Fight Song (Rachel Platten song)
"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 as the lead single on her major label debut studio and third overall, Wildfire (2016). Platten co-wrote the song with Dave Bassett.
"Fight Song"
"Lone Ranger"
February 19, 2015
2014
3:22
The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in the United Kingdom and Poland. It also peaked within the top ten of the singles charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, and the top twenty in Slovakia. It has sold six million copies in the United States, earning a 6× Platinum certification by the RIAA.[2]
Composition[edit]
In the version published at Musicnotes.com by Platten Music Publishing, the sheet music is in the key of G major with a moderate tempo of 88 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of G – D – Em – C, and Platten's vocals span from G3 to E5.[3] Musically, "Fight Song" is a pop rock song backed by a piano. "Fight Song" starts off with a simple melody played on the piano, as Platten starts to sing the first stanza and pre-chorus which introduces a drum and horns that play throughout. The song ends with an acoustic guitar, as Platten sings the outro. It has a duration of three minutes and twenty-two seconds.[4]
Critical reception[edit]
"Fight Song" has received positive reviews from critics, who agree 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."[5]
Commercial performance[edit]
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.[6] It later reached number 8 in New Zealand after first being covered as a charity single by The X Factor top 12.[7]
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of May 2, 2015 at number 80, becoming Platten's first entry on the chart.[8] On July 18, 2015, the song entered the top 10 at number 10, becoming her first top 10.[9] On August 19, 2015, the song eventually peaked at number 6.[10] It has also reached quadruple 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 1 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.[11][12]
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[edit]
An accompanying music video directed by James Lees was released on May 19, 2015.[13] The shooting lasted four days.[14] 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."[15]