"Clarity" is a song by Russian-German electronic dance music producer Zedd which serves as the third single from his debut studio album of the same name. It features vocals from English singer Foxes, was written by Zedd, Matthew Koma, Porter Robinson, and Skylar Grey (Holly Hafermann) and was released as the iTunes Single of the Week on October 2, 2012, as well as an EP on February 12, 2013, via Interscope Records.
From December 2012 to February 5, 2013, Zedd hosted a remix contest for the track. There were 982 official entries, with the winning remix by Tom Budin.
Background[]
Prior to embarking on their back-to-back tour, Poseidon, Zedd and Porter Robinson began work on the song, which was at the time named after the tour. Robinson, during an interview with MTV, described it as "pretty" and as having "kind of like disco chords on trancier sounds, with a nice topline, and a really nice crowd vocal."[1]
When Zedd first listened to Foxes' song "Youth", he Skyped her and asked her to be "Clarity"'s vocalist. After Foxes did research on Wikipedia about him, she accepted the offer.[2]
After the song was completed, Porter decided he wanted none of the credit; "The final version of 'Clarity' was not the same song Zedd and I produced together. It's something most people aren’t aware of in the first place. Me and Zedd were writing 'Poseidon,' but the final vocal production was much different. I could tell it was going to be this top-40 hit...and I wasn’t interested in having any part of that."[3]
Lyrics[]
High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'til it breaks your glass and I drown in you again
'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
(Hey-ay, hey-ay-ay)
(Hey-ay, hey-ay-ay)
(Hey-ay, hey-ay-ay)
(Hey-ay, hey)
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
Walk on through a red parade and refuse to make amends
It cuts deep through our ground and makes us forget all common sense
Don't speak as I try to leave 'cause we both know what we'll choose
If you pull then I'll push too deep and I'll fall right back to you
'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
(Hey-ay, hey-ay-ay)
(Hey-ay, hey-ay-ay)
(Hey...)
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
Videos[]
On December 11, 2012, a behind-the-scenes video for Clarity was released onto YouTube. In this video, Zedd says that the music video can be divided into three parts: the first part, which is optimistic; the second, which contains most of the drama and emotion; and the third, which is meant to have the same mood as the first.[4]
One week later, on December 18, an acoustic and piano version was released.
The official music video for the song was released one month after the behind-the-scenes video, on January 11, 2013. It features Foxes and AJ English and was shot largely in Los Angeles, California.[4]
Charts[]
"Clarity" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 86, peaked at 8, and was Zedd's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and his most successful song in the US and worldwide. It has sold 2,238,000 copies in the United States as of March 2014.
Weekly charts[]
| Chart (2013-14) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 13 |
| Australia Dance (ARIA) | 2 |
| Australia Hitseekers (ARIA) | 1 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 38 |
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) | 20 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia) | 11 |
| Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) | 23 |
| Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100) | 51 |
| Brazil Hot Pop Songs | 15 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 17 |
| Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100) | 38 |
| Germany (Media Control Charts) | 94 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 39 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 68 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 81 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 13 |
| Scotland (Official Charts Company) | 22 |
| Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) | 66 |
| Ukraine Dance (FDR Music Charts) | 12 |
| UK Dance (Official Charts Company) | 6 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 27 |
| US (Billboard Hot 100) | 8 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 16 |
| US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Rhythmic (Billboard) | 7 |
Year-end charts[]
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 57 |
| Australia Dance (ARIA) | 12 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 49 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 180 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 24 |
| US Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 7 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 5 |
Awards[]
The song won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
Other Versions[]
- The song was covered by Jessica Sanchez in her 2013 guest starring on Glee where she performed this song for Regionals competition in the episode "All or Nothing". Jessica also performed an acoustic version of this song with Zedd which was uploaded on YouTube.
- DJ Earworm used the song in a mashup called "SummerMash '13" along with 10 other songs that he felt were the hottest tracks of summer 2013.
- Michelle Chamuel also covered this song on the fourth season of the The Voice.
- The song was covered on the third season of The X Factor USA during the four chair challenge by Ellona Santiago.
- The song was covered on the fifth season of The X Factor Australia during the sixth live show by Dami Im.
Extended play[]
- Main article: Clarity (Remixes)
Gallery[]
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Sand Dunes).png (272 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Sand Dunes 2).png (166 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Foxes).png (192 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Car).png (182 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Car 2).png (276 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Special Effect).png (189 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Car 3).png (163 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Guy).png (112 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Hug).png (149 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Car 4).png (263 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Car 5).png (119 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Foxes 2).png (195 KB)")
.png "Clarity Screenshot (Tear).png (56 KB)")
References[]
- ↑ Bhansali, Akshay (August 6, 2012). "Porter Robinson Reveals Back-to-Back ‘Poseidon’ Tour With Zedd". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/1691237/poter-robinson-zedd-poisedon-tour/. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Wass, Mike (September 20, 2013). "Foxes On "Clarity", Her Debut LP & The Elastic Nature Of Youth: The Idolator Q&A". Idolator. http://www.idolator.com/7486836/foxes-idolator-interview. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ↑ Goudie, Keegan. "Interview Exclusive: Porter Robinson Brings Clarity To EDM". http://thesixthirty.com/ravefaced/interview-exclusive-porter-robinson-brings-clarity-to-edm/. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Zaslavski, Anton (December 11, 2012). "Zedd - Making Of "Clarity" Music Video". YouTube. ZEDDVEVO. https://youtu.be/bUTJBAzyDf8.
Songs:
Hourglass • Shave It Up • Spectrum • Lost At Sea • Clarity • Codec • Stache • Fall Into the Sky • Follow You Down • Epos • Stay the Night • Push Play • Alive • Breakn' a Sweat
Artists: