Faded (Alan Walker song)

"Faded"
Single by Alan Walker
Released 25 November 2015
Format
Recorded 2015
Genre EDM
Length 3:33
Label Mer Musikk
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Alan Walker singles chronology
"Force"
(2015)		 "Faded"
(2015)		 "Sing Me to Sleep"
(2016)

"Faded" is a song by Norwegian record producer and DJ Alan Walker. It is an electronic ballad and was released on 25 November 2015. The song was highly successful, 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 Norwegian 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 Walker's past track "Fade", which was released on NoCopyrightSounds in 2014. 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.

Commercial performance

"Faded" became a worldwide commercial success upon 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, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom and United States. 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 Shazamed song.[3]

On YouTube, "Faded" has over 790 million views as of December 2016, and has reached the list of Top 40 most liked YouTube videos with over 4.8 million likes, along with a high like-to-dislike ratio of 97.62% as of December 2016.[4]

Music video

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

A music video was released, featuring Shahab Salehi[5] as the protagonist.[6] The video was shot in Rummu quarry in Estonia, and 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 home, but finds it in ruins.[6]

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,[6][7] and primarily concentrated on buildings that were derelict, abandoned, or in disrepair.[8] Most filming locations are interspersed across the video and do not appear in a continuous order.

Notable locations include the Linnahall building (built from limestone),[8] a disused textile manufacture building at Põhja puiestee 7 in Tallinn; the former Rummu prison, Rummu limestone quarry[8] and lake alongside the adjoining spoil tip in Vasalemma Parish; and some locations around the city of Paldiski.[9] 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 a facility of KTH, Sweden (2010)

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."[10]

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.[11] The R1 reactor hall is located underground at Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm.[12]

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.[11][12]

Track listing

Digital download
No. Title Length
1. "Faded"   3:32
2. "Faded (Instrumental)"   3:35
Digital download (Alternative Version)[13]
No. Title Length
1. "Faded (Restrung)"   3:37
Digital download – remixes[14]
No. Title Length
1. "Faded" (Tiesto's Deep House Remix) 4:29
2. "Faded" (Dash Berlin Remix) 3:35
3. "Faded" (Tungevaag & Raaban Remix) 4:11
4. "Faded" (Y&V Remix) 4:33
5. "Faded" (Tiesto's Northern Lights Remix) 4:10
6. "Faded" (Luke Christopher Remix) 3:35
Digital download – remixes II[15]
No. Title Length
1. "Faded" (Slushii Remix) 3:31
2. "Faded" (Young Bombs Remix) 3:22

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
Argentina (Monitor Latino)[16] 11
Australia (ARIA)[17] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 32
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[23] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 1
France (SNEP)[25] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[26] 1
Guatemala (Monitor Latino)[27] 11
Hungary (Single Top 40)[28] 1
Indonesia (ASIRI)[29] 22
Ireland (IRMA)[30] 6
Israel (Media Forest)[31] 8
Italy (FIMI)[32] 1
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[33] 1
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[34] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[37] 1
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[38] 1
Portugal Digital Songs (Billboard)[39] 1
Romania (Media Forest)[40] 7
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[41] 1
South Africa (EMA)[42] 3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[46] 7
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[47] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 80

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[49] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[50] Platinum 30,000*
Belgium (BEA)[51] 2× Platinum 40,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[52] 2× Platinum 120,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[53] Platinum 0[54]
Germany (BVMI)[55] 2× Platinum 800,000^
Italy (FIMI)[56] 6× Platinum 300,000double-dagger
Netherlands (NVPI)[53] Gold 10,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] 2× Platinum 0*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[58] 2× Platinum 20,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[59] Diamond 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[60] 3× Platinum 120,000^
Sweden (GLF)[61] 9× Platinum 360,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] Platinum 600,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[63] Gold 500,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Norway 25 November 2015 Digital download Mer Musikk

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. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Walker, Alan (2015-12-03). "Faded". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
  5. ↑
  6. 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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. 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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Golden, Zara (2016-02-11). "Alan Walker Premieres A Sweeping "Restrung" Version Of "Faded"". Fader (magazine). Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  11. 1 2 Walker, Alan (2016-02-11). "Faded (Restrung)". Alan Walker & MER Musikk, Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB / via YouTube. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  12. 1 2 "Alan Walker - Faded Restrung Video (Behind The Scenes)". Alan Walker / via YouTube. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  13. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Faded (Restrung) - Single by Alan Walker". iTunes Store.
  14. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Faded [Remixes] - EP by Alan Walker". iTunes Store.
  15. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Faded [Remixes II] - EP by Alan Walker". iTunes Store.
  16. ↑ "Argentina Top 20 General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Alan Walker – {{{song}}}". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Alan Walker – Faded" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alan Walker – Faded" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  21. ↑ "Alan Walker – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Alan Walker. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  22. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201616 into search.
  23. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Tracklisten.
  24. ↑ "Alan Walker: Faded" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  26. ↑
  27. ↑ "Guatemala Top 20 General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  29. ↑ "Top 30 Singles Chart Indonesia". Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 11, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  31. ↑ "{{{artist}}} – {{{song}}} Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Top Digital Download.
  33. ↑ "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Alan Walker Lebanese Chart Top 20 History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  35. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  36. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Alan Walker – {{{song}}}". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  37. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". VG-lista.
  38. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  39. ↑ "Portugal Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "Romanian International Top 10 Singles Chart". Media Forest. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  41. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20164 into search.
  42. ↑ "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2016-04-12". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded" Canciones Top 50.
  44. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Singles Top 100.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Alan Walker – Faded". Swiss Singles Chart.
  46. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-04-14" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-04-14" UK Dance Chart. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Alan Walker – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Alan Walker. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  49. ↑ "ARIA CHART WATCH #393". auspOp. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  50. ↑ "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
  51. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2016". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 13 October 2016. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  53. 1 2 "Alan Walker releases "Faded (Restrung)"". Front View. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  54. ↑ "Alan Walker" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  55. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alan Walker; 'Faded')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  56. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 11 July 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
  57. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  58. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  59. ↑ "Polish single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  60. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded" (in Spanish). Novedades y Listas Oficiales de Ventas de Música en España. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  61. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2016" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 9 September 2016. Type Alan Walker in the top right search bar. Click on "Sok" and select Faded and see certification.
  62. ↑ "British single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 July 2016. Enter Faded 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
  63. ↑ "American single certifications – Alan Walker – Faded". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

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