Wings

Album: Fire Within (2013)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This stirring, propulsive tune was released as the lead single from Birdy's second album, Fire Within. The record finds the teenage singer-songwriter collaborating with some of the biggest names in the business, including on this song Ryan Tedder. The OneRepublic frontman has penned hits for the likes of Leona Lewis ("Bleeding Love") and Beyoncé ("Halo") as well as his own group. "When I first started writing with other people, I was terrified, because on one level, it's a deeply strange thing to do," Birdy admitted, "go into a room and share your ideas with someone you don't know. But I love it now, because it's interesting to hear someone else's take on what you've done, and to draw new inspiration from their ideas."
  • The song's Sophie Muller-directed video shows Birdy with guests at a flamboyant mansion party. It was shot in and around Pylewell House, which is located near Lymington in Hampshire, England. The clip also stars Birdy's best friend, her younger sister Caitlin, as well as a couple of cousins. "The song is about having a wonderful time and the memory of being with your friends and kind of wishing you were back there, so I wanted it to feel like a festival, and then the director had the idea of putting everyone in carnival clothes to make it a bit weirder and more interesting," she recalled to The Mail On Sunday's You Magazine. "We had a brilliant time making it, everyone just looked so amazing. My little sister Caitlin and two of my cousins are the ones riding the horses, and in the shots of me on the swing I am with my best friend Becky."
  • The song featured in the trailer for the movie Winter's Tale. Birdy described to Billboard magazine watching the preview and hearing her tune as, "so cool … to have it playing, and for all my friends to see it."
  • "Wings" was used in a commercial for Lloyds Bank, in which the financial institution celebrates its 250th anniversary. A new acoustic recording of the song as heard in the advert was released in July 2015, which became Birdy's first ever UK Top 10 hit single.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.