Fidelity (song)
Encyclopedia
"Fidelity" is an Anti-folk
song from singer-songwriter Regina Spektor
released in 2006 in the album Begin to Hope
. The song marked Spektor's first Billboard 100 entry and is her most successful track to date. Despite a release date of September 25 (its popular music video was released even earlier), the song did not hit the charts until December. The song was released in the UK as a two-part single on March 12, 2007.
Spektor wrote the song while watching the movie High Fidelity
, which is based on a book by Nick Hornby
.
In 2009, the song was used with permission as accompaniment to the video, "Don't divorce us", released by the Courage Campaign
against Proposition 8
. The video was viewed over 500,000 times in a week. The single was certified gold by the RIAA
for sales of 500,000 copies. and single released from her album Begin to Hope
which was her most successful single in United States
.
. The video features Spektor in a black and white dress in an abstract environment enjoying tea alone. The room and decor are also black and white. As the video progresses, an empty suit is shown, which Spektor converses with as though it were a real companion. Near the end of the video, Spektor drops a heart pendant on the ground, revealing colored dust. A man (played by Scoot McNairy
) appears in the suit, and the two then play with the dust, and join hands as the video ends.
chart at #8 (The equivalent to a #108) on December 6. Two weeks later, Spektor made her first appearance in her career on the Billboard Hot 100
as "Fidelity" entered at #98. It climbed for the following two weeks before disappearing and then reappearing at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs in early 2007.
Fidelity debuted on the New Zealand RIANZ charts at #16, because digital downloads had been added in the week of its debut. This song would have achieved a higher placing if digital downloads had been included earlier, as shown by the single's concurrent top ranking at the New Zealand
iTunes
store.
In 2009, the popularity of Spektor's single "Laughing With" has caused a revival in sales of Fidelity, bringing it to #55 on the Alternative Songs Chart on US iTunes.
Anti-folk
Anti-folk is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next...
song from singer-songwriter Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
released in 2006 in the album Begin to Hope
Begin to Hope
Begin to Hope is the fourth album by Russian-American singer-songwriter, Regina Spektor. It was released June 13, 2006. The album debuted at number 70 on the Billboard 200, but due to the popularity of the single "Fidelity", it peaked at number 20 and was labeled a "pace setter" by Billboard....
. The song marked Spektor's first Billboard 100 entry and is her most successful track to date. Despite a release date of September 25 (its popular music video was released even earlier), the song did not hit the charts until December. The song was released in the UK as a two-part single on March 12, 2007.
Spektor wrote the song while watching the movie High Fidelity
High Fidelity (film)
High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
, which is based on a book by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is an English novelist, essayist and screenwriter. He is best known for the novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, and for the football memoir Fever Pitch. His work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists.-Life and career:Hornby was...
.
In 2009, the song was used with permission as accompaniment to the video, "Don't divorce us", released by the Courage Campaign
Courage Campaign
The Courage Campaign is a California-based human rights campaign and progressive advocacy organization with more than 700,000 followers, working on a variety of causes, including the repeal of Proposition 8, California budget reforms,, and ballot procedures...
against Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. The video was viewed over 500,000 times in a week. The single was certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for sales of 500,000 copies. and single released from her album Begin to Hope
Begin to Hope
Begin to Hope is the fourth album by Russian-American singer-songwriter, Regina Spektor. It was released June 13, 2006. The album debuted at number 70 on the Billboard 200, but due to the popularity of the single "Fidelity", it peaked at number 20 and was labeled a "pace setter" by Billboard....
which was her most successful single in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Music video
It is directed by Marc WebbMarc Webb
Marc Preston Webb is an American music video, short film and major motion picture director. He directed the 2009 romantic comedy-drama Days of Summer and is currently directing the 2012 Spider-Man reboot The Amazing Spider-Man.-Life and career:Webb was born in Bloomington, Indiana, the son of...
. The video features Spektor in a black and white dress in an abstract environment enjoying tea alone. The room and decor are also black and white. As the video progresses, an empty suit is shown, which Spektor converses with as though it were a real companion. Near the end of the video, Spektor drops a heart pendant on the ground, revealing colored dust. A man (played by Scoot McNairy
Scoot McNairy
Scoot McNairy is an American actor from Dallas, Texas known for roles in In Search of a Midnight Kiss , Herbie Fully Loaded , and Mr. Fix It . He also plays the lead male role in the recently released film Monsters...
) appears in the suit, and the two then play with the dust, and join hands as the video ends.
In popular culture
- The song was featured in the 2010 romantic comedy Love and Other DrugsLove and Other DrugsLove and Other Drugs is a 2010 romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Edward Zwick and based on the non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy...
, starring Jake GyllenhaalJake GyllenhaalJacob Benjamin "Jake" Gyllenhaal is an American actor. The son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, Gyllenhaal began acting at age ten...
and Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway (actress)Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. After several stage roles, she appeared in the 1999 television series Get Real. She played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries...
. - Several episodes of television series have featured the song, including the Veronica MarsVeronica MarsVeronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
episode "Witchita Linebacker", the Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
episode "Six Days, Part 2", and the beginning and end of the Las VegasLas Vegas (TV series)Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and...
episode "Win, Place, Bingo" - Brianna Carpenter of Australian Idol 2007 performed the song live on August 29.
- The song is present in the international soundtrack of Brazilian soap opera "A FavoritaA FavoritaA Favorita was a popular and award-winning telenovela, first broadcast in Brazil at Rede Globo from June 2, 2008 to January 17, 2009. During its broadcast, it ranked within the top of the most watched shows in Brazil....
".
Tracklist
- UK CD 1
- "Fidelity"
- "Music Box"
- UK CD 2
- "Fidelity"
- "Music Box"
- "December"
- "Fidelity" (Enhanced Video)
- UK digital downloadMusic downloadA music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
/AUS CD
- "Fidelity"
- "Music Box"
- "December"
Charts
"Fidelity" initially made an appearance on the Billboard Bubbling UnderBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart at #8 (The equivalent to a #108) on December 6. Two weeks later, Spektor made her first appearance in her career on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
as "Fidelity" entered at #98. It climbed for the following two weeks before disappearing and then reappearing at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs in early 2007.
Fidelity debuted on the New Zealand RIANZ charts at #16, because digital downloads had been added in the week of its debut. This song would have achieved a higher placing if digital downloads had been included earlier, as shown by the single's concurrent top ranking at the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
store.
In 2009, the popularity of Spektor's single "Laughing With" has caused a revival in sales of Fidelity, bringing it to #55 on the Alternative Songs Chart on US iTunes.
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 51 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 46 |
| UK Single Chart | 45 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 16 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 50 |
External links
- Fidelity video on MySpaceTV