Firework (song)

"Firework" is a 2010 song by Katy Perry from her second major-label album, Teenage Dream. It was released on October 26, 2010. The song received a good review by music critics and claimed the top spot on Billboard Hot 100.[1] The single hit top 5 on twenty charts worldwide. It reached the top three in most of the countries where it charted, including Australia and the UK. It topped charts in the US, Canada, and New Zealand. In the US, it was Perry's fourth number-one song altogether and the third in a streak of five number-ones. At the 2012 Grammy Awards, "Firework" was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.[2]

"Firework"
Song by Katy Perry
from Teenage Dream"
ReleasedOctober 26, 2010
Recorded2009 at the Roc the Mic Studios in New York City
GenreDance-pop
Length3:47
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Katy Perry singles chronology
""Teenage Dream"
(2010)
Firework ""E.T."
(2011)
"Firework" at YouTube

The song was certified Diamond in the US for shipments of over 10 million copies in that country alone.[3]

Background

"Firework" was written by Perry, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm, and Ester Dean while produced by Stargate and Sandy Vee at Soapbox Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It was recorded at Roc the Mic Studios in New York City. It was mixed at The Bunker Studios by Vee. Audio engineering was done by Carlos Oyandel and Damien Lewis. All instruments were done by Stargate and Vee. Lead and background vocals were provided by Perry. Perry said that "Firework" is her favorite song on Teenage Dream.[4]

Music video

Development and release

The music video was part of a partnership with European telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom, which ran competitions to recruit fans for the video.[5] Katy Perry started filming it on September 28, 2010.[6] Directed by Dave Meyers and choreographed by Natricia Bernard, it was shot in Budapest.[7] The official teaser was released on October 15, 2010, and the open casting call received a record 38,000 applicants.[8][9] Perry dedicated the video to the It Gets Better Project.[10] It was released on TwitVid, DirectLyrics, and Youku on October 28, 2010, and premiered on YouTube the same day. By January 2024, it had over 1.4 billion views.[11]

Synopsis

The video begins with Perry looking down at the city from a balcony, singing as fireworks explode from her soul.[12] These fireworks inspire young people around the city to overcome their fears. A boy stops his parents’ fight to protect his sister, a shy girl at a pool party gains the courage to join in, a leukemia patient bravely walks outside despite losing her hair, a closeted gay teen kisses his friend at a club, and a young performer uses magic to escape muggers. Eventually, the youth gather at Buda Castle, dancing and lighting up the night with their fireworks, as the camera pans up to the sky.

Reception

"Firework" was ranked No. 1 on MuchMusic's top 50 videos of 2010.[13] The video won Video of the Year at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards and was also nominated for Best Female Video and Best Video with a Message.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2010–2012) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[16] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[18] 5
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 1
Illegal chart entered CIS 59
Croatia International Airplay (HRT)[20] 6
Czech Republic (IFPI)[21] 4
Illegal chart entered Czechdigital 95
Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 14
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[23] 9
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 18
France (SNEP)[25] 7
France Download (SNEP)[26] 5
France Airplay (SNEP)[27] 1
Germany (Media Control AG)[28] 4
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[29] 2
Illegal chart entered Ireland2 2
Illegal chart entered Israelairplay 3
Italy (FIMI)[30] 4
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[31] 27
Luxembourg Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[32] 3
Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay)[33] 4
Mexico Anglo (Monitor Latino)[34] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 8
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[36] 6
New Zealand (RIANZ)[37] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[38] 2
Illegal chart entered Poland 3
Illegal chart entered Portugaldigitalsongs 3
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[39] 15
Illegal chart entered Russia 69
Scotland (The Official Charts Company)[40] 3
Slovakia (IFPI)[41] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] 14
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 4
Switzerland (Media Control AG)[44] 3
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[45] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[46] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[47] 1
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[48] 1
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[49] 1
Illegal chart entered Billboarddanceairplay 1
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[50] 1
US Rhythmic Songs (Billboard)[51] 5
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[52] 1
Chart (2013) Peak
position
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[53] 89

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
Australia (ARIA)[54] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[55] 88
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[56] 94
Ireland (IRMA)[57] 9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[58] 75
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[59] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[60] 19
Chart (2011) Position
Australia (ARIA)[61] 28
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[62] 37
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[63] 57
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[64] 32
Brazil (Crowley)[65] 14
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[66] 8
Croatia International Airplay (HRT)[20] 50
France (SNEP)[67] 34
Germany (Official German Charts)[68] 53
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[69] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[70] 38
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[71] 31
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[72] 88
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[73] 32
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[74] 43
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[75] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[76] 65
US Billboard Hot 100[77] 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[78] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[79] 6
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[80] 19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[81] 8
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[82] 29
Chart (2012) Position
France (SNEP)[83] 133
UK Singles (OCC)[84] 187

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019) Position
Australia (ARIA)[85] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[86] 43

All-time charts

Chart (1958–2018) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[87] 205

Certifications

Template:Certification Table Separator
Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[88] 16× Platinum 1,120,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[89] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Belgium (BEA)[90] Gold Expression error: Missing operand for *.*
Brazil (ABPD)[91] Diamond Expression error: Missing operand for *.
Canada (Music Canada)[92] Diamond 100,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[93] Platinum Expression error: Missing operand for *.
France 140,000[94]
Germany (BVMI)[95] Platinum 300,000
Greece (IFPI Greece)[96] Gold  
Italy (FIMI)[97] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[98] Gold 100,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[99] Platinum+Gold Expression error: Missing operand for *.*
New Zealand (RIANZ)[100] 4× Platinum 60,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[101] 4× Platinum 40,000
Portugal (AFP)[102] Gold 10,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[103] Platinum 40,000
Sweden (GLF)[104] Platinum 20,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[105] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[106] 4× Platinum 2,400,000
United States (RIAA)[107] 12× Platinum 12,000,000
Canada (Music Canada)[108] Gold Expression error: Missing operand for *.*

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

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Firework"
Region Date Format Version(s) Label Ref.
United States October 26, 2010 Contemporary hit radio Original Capitol [109]
United Kingdom November 2, 2010 Digital download [110]
United States November 16, 2010 Rhythmic contemporary radio [109]
November 22, 2010 Hot adult contemporary radio [111]
United Kingdom December 2, 2010 CD
  • Original
  • Instrumental
[112]
Germany December 3, 2010 [113]
France January 24, 2011 Original [114]

Firework (song) Media

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