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Skinny Love

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"Skinny Love" is a song written by American musician and songwriter Justin Vernon. It was originally released by the indie folk band Bon Iver, of which Vernon is a member, in 2007. A cover version by the British vocalist Birdy was released in 2011. Both versions charted internationally and have been featured in multiple television and film soundtracks. The song has since become a popular tune for various singing competition shows around the anglophone world.[1]

"Skinny Love"
Single by Bon Iver
from the album For Emma, Forever Ago
Released28 April 2008 (2008-04-28)
RecordedNovember 2006 – February 2007
GenreIndie folk
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)Justin Vernon
Bon Iver singles chronology
"Skinny Love"
(2008) 		"For Emma"
(2008)

Background

"Skinny Love" was the first single released from Bon Iver's 2007 début album For Emma, Forever Ago in America. The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2008. While "Skinny Love" has been considered a reference to singer Justin Vernon's relationship with former girlfriend Christy Smith,[2] Vernon countered this as "not entirely accurate [...] it's about that time in a relationship that I was going through; you're in a relationship because you need help, but that's not necessarily why you should be in a relationship. And that's skinny."[3]

The song was used in the second episode of Grey's Anatomy's fifth season. The digital download track "Skinny Love" was selected to be iTunes (UK) single of the week and was available for free during that time, as well as being featured as the track of the day on National Public Radio. On 6 October 2008, "Skinny Love" was featured in the NBC series Chuck (season 2, episode 3).[4][5] On 11 December 2008, Bon Iver performed "Skinny Love" on the Late Show with David Letterman.[6] On 26 January 2009, "Skinny Love" was announced at #21 by the Australian national radio station Triple J in the annual Hottest 100 countdown of the previous year's best songs.[7] In July 2009, "Skinny Love" was announced at #92 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of All Time countdown.[8] In June 2013, "Skinny Love" was announced at #16 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of the Last 20 Years countdown.[9]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Skinny Love"3:59

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[14] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Birdy version

"Skinny Love"
 
Single by Birdy
from the album Birdy
Released30 January 2011 (2011-01-30)
Recorded2010
GenrePiano ballad
Length3:22
Label
Songwriter(s)Justin Vernon
Producer(s)Alex H. N. Gilbert
Birdy singles chronology
"Skinny Love"
(2011) 		"Shelter"
(2011)

British musician Birdy released a cover version of the song in 2011 as her debut single. The single has been B-listed on Xfm and is a particular favourite with listeners of Shak's overnight show. The song was also chosen as "Record of The Week"[15] by UK radio DJ Fearne Cotton. This version was used in Season 2 Episode 21 of The Vampire Diaries and in Season 1 Episode 1 of Prisoners' Wives.

The song also skyrocketed in Australian popularity within the ARIA Charts' top ten, partly because of Bella Ferraro, an X Factor 2012 Top Four contestant who performed the song at the X Factor auditions aired in Australia in August 2012. The song reached number two on the ARIA Singles Chart in September, kept off the number-one spot by Guy Sebastian's song "Battle Scars" for three weeks.[16] A similar event took place in New Zealand in May 2013 after X Factor winner Jackie Thomas performed the song at her audition. The song entered the top 40 for the first time and reached number two on the RIANZ chart following the broadcast, behind Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines".[17]

In 2011, "Skinny Love" sold 259,000 copies in the UK, becoming the third biggest selling rock single of that year.[18] As of August 2016, the song had sold 744,502 copies in the UK.[19]

Birdy's version of the song was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on 11 February 2014.[20]

Music videos

There are three music videos for this single. The first music video for the song was uploaded to YouTube on 1 April 2011.[21] It features Birdy playing the piano of walking in a dark house. The second music video was shot in one take and framed on Birdy's face. The camera changes focus as she sings. It was uploaded on 14 October 2011.[22] The third music video was uploaded on 15 January 2014.[23]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Skinny Love"3:22

Charts

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019) Position
Australia (ARIA)[58] 51

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[59] 7× Platinum 490,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[60] Platinum 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[61] Gold 40,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[62] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[63] Platinum 150,000*
Italy (FIMI)[64] Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] 2× Platinum 30,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] 2× Platinum 744,502[19]
United States (RIAA)[68] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United Kingdom 30 January 2011[69] Digital download Atlantic Records

References

  1. ^ Clayton, Richard (27 May 2016). "The Life of a Song: 'Skinny Love'". www.ft.com. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  2. ^ Grayson Haver Currin (27 July 2011). "Bon Iver's long wager". Indy Week. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. ^ Grayson Currin (13 June 2011). "Interviews: Bon Iver". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185873/soundtrack
  5. ^ "BON IVER: Anywhere From Here". Volume One magazine. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009.
  6. ^ Letterman, David; indiemusicfilter. "The Late Show Musical Guest Bon Iver 12/11/08 HQ Video". Vodpod.com. Late Show with David Letterman. Archived from the original (video) on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Kings of Leon top Triple J's Hottest 100". The Courier-Mail. 25 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Countdown | Hottest 100 – Of All Time | triple j". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Countdown | Twenty Years of Triple J's Hottest 100 | triple j". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Bon Iver – Skinny Love". Tracklisten.
  11. ^ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100 – 19th January 2013 The Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  13. ^ "British single certifications – Bon Iver – Skinny Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 February 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Skinny Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Bon Iver – Skinny Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  15. ^ River Studios News, 2011 Archived 14 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Single Top 50 09/09/2012". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Single Top 50 03/06/2013". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  18. ^ "The Top 20 rock singles and albums of 2011 revealed". The Official Charts Company. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Birdy Reveals How She Flew From Sync Queen To Sales Queen". Music Week. Intent Media. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  20. ^ http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases
  21. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love [Official Music Video". YouTube. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love [One Take Music Video]". YouTube. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love [One Take Music Video]". YouTube. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  24. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  25. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  26. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  27. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  28. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Skinny Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  33. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Birdy" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  34. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  35. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love". Top 40 Singles.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  37. ^ "Birdy – Skinny Love". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  39. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  40. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2011". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  43. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2011". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2011" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  45. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  46. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2012". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  48. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  49. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2012" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  50. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  51. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2012" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  52. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2012 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  53. ^ "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  54. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2013". Ultratop. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  55. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  56. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  57. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  58. ^ "2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  59. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  60. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2012". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  61. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Birdy – Skinny Love". Music Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  62. ^ "Birdy "Skinny Love"". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  63. ^ "French single certifications – Birdy – Skinny Love" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  64. ^ "Italian single certifications – Birdy – Skinny Love" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 17 May 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Skinny Love" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  65. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Birdy – Skinny Love". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  66. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Skinny Love')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  67. ^ "British single certifications – Birdy – Skinny Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 November 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Skinny Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  68. ^ "American single certifications – Birdy – Skinny Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  69. ^ "Skinny Love – Single by Birdy www.amazon.co.uk/". Amazon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
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