Reaper (song)
| "Reaper" | ||||
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| Single by Sia | ||||
| from the album This Is Acting | ||||
| Released | 29 May 2017 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:40 | |||
| Label | Inertia | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Sia singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio video | ||||
| "Reaper" on YouTube | ||||
"Reaper" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Sia which features on her seventh studio album, This Is Acting (2016). The song was written by Sia, Kanye West, Noah Goldstein, Charles Misodi Njapa (better known by his stage name 88-Keys), and Dom $olo, originally for Rihanna's album Anti (2016).[1][2] "Reaper" was co-produced by West, Dom $olo, Goldstein, 88-Keys, Jesse Shatkin, and Jake Sinclair. Sia and West had previously collaborated on the latter's song "Wolves".[3]
The song was released as the fourth promotional single from This Is Acting on 7 January 2016,[1] before being released as an official single, the fifth from the album, in Australia, on 29 May 2017.[4][5]
Background and release
"Reaper" came about when Sia was writing songs for Rihanna's eighth studio album Anti.[6] Both Rihanna and Kanye West were supposed to be a part of the session with her, but neither turned up, instead telling Sia what they wanted, leaving notes for her.[7] The song was one of four rejected by Rihanna which ended up on This Is Acting, alongside "Bird Set Free", "Cheap Thrills", and "Space Between".[6] Sia stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that she "thought there was something about the chorus that seemed fun", but "never thought it would see the light of day".[7] Her manager pushed for the song to be featured on the album:
I don't care about the song. I know in print that will look bad, but what I mean is I'm not emotionally attached to it. I thought it was a fun song. I think it's a good, fun song, but I didn't anticipate it being on the record. But my manager really likes it so I put it on for him.
— Sia on "Reaper", Rolling Stone[7]
In January 2016, Sia revealed the track listing for This Is Acting by having theaters around the world display songs and track numbers on their marquees.[8] The songs "Reaper" and "House on Fire" were confirmed as the seventh and eighth tracks, respectively, on the marquee of Webster Hall in Manhattan, New York City, on 6 January.[2] The day after, "Reaper" was released as the fourth promotional single from the album.[1][9]
Sia said of "Reaper", "I don't care about the song. I know in print that will look bad, but what I mean is I'm not emotionally attached to it. I thought it was a fun song. I think it's a good, fun song, but I didn't anticipate it being on the record."[1][10]
Sia performed the song on Good Morning America on the morning of This Is Acting's release.[11] It was eventually released as a single in Australia – the fifth from the album – on 29 May 2017.[12]
Reception
Alex Kritselis of Bustle wrote, "After hearing "Reaper" — a mid-tempo, sunshine-y anthem about... cheating death? — it's easy to understand Sia's indifference. It's a catchy tune, sure — but it doesn't make much of an impact. I'm not at all surprised Rihanna passed on it. (It's not a bad song, by any means, but it's just kinda... there.)"[13]
Charts
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] | 78 |
| France (SNEP)[15] | 89 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 92 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | 7 January 2016 |
|
[17][10] | |
| Australia | 29 May 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | Inertia | [12] |
References
- ^ a b c d Plaugic, Lizzie (7 January 2016). "Listen to Sia's new song 'Reaper,' written and produced by Kanye West". The Verge. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b Thompson, Eliza (7 January 2016). "Listen to a New Sia Song Meant for Rihanna and Made With Kanye West". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Robinson, Will (5 January 2016). "Preview Sia's song Reaper, co-written by Kanye West". EW.com. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Singles Report: Selena Gomez sneaks past Liam Payne at radio". The Music Network. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Sia releases new single "The Reaper"". The Partae. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ a b Cridlin, Jay (9 March 2016). "Rihanna's 'Anti,' Sia's 'This Is Acting' approach pop stardom in divergent ways". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Spanos, Brittany (3 December 2015). "Sia's Reject Opus: Songwriter on Reclaiming Adele, Rihanna's Unwanted Hits". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (6 January 2016). "Sia and Kanye West Team on "Reaper"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Silverberg, Nicole (7 January 2016). "Oh Man, This New Sia-Kanye West Collaboration Is Actual Fire". GQ. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ a b Fitz-Gerald, Sean (7 January 2016). "Listen to Sia's 'Reaper,' Written With Kanye for Rihanna". Vulture. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Grebey, James (29 January 2016). "Sia Performs 'Reaper' on 'Good Morning America' With Dancers Who Had Dalmatian Face Paint". SPIN. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Australian Singles Report" (PDF). The Music Network. 29 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Hello, Bustle.com only works with JavaScript". Bustle.com. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Sia Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Sia – Reaper" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Sia – Reaper". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ Sia (7 January 2016). "Reaper". Spotify. Retrieved 17 April 2023.