| "Cannonball" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byDamien Rice | ||||
| from the albumO | ||||
| Released | 1 February 2002 (2002-02-01) | |||
| Recorded | 2000 (Monkstown,Rathgar, andCelbridge) | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label |
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| Songwriter | Damien Rice | |||
| Producer | Damien Rice | |||
| Damien Rice singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Cannonball" onYouTube | ||||
"Cannonball" is a song written and performed by Irishfolk singerDamien Rice. It was released on 1 February 2002, as the second single from his debut albumO. It was later re-released in 2003 (reaching number 32 on the UK Singles Chart), 2004 (reaching number 19) and 2011 (reaching number 9).
In Ireland the single was issued as a CDmaxi single in May 2002 on the artist's own label Damien Rice Music.[1] It contained aremixed version of the track by Paul "P-Dub" Walton andMark "Spike" Stent, plus a demo, a live track and an instrumental of theA-side.[2] Unlike the album version, the single mix includesdrums.
In Britain the single was released in October 2003 by 14th Floor Records, on a standardCD single andEnhanced CD. The Enhanced CD featured an exclusive B-side, "Moody Monday", and themusic video for "Cannonball". It was packaged in agatefold card sleeve with aposter.[3] The second CD contained live versions of "Cannonball", "Amie" and "The Blower's Daughter", recorded live atUnion Chapel.[4] This release included fourpostcards. A limited edition one-track7" single was also pressed.[3]
The single was re-released on 5 July 2004, with an additionalDVD single containing two remixes and a filmed interview and a biography, rising to #19 on its re-release.
The single versions (of which there are two, with slightly differing production) are markedly different from the original version found on the album, with background production and a quicker vocal.
The song was originally released on 17 May 2002 and did not chart at the time.[citation needed]
In 2003, it reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart on the chart of 1 November 2003, slipping back to 57 the following week for a total run of just 2 weeks in the charts.[citation needed]
On its re-release in 2004, the song had limited success, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 19 on 17 July 2004 and then slipping back in the charts. It had a total run of seven weeks in the charts that year. It also peaked at number 21 on the Irish Singles Chart.[citation needed]
The song was rereleased in 2011 reaching number 13 on 22 September 2011 (week 38) in Irish Singles Chart.[5] Due to an impressive and popular X Factor audition from John Adams, singing an acoustic cover in the first round of 2011 auditions, Cannonball reentered the British Singles Chart on 24 September 2011 at number 39, and rising to 9 in the week of 1 October 2011[5] before slipping back in the charts.
As of December 2011, the song has sold 191,696 copies in the UK.[6]
Irish CD
British CD
British Enhanced CD
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "Cannonball" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byLittle Mix | ||||
| Released | 11 December 2011 (2011-12-11) | |||
| Recorded | December 2011 | |||
| Length | 3:25 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Damien Rice | |||
| Producers |
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| Little Mix singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio video | ||||
| "Cannonball" onYouTube | ||||
The song was chosen as the winner's single for theeighth series ofThe X Factor in 2011. It was then released by girl group andX Factor championsLittle Mix (formerly known as Rhythmix) on 11 December 2011, throughSyco Music.[13] It was later included on the expanded edition of Little Mix's debut albumDNA (2012).
"Cannonball" reached number one on theUK Singles Chart; becoming the fastest-selling single of 2011 in the UK.[14][1] By the end of the year, it had sold over 390,000 copies. The song also reached number one in Scotland and Ireland; later becoming the Christmas number one single of that year.[2][4]
Rice had no involvement with the production of Little Mix's cover of "Cannonball".[15] He proceeded to donate money toHaiti to "cleanse myself of any possibleX Factor money that could come in".[16] As of 2022, Little Mix's version had sold over 561,000 copies in the UK and has been certified gold in the country and in Ireland.[6] It also ranks as the ninth best-selling X Factor winner's single.[17]
In a positive review, Robert Copsey ofDigital Spy gave the song three stars out of five, stating: "Naturally the production has been given the deluxe valet, swapping the raw acoustics of the original for a Casio keyboard piano riff, fist-clenching strings and the inevitable key change. But credit where it's due, they've played around (or asGary put it, "Little Mixed") with it enough to distance themselves from the original."[18]
The music video for "Cannonball" was uploaded onto Little Mix's officialVevo page on 20 December 2011. It depicts their best moments throughoutThe X Factor, and their performance of the single.[19]
For the first time sinceseries 1,The X Factor winner's single was not released the week of the covetedChristmas number one chart battle. TheOfficial Charts Company announced that the 2011 Christmas number-one would be announced on Christmas Day,[20] meaning releases on 18 December 2011 will be new entries in the chart that week. The winner's single was released in shops on 14 December 2011,[21] which means it would have had to maintain significant sales numbers in its second week to achieve the Christmas number-one.
The song debuted at number one on theUK Singles Chart selling over 210,000 copies in its first week, becoming the fastest-selling single of the year.[22] It is the third lowest-sellingX Factor winner's single. The song has sold 465,000 copies in the UK as of December 2012.[23]
In Ireland, the song was Christmas number one and remained at the top of theIrish Singles Chart for four weeks until it dropped to number four on 13 January.[24]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cannonball" | 3:25 |
| 2. | "Little Mix - Audio Message" | 0:22 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cannonball" | 3:25 |
| 2. | "Super Bass" (X Factor performance) | 2:26 |
| 3. | "E.T." (X Factor performance) | 2:13 |
| 4. | "Don't Let Go (Love)" (X Factor performance) | 2:33 |
Credits adapted from CD single liner notes.[25]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | — | 10,000[31] |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[33] | Gold | 561,000[32] |
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom[34] | 11 December 2011 | Digital download | Syco Music |
| Ireland[35] | |||
| Germany[36] | 12 December 2011 | ||
| Ireland[37] | 14 December 2011 | CD single | |
| United Kingdom[37] |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)| Studio albums | |
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| Compilation albums | |
| Singles |
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| Other songs | |
| Concert tours | |
| Filmography | |
| Related articles | |
