Snowman (Sia song)

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"Snowman"
Promotional single by Sia
from the album Everyday Is Christmas
Released9 November 2017
Length2:45
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Greg Kurstin

"Snowman" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Sia. It was released on 9 November 2017 as the first and only promo single from Sia's eighth studio album and first Christmas album, Everyday Is Christmas. The song became popular in December 2020 following a TikTok challenge.[1]

Background, 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 a promotional single from Everyday Is Christmas.[2][3]

Sia performed "Snowman" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,[4] and on the finale of the fifteenth season of American reality TV series The Voice.[5]

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.[1] Following the popularity on TikTok, Sia released a 'Snowed In & Slowed Down TikTok Remix' of the track, which replicates the sound which users had been using on TikTok.[6]

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.[7] Production on the track was handled solely by Kurstin.[8] The song is a midtempo, 60's-inspired,[9] piano-driven, crisp, swaying ballad[10] over which Sia's vocals, described as "calm but energetic" by mxdwn, tell a snowman not to cry as he will melt.[11][12] The track runs for a length of 2 minutes and 45 seconds.[13]

Critical reception[]

Slant Magazine described the song as a "clever ode to fleeting romance".[14] 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."[15]

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."[6]

In 2020, Brandon Funston of The Athletic listed "Snowman" as the 85th best Christmas song of all-time.[16]

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.[17] Following its rise in popularity in 2020, the track reached the top 50 in Australia,[18] Canada,[19] France[20] and Germany,[21] among others. It also peaked at number 25 and number 18 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S respectively,[22][23] and reached number 1 on the Finnish Singles Chart,[24] becoming Sia's first chart-topping hit in the country.[25]

Music video[]

On 30 October 2020, the claymation music video for "Snowman", directed by Lior Molcho, premiered on YouTube.[26]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]

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

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Snowman"
Chart (2017–2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 35
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27] 20
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[28] 4
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 20
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] 12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 1
France (SNEP)[20] 40
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 20
Global 200 (Billboard)[23] 25
Billboard Global Excl. U.S.[22] 18
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[30] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 40
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 27
Norway (VG-lista)[34] 3
Portugal (AFP)[35] 55
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[36] 13
South Korea (Gaon)[37] 15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[40] 78
US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)[41] 3

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[42] Gold 45,000double-dagger

double-dagger 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
[43]
9 December 2020 Video streaming Snowed In & Slowed Down TikTok Remix [44][6]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
  2. ^ @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.
  3. ^ @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.
  4. ^ "Sia Unwraps a Special Holiday Performance of 'Snowman' | The Ellen Show on YouTube".
  5. ^ ""Don't miss Sia performing "Snowman"... | Sia on Twitter".
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Listen to Sia's remix of her 2018 track, 'Snowman'". NME. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  7. ^ Furler, Sia; Kurstin, Greg. "Snowman - Digital Sheet Music". MusicNotes. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Credits, Everyday Is Christmas by Sia | TIDAL". Archived from the original on 30 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Thank God Sia is doing Christmas music her way". The FADER. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Listen to Sia's Ballad 'Snowman' from Forthcoming Holiday Album". Archived from the original on 30 March 2021.
  13. ^ Everyday Is Christmas (Deluxe Edition), archived from the original on 30 November 2020, retrieved 15 December 2020
  14. ^ Camp, Alexa. "Review: Sia, Everyday Is Christmas". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Holiday Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sia Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "Top Albums". SNEP (in French). Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Sia – Snowman" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sia - BILLBOARD GLOBAL EXCL. U.S. - Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sia Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sia: Snowman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Suomen Virallinen Lista". Musiikkituottajat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Sia - Snowman [Official Video] - YouTube". Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Sia – Snowman" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sia – Snowman" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  29. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202052,53 into search. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sia – Snowman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  34. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 52, 2020". VG-lista. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Sia – Snowman". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  36. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202052,53 into search. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  37. ^ "2018년 52주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 53". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  39. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Sia – Snowman". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  41. ^ "Sia Chart History: Holiday Digital Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  42. ^ "Danish single certifications – Sia – Snowman". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 19 July 2021. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2021 to obtain certification.
  43. ^ "Snowman". Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via Spotify.
  44. ^ "Sia – Snowman (Snowed In & Slowed Down TikTok Remix)". Archived from the original on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via YouTube.
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