"Sparrow" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter

Emeli Sandé Adele Emily Sandé ( ; previously Gouraguine; born 10 March 1987), known professionally as Emeli Sandé, is a British singer and songwriter. Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England and raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Sandé rose t ...

. It was released on 15 March 2019 by

Virgin EMI Records Virgin EMI Records was a British record label owned by the Universal Music Group that was formed in 2013. In June 2020, the label was rebranded as EMI Records, and operates Virgin Records as an imprint of the new EMI Records. History Virgin ...

as the lead single from her third studio album, ''

Real Life Real life is a phrase used originally in literature to distinguish between the real world and fictional, virtual or idealized worlds, and in acting to distinguish between actors and the Character (arts), characters they portray. It has become a ...

''. "Sparrow" was written by Sandé primarily, with Laidi Saliasi credited as an additional songwriter. The track was produced by percussionist Troy Miller, with Sandé serving as a co-producer. The song, a

power ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner. Balla ...

with

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

influences, features lyrics which Sandé described as being inspired by the "intoxicating positivity" of Nigerian musician

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerians, Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre t ...

Background and recording

Sandé sent demos of the song to producer Troy Miller, who she was familiar with due to his work with British musician Laura Mvula. Sandé referred to wanting a "militant, marching beat" prominent in the track. Miller wrote the

string String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

arrangements for "Sparrow", and recorded the instrumentation with the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...

in London.

Release

The track was first announced through Sandé's

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account on 11 March 2019, four days prior to release. "Sparrow" was released on 15 March 2019 through British record label

, as the lead single from Sandé's upcoming third studio album. It was sent to radio formats that same day, and premiered through Zoe Ball's breakfast radio show on

BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the List of most-listened-to radio programs, most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 14 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the sta ...

. On the same day, Sandé performed "Sparrow" live on 15 March 2019 at Elstree Studios for the charity

telethon A telethon (a portmanteau of "television" and "marathon") is a televised fundraising event that lasts many hours or days, the purpose of which is to raise money for a charitable, political or other cause. Most telethons feature heavy solicitatio ...

event

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Music video

The music video for "Sparrow" was released on 26 March 2019. The video, directed by Sarah McColgan and edited by Ernie Gilbert, was shot in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. According to ''

Elle Elle may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Elle (magazine), ''Elle'' (magazine), a fashion publication ** Elle Style Awards * Elle (India), ''Elle'' (India), the Indian edition * Elle (film), ''Elle'' (film), a 2016 French film * ''Elle: ...

'', the video "explores themes of strength, movement and freedom".

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from

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, provided by

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

. * Emeli Sandé – lead vocals, music production * Troy Miller – music production, recording engineering, mix engineering, vocal arrangement, string arrangement, drums, piano,

Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...

Moog Taurus The Moog Taurus is a foot-operated analog synthesizer designed and manufactured by Moog Music. It was originally conceived as a part of the Constellation series of synthesizers. The initial Taurus I was manufactured from 1975 to 1981; a less pop ...

, baritone guitar * Dani Spragg – recording engineering * Robbie Nelson – recording engineering * Jonathan Allen – recording engineering * Miles Showell – mastering * Priscilla Jones-Campbell – background vocals, choir * Subrina McCalla – background vocals * Adeola Shyllon – background vocals * Joy Farruka – choir * Cherri Kirton – choir * Phebe Edwards – choir * Marsha Morrison – choir * Heavily Sapong – choir * James Thompson – choir * Xavier Barnet – choir * Jaz Ellington – choir * Clare Duckworth – violin * Ginette Decuyper – violin * Laura Dixon – violin * Gerald Gregory – violin * Maxine Kwok-Adams – violin * Claire Parfitt – violin * Sylvain Vasseur – violin * Julian Gil Rodriguez – violin * Thomas Norris – violin * Matthew Gardner – violin * Belinda Mcfarlane – violin * Iwona Muszynska – violin * Csilla Pogany – violin * Edward Vanderspar – viola * Malcolm Johnston – viola * Anna Bastow – viola * German Clavijo – viola * Carol Ella – viola * Robert Turner – viola * Rebecca Gilliver – cello * Alastair Blayden – cello * Noel Bradshaw – cello * Eve-Marie Caravassilis – cello * Daniel Gardner – cello * Hilary Jones – cello * Colin Paris – double bass * Patrick Laurence – double bass * Matthew Gibson – double bass

Charts

Release history

References

External links

* {{Emeli Sandé 2019 songs 2019 singles 2010s ballads Emeli Sandé songs Pop ballads Soul ballads Torch songs Virgin EMI Records singles Songs written by Emeli Sandé