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Pocketful of Sunshine

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"Pocketful of Sunshine"
Song

"Pocketful of Sunshine" is a pop song performed by Natasha Bedingfield for her second North American album Pocketful of Sunshine. It was released as the album's second single in 2008.[2] The single was supposed to be released in the UK as Natasha's second single from the re-release of N.B. on 7 July 2008, however it was later cancelled for unknown reasons.

The song has been recorded in Simlish for the video game The Sims 2: FreeTime,[3] and was featured on the midseason finale of the MTV television show The Hills.[4] Bedingfield performed the song on the season finale of the Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.[5] The song is also in the soundtrack of the film The Ugly Truth.

In the fall of 2008, "Pocketful of Sunshine" was used in the promotional campaign for the syndicated launch of the television series Lost.

"Pocketful of Sunshine" was also used in the background of several of ABC's "Start Fresh" commercials like Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. The song is also featured on Audition Online.

The song is written in the key of A Minor and set in 4/4 time. Bedingfield's vocals span from A3 to D5.

Reception

"Pocketful of Sunshine" was among the most praised album's tracks in the album. A critic of Allmusic praised the song.[6] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone described "Pocketful of Sunshine" as "serviceable: long on catchy" and "professional-grade melodies and dance beats", but added "annoying only in spots".[7] Meanwhile, Bill Lamb of About.com review stated that the single is "good one" for "the promise of spring".[8] The song was also listed as one of the "top tracks" on the album of the same name, in the review, also, of About.com.[9] The song ends similarly to "Sleep Don't Weep" by Damien Rice. Natasha Bedingfield plays a singing bowl and Louise Fox whispers, whilst banging glasses: 'I've got something for you' in Irish.

Chart performance

"Pocketful of Sunshine" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States at number 65, even though it had not been commercially released as a single.[10] The song also debuted on the Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks charts at number 24,[11][12] and at number 43 on the Pop 100 chart.[13] Since its release, it has climbed to number 5 on the Hot 100, giving Bedingfield her second top 10 hit on the chart, tying with "Unwritten" (which also peaked at number 5) from her first album. It has also reached number 7 on the Pop 100. The song has managed to climb to number 2 on the U.S. iTunes chart after Natasha performed it on American Idol on 1 May, and as such, has reached a peak of number 4 on the Hot Digital Songs chart. It has sold 2,050,593 downloads to date and been certified 2x Platinum in the United States.[14]

The track was also successful on Billboard's Dance charts, where it reached number 1 on both the Hot Dance Club Play chart in May 2008 and Hot Dance Airplay charts the following June.

In Canada, the song debuted at number 43 on the Canadian Hot 100,[15] and has so far peaked at number three, becoming Natasha's third top ten single, and the second from Pocketful of Sunshine.

In the UK, in the lead up to the release in July, the song was given mixed reviews from fans and the media. Despite being successful in the United States, the song's release was eventually canceled.

Music video

In an interview with Alloy.com, Bedingfield said she will soon be filming a music video for "Pocketful of Sunshine". She also said that she was excited about the video because "people are...making their own versions of the video on YouTube and that kind of thing, which is really exciting, so I want to get done with my video as well".[16]
The music video was directed by Alan Ferguson. On Natasha's blog, she explains a little bit about the concept of the video, and how she wanted a video that showed the contrast that happens in life, like finding beauty in the middle of ugliness or strength at times of weakness.

Shot in Downtown Los Angeles, the video opens with Bedingfield at a work building; scenes of a child drawing a picture while his parents are fighting and a teenager drawing graffiti in a parking lot are intercut through the video. After she drops off her work, Bedingfield grabs a parachute and jumps out the window. When she lands, she has on different clothes. Shortly after she lands, more people jump out with parachutes to join her. While Bedingfield sings, the crowd dances. Meanwhile, the police arrive to arrest the teenager, but he punches through the wall, escaping. Bedingfield is then sitting in a chair, when an eclipse occurs, hence the line "in the darkness there's light." When the eclipse passes, Bedingfield shoots red butterflies out of her hands, hence the line "there's only butterflies." Bedingfield performs a free concert for the crowd. Back at the work building, the employees watch Bedingfield's performance via the LG Voyager. The child walks out of the house he drew, when the camera shows Bedingfield meditating on a large lotus flower, while a group of belly dancers dance around her. As the child walks up to her, Bedingfield opens her eyes. The end of the video shows the lotus flower rising up, while Bedingfield sings the final lines, then looking at the child.

On 2 August 2008, "Pocketful of Sunshine" reached the #1 spot on the VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown. It returned to the #1 spot on 23 August 2008.

On 6 September 2008, "Pocketful of Sunshine" was retired to VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown 20/20 list.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Pocketful of Sunshine".

US Digital Single

  1. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Radio Edit] - 3:02

Promotional CD

  1. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Radio Edit] - 3:02
  2. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Album Version] - 3:22
  3. "Love like This" [Jim Jonsin Remix] - 4:14

Club Promo Mixes CD

  1. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Club]
  2. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [StoneBridge Club]
  3. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Radio]
  4. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [StoneBridge Radio]
  5. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Warehouse Mix]
  6. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Dub]
  7. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [StoneBridge Dub Radio Mix]
  8. "Pocketful Of Sunshine" [Radio Edit]

Official remixes

  • Johnny Vicious Radio Mix
  • Johnny Vicious Club Mix
  • Johnny Vicious Dub Mix
  • Johnny Vicious Warehouse Mix
  • StoneBridge Radio Edit
  • StoneBridge Club Mix
  • StoneBridge Dub Mix

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 5
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 3
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[20] 1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[21] 5

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Pocketful of Sunshine":[23]

Uses in media

  • In the United States, the escape-themed song's chorus portion was used in a 2008 TV commercial to promote Pechanga Resort and Casino (in California). This makes "Pocketful" Natasha's second single to be used in a TV ad campaign.
  • The chorus was also heard in promotional spots for the television series In Plain Sight, which airs on the USA Network.
  • The song was used in the 2009 film The Ugly Truth.
  • The song was played through the credits of the 2008 film Igor.
  • The song was featured prominently in the 2010 film Easy A. After receiving a greeting card that played the song, the main character, Olive Penderghast, declares it to be "the worst song ever" before becoming addicted to it, going so far as to use it as her ringtone.

Notes

  1. ^ "CHR: Available For Airplay". FMQB.com. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  2. ^ "Interview with Adam Bomb on Q100 Atlanta". YouTube. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  3. ^ "VideoBlog: Singing In Simlish". YouTube. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  4. ^ "Songs from Season 3 of the Hills episode 18?". Yahoo!. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
  5. ^ Warner, Tyrone. "Natasha Bedingfield talks 'Degrassi'". CTV. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  6. ^ Mason, Stewart. "Pocketful of Sunshine". Allmusic. Macrovision Company. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  7. ^ Hoard, Christian. "Pocketful of Sunshine Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  8. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Pocketful of Sunshine Single Review". About.com. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  9. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Pocketful of SunshineAlbum Review". About.com. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  10. ^ "Hot 100 (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  11. ^ "Hot Digital Songs (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  12. ^ "Hot Digital Tracks (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  13. ^ "Pop 100 (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  14. ^ http://riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS
  15. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  16. ^ "Interviews: Natasha Bedingfield". Alloy.com. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  17. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2008/charts/hot-100-2.shtml
  23. ^ Pocketful of Sunshine (CD liner notes). Sony BMG. January 2008.
Preceded by Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
31 May 2008 		Succeeded by
Billboard Hot Dance Airplay number-one single
13–20 June 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
"Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
 Billboard Hot Dance Airplay number-one single
5 July 2008 		Succeeded by
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