"Wings" is a song by English musician Birdy. The song was released as a digital download on 29 July 2013 and in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2013 as the lead single from her second studio album, Fire Within (2013). A remix by Nu:Logic was later released on 27 January 2014 as part of the "Hospital: We Are 18" LP from Hospital Records.[2] The song peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, making it her highest-charting single to date and her only top-ten single.[3] It also reached number one in Ireland, becoming her sole top-ten single there as well,[4] and peaked within the top three of five other countries.

"Wings"
Single by Birdy
from the album Fire Within
Released29 July 2013 (2013-07-29)[1]
Length
  • 4:12 (album version)
  • 3:49 (radio edit)
  • 3:42 (acoustic version)
  • 4:25 (music video)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Birdy singles chronology
"1901"
(2012)
"Wings"
(2013)
"No Angel"
(2013)
Music video
"Wings" (Official Music video) on YouTube

Music video

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A music video to accompany the release of "Wings" was first released onto YouTube on 2 August 2013 at a total length of four minutes and twenty-five seconds.[5] The video shows Birdy with guests at a flamboyant mansion party, complete with masks, fencing and horses.[6] It was directed by Sophie Muller.[7]

Track listings

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Digital download[1]
No.TitleLength
1."Wings"4:12
German, Swiss, and Austrian CD single[8]
No.TitleLength
1."Wings"4:12
2."People Help the People" (live from Sydney Opera House, April 2013)4:27

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] 2× Platinum 140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[35] Platinum 30,000*
Belgium (BEA)[36] Gold 15,000*
Germany (BVMI)[37] 3× Gold 450,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[38] Platinum 60,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[39] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
Streaming
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] Gold 4,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

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The song was featured in trailers for Winter's Tale, Labor Day, the season three finale of Game of Thrones, the season five finale of The Vampire Diaries and one episode of Catfish: The TV Show. In 2015, it was also used as the soundtrack of the Lloyds Horse Story 250 year anniversary advert, resulting in its return to the UK Singles Chart, reaching a new peak of number 8. Birdy performed the song at the 2016 BBC Festival of Remembrance. The song was covered by British rock band Nothing But Thieves for the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge series.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Wings – Single". Apple Music. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Various Artists – Hospital: We are 18 – Shop – Hospital Records".
  3. ^ "Birdy". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Birdy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  5. ^ Birdy – Wings (Official Video). YouTube
  6. ^ Birdy releases music video for new single 'Wings' – watch – Music News - Digital Spy
  7. ^ Birdy "Wings" (Sophie Muller, dir.), VideoStatic
  8. ^ Wings (GSA CD single liner notes). Birdy. Atlantic Records, 14th Floor Records. 2013. 825646406494.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Birdy – Wings". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ^ "Birdy – Wings" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. ^ "Birdy – Wings" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ^ "Birdy – Wings" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  13. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 03. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Birdy – Wings" (in French). Les classement single.
  15. ^ "Birdy – Wings" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 2013" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Birdy – Wings" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. ^ "Birdy – Wings". Top 40 Singles.
  19. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201346 into search. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  20. ^ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. ^ "Birdy – Wings" Canciones Top 50.
  23. ^ "Birdy – Wings". Swiss Singles Chart.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  25. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2013" (in German). Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2013" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  27. ^ "Rapports annuels 2013" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  28. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Jaarlijsten 2013" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2013" (in German). Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Songs Annual 2014" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  33. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  35. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Birdy – Wings" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  36. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2013". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  37. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Birdy; 'Wings')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Birdy – Wings". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  39. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Wings')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  40. ^ "British single certifications – Birdy – Wings". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Spanish single streaming certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Select Streaming under "Categoría", select 2014 under "Año". Select 22 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".