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"Sitting on Top of the World" is a song by Australian pop singer and songwriter Delta Goodrem. It was sent to Australian
contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...
on 5 April 2012. "Sitting on Top of the World" was released physically and digitally on 13 April 2012. It peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart and marked the return of Goodrem to multi-platinum certified singles since " Predictable" in 2003.


Background and composition

The release of "Sitting on Top of the World" was much anticipated. This was mostly due to the four years since Goodrem's last solo single, " I Can't Break It to My Heart" (2008). "Sitting on Top of the World" is about Goodrem "feeling like herself" again and feeling connected to the world through music/friendship. "Sitting on Top of the World" was written by Goodrem and co-written and produced by
John Shanks John Matthew Shanks (born December 18, 1964) is an American songwriter, record producer and guitarist. Early life and education John Matthew Shanks was born in New York City. Shanks moved to Los Angeles when he was 17 years old. He was in a ban ...
. Lyrically, it talks about stars aligning and being together as one. "So get up, stand up / What you waiting for?" she happily commands. "We gotta live life, give in to begin / We've got a love like no one knows!" she sings on the
power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...
track.


Reception

Brad Stern wrote for an
MTV Buzzworthy MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
article that the song is "a swoon-filled, carefree pop ditty." In another review, Stern wrote for MuuMuse that "probably the most fun, feel good, warm 'n' fuzzy on the inside bout of euphoria you'll feel since that last time you were tripping out on MDMA." He also praised her "sublime vocals", the "powerhouse instrumentation" and called it "an absolutely massive smash." In Australia, "Sitting on Top of the World" debuted and peaked at number two on the
ARIA Charts The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
, being held off the top spot by Carly Rae Jepsen's " Call Me Maybe". It was certified double platinum by the
Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade association representing the Australian recording industry which was established in the 1970s by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing th ...
(ARIA) for shipments of 140,000 copies. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 38 and moved to number 23 in its second week.


Controversy

A striking similarity between "Sitting on Top of the World" and
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core member S ...
's song "
Rebellion (Lies) "Rebellion (Lies)" is a song by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. It was the fourth single released from the band's debut album, ''Funeral''. The single was released in both CD and DVD formats with the song "Brazil" as the B-side. The singl ...
" was noted by some in the Australian media.


Promotion


Music video

The official music video for "Sitting on Top of the World" was released on 6 April 2012 on
Vevo Vevo ( , an abbreviation for "Video Evolution", stylized as VEVO until 2013) is an American multinational video hosting service, best known for providing music videos to YouTube. The service is also available as an app on selected smart TVs, di ...
. It is set in various places in
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, Australia. It is mostly a continuation on the ideas Goodrem used in the " A Little Too Late", " In This Life" and " Out of the Blue" music videos of her posing and dancing with her friends and playing her piano in a fun way and otherwise dancing in a hippie style. Goodrem herself stated in the behind-the-scenes video on
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that it is about how you may get distracted from your main focus in life, but you will always end up where you belong in the end. About "seeing signs, wanting to be in the right place at the right time". The balloons symbolise various paths she has taken over her own life and listeners have taken in their own lives. The video features Goodrem and a lot of dancers twirling around in a giant field like fanciful forest creatures while holding balloons. At one point, she plays a piano while standing in black stilettos and wearing a bedazzled leather jacket. Brad Stern from
MTV News MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
wrote that the video "is equally amazing, featuring Goodrem and a troupe of happy-go-lucky ladies and gents dancing around with balloons in hands."


Live performances

Goodrem performed "Sitting on Top of the World" for the first time during the Logie Awards on 15 April 2012. The singer made several instore appearances to promote the single in Melbourne,
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
,
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
and
Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...
. She also performed "Sitting on Top of the World" on the ''
Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...
'' show and then performed the single and "In This Life" at the first round of the
2012 State of Origin series The 2012 State of Origin series was the 31st time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. For the fourth successive year a Queensland victor ...
.


Awards

"Sitting on Top of the World" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2012 ARIA Music Awards.


Track listings

*Digital download # "Sitting on Top of the World" – 3:57 *CD single # "Sitting on Top of the World" – 3:57 # "Uncovered" – 4:02 *Digital EP # "Sitting on Top of the World" – 3:57 # "Uncovered" – 4:02 # "Sitting on Top of the World" (7th Heaven Club Mix) - 7:42 # "Sitting on Top of the World" (7th Heaven Radio Edit) - 4:12


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Release history


References

{{Delta Goodrem singles 2012 singles Delta Goodrem songs Songs written by Delta Goodrem Songs written by John Shanks 2012 songs Song recordings produced by John Shanks