"Clown" is a song by the Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. It was released on 3 February 2013 as the fifth single from her first studio album, Our Version of Events (2012). "Clown" was written by Sandé, Shahid Khan and Grant Mitchell, and produced by Khan under his production name of Naughty Boy.
Background The song is about Sandé's first experiences in the music industry, mainly reflecting her search to be signed by a music company and the encounters with several music business people. Commenting on the song, Sandé said:
Music video A music video to accompany the release of "Clown" was first released onto YouTube on 6 December 2012 with a total length of three minutes and forty-seven seconds. It was directed by WIZ. The video was made in the style of a silent film and shows Sandé being urged by a group of men, in military uniform, to sign a document to receive something in return. The music video takes inspiration from the 1928 silent film "Joan of Arc" as a woman is put on trial and urged by a group of men to recant her beliefs.
Promotion Sandé performed "Clown" during the final of the ninth series of The X Factor on 9 December 2012, as well as appearing on The Voice of Holland in November 2012. Sandé also performed the song on The Graham Norton Show on 11 January 2013.
"Clown" debuted in Australia at No. 34 in the week commencing 2 June 2014 on the back of The Voice contestants Candice Skjonnemand and Thando Sikwila performing the song on the show on 26 May 2014.
Track listing Digital EP "Clown" – 3:41 "Clown" – 4:06 "Kill the Boy" – 3:43 "Clown" – 3:41 "Clown" – 3:46
2013 Brit Awards "Clown" / "Next to Me" (Live from the BRITs) – 4:53
Credits and personnel Lead vocals – Emeli Sandé Lyrics – Emeli Sandé, Shahid Khan, Grant Mitchell Producers – Naughty Boy Piano – Grant Mitchell Label – Virgin Records
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts Chart (2013–14) Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 45
Certifications
Release history Country Release date Format(s) Label United Kingdom 3 February 2013 Digital EP Virgin Records
O'G3NE version
The Dutch three-piece girl group O'G3NE, released a cover version of the song in the Netherlands as a digital download on 23 May 2016 by Cornelis Music. The song peaked at number 64 on the Dutch Singles Chart. The song is included on the Special Edition of their third studio album, We Got This.
Track listing
Charts Chart (2016) Peakposition
Release history Region Date Format Label Netherlands 23 May 2016'Clown – Single' van OG3NE op Apple Music Cornelis Music
References