"Bird Set Free" is a song recorded by Sia for her seventh studio album This Is Acting (2016).[2] It was released as the first promotional single from the album on 4 November 2015.
Background
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sia said that the song was written for Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack, but they rejected it in favour of "Flashlight". Afterwards she pitched it to Rihanna, who rejected it, then to Adele, who initially recorded it for her album 25, but later decided to let Sia keep it.[3][4]
Rolling Stone said the song is "liberating".[8] In a review of the song's parent album This Is Acting, Kathy Iandolf of Idolator wrote "This album is dark, indicated by the lead single 'Alive,' but also by the opener 'Bird Set Free,' where Sia takes a solemn vow to emotional liberation amidst strong piano keys."[9] Alex McCown of The A.V. Club called it the "best female empowerment sing-along Katy Perry never wrote."[10] Calling the song a "ginormo self-empowerment anthem", Hugh Montgomory of The Independent wrote "Sia produces something more complex, battle-cries from a volatile soul."[11]
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
References
^Rolling Stone Staff (28 June 2023). "The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 September 2023. A power-pop battle cry from Sia's 2015 LP, This Is Acting, "Bird Set Free" features themes that often resonate with the queer community...
^"ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 49. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201549 into search. Retrieved 7 December 2015.