White Flag (Dido song)
"White Flag" | ||||
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Single by Dido | ||||
from the album Life for Rent | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 7 July 2003 | |||
Studio | The Church (London, England) | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Dido singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"White Flag" on YouTube |
"White Flag" is a song by English singer-songwriter Dido, released as the lead single from her second studio album. Life for Rent. The song was first released to US radio on 7 July 2003 and was issued in the United Kingdom as a physical single on 1 September 2003. The song performed well on record charts around the world, peaking at number one in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Portugal. In Dido's native UK, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, and in the United States, it climbed to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, features actor David Boreanaz as Dido's love interest.
"White Flag" was nominated for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 46th Grammy Awards but lost to Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful". It won the Best British Single at the 2004 Brit Awards. The song has featured in several TV series including Smallville, The Inbetweeners, Medium, The Sopranos, Tru Calling, Cold Case, Winners & Losers, as well as in the films Perfect Stranger, Mommy and Bad Education. Carly Rae Jepsen performed a cover version of the song on Canadian Idol. "White Flag" ranked at number 317 on Blender's list "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[1]
Background and composition[]
"White Flag" was written and produced by Dido, Rick Nowels, and Rollo Armstrong.[2] In the song, the protagonist is unwilling to give up, even if she knows her relationship is over.[3]
"White Flag" features "multi-layered" sound, delicate piano outro, and strings.[3] The majority of the song is in the key of D minor, but constantly alternates between that key and its relative major, F major.[4] The tempo is 90 beats per minute, and Dido's vocals range from the low note of A3 to the high note of C5.[5]
Critical reception[]
David Jeffries from AllMusic praised "Dido's sweet delivery" and stated that "It’s all very beautiful, the perfect soundtrack for weeping, and the definition of "wistful" in a song."[3] Derryck Strachan wrote for BBC Music that the song is "engaging to the extent that you could easily be humming along without it registering in your brain. There's something unconscious, pleasantly innocuous about it. It's comfort food for the ears and it could be easily on a Tom Hanks–Meg Ryan romantic comedy."[6] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian wrote that the song "is a superb, confidently written pop song, possessed of a chorus that is impossible to dislodge from your memory without the aid of hypnotherapy."[7]
Awards and success[]
The song was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2004 Grammy Awards, but lost to Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful".[8] The song won the award for "Best Single" at the 2004 BRIT Awards.[9]
Music video[]
The music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa and features actor David Boreanaz as Dido's love interest.[10]
The video tells a story about a relationship that is over, but where Dido is obviously still smitten with her ex, who is oblivious of her. They have numerous occasions where they are near each other without him noticing. Dido is clearly still not over him, while he doesn't seem to really notice she is there. At the end of the video, they return to their apartments and Dido's room is filled with photos of him and, in a twist ending, his apartment is also filled with Dido's photos (showing he's still as much in love with her as well.) The screen rotates throughout the entirety of the video, never standing still. The song's opening is also cut out entirely from the video.[11]
Track listings[]
European and Japanese CD single[12][13]
European 12-inch single[14]
US promo CD[15]
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US 7-inch single[16]
Australian CD single[17]
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Credits and personnel[]
Credits are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.[12]
Studios
- Recorded and mixed at The Church (London, England)
- Additional recording at The Ark (Lincolnshire, England)
- Strings recorded at Angel Studios (London, England)
- Mastered at Metropolis Studios (London, England)
Personnel
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Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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Certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[73] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[74] | Gold | 15,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[75] | Gold | 25,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[76] | Gold | 150,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[77] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 35,000![]() |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[78] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[79] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[80] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[81] | Platinum | 600,000![]() |
United States (RIAA)[82] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history[]
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | 7 July 2003 |
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|
[83] |
11 August 2003 | Contemporary hit radio | [84] | ||
United Kingdom | 1 September 2003 |
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[85] | |
Australia | 15 September 2003 | CD | [86] |
References[]
- ^ The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 301 – 350
- ^ "Dido – Life for Rent (album review) – Sputnikmusic". 21 June 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ a b c Jeffries, David. "White Flag – AllMusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ It is actually in the Aeolian mode, because there is no dominant chord, A major.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag Digital Sheet Music". Music Notes. 10 October 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ Strachan, Derryck (20 June 2003). "Review of Dido – Life for Rent". BBC. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (26 September 2003). "Dido "Life For Rent"". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ "Brits 2004: The winners". BBC News. BBC. 17 February 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Dido: White Flag". IMDb. September 2003.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag – YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ a b White Flag (European CD single liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2003. 82876 560912.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ White Flag (Japanese CD single liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, BMG Japan. 2003. BVCA-29605.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ White Flag (European 12-inch single vinyl disc). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2003. 82876546021.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ White Flag (US promo CD liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2003. 82876-53913-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ White Flag (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Dido. Arista Records. 2003. 82876546021.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ White Flag (Australian CD single liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2003. 82876546022.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ "Dido – White Flag". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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- ^ Dido — White Flag. Tophit. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 3 October 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Rádio 2004" (in Czech). IFPI. Archived from the original on 19 February 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag". Tracklisten.
- ^ "Darkness, Black Eyed Peas Lead U.K. Charts". Billboard. 22 September 2003. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Dido: White Flag" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 30/11–06/12" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 9 December 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2020. See Best Position column.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – White Flag". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
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- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 48, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
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- ^ "Dido – White Flag". VG-lista.
- ^ "Hit of the World: Portugal" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115 no. 41. 11 October 2003. p. 89. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 Editia 2, saptamina 12.01 – 18.01, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Dido – White Flag" Canciones Top 50.
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- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
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- ^ "Dido Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Dido Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Dido Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Dido Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Dido Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "2003 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2003" (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2003" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 2003" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2003)". Tophit. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Europe's Top Singles of 2003" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115 no. 52. 27 December 2003. p. 147. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2003" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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- ^ "Best of Singles 2003". IRMA. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "2003 Dutch Single Chart" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
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- ^ "End of Year Charts 2003". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2003" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2003" (in German). Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2004" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2004". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "2004 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 116 no. 52. 25 December 2004. p. YE-74. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "2004 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 116 no. 52. 25 December 2004. p. YE-74. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2005" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Dido – White Flag" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2003". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dido; 'White Flag')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Dido – White Flag" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "White Flag" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Dido; 'White Flag')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British single certifications – Dido – White Flag". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American single certifications – Dido – White Flag". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1511. 4 July 2003. p. 26. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1516. 8 August 2003. p. 26. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Dido Waves 'White Flag'". NME. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 15th September 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 15 September 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
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