Faded (Alan Walker song)

"Faded"
Single by Alan Walker
Released 3 December 2015
Format
Recorded 2015
Genre EDM
Length 3:33
Label Mer Musikk
Writer(s)
  • Alan Walker
  • Jesper Borgen
  • Anders Froen
  • Gunnar Greve Pettersen
Producer(s)
  • Alan Walker
  • Jesper Borgen
  • Mood Melodies
Alan Walker singles chronology
"Force"
(2015)		 "Faded"
(2015)

"Faded" is a 2015 electronic ballad by British-born Norwegian EDM artist Alan Walker, released on 3 December 2015. The song has become a massive success in 2016, peaking in the top ten in most of the countries it charted in, and reached the summit in more than ten.

Walker debuted a live performance of "Faded" with vocalist Iselin Solheim and string support on 1 March 2016 at X Games Oslo 2016.[1] The performance was aired live on Norwegian television.

Background

The song is a revamped version of his past track "Fade", which was released on NoCopyrightSounds in 2014, and had amassed over 40 million views on YouTube (over 105 million views as of May 2016). While the structure and melody are almost identical, "Faded" is noticeably different for its piano intro; with vocals by Iselin Solheim and better mixing and mastering.[2]

The song is set in common time and has a tempo of 90 beats per minute. Having the chord progression of Ebm–B–Gb–Db, the song is written in the key of Eb minor. Iselin Solheim's vocal range spans from Db4 to Eb5.[3]

Commercial performance

"Faded" became a great commercial success almost immediately after its release, topping Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish singles charts, as well as entering the top 3 in the Danish singles chart. The song peaked at number one in more than ten countries and in the top 5 in more than 25 countries.

It also charted in various countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It also reached number one on the Shazam Worldwide Top 100 Popular Songs in February 2016, and by March 2016, had become the world's most Shazam'ed song.[4] As of 7 May 2016, "Faded" has gained over 250 million views on YouTube.[5]

Music video

Derelict Rummu quarry utility buildings in the water at night, September 2014

A music video was released, featuring Shahab Salehi (37[6]) as the protagonist.[7] The video was produced and edited by Bror Bror and directed by Rikkard and Tobias Häggbom, with Rikkard Häggbom also as director of photography.

The video shows a young man roaming with his backpack and a paper photograph of his home in his hand. He is in a disaster area in a completely abandoned neighbourhood including high rise devastated buildings and derelict structures. He explores the area for possible life remaining or for foodstuff. On assumption, that major destruction has hit the area, he is trying to protect himself with an improvised breathing cover to protect his health.

Guided by the photo, he finally locates his parents' house, but finds it in ruins.[7] The despondent protagonist is seen tugging at the mask in the very final shot, which leaves his continuing state of mind open for interpretation. — It could be, that in the face of apparent hopelessness, he was then intent on removing the mask completely, or was only about to dry his face.

Filming locations

Linnahall in November 2011.
Architects Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe

The music video features a young person running through an abandoned town, the video was filmed in Estonia,[7][8] and primarily concentrated on buildings that were derelict, abandoned, or in disrepair.[9] Most filming locations are interspersed across the video and don't appear in a continuous order.

Notable locations include the Linnahall building (built from limestone),[9] a disused textile manufacture building at Põhja puiestee 7 in Tallinn; the former Rummu prison, Rummu limestone quarry[9] and lake alongside the adjoining spoil tip in Vasalemma Parish; and some locations around the city of Paldiski.[10] The last shot features the ruins of a building near the shore on Pakri Peninsula just outside Paldiski, on the outskirts of Laoküla village, Keila Parish (59°19′38″N 24°06′14″E / 59.327337°N 24.103941°E / 59.327337; 24.103941 (Laoküla)).

Faded (Restrung)

R1 reactor hall in 2010 (KTH, Sweden)

On 11 February 2016, Alan Walker published "Faded (Restrung)", wherein the song is performed with a piano and strings. Walker wrote in a note to The FADER, that he had decided on an alternative version of Faded, so as "to highlight other aspects of the song; to present it to another audience who may like Iselin [Solheim]'s voice and the melodies, but can't stand the electronic parts of it."[11]

The music video to "Restrung" features Walker, Iselin Solheim and an 11-person string ensemble performing in the reactor hall of the dismantled R1, Sweden's first nuclear reactor. The cast were wearing the trademark hoodies that sport Alan Walker's artist logo composed of his stylized initials.[12] The R1 reactor hall is located underground at Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm.[13]

The same team who created the video for "Faded", also made the music video for "Restrung" — Bror Bror was the producer, Rikkard and Tobias Häggbom directed, and Shahab Salehi was credited as an assistant. The filming atmosphere closely resembles that of "Faded"; according Alan Walker's behind the scenes video, the "Restrung" video was filmed as a continuation of sorts to the original "Faded" video.[12][13]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] 1
Cambodia (Top 30 Singles Chart)[18] 11
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 38
Croatia (Airplay Radio Chart Top 20)[20] 1
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[21] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 1
France (SNEP)[24] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 1
Hungary (Single Top 40)[26] 1
Indonesia (Top 30 Singles Chart)[27] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 6
Israel (Media Forest)[29] 8
Italy (FIMI)[30] 1
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[31] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 2
Malaysia (Top 30 Singles Chart)[33] 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[34] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[35] 1
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[36] 1
Russia (Tophit Weekly 100)[37] 1
Singapore (Top 30 Singles Chart)[38] 8
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[39] 1
South Africa (EMA)[40] 3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[44] 7
Vietnam (Top 30 Singles Chart)[45] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[46] 91

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[47] Platinum 70,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[48] Gold 15,000
Belgium (BEA)[49] Platinum 30,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[50] Platinum 60,000
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[51] Platinum 0[52]
Italy (FIMI)[53] 2× Platinum 100,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[51] Gold 10,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] Platinum 15,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[55] 5× Platinum 50,000
Poland (ZPAV)[56] Platinum 20,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57] Platinum 40,000
Sweden (GLF)[58] 6× Platinum 240,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Silver 200,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales/streaming figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "DJ Alan Walker celebrates X Games Oslo" (Contains video). X Games (ESPN). 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  2. ↑ "Best Songs We Heard This Week: Jeremih, The 1975, Alan Walker + More". PopCrush.
  3. ↑ "Faded by Alan Walker - Digital Sheet Music". Faber Music.
  4. ↑ Blake, Emily (2016-03-15). "Alan Walker, the 18-year-old behind that 'Faded' song, tells us what's next". Mashable. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  5. ↑ Walker, Alan (2015-12-03). "Faded". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  6. ↑
  7. 1 2 3 Ciavarelli, Giulia (2016-03-07). "Alan Walker, "Faded" è la più cercata su Shazam". sorrisi.com (in Italian). Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  8. ↑ "Video! Alan Walker avaldas hittloost "Faded" imekauni akustilise versiooni" [Video! Alan Walker published a wonderfully beautiful acoustic version of the hit song "Faded"] (Contains two YouTube Flash embeds). Elu24 (in Estonian) (Postimees). 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  9. 1 2 3 Ernits, Rutt (2016-03-22). "Eesti mahajäetud paigad jõudsid Norra muusiku videos laia maailma" [Estonia's derelict places in the video of a Norwegian musician reached the whole wide world]. menu.err.ee (in Estonian) (ERR). Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  10. ↑ Ernits, Rutt (2016-03-21). "Maailma enimstriimitud artist Alan Walker esineb suvel Pärnus" [World's most-streamed artist Alan Walker to perform this Summer in Pärnu]. menu.err.ee (in Estonian) (ERR). Retrieved 2016-03-24. Tallinnas, Rummus ja Paldiskis filmitud videot loole "Faded" on tänaseks Youtube'is vaadatud enam kui 82 miljonit korda.
  11. ↑ Golden, Zara (2016-02-11). "Alan Walker Premieres A Sweeping "Restrung" Version Of "Faded"". Fader (magazine). Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  12. 1 2 Walker, Alan (2016-02-11). "Faded (Restrung)". Alan Walker & MER Musikk, Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB / via YouTube. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  13. 1 2 "Alan Walker - Faded Restrung Video (Behind The Scenes)". Alan Walker / via YouTube. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  14. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Alan Walker – Faded" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alan Walker – Faded" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  18. ↑ "List of 25 April 2016". Music Weekly Asia. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  19. ↑ Illegal name entered Alan Walker/Alan+Walker/chart?f=793 "Alan Walker – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Alan Walker.
  20. ↑ "Croatian Airplay Chart". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201616 into search.
  22. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Tracklisten.
  23. ↑ "Alan Walker: Faded" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  24. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  25. ↑
  26. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "List of 25 April 2016". Music Weekly Asia. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 11, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  29. ↑ "{{{artist}}} – {{{song}}} Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Top Digital Download.
  31. ↑ "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  32. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "List of 25 April 2016". Music Weekly Asia. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  34. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  35. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". VG-lista.
  36. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  37. ↑ "List of 10 April 2016" (in Russian). Russian Music Charts. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "List of 25 April 2016". Music Weekly Asia. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20164 into search.
  40. ↑ "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2016-04-12". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded" Canciones Top 50.
  42. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Singles Top 100.
  43. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Swiss Singles Chart.
  44. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-04-14" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  45. ↑ "List of 25 April 2016". Music Weekly Asia. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  46. ↑ Illegal name entered Alan Walker/Alan+Walker/chart?f=379 "Alan Walker – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Alan Walker. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  47. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  48. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved March 25, 2015. Enter Alan Walker in the field Interpret. Enter Faded in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
  49. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2016". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 2 February 2016. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  51. 1 2 "Alan Walker releases "Faded (Restrung)"". Front View. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  52. ↑ "Alan Walker" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  53. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 29 February 2016. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Alan Walker in the field Filtra. Select 2016 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  54. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  55. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  56. ↑ "Polish single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 25, 2015. Select the "Chart", enter 2016 in the field "Year". Select '' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
  58. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2016" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  59. ↑ "British single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 19, 2015. Enter Faded in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search

External links

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