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"Sparrow"
"Sparrow"
Single by Emeli Sandé
from the album Real Life
Released	15 March 2019
Studio	The Church; (Crouch End, London); Abbey Road; (St John's Wood, London)
Genre	Soul
Length	4:06
Label	Virgin EMI
Songwriter(s)	Adele Sandé; Laidi Saliasi;
Producer(s)	Troy Miller; Emeli Sandé (co.);
Emeli Sandé singles chronology
Music video
	"Sparrow" on YouTube

"Sparrow" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. It was released on 15 March 2019 by Virgin EMI Records as the lead single from her third studio album, Real Life. "Sparrow" was written by Sandé primarily, with Laidi Saliasi credited as an additional songwriter. The track was produced by percussionist Troy Miller, with Sandé serving as a co-producer. The song, a power ballad with gospel influences, features lyrics which Sandé described as being inspired by the "intoxicating positivity" of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.^[1]^[2]

Background and recording

Sandé sent demos of the song to producer Troy Miller, who she was familiar with due to his work with British musician Laura Mvula. Sandé referred to wanting a "militant, marching beat" prominent in the track. Miller wrote the string arrangements for "Sparrow", and recorded the instrumentation with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London.^[3]

Release

The track was first announced through Sandé's Twitter account on 11 March 2019, four days prior to release. "Sparrow" was released on 15 March 2019 through British record label Virgin EMI Records, as the lead single from Sandé's upcoming third studio album. It was sent to radio formats that same day, and premiered through Zoe Ball's breakfast radio show on BBC Radio 2.^[4]^[1] On the same day, Sandé performed "Sparrow" live on 15 March 2019 at Elstree Studios for the charity telethon event Comic Relief.^[5]

Music video

The music video for "Sparrow" was released on 26 March 2019. The video, directed by Sarah McColgan and edited by Ernie Gilbert, was shot in New York City. According to Elle, the video "explores themes of strength, movement and freedom".^[6]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YouTube, provided by Universal Music Group.^[7]

Emeli Sandé – lead vocals, music production
Troy Miller – music production, recording engineering, mix engineering, vocal arrangement, string arrangement, drums, piano, Hammond organ, Moog Taurus, baritone guitar
Dani Spragg – recording engineering
Robbie Nelson – recording engineering
Jonathan Allen – recording engineering
Miles Showell – mastering
Priscilla Jones-Campbell – background vocals, choir
Subrina McCalla – background vocals
Adeola Shyllon – background vocals
Joy Farruka – choir
Cherri Kirton – choir
Phebe Edwards – choir
Marsha Morrison – choir
Heavily Sapong – choir
James Thompson – choir
Xavier Barnet – choir
Jaz Ellington – choir
Clare Duckworth – violin
Ginette Decuyper – violin
Laura Dixon – violin
Gerald Gregory – violin
Maxine Kwok-Adams – violin
Claire Parfitt – violin
Sylvain Vasseur – violin
Julian Gil Rodriguez – violin
Thomas Norris – violin
Matthew Gardner – violin
Belinda Mcfarlane – violin
Iwona Muszynska – violin
Csilla Pogany – violin
Edward Vanderspar – viola
Malcolm Johnston – viola
Anna Bastow – viola
German Clavijo – viola
Carol Ella – viola
Robert Turner – viola
Rebecca Gilliver – cello
Alastair Blayden – cello
Noel Bradshaw – cello
Eve-Marie Caravassilis – cello
Daniel Gardner – cello
Hilary Jones – cello
Colin Paris – double bass
Patrick Laurence – double bass
Matthew Gibson – double bass