Battlefield (song)
Encyclopedia
"Battlefield" is a song performed by American recording artist Jordin Sparks
, taken from her second studio album of the same name
. The song was written by Wayne Wilkins
, Ryan Tedder
, Louis Biancaniello
and Sam Watters
. It was released as the album's lead single in the United States on May 8, 2009. "Battlefield" is a mid-tempo pop
and R&B
ballad which talks about a tumultuous relationship where neither side wants to compromise.
The song received mixed to positive reviews, with critics complimenting its production and Sparks' vocals, as well as noting its similarities to Pat Benatar
's "We Belong
" and "Love Is a Battlefield
". In the United States, "Battlefield" peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100
, becoming her third top ten hit on the chart. It also reached the top ten in countries such as Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. The song's accompanying music video directed by Philip Andelman features Sparks in different looks and sees her being flanked by missiles and smoke. The song was promoted by Sparks with live performances in televised shows, including American Idol
and also on her first headlining tour
in the United States.
, Sparks said that while she was in the studio working on another song with producer Wayne Wilkins
, he told her that "I have a song I wanna play you but I don't know if I should." The song turned out to be "Battlefield" and Sparks said once she heard it her "jaw hit the floor." According to Sparks, after she heard the song, she didn't ask Wilkins straight away if she could have the song, stating "so I went to my A&R and said, 'This song's so phenomenal, you have to ask him if it's available'. About a week later I got a call saying I was going to record it."
"Battlefield" was sent to U.S. Top 40/Mainstream
radio on May 25, 2009. Prior to this, it became the number one most requested song on New York
's Z100
radio station. It was released for digital download
s on May 8, 2009 in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany. A CD single
featuring an additional remix of the song was made available in the United Kingdom, Canada and France It was released as a maxi single
in Germany on July 17, 2009.
and R&B
ballad. According to the music sheet published at Musicnotes.com, it is set in common time in the key of G major
with a tempo of 72 beats per minute. Sparks's vocal range spans from A3 to A5. The song also derives from the genre of soft rock
. Tom Howard of Yahoo! Music UK
described "Battlefield" as an "immense pop song" with a "distinctive twinkly piano
line over electronic
drum
beats, ridiculous war metaphors to explain a tricky relationship [and a] chorus that explodes like a cluster bomb
." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
compared its production to Pat Benatar
's 1980s power ballad, "We Belong
" and found it as catchy as Beyoncé
's "Halo
" and Leona Lewis
' "Bleeding Love
". This was echoed by Jeremy Medina of The Music Mix
who found the song's sound familiar to Bentar's. Nate Chihen of The New York Times
said Sparks wails "Why does love always feel like a battlefield?" with "remorse and rebuke", sounding "vexed but in control, and undaunted by the copyright interests of Pat Benatar, who preferred her battlefield metaphors in declarative form."
awarded the song 4½ out of five stars and complimented Sparks' "exciting, declaiming vocals", stating "[she] is no minor talent, and she proves it here. From the first notes she is clearly in a vocal zone." Nick Levine of Digital Spy
said it "bear[s] a passing resemblance" to Beyoncé
's "Halo
", but found "Battlefield" "more bombastic, more overblown" and "plain better." Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly
called the song "gorgeous" and said "when Sparks hits that "Better go and get your armor" bridge, you can practically feel the wind whipping through your hair." Editors from The Insider
said it "prove[s] why she deserved the 2007 American Idol
crown." Ruth Harrison of Female First called the song "incredible" and said "from the build-up of the verses to the epic chorus that is just made to be sung in arena's all over the world; the greatness of this song can really not be summed up in words."
In the United States, "Battlefield" entered the Billboard Hot 100
at number thirty-two, on the week dated May 30, 2009. After weeks of climbing the chart, the song reached a peak of number ten, giving Sparks her third top ten hit in the U.S. To date, the song has sold 1,505,000 copies in the United States. On the UK Singles Chart
, "Battlefield" reached a peak of number eleven. The song also peaked at number six on the UK R&B Singles Chart
. In other countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand, "Battlefield" reached the top five. It certified platinum in Australia and gold in New Zealand. In Canada, the song has currently sold 30,000 copies.
. A thirty second preview of the video was released online on June 3, 2009. The full length video premiered on MTV
on June 8, 2009. It begins with Sparks in a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera
sports car
wearing a black dress, as she sings the first verse. The scene is intercut with other scenes of her lying out in a field in a white dress. During the song's bridge, Sparks is seen getting flanked by missiles and smoke, as she warns her love interest to get his armor.
Jocelyn Vena of MTV News
wrote, "it seems like she's using the video as a way to step out of her shell a little — perhaps she's out to show the world that she isn't all that sweet and can start a war in a relationship with the best of them." Maura from Idolator
wrote the video was a "simple affair that allows her to get into maximum drama mode."
top 3 results show. She was accompanied by Ryan Tedder
who played the guitar during her performance. The promotion of the song continued when Sparks performed on Good Morning America
on July 20, 2009, and on the Live with Regis and Kelly
and the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
shows, the following day. On July 24, 2009, Sparks appeared on The Wendy Williams Show
and talked about her life in New York
, as well as performing "Battlefield". The song was also added to her set list
of opening both The Jonas Brothers' and Britney Spears
' North American tours, as well performing the song on her first headlining tour in the United States, the Battlefield Tour
.
"Battlefield" was covered by English alternative rock
band, Fightstar
in the Live Lounge
on BBC Radio 1
on July 23, 2009. Their performance of the song was included on a live DVD entitled, Unplugged at the Picturedrome. On October 22, 2009, "Battlefield" was performed by American Idol
season eight
finalist, Anoop Desai
during his post-Idol solo concert in Raleigh, North Carolina
. He also performed the song in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
on November 8, 2009. In May 2010, "Battlefield" was covered on the ABC television show One Life to Live
during a musical episode known as "Starr X'd Lovers". The song was also covered by X Factor Australia
finalist, India-Rose Madderom in September 2010.
Canada, France, Germany & UK CD single
German Maxi single
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
, taken from her second studio album of the same name
Battlefield (album)
Battlefield is the second studio album by American R&B and pop singer Jordin Sparks. It was first released on July 17, 2009 in Australia and Ireland, July 20 in the UK and from July 21 worldwide, on Jive Records...
. The song was written by Wayne Wilkins
Wayne Wilkins
Wayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon...
, Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
, Louis Biancaniello
Louis Biancaniello
Louis John Biancaniello is a songwriter, record producer, and musician.-Background:Louis' skills were developed while working alongside producer Narada Michael Walden with whom he produced hits for Shanice "I Love Your Smile", Whitney Houston "I'm Every Woman" from the Grammy winning album The...
and Sam Watters
Sam Watters
Sam Watters is a Grammy nominated American songwriter, record producer, singer, and record executive. Watters was a member of the multi-platinum selling 1990’s R&B group Color Me Badd and co-authored many of their hits including “I Wanna Sex You Up”, “I Adore Mi Amor”, and “All 4 Love”...
. It was released as the album's lead single in the United States on May 8, 2009. "Battlefield" is a mid-tempo pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
ballad which talks about a tumultuous relationship where neither side wants to compromise.
The song received mixed to positive reviews, with critics complimenting its production and Sparks' vocals, as well as noting its similarities to Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
's "We Belong
We Belong
"We Belong" is a 1984 single from Pat Benatar's sixth studio album Tropico. It matched the success of "Love Is a Battlefield" on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the U.S., peaking at number five, and reaching number three on Billboard's Top Rock Tracks chart and the top 40 on its Adult...
" and "Love Is a Battlefield
Love Is a Battlefield
"Love Is a Battlefield" is a song written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, after Pat Benatar asked Chapman to write her a hit song. It was released as a single from Benatar's album Live from Earth. The single has been certified gold and is her highest charting single in the United States...
". In the United States, "Battlefield" peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, becoming her third top ten hit on the chart. It also reached the top ten in countries such as Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. The song's accompanying music video directed by Philip Andelman features Sparks in different looks and sees her being flanked by missiles and smoke. The song was promoted by Sparks with live performances in televised shows, including American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and also on her first headlining tour
Battlefield Tour
The Battlefield Tour was a concert tour by American pop singer Jordin Sparks in support of her second studio album Battlefield. It is Sparks' first headlining tour. The tour consisted of mostly general assembly venues such as theaters, ballrooms, amusement parks, and casinos. It was initially only...
in the United States.
Background and release
In an interview with Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Sparks said that while she was in the studio working on another song with producer Wayne Wilkins
Wayne Wilkins
Wayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon...
, he told her that "I have a song I wanna play you but I don't know if I should." The song turned out to be "Battlefield" and Sparks said once she heard it her "jaw hit the floor." According to Sparks, after she heard the song, she didn't ask Wilkins straight away if she could have the song, stating "so I went to my A&R and said, 'This song's so phenomenal, you have to ask him if it's available'. About a week later I got a call saying I was going to record it."
"Battlefield" was sent to U.S. Top 40/Mainstream
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
radio on May 25, 2009. Prior to this, it became the number one most requested song on New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Z100
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
radio station. It was released for digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
s on May 8, 2009 in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany. A CD single
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
featuring an additional remix of the song was made available in the United Kingdom, Canada and France It was released as a maxi single
Maxi single
A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
in Germany on July 17, 2009.
Composition
"Battlefield" is a mid-tempo popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
ballad. According to the music sheet published at Musicnotes.com, it is set in common time in the key of G major
G major
G major is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp, F; in treble-clef key signatures, the sharp-symbol for F is usually placed on the first line from the top, though in some Baroque music it is placed on the first space from the bottom...
with a tempo of 72 beats per minute. Sparks's vocal range spans from A3 to A5. The song also derives from the genre of soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
. Tom Howard of Yahoo! Music UK
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
described "Battlefield" as an "immense pop song" with a "distinctive twinkly piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
line over electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
beats, ridiculous war metaphors to explain a tricky relationship [and a] chorus that explodes like a cluster bomb
Cluster bomb
A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller sub-munitions. Commonly, this is a cluster bomb that ejects explosive bomblets that are designed to kill enemy personnel and destroy vehicles...
." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
compared its production to Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
's 1980s power ballad, "We Belong
We Belong
"We Belong" is a 1984 single from Pat Benatar's sixth studio album Tropico. It matched the success of "Love Is a Battlefield" on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the U.S., peaking at number five, and reaching number three on Billboard's Top Rock Tracks chart and the top 40 on its Adult...
" and found it as catchy as Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
's "Halo
Halo (Beyoncé Knowles song)
"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce . Columbia Records released the song as the fourth single of the album, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009. It was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and...
" and Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
' "Bleeding Love
Bleeding Love
"Bleeding Love" is a pop/R&B ballad co-written by Jesse McCartney and Ryan Tedder and produced by Tedder for British singer Leona Lewis's debut album, Spirit. The song is the album's lead single , released in the United Kingdom and Ireland in October 2007...
". This was echoed by Jeremy Medina of The Music Mix
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
who found the song's sound familiar to Bentar's. Nate Chihen of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
said Sparks wails "Why does love always feel like a battlefield?" with "remorse and rebuke", sounding "vexed but in control, and undaunted by the copyright interests of Pat Benatar, who preferred her battlefield metaphors in declarative form."
Reception
"Battlefield" received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Bill Lamb of About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
awarded the song 4½ out of five stars and complimented Sparks' "exciting, declaiming vocals", stating "[she] is no minor talent, and she proves it here. From the first notes she is clearly in a vocal zone." Nick Levine of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
said it "bear[s] a passing resemblance" to Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
's "Halo
Halo (Beyoncé Knowles song)
"Halo" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce . Columbia Records released the song as the fourth single of the album, to mainstream radio in the United States on January 20, 2009. It was composed by Ryan Tedder, Evan Bogart, and...
", but found "Battlefield" "more bombastic, more overblown" and "plain better." Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
called the song "gorgeous" and said "when Sparks hits that "Better go and get your armor" bridge, you can practically feel the wind whipping through your hair." Editors from The Insider
The Insider (newspaper)
The Insider is a prominent subscription-based newsletter reporting on Pennsylvania politics.-Reach:It is the "state’s most widely read newsletter devoted to state politics and government." With an audience of both the "hard-core state political junkie and the casual political observer," The Insider...
said it "prove[s] why she deserved the 2007 American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
crown." Ruth Harrison of Female First called the song "incredible" and said "from the build-up of the verses to the epic chorus that is just made to be sung in arena's all over the world; the greatness of this song can really not be summed up in words."
In the United States, "Battlefield" entered the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at number thirty-two, on the week dated May 30, 2009. After weeks of climbing the chart, the song reached a peak of number ten, giving Sparks her third top ten hit in the U.S. To date, the song has sold 1,505,000 copies in the United States. On the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, "Battlefield" reached a peak of number eleven. The song also peaked at number six on the UK R&B Singles Chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
. In other countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand, "Battlefield" reached the top five. It certified platinum in Australia and gold in New Zealand. In Canada, the song has currently sold 30,000 copies.
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Philip Andelman and shot in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. A thirty second preview of the video was released online on June 3, 2009. The full length video premiered on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
on June 8, 2009. It begins with Sparks in a 1971 De Tomaso Pantera
De Tomaso Pantera
The Pantera was a sports car produced by the De Tomaso car company of Italy from 1971 to 1991, the last one being delivered to a customer in 1992.The word "Pantera" is Italian for "Panther".-History:...
sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
wearing a black dress, as she sings the first verse. The scene is intercut with other scenes of her lying out in a field in a white dress. During the song's bridge, Sparks is seen getting flanked by missiles and smoke, as she warns her love interest to get his armor.
Jocelyn Vena of MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
wrote, "it seems like she's using the video as a way to step out of her shell a little — perhaps she's out to show the world that she isn't all that sweet and can start a war in a relationship with the best of them." Maura from Idolator
Idolator (website)
Idolator is a music blog. Created by the blog network Gawker Media in August 2006, Idolator was later sold to rival blog network Buzz Media, which also owns music blog Stereogum. From the 2007 departure of original head writer Brian Raftery until November 2009, the blog's head writer was Maura...
wrote the video was a "simple affair that allows her to get into maximum drama mode."
Promotion and covers
On May 13, 2009, Sparks performed "Battlefield" on the American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
top 3 results show. She was accompanied by Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
who played the guitar during her performance. The promotion of the song continued when Sparks performed on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
on July 20, 2009, and on the Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
and the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
shows, the following day. On July 24, 2009, Sparks appeared on The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
and talked about her life in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, as well as performing "Battlefield". The song was also added to her set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
of opening both The Jonas Brothers' and Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
' North American tours, as well performing the song on her first headlining tour in the United States, the Battlefield Tour
Battlefield Tour
The Battlefield Tour was a concert tour by American pop singer Jordin Sparks in support of her second studio album Battlefield. It is Sparks' first headlining tour. The tour consisted of mostly general assembly venues such as theaters, ballrooms, amusement parks, and casinos. It was initially only...
.
"Battlefield" was covered by English alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band, Fightstar
Fightstar
Fightstar are an English alternative rock band from London. They formed in 2003 and their lineup comprises lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and vocalist Alex Westaway, bass guitarist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi...
in the Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
on July 23, 2009. Their performance of the song was included on a live DVD entitled, Unplugged at the Picturedrome. On October 22, 2009, "Battlefield" was performed by American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
season eight
American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
finalist, Anoop Desai
Anoop Desai
Anoop Desai is an American singer-songwriter best known for his time as a contestant on the eighth season of American Idol. Motivated by the death of his friend Eve Carson, Desai auditioned for American Idol. Desai made American Idol history by being the first ever 13th finalist on American Idol...
during his post-Idol solo concert in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. He also performed the song in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
on November 8, 2009. In May 2010, "Battlefield" was covered on the ABC television show One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
during a musical episode known as "Starr X'd Lovers". The song was also covered by X Factor Australia
The X Factor (Australia season 2)
The X Factor is an Australian television reality music competition, based on the original UK series, to find new singing talent. The 2010 season premiered on 30 August 2010 and was won by Altiyan Childs on 22 November 2010. Ronan Keating emerged as the winning mentor of the series...
finalist, India-Rose Madderom in September 2010.
Track listing
Digital download- "Battlefield" — 4:01
Canada, France, Germany & UK CD single
- "Battlefield" — 4:01
- "Battlefield" (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit) — 4:08
German Maxi single
- "Battlefield" - 4:01
- "Battlefield" (Bimbo Jones Club Mix)
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... ) |
4 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... ) |
47 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... ) |
5 |
| European Hot 100 | 23 |
| Germany (Media Control AG Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... ) |
40 |
| Ireland (IRMA Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... ) |
9 |
| Japan (Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... ) |
93 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... ) |
51 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... ) |
3 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... ) |
39 |
| Switzerland (Media Control AG Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... ) |
81 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... ) |
11 |
| UK R&B (The Official Charts Company UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... ) |
6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
10 |
| US Pop Songs | 6 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 45 |
| Hungarian Singles Chart | 165 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 33 |
| UK Singles Chart | 86 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 57 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum |
| New Zealand | Gold |
Radio date and release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | May 8, 2009 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation.... |
| Germany | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| United States | Jive Records Jive Records Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African... |
||
| United States | May 25, 2009 | Airplay | |
| United Kingdom | July 6, 2009 | CD single Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... |
Sony Music Entertainment |
| Canada | July 7, 2009 | ||
| France | |||
| Germany | July 17, 2009 | Maxi single Maxi single A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:... |
|