Sweet Nothing (song)
| "Sweet Nothing" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch | ||||||||||
| from the album 18 Months | ||||||||||
| Released | 14 October 2012 | |||||||||
| Format | Digital download, CD single | |||||||||
| Recorded | 2012 | |||||||||
| Genre | EDM | |||||||||
| Length |
3:33 (Album version) 5:54 (Extended mix) | |||||||||
| Label | Columbia, Deconstruction, Fly Eye | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Calvin Harris, Florence Welch, Kid Harpoon | |||||||||
| Producer(s) | Calvin Harris | |||||||||
| Calvin Harris singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Sweet Nothing" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter and producer Calvin Harris taken from his third studio album 18 Months (2012). It features vocals from Florence Welch, lead singer of the English indie rock band Florence and the Machine. Harris previously worked with the band in a remix of their single "Spectrum" (2012).
Later, while recording 18 Months, Harris expressed interest in working with Welch. He mentioned that it wasn't easy and he had to chase her, due to her schedule. Welch accepted the invitation and recorded "Sweet Nothing". It first premiered on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1, on 28 August 2012 and was later released as the fifth single from the album, on 14 October 2012.
"Sweet Nothing" is an EDM song, with love-strung vocals and a bouncy, ever-building beat. Lyrically, it talks about a romance with no depth, where the protagonist is receiving "sweet nothing". Critical reception of "Sweet Nothing" was positive, with many critics praising its production and Welch's vocals. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, marking Harris' first number-one single as main artist in the United Kingdom since his 2009 single, "I'm Not Alone". The song is also Florence Welch's first top-ten hit in the United States. 'Sweet Nothing' has been nominated for the Best Dance Recording at the 56th Grammy Awards.
The music video for the song, directed by Vincent Haycock, premiered on 20 September 2012. In the video, Welch works as a singer at a dingy bar/strip club, pouring the pain and frustration of her unfulfilled life and abusive relationship into every revealing and explosive performance. However, after recognizing the benefits of her seedy environment, she plots to rid herself of at least one problem.
Background and development
On 30 July 2012, Calvin Harris stated via his Twitter account that his third studio album would be released at the end of October 2012.[1] In an interview with 4Music, Harris explained that the album would be "like a compilation, a NOW album with me all over it."[2] While recording for his then-upcoming album, 18 Months, Calvin wanted to collaborate with Florence Welch.[3] He has previously worked with Florence and the Machine, her band, when he contributed a remix of their single 'Spectrum' (2012). It eventually peaked at number-one on the UK Singles Chart.[4]
He told MTV News that the thrill of the chase only made her vocal contribution that much more special.[3] Harris' history with Florence started far before the year and a half he dedicated to making the album. He further explained:
"I met Florence for the first time end of 2007 and the first time I ever saw her in my life, it was like weird corporate [party] and I walked into the green room and she was definitely drunk, getting a piggy back off someone in her band, like with a bottle of champagne, screaming. And I thought 'I like this girl.'... And in the years [since] she just actually grew up. I wasn't expecting that," he said. "I thought she was a cool kid, one of those people who come and go and then she just smashed it." He added, "Now Florence is Florence. She's cool as f--- as well."[3]
"It's more satisfying when you're pursuing something. It's like chasing a girl or something. It's way more satisfying if you put in a year's worth of effort of chasing and then you get the result, you get the vocal."
To record the track, "I really had to chase Welch and, once I got that vocal, I made one of the best records I’ve ever made," Harris explained.[5] He further explained, saying that, "With Florence, she was really busy at that time. She was in the middle of a tour and she had like three days to record something, so I wasn’t there, anything could've come back." Calvin was pressed for time when he got the call and finding out Florence would do the vocals on "Sweet Nothing." He hadn’t started working on the song and scrambled to give her a track to record the vocals on.[6] He commented to Rolling Stone that, "I didn’t think she’d do it. She seemed a really unattainable artist to reach for. I think she would’ve done it if the song was right and the people were right and it was all at the right time. I did a remix for her and she owed me a favor – I guess part of it was that."[7] "Sweet Nothing" first premiered on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1, on 28 August 2012[8] and was released as the fifth single from the album, on 14 October 2012.[4]
Composition
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"Sweet Nothing"
 A 22-second sample of "Sweet Nothing".
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"Sweet Nothing" was written by Calvin Harris, Kid Harpoon and Florence Welch, while production was handled by Harris.[9] He also serves as the arranger and plays all instruments of the track. The song was recorded by Harpoon and mastered by Simon Dave. Welch, from the band Florence and the Machine, is the vocalist of the track.[9] It is an electronic dance music song, following the familiar pattern of taking love-strung vocals and layering them over a bouncy, ever-building beat.[10] It also incorporates laser-like and ping beats.[11] The tale of "Sweet Nothing" is a romance with no depth. It is a relationship of "sweet nothing."[12] "You took my heart and you held it in your mouth/ And with a word all my love came rushing out/ And every whisper, it's the worst, emptied out by a single word," Welch begins the track.[12] It's not long before the recording kicks into high gear with a massive building dance floor ready chorus.[12]
The song's riff interpolates the one in Armand Van Helden's song Why Can't You Free Some Time.
Critical reception
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The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics. After its premiere on the radio, Robbie Daw of Idolator stated, "If there was any doubt as to whether Harris is the current king of frothy, radio-friendly dance pop on both sides of the Atlantic, one need only listen to this energetic jam."[8] Sangeeta Nambi of She Knows Entertainment gave the song a positive review, praising "Harris' electro-dance beats," calling it "hypnotizing and trance inducing." Nambi also praised Welch's "tamed" vocals, writing that, "Even though she's tame, we still feel her presence in the flecks of character she throws in while singing the mournful lyrics."[11] Chris Smith of Yahoo! UK called it "a pop pairing made in heaven," writing that, "The club friendly track features Calvin's latest knob twiddling genius that never seems to get old despite debuting in last year's monster anthem 'We Found Love'. Flo's vocal again lends itself effortlessly to the track - it's somehow difficult to understand why she hadn't ventured into this territory before. 'Sweet Nothing' manages to sound anthemic without needing the big drop."[13] Jason Lipshut of Billboard was very positive, writing that, "The bass glimmers underneath Welch's operatic chants, as the singer, freed momentarily from her well-oiled Machine, gets to re-imagine her career as a dance goddess. It delivers its irresistible throb via a special voice."[14] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian called it "the highlight of '18 Months'." Emily Mackay of NME agreed, writing that, "the highest point apart is Florence’s dance-diva turn on the p-p-p-p-powing power-house of ‘Sweet Nothing’."[4] Adam Pollock of Filter Magazine wrote that, "A thrilling guest vocal by Florence Welch adds an excitingly dark vibe to the album, which for the most part stays in booty-shaking mode."[15]
Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling "satisfying as a pop radio treat, but it leaves fans hoping for something just a little deeper and more memorable."[12] He criticized the song for "failing to go much further beyond the arresting opening," however he wrote that "Calvin Harris' disco-inflected pop remains irresistible."[12] Tim Sendra of Allmusic was mixed, writing that "Florence Welch’s desperate wail that pushes is over the top."[16] Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly agreed, writing that "Welch's banshee wail gets buried under the laser-gun peals of 'Sweet Nothing'."[17] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy felt that the song "lacked originality and felt more like attempt to fit in rather than stand out."[18]
Commercial performance
UK
In the UK midweeks charts, "Sweet Nothing" was ahead of Swedish House Mafia, knocking their track "Don't You Worry Child" into second place.[19] On 21 October 2012, the single topped the UK Singles Chart, becoming their second number one single in three months, following Harris's remix of Florence and the Machine's 'Spectrum (Say My Name)' in topping the UK chart.[20] It is also Harris' fifth number one single in the UK either as a solo or featured artist.[20] On 27 October 2012, the song dropped to number 3.[21] In its third week, it fell to number 6.[22]
Oceania
The song was a huge success in Australia, debuting at number 2 on the ARIA Charts week of 28 October 2012. In its second week, it remained at number 2, while in its third week, it fell only to number 2. It remained to further weeks at the top-ten, before falling on the charts. In its twelfth week, the song gave a climb from number 36 to number 25.[23] "Sweet Nothing" was certified 2x Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 140,000 copies.[24] In New Zealand, the song repeated the same success, debuting at number 2 on the RIANZ chart week of 22 October 2012. It fell to number 4, in its second week, but climbed to number 3, in its third week. It spent 4 further weeks inside the top-ten. After two weeks out of the top-twenty, "Sweet Nothing" climbed to number 19, in its twelfth week, being certified "Platinum" by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.[25]
United States
"Sweet Nothing" debuted at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, on the week of 3 November 2012.[26] After three weeks out of the charts, the song re-entered at number 97, on the week of 1 December 2012.[27] In its third week, it jumped to number 82, while in its fourth week, it climbed to number 58.[28] That same week, it debuted on the Pop Songs chart at number 32.[28] In its sixth week, the single entered the top-forty, climbing to number 33.[29] After a fall to number 40, the song jumped to number 24, also peaking at number 20 on the Pop Songs chart.[30] In its tenth week, the song reached number 20 on the Hot 100,[29] becoming Harris' third top-twenty single. In its twelfth week, the song peaked at number 10, becoming his first top 10 hit as lead performer in the country and also Florence Welch's first US top 10 hit.[31] As of July 2013, the song has sold over 1,216,000 copies in the United States.[32]
Music video
On 23 August, Harris announced via Facebook that he was filming the music video for "Sweet Nothing" with Florence and the Machine.[33] The video was filmed over two days at a working men's club in Dalston, London, under the direction of Vincent Haycock[34] who also directed Harris' videos for "Flashback", "Bounce" and "Feel So Close". The exterior shots were filmed close to Stepney Methodist Church Bus Stop on Commercial Road, Limehouse, London. The music video premiered on 20 September 2012 through Harris' YouTube VEVO channel.[35] The video stars Harris and Welch, as well as English actors Leo Gregory[36] and Kianoush Joseph.[37]
Storyline
The video begins with Gregory sitting in a restaurant after breaking up with Welch. As he leaves the restaurant he passes his food to a hooded black man, who becomes confused as to why Gregory gave it to him. Gregory gets stopped by a group of men hired to beat him by Calvin Harris as revenge after listening to Florence Welch's story of her and Gregory's violent relationship and breakup. He tries to fight back, resulting in an even more severe beating. While he gets brutally beaten, Welch also "feels" the pain as she sings on the stage. There are also scenes of Gregory fighting with his girlfriend and his girlfriend telling her story to Calvin Harris. Meanwhile, Welch is seen in a suit onstage at a nightclub where she is performing a striptease. Harris watches as Florence takes off her suit and tie and frees her hair from its pony tail. Welch continues her angry and energetic dancing as the video ends, along with the flashbacks, with Gregory still being assaulted by the men, and Gregory's girlfriend still distraught in the bathroom.[38]
Tracklist and formats
German CD Single
- "Sweet Nothing" 3:32
- "Sweet Nothing" (Tiësto Remix) 5:08
Digital EP
- "Sweet Nothing" (Diplo and Grandtheft Remix) 3:32
- "Sweet Nothing" (Tiësto Remix) 5:08
- "Sweet Nothing" (Burns Remix) 4:00
- "Sweet Nothing" (Dirtyloud Remix) 4:02
- "Sweet Nothing" (Qulinez Remix) 6:14