Written in the Stars (Tinie Tempah song)

"Written in the Stars"
Single by Tinie Tempah featuring Eric Turner
from the album Disc-Overy
Released	19 September 2010
Format	Digital download
Recorded	November 2009
Genre	British hip hop rap rock power pop[1]
Length	3:28
Label	Parlophone Disturbing London
Writer(s)	Eshraque Mughal Patrick Okogwu Eric Turner Charlie Bernardo
Producer(s)	iSHi
Tinie Tempah singles chronology
"Frisky" (2010) "Written in the Stars" (2010) "Miami 2 Ibiza" (2010)
Eric Turner singles chronology "Written in the Stars" (2010) "Angels & Stars" (2012)

"Written in the Stars" is a song by English rapper Tinie Tempah, featuring American singer Eric Turner. Unlike his two prior breakthrough singles which were produced by Labrinth, the track instead features production by iSHi. It was released in September 2010 through Parlophone, digitally on the iTunes Store. It serves as the third official single from his debut album Disc-Overy. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Tinie Tempah's second number-one single in the United Kingdom. The song was released as Tempah's debut U.S. single, and has peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track also marks Tinie's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40.

"Written in the Stars" was used by Major League Baseball for their commercials relating to the 2011 Major League Baseball Postseason. It was also chosen by WWE as its theme song for WrestleMania XXVII.^[2] Recently, it was used as the introduction to the eighth season of the South Asian Softball League.^[3] Since the 2011–12 season, it has been used as the theme song for Sky Sports' coverage of Premier League football. Samples of "Written in the Stars" can be heard in promos used for the USA Network sports-drama Necessary Roughness.^[4] The song was chosen as Miss USA 2011 Evening Gown Competition's background music. The New York Giants used the song as their entrance song in Super Bowl XLVI on 5 February 2012. It was also used in the closing ceremonies of the London Olympic Games in August 2012.

Background

"Written in the Stars" was written by "iSHi", Mughal, Tempah, Turner and Charlie Bernardo and produced by iSHi and James Perolls.^[5] Tinie Tempah first revealed the song on 17 June 2010 performing it live on Sony Ericsson's Pocket TV along with "Frisky". Tempah said "Written in the Stars it is a real passionate track about the sort of struggle that I've had to face. You know I just really feel it as something to perform at festivals as well so I thought I might as well get my practice and start warming up now."^[6] The song was released on 27 September 2010, followed by Disc-Overy on 4 October 2010.

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a very positive review:

Tempah makes abundantly clear on single number three that success wasn't handed to him on a platinum dinnerware set marked 'Doulton'. Au contraire, it was an exhausting journey of "believing and praying" in a dream that, for a time, "wasn't going nowhere" – and with his ear-snagging rhymes cloaked in a stadium-sized chorus courtesy of US newbie Eric Turner, we're all going to hear about it whether we want to or not. Oh Tinie, we'll never doubt your work hard, play hard mentality again. .^[7]

Music video

Tinie Tempah pointing up into the sky in the video.

The official music video was directed by Alex Herron^[8] and was released on YouTube by Parlophone on 13 August 2010, along with a 43-second trailer of the video three days before, with cameo appearances by Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Steve Carell, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore and Sandra Bullock, The video, shot in New York City, features Tinie Tempah standing and rapping on the roof while Eric Turner is sitting on the piano in a white room playing the chorus. The narrative scenes see a young boy whose life is shaped by the fact he and his mother are subjected to a financially insecure life and he is regularly bullied by his peers and how he is consumed with his book. After an interview with Virgin Media, the rapper claimed the boy 'not to be his younger self in the tennis courts' – he was trying to portray the life of a city boy. It made its US debut on 1 February 2011.

Chart performance

On 13 September 2010, "Written in the Stars" debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number 22, beating "Pass Out", which peaked at number 33 on the chart in March 2010. It later peaked at number 16. The single also managed to chart in Switzerland, where it debuted at number 71 on 26 September 2010, Tempah's first single to make an impact in the country. On 3 October 2010, the track charted at No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and UK R&B Chart, beating "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars and "Let the Sun Shine" by Labrinth, making "Written in the Stars" Tinie Tempah's second number 1 in the UK after "Pass Out". "Written in the Stars" sold over 115,000 copies in its first week alone, which at that point of the year was a first week figure surpassed only by "California Gurls" by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg (124,000) and the charity single "Everybody Hurts" by Helping Haiti (over 450,000). In the European Hot 100, the song debuted at number 5, the highest debut of the week.^[9] In January 2011, the single reached a peak position of number 34 and was certified Platinum in Australia. The song became Tinie Tempah's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 91 for the week ending 5 March 2011 and peaking at number 12.

Track listings

• Digital download

1. "Written in the Stars" (Album Version) – 3:40

• Digital EP^[10]

1. "Written in the Stars" (Album Version) – 3:39
2. "Written in the Stars" (Instrumental) – 3:39
3. "Written in the Stars" (The Arcade Southside Remix) (featuring Taio Cruz) – 3:33

• Promotional CD single

1. "Written in the Stars" (Radio Edit) – 3:33
2. "Written in the Stars" (Album Version) – 3:40
3. "Written in the Stars" (Instrumental) – 3:39
4. "Written in the Stars" (Remix) (featuring Ryan Tedder) – 3:40

• 2011 BRIT Awards Performance

1. "Written in the Stars" (featuring Eric Turner) / "Miami 2 Ibiza" / "Pass Out" (featuring Labrinth) (Live from the BRITs) – 4:43

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2010–11) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 34 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 75 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[13] 5 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[14] 9 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 18 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[16] 3 Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] 18 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 7 France (SNEP)[19] 21 Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 83 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 33 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 13 Norway (VG-lista)[25] 2 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[26] 10 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[27] 1 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[28] 12 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 47 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] 1 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[32] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 12 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[34] 34 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[35] 11 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[36] 19 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 7 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[38] 12

Year-end charts Chart (2010) Position Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 38 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[40] 31 Chart (2011) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[41] 68 US Billboard Hot 100[42] 63 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 37 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Australia (ARIA)[44] Platinum 70,000^^ Canada (Music Canada)[45] Platinum 80,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Gold 7,500^* Norway (IFPI Norway)[47] 10× Platinum 100,000^* Sweden (GLF)[48] Platinum 20,000^x United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Platinum 600,000^^ United States (RIAA)[50] Platinum 1,000,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart procession and succession

In popular culture

Parody version

In 2012, a parody of the video was made by the cast and crew of ITV soap opera Emmerdale in honour of the departure of character Aaron Livesy, played by Danny Miller, who is a big fan of the song.^[51] The role of Tinie Tempah was played by Adam Thomas, who plays Adam Barton (Aaron's best friend in the soap), and the role of Eric Turner was played by Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden. The video features many well-known Emmerdale actors such as Emma Atkins, Jeff Hordley, Lucy Pargeter, Sammy Winward, Nicola Wheeler, Charley Webb, Natalie Anderson, Sian Reese-Williams and veteran actor Freddie Jones.

Sports

The New York Giants used this song for their entrance for Super Bowl XLVI.

Covers

The Mend performed a mashup of "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" and "Written in the Stars" for their semi-final performance on Britain's Got Talent in 2012.^[52]

Karmin recorded a cover of "Written in the Stars" on their YouTube channel.^[53]

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Switzerland	19 September 2010	Digital download	Parlophone
United Kingdom[54]	24 September 2010
United States[55]	18 January 2011		Capitol

See also

• List of number-one singles of 2010 (Ireland)
• List of number-one singles from the 2010s (UK)
• List of number-one R&B hits of 2010 (UK)

References

1. "Tinie Tempah Feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
2. "WWE Superstars: July 7, 2011". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
3. "YouTube: I'm On My Way". South Asian Softball League. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
4. "Starting Over – Music Video". USA Network. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
5. "Music Week – Music Week – Music business magazine – Song of The Week: Written in the Stars". Music Week. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
6. "Written in the Stars by Tinie Tempah". SongFacts.com. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
7. Robert Copsey. "Tinie Tempah: 'Written in the Stars'". Digital Spy.
8. http://www.promonews.tv/2010/08/19/tinie-tempah’s-written-in-the-stars-feat-eric-turner-by-alex-herron/
9. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-hot-100
10. "Written In the Stars (feat. Eric Turner) – EP". itunes.apple.com. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
11. "Australian-charts.com – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
13. "Ultratop.be – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
14. "Ultratop.be – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars" (in French). Ultratip.
15. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
16. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201049 into search.
17. "Danishcharts.com – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". Tracklisten.
18. "Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner: Written in the Stars" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
19. "Lescharts.com – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". GfK Entertainment.
21. "Chart Track: Week 39, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tinie Tempah search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Tinie Tempah – Written in the Stars" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
24. "Charts.org.nz – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". Top 40 Singles.
25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". VG-lista.
26. "Top 20 NielsenRomania Week 03.01.2011 – 09.01.2011". Webcitation.org. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
27. "Archive Chart: 2010-10-09". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
28. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201040 into search.
29. "Swedishcharts.com – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". Singles Top 100.
30. "Swisscharts.com – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner – Written in the Stars". Swiss Singles Chart.
31. "Archive Chart: 2010-10-09" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
32. "Archive Chart: 2010-10-09" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
33. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
34. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
35. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
36. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
37. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
38. "Tinie Tempah – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Tinie Tempah. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
39. "Årslista Singlar - År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
40. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
41. "Canadian Hot 100: 2011 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
42. "Hot 100 Songs: 2011 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
43. "Pop Songs: 2011 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
45. "Canadian single certifications – Tinie Tempah – Written in the Stars". Music Canada.
46. "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
47. "Norwegian single certifications – Tinie Tempah – Written in the Stars" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
48. "Swedish single certifications – Tinie Tempah – Written in the Stars" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening.
49. "British single certifications – Tinie Tempah – Written in the Stars". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Written in the Stars in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
50. "American single certifications – Tinie Tempah – Written in the Stars". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
51. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a370489/emmerdale-say-goodbye-to-danny-miller-in-tinie-tempah-video-watch.html
52. The Mend, Britain's Got Talent 2012 Semi-final performance. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Cj7r-_R5U.
53. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RIWmyfyhIo
54. "iTunes – Music – Written In the Stars (feat. Eric Turner) – EP by Tinie Tempah". itunes.apple.com. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
55. "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2012-05-21.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics