| "Changes" | |
|---|---|
| Song byBlack Sabbath | |
| from the albumVol. 4 | |
| Released | September 1972 |
| Recorded | 1972 |
| Genre | Soft rock |
| Length | 4:43 |
| Label | Vertigo (UK)Warner Bros. (US) |
| Songwriters | |
| Producers |
|
"Changes" is a song by English heavy metal bandBlack Sabbath. Aballad, it first appeared onVol. 4, which was released in 1972. In 1993,Ozzy Osbourne released a live version as a single fromLive & Loud album.[1] In 2003, a version with his daughter,Kelly Osbourne was released as a single.
The song's piano melody was composed by guitaristTony Iommi, who was experimenting with the instrument in the studio.[2] The lyrics were by bassistGeezer Butler,[2] and vocalistOzzy Osbourne has referred to the song as "heartbreaking". Quite different from Sabbath's previous work, the song was described as a "forlornly pretty"ballad by criticBarney Hoskyns.[3] It was inspired mainly by drummerBill Ward's break-up with his first wife.[2]
Notably, "Changes" was not recorded with a real string ensemble. Instead, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi used aMellotron to create the sound of an orchestra. The ballad is generally an outlier in the band's discography as it does not feature guitar or drums. To alleviate concerns about the band departing their well-known heavy sound, Osbourne promised in a 1972 interview "We're certainly not going to get any less heavy, we will probably do 'Changes' on stage with a Mellotron, but we'll never take strings on stage with us or anything like that."[4]
The band first performed the song live in 1973.[5]
"Changes" was ranked the 12th best Black Sabbath song byRock - Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check.[6]
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[7] | 11 |
| "Changes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Single byOzzy andKelly Osbourne | ||||
| from the albumChanges | ||||
| Released | 8 December 2003 (2003-12-08) | |||
| Length | 4:07 | |||
| Label | Sanctuary | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Mark Hudson | |||
| Ozzy Osbourne singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Kelly Osbourne singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Three decades later, Ozzy recorded another version of the song, this time with his daughter,Kelly Osbourne as a duet. The revised lyrics for this version, released on 8 December 2003, reflect the moments of their life together. Ozzy said Kelly wanted a song about her after he made songs about her siblings onOzzmosis—"Aimee" aboutAimee Osbourne and "My Little Man" aboutJack Osbourne—and so he decided to help her career re-recording "one of my favourite songs of all time".[8] The single reached number one on theUK Singles Chart, becoming the second father-daughter duet to top the chart afterFrank andNancy Sinatra did so with "Somethin' Stupid" in 1967.[9] "Changes" also reached the top 20 in Germany, Ireland, and Norway.
According to the Ozzy Osbourne official website, the single sold over one million copies.[10]Maura Johnston ofThe Village Voice ranked the song at number 27 on her list of the "50 Worst Songs of the '00s".[11]
Following Ozzy Osbourne's death in July 2025, the song debuted at number eight on theUK Singles Downloads Chart,[12] peaking at number seven, one week later.
| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] | 31 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] | 4 |
| Germany (GfK)[17] | 15 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[18] | 7 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[19] | 15 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[20] | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] | 26 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 1 |
| UK Indie (OCC)[23] | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[24] | 2 |
| USDance Club Songs (Billboard)[25] Felix da Housecat Remix | 31 |
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[26] | 7 |
| Chart (2003) | Position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA)[27] | 82 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[28] | 7 |
| Chart (2004) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[29] | 35 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[30] | Gold | 400,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 8 December 2003 | CD | Sanctuary | [31][32] |
| United States | 19 January 2004 | [33] |
| "Changes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byYungblud,Nuno Bettencourt, andFrank Bello featuringAdam Wakeman andII | ||||
| Released | 18 July 2025 (2025-07-18) | |||
| Recorded | 5 July 2025 | |||
| Venue | Villa Park (Birmingham) | |||
| Length | 5:40 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Matt Schwartz | |||
| Yungblud singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Changes" (Live From Villa Park / Back To The Beginning) onYouTube | ||||
A live recording ofYungblud's cover of the song from theBack to the Beginning concert was released as acharity single on 18 July 2025, featuringFrank Bello on bass,Nuno Bettencourt on guitar,Sleep Token II on drums, andAdam Wakeman on keyboards.[34]
Rhys Buchanan ofRolling Stone said Yungblud's performance at the 5 July 2025benefit concert, which he dedicated toDiogo Jota, "stopped the stadium in its tracks".[35]
Following Ozzy Osbourne's death in July 2025, the song debuted at number 1 on theUK Singles Downloads Chart.[12] All proceeds will go to benefitAcorns Children's Hospice,Birmingham Children's Hospital andCure Parkinson's.[34]
This version was nominated for theGrammy Award for Best Rock Performance at the68th Annual Grammy Awards.[36]
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles(RMNZ)[37] | 17 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[38] | 90 |
| USHot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[39] | 42 |
Charles Bradley recorded a cover of the song in asoul music style. It was first released as aRecord Store DayBlack Friday single in 2013,[40] and would later be released as the title track of Bradley's 2016 albumChanges.
The following year, Bradley's cover received increased exposure when it was used as thetheme song to theNetflix-producedadult animated sitcomBig Mouth.[41] The series' cast membersMaya Rudolph andJordan Peele also performed a version of the song for the series' soundtrack in character as Connie the Hormone Monstress and the Ghost ofDuke Ellington, respectively.
Charles Bradley's version of the song is featured in the 5th episode of the 4th season of the showBlack-ish and the end credits for the 2nd episode of the 6th season ofSuits.[42]
Bradley's version of the song also appeared in an episode of theHBO seriesBig Little Lies, and was featured on the soundtrack album of the show's second season.[43]
This version saw further use in an April 2022 promo forTurner Classic Movies.[44]
Country musicianBilly Walker recorded a version of the song on his 1973 albumThe Hand of Love.
| Studio albums | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live albums | |||||||||
| Extended plays | |||||||||
| Compilations/box sets | |||||||||
| Singles |
| ||||||||
| Featured singles | |||||||||
| Other songs | |||||||||
| Concert tours | |||||||||
| Band members |
| ||||||||
| Books | |||||||||
| Related articles |
| ||||||||
