Safe and Sound (Capital Cities song)

"Safe and Sound"
Single by Capital Cities
from the album In a Tidal Wave of Mystery
Released	January 6, 2011 (Digital); April 16, 2013 (US); September 20, 2013 (UK)
Format	CD; digital download;
Recorded	2010
Genre	Synthpop; dance-pop;
Length	3:13
Label	Lazy Hooks; Capitol;
Songwriter(s)	Ryan Merchant; Sebu Simonian;
Producer(s)	Ryan Merchant; Sebu Simonian;
Capital Cities singles chronology

"Safe and Sound" is a song by American indie pop duo Capital Cities, written and produced by band members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. The song was released as a single on January 6, 2011 and first appeared on their debut EP Capital Cities (2011), later serving as the lead single from their debut studio album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery (2013). "Safe and Sound" became the duo's breakout hit, peaking at number eight on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and achieving commercial success in several other territories. Three music videos were produced for the single, with the third video, directed by Grady Hall and set in the Los Angeles Theatre, later being nominated for Best Music Video at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background and composition[edit]

"Safe and Sound" is a synthpop^[2] and dance-pop song,^[3] and was written and produced by Capital Cities members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. It features a prominent trumpet line, which was only incorporated into its production after eight previous takes of the song.^[4]

Music videos[edit]

The first music video for "Safe and Sound" was self-produced and edited by the band and uploaded to their official YouTube account on February 24, 2013, and features alternating historical film clips of dancing and war from the last century generally arranged in chronological order.^[5] Another video, directed by Jimmy Ahlander, was released on October 21, depicting the duo being led through a junkyard by a monk.^[6]

The third and most well-known video for the song was directed by Grady Hall^[7] and released on April 25, 2013.^[8] The video is set in the Los Angeles Theatre and depicts Capital Cities performing on stage as dancers of all types (1940s swing dancers, 1970s roller disco skaters, 1990s hip-hop dancers, etc.) emerge from pictures on the wall and film clips from different time periods in the theater's history come to life and compete in dance-offs.^[7] It received a nomination in the Best Music Video category at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.^[9]

Cover versions[edit]

Zendaya, Kina Grannis, Kurt Hugo Schneider and Max Schneider released a cover of the song on March 31, 2014 used for a Coca-Cola commercial. Actual Coca-Cola bottles served as instruments in the version.^[10]

There was also a version made for Chuck E. Cheese's that performed in the restaurants by Chuck E. and his band in 2014.

Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Chipettes performed the song for the 2015 live stage tour Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical.

Commercial performance[edit]

"Safe and Sound" first gained commercial success in Germany following its use in a Vodafone commercial, later topping the German Media Control singles chart.^[11] It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100,^[12] and has sold over two million copies in the United States as of January 2014.^[13] It also reached #2 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, behind "Roar" by Katy Perry. In the United Kingdom, the single was added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist on August 31, 2013;^[14] following its official single release in the country the following month, it peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.^[15]

Air New Zealand have used the song in their in-flight safety video for 2014, while the Barcelona's Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) has used it in its dance video to raise awareness and support for research into diseases such as cancer and metastasis, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.^[16] The song was also featured in a US television advertisement campaign for the 2014 Mazda3, and a Canadian television commercial for Bell Canada.

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year	Awards	Category	Result
2013	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Visual Effects	Won
2013	MTV Video Music Awards	Best Art Direction	Nominated
2014	Grammy Awards	Best Music Video	Nominated
	World Music Awards	World's Best Song	Nominated
	World Music Awards	World's Best Video	Nominated
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Rock Song	Nominated

Track listing[edit]

Digital download (single)^[17]

"Safe and Sound" – 3:12

Digital download (remix EP)^[18]

"Safe and Sound" (RAC Mix) – 4:12
"Safe and Sound" (Cash Cash Remix) – 5:26
"Safe and Sound" (Alexis Troy Remix) – 2:52
"Safe and Sound" (Gainsford Remix) – 5:30
"Safe and Sound" (DJ Politik Remix) – 5:22
"Safe and Sound" (Tommie Sunshine & Live City Remix) – 5:53
"Safe and Sound" (Markus Schulz vs. Grube & Hovsepian Remix) – 7:48

CD single (Germany)^[19]

"Safe and Sound" – 3:12
"Safe and Sound" (Tommie Sunshine & Live City Remix) – 5:53

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (2012–14)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[20]	16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[21]	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[22]	28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[23]	26
Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)^[24]	56
Brazil Hot Pop Songs^[25]	22
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[26]	5
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)^[27]	11
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[28]	65
Denmark (Tracklisten)^[29]	18
Finland (Suomen virallinen radiolista)^[30]	31
France (SNEP)^[31]	15
Germany (Official German Charts)^[11]	1
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)^[32]	33
Ireland (IRMA)^[33]	13
Israel (Media Forest)^[34]	2
Italy (FIMI)^[35]	4
Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[36]	61
Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)^[37]	2
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)^[38]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[39]	29
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[40]	3
Portugal Digital Songs (Billboard)^[41]	2
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)^[42]	14
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[43]	70
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[44]	15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[45]	37
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[46]	8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[15]	42
US Billboard Hot 100^[12]	8
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[47]	2
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[48]	2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[49]	3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[50]	11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[51]	2
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[52]	1
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)^[53]	9
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[54]	32
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[55]	2
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[56]	33
Venezuela Pop Rock General (Record Report)^[57]	1

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2013)	Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[58]	28
Germany (Media Control AG)^[59]	8
Italy (FIMI)^[60]	35
US Billboard Hot 100^[61]	29
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[62]	4
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[63]	2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[64]	10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[65]	41
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[66]	19
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[67]	2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[68]	16

Chart (2014)	Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[69]	59
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[70]	17
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[71]	35

Certifications[edit]

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)^[72]	Platinum	70,000^{^}
Austria (IFPI Austria)^[73]	Gold	15,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)^[74]	3× Platinum	240,000^{^}
Germany (BVMI)^[75]	Platinum	300,000^{^}
Italy (FIMI)^[76]	2× Platinum	60,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)^[77]	2× Platinum	120,000^*
Sweden (GLF)^[78]	2× Platinum	80,000^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[79]	Gold	15,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[80]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^[81]
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)^[82]	Platinum	1,800,000^{^}
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[83]	Platinum	8,000,000^{^}
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^{^}shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history[edit]

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States^[17]^[84]^[85]^[86]	January 6, 2011	Digital download	Lazy Hooks
	January 27, 2013	Modern rock radio	Capitol
	February 4, 2013	Adult album alternative radio
	April 2, 2013	Contemporary hit radio
Germany^[87]	April 5, 2013	Digital download (remix EP)	Lazy Hooks Capitol
Canada^[88]	April 16, 2013
United States^[18]	April 16, 2013
Germany^[19]	May 17, 2013	Compact disc	Capitol
Italy^[89]	June 14, 2013	Contemporary hit radio	EMI
Australia^[90]	June 21, 2013	Digital download	Lazy Hooks Capitol
New Zealand^[91]	June 21, 2013	Digital download
Australia^[92]	August 16, 2013	Digital download (remix EP)
New Zealand^[93]	August 16, 2013	Digital download (remix EP)
United States^[94]	August 19, 2013	Rhythmic contemporary radio	Capitol
United Kingdom^[95]	September 20, 2013	Digital download (remix EP)	Lazy Hooks Capitol

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Capital Cities - Safe And Sound (Official Video)