album Big Big World
B-side"Remix"
Released
  • September 1998 (Sweden)
  • 17 November 1998 (Italy)
Format
GenrePop
Length3:22
LabelUniversal
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Hurb
  • TNT
  • Günter "Yogi" Lauke
Emilia Rydberg singles chronology
"Big Big World"
(1998)
"Good Sign"
(1999)
Music video
"Big Big World" on YouTube

On 20 September 2017, the song was the topic at SVT:s Hitlåtens historia.[3]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Roxanne Blanford wrote that the song is "gentle and arranged as a pseudo-procession tune, as if Emilia is taking her first cautious steps toward independence and adulthood."[4] Larry Flick from Billboard said that the track's "magic touch is manifested via sheer straightforward simplicity-in performance, production, and message." He noted Emilia's "delicate voice, ripe with vulnerability and hurt, tells of being a big girl in a big world who shouldn't see it as a big deal if her partner leaves her ... but she will miss him much." He also added that "allusions to rain and autumn leaves help set up a perfect visual of stark sadness and loneliness, giving the song a strong seasonal punch."[5] Expressen stated that "Big Big World" "is the big, obvious hit this fall."[6] Göteborgsposten commented that with this song, Emilia "has a big, big hit".[7] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel said that the 20-year-old vocalist "assumes a sweetly fragile persona on the song, setting the mood with a sparse verse and chorus before the track folds in a shuffling beat and an orchestral arrangement."[8] Nina Cassidy from Stanford Daily wrote that the song "has a catchy beat, and the lyrics and music have a smooth flow."[9] Sunday Tribune called it a "sweet song",[10] while Sunday World noted it as a "cracking single".[11]

Music video

The music video for "Big Big World" was recorded in New York City and is shot in black-and-white. It features Emilia wandering around in the city, performing the song. Some scenes show the singer sitting on the edge at the top of a 12-storey high house. Other scenes show her standing in front of a window. In February 2020, the video has got 13 millions views on YouTube.[12]

Track listings

CD single

  1. "Big Big World" – 3:22
  2. "Big Big World" (Traffic Jam mix – 88 BPM) – 4:14

CD maxi

  1. "Big Big World" (album version) – 3:22
  2. "Big Big World" (Pierre J's big radio remix) – 3:30
  3. "Big Big World" (TNT's big phat radio edit) – 3:12
  4. "Big Big World" (karaoke version) – 3:22

12" maxi

  1. "Big Big World" (Pierre J's remix) – 7:17
  2. "Big Big World" (album version) – 3:22
  3. "Big Big World" (TNT club mix) – 6:31
  4. "Big Big World" (Traffic Jam mix) – 4:15

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[58] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[59] 2× Platinum 100,000*
France (SNEP)[60] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[61] Platinum 500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[62] Platinum 75,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] Gold 5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[64] 2× Platinum 0*
Sweden (GLF)[65] 3× Platinum 90,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Silver 200,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Cover versions and samples

Vietnamese-American singer Trish Thuy Trang, made a cover version of "Big Big World" for her 1999 album I'll Dream of You. German techno group Scooter sampled "Big Big World" on their single "And No Matches", taken from the 2007 album Jumping All Over the World.

  • Cartoon Network Laughternoons promo is 2018

References

  1. "Alla Rockbjörnsvinnare sedan 1979". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 2000. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  2. Sebastian Rutgersson (February 11, 2008). "Hit med framgång" (PDF) (in Swedish). Linköpings universitet. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  3. "Hitlåtens historia – Big big world" (in Swedish). Swedish mediadatabase. September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  4. "Emilia - Big Big World". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  5. "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. November 21, 1998. p. 27. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  6. Expressen. 23 October 1998.
  7. Göteborgsposten. 23 October 1998.
  8. "Band didn't burn Midnight Oil for this one". Daily News. December 23, 1998. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  9. Cassidy, Nina (January 21, 1999). "Emilia 'Big Big World' Music Reviews". Stanford Daily. p. 6. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  10. "Billie She Wants You Virgin This single sees Billie warning her 'man' away from some temptress who's after him.". Sunday Tribune. 13 December 1998. page 36. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  11. "Stunner Emilia's wish comes true". Sunday World. 6 December 1998. page 86. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  12. "Emilia - Big Big World". YouTube. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  13. "Australian-charts.com – Emilia – Big Big World". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
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  27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Big Big World". Irish Singles Chart.
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