"Snowman"
Slowed Down & Snowed In remix artwork
Single by Sia
from the album Everyday Is Christmas
Released9 November 2017
GenreSoft jazz[1]
Length2:45
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Greg Kurstin
Sia singles chronology
"Santa's Coming for Us"
(2017)		 "Snowman"
(2017)		 "Helium"
(2018)
Music video
"Snowman" on YouTube
"Snowman - Part II" on YouTube

"Snowman" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Sia. It was released on 9 November 2017, as the second single from Sia's eighth studio album, Everyday Is Christmas.[2] A music video made via claymation was released on 30 October 2020. A part two of the music video was released on 22 December 2022.

"Snowman" earned positive reviews from critics, some of whom deemed it the highlight single from Everyday Is Christmas. The song experienced a popularity surge in November 2020 on TikTok,[3] and has since been branded as a modern-day Christmas classic.[4]

In 2020, Brandon Funston of The Athletic listed "Snowman" as the 85th best Christmas song of all-time.[5]

Composition

The song's co-writer Greg Kurstin in 2017

"Snowman" was written by Sia and frequent collaborator Greg Kurstin. Written in the key of D♭ major, Sia's vocals span from F3 to G♭5.[6] Production on the track was handled solely by Kurstin.[7] The song is a midtempo, 60's-inspired,[8] piano-driven, crisp, swaying ballad[9] over which Sia's vocals, described as "calm but energetic" by mxdwn, tell a snowman not to cry as he will melt.[10][11] The track runs for a length of 2 minutes and 45 seconds.[12]

Release and promotion

"Snowman" was announced on Sia's social media accounts on 7 November 2017, and was released for digital download and streaming on 9 November 2017 as the second single from Everyday Is Christmas.[2][13][14] Sia performed "Snowman" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,[15] and on the finale of the fifteenth season of American reality TV series The Voice.[16]

In December 2020, a challenge based around the song on video-sharing app TikTok saw a massive rise in popularity, becoming a trend. The challenge sees TikTok users attempt to sing a portion of the song, lasting forty seconds, in one breath.[3] Sia subsequently released a "Snowed In & Slowed Down Remix" of the track, which was later featured on the Snowman Deluxe Edition of Everyday is Christmas on 5 November 2021.[17] In addition to this, a sped-up version was included on the 2022 reissue of the album.[18]

Reception

Slant Magazine described the song as a "clever ode to fleeting romance".[19] Slate named it the best song on Everyday Is Christmas, noting it "[takes] something we associate with winter and [applies] it to a universal theme."[20] In 2020, Brandon Funston of The Athletic listed "Snowman" as the 85th best Christmas song of all-time.[5] Billboard, in 2022, described the song as a "modern seasonal classic".[4]

NME commented that the TikTok remix version of the song "opts for a breezier tempo than the original, with Sia changing the song’s key midway through for extra effect."[17]

Commercial performance

Upon its initial release in 2017, "Snowman" debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Songs Sales chart dated 2 December 2017.[21] Following its rise in popularity in 2020, the track reached the top 50 in Australia,[22] Canada,[23] France[24] and Germany,[25] among others, and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Global 200.[26] In 2021, it reached number 1 on the Finnish Singles Chart,[27] becoming Sia's first chart-topping hit in the country.[28] In the same year, it topped the Norwegian Singles Chart for two weeks and returned to number 1 for four additional weeks in 2022.[29]

As of December 2022, "Snowman" was one of the 10 most-streamed Christmas songs of all-time on streaming platform Spotify.[30]

Music videos

On 30 October 2020, a claymation music video for "Snowman", directed by Lior Molcho, premiered on YouTube.[31] On 22 December 2022, a "Part II" of the video was released, also directed by Molcho.[32]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[7]

  • Sia Furler – songwriter, vocals
  • Greg Kurstin – songwriter, producer, bass, drums, keyboards, piano, engineer
  • Alex Pasco – engineer
  • Julian Burg – engineer
  • Şerban Ghenea – mixer
  • John Hanes – mixing engineer
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Snowman"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[64] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[65] Platinum 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[66] Platinum 100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[67] Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[68] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[69] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[70] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[72] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "Snowman"
Region Date Format Version Label(s) Ref.
Various 9 November 2017 Original
[73]
9 December 2020 Video streaming Snowed In & Slowed Down TikTok Remix [74][17]
29 October 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 [75]

References

  1. ↑ "Sia – Snowman". Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 Myers, Owen (16 November 2017). "Thank God Sia is doing Christmas music her way". The Fader. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 Fowler, Kate (14 December 2020). "TikTok: What is the Snowman Challenge? Sia's Christmas song is the latest trend!". HITC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. 1 2 Dailey, Hannah (22 November 2022). "Best New Christmas Songs for 2022: Lizzo, Camila Cabello & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 Staff, The Athletic Fantasy Sports. "Top 100 Christmas songs ranked: Ray Charles ... at No. 1?". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. ↑ Furler, Sia; Kurstin, Greg. "Snowman - Digital Sheet Music". MusicNotes. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Credits, Everyday Is Christmas by Sia | TIDAL". Archived from the original on 30 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Thank God Sia is doing Christmas music her way". The FADER. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Leight, Elias (21 December 2020). "All They Want for Christmas Is a TikTok Hit". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "The quality of Sia's Christmas album would leave Stephens shaken". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "Listen to Sia's Ballad 'Snowman' from Forthcoming Holiday Album". Archived from the original on 30 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Everyday Is Christmas (Deluxe Edition), archived from the original on 30 November 2020, retrieved 15 December 2020
  13. ↑ @sia (8 November 2017). "The Christmas goodies continue, "Snowman" from Everyday Is Christmas will be out Thursday worldwide. - Team Sia" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ @sia (9 November 2017). "Move over Frosty ⛄ "Snowman" is here! Stream & download it now: fanlink.to/snowman - Team Sia" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ "Sia Unwraps a Special Holiday Performance of 'Snowman' | The Ellen Show on YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021.
  16. ↑ ""Don't miss Sia performing "Snowman"... | Sia on Twitter".
  17. 1 2 3 "Listen to Sia's remix of her 2018 track, 'Snowman'". NME. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Sia. "Everyday Is Christmas (Snowman Deluxe Edition)". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  19. ↑ Camp, Alexa (13 November 2017). "Review: Sia, Everyday Is Christmas". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  20. ↑ Martinelli, Marissa (21 November 2017). "All the Songs on Sia's New Christmas Album, Ranked". Slate. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Holiday Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  22. 1 2 "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2 January 2023. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Sia Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "Top Albums". SNEP (in French). Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  25. 1 2 "Sia – Snowman" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Sia Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  27. 1 2 "Sia: Snowman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "Suomen Virallinen Lista". Musiikkituottajat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  29. ↑ "Snowman" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  30. ↑ Sutherland, Mark (20 December 2022). "Jingle bell rock: Festive hits in the streaming era". PRS for Music. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  31. ↑ "Sia - Snowman [Official Video] - YouTube". Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via YouTube.
  32. ↑ "Sia - Snowman (Official Video - Part II) - YouTube". Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  33. ↑ "Sia – Snowman" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  34. ↑ "Sia – Snowman" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  35. ↑ "Sia – Snowman" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  36. ↑ "Sia Chart History (Croatia Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  37. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202251/52 into search. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  38. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 51, 2022". Hitlisten. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  39. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 52, 2022)" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  40. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  41. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  42. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  43. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  44. ↑ "2021 51-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 24 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  45. ↑ "Sia – Snowman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  46. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 January 2023. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  47. ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-49". VG-lista. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  48. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  49. ↑ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 17.11.2023–23.11.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  50. ↑ "Sia – Snowman". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  51. ↑ "Sia Chart History (Romania Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  52. ↑ "RIAS Top Charts Week 52 (23 - 29 Dec 2022)". RIAS. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  53. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202250 into search. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  54. ↑ "Digital Chart – Week 52 of 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  55. ↑ "Top 100 Canciones – Semana 51: del 24.12.2021 al 30.12.2021". Productores de Música de España. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  56. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 48, 2023" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  57. ↑ "Sia – Snowman". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  58. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  59. ↑ "Sia Chart History: Holiday Digital Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  60. ↑ "Sia Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  61. ↑ "Stream Top 100 - darabszám alapján - 2021" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  62. ↑ 2021년 Digital Chart [2021 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  63. ↑ "Digital Chart 2022". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  64. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Sia – Snowman". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  65. ↑ "French single certifications – Sia – Snowman" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  66. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Sia – Snowman" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  67. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Sia – Snowman". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  68. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 March 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Snowman in the search box.
  69. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Sia – Snowman" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  70. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Sia – Snowman". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  71. ↑ "British single certifications – Sia – Snowman". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  72. ↑ "American single certifications – Sia – Snowman". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  73. ↑ "Snowman". Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via Spotify.
  74. ↑ "Sia – Snowman (Snowed In & Slowed Down TikTok Remix)". Archived from the original on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via YouTube.
  75. ↑ Sia. "Snowman (Slowed Down & Snowed In Remix) - Single". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.