"Safe and Sound" is a song by the American indie pop duo Capital Cities, written and produced by band members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. The song was originally released on January 6, 2011, and first appeared on their debut EP Capital Cities (2011), later serving as the lead single on May 17, 2013, from their first studio album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery (2013). "Safe and Sound" became the duo's breakout hit, peaking at number 8 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and achieving commercial success in several other territories. Three music videos were produced for the single, with the third video, directed by Grady Hall and set in the Los Angeles Theatre, being nominated for Best Music Video at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background and composition "Safe and Sound" is a synth-pop, new wave, dance-pop, and alternative rock song, and was written and produced by Capital Cities members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. It features a prominent trumpet line, which was only incorporated into its production after eight previous takes of the song.
Sheet music for the song is entirely in the key of C major with a metronome of 116120 beats per minute in common time.Safe and Sound
Music videos The first music video for "Safe and Sound" was self-produced and edited by the band and uploaded to their official YouTube account on February 24, 2011. It features alternating historical film clips of dancing and war from the last century generally arranged in chronological order. Another video, directed by Jimmy Ahlander, was released on October 21 on Vimeo, depicting the duo being led through a junkyard by a monk.
The third and most well-known video for the song was directed by Grady Hall and released on April 25, 2013. The video is set in the Los Angeles Theatre and depicts Capital Cities performing on stage as dancers of all types (1940s swing dancers, 1970s roller-disco skaters, 1990s hip-hop dancers, etc.) emerge from pictures on the wall and film clips from different time periods in the theater's history come to life and compete in dance-offs. It received a nomination in the Best Music Video category at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Cover versions and in other media On November 7, 2013, the song was performed by Team Adam (consisted of Tessanne Chin, James Wolpert, Will Champlin, Grey and Preston Pohl) from the fifth season of the series, The Voice.
Zendaya, Kina Grannis, Kurt Hugo Schneider and Max Schneider released a cover of the song on March 31, 2014, used for a Coca-Cola commercial. Coca-Cola bottles served as instruments in the version. The cover was later revised in January 2025 following the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles.
Barcelona's Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) has used it in its dance video to raise awareness and support for research into diseases such as cancer and metastasis, Alzheimer's and diabetes.
Beginning in July 2021, the song was used in an advertising campaign for ADT Home Security titled "It's Safe To Say", which featured Drew and Jonathan Scott from the HGTV series Property Brothers.
Commercial performance "Safe and Sound" first gained commercial success in Germany following its use in a Vodafone commercial, later topping the German Media Control singles chart. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2013, over two-and-a-half years after its initial release. It sold over two million copies in the United States by January 2014. It also reached number 1 on Alternative Airplay and number 2 on both the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 charts. In the United Kingdom, the single was added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist on August 31, 2013; following its official single release in the country the following month, it peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.
In September 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Alternative Airplay, Billboard published a list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history; "Safe and Sound" was ranked at number 53.
Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Result2013MTV Video Music AwardsBest Visual EffectsBest Art Direction2014Grammy AwardsBest Music VideoWorld Music AwardsWorld's Best SongWorld's Best VideoBillboard Music AwardsTop Rock Song
Track listing
Digital download (single) "Safe and Sound" – 3:12
Digital download (remix EP) "Safe and Sound" – 4:12 "Safe and Sound" – 5:26 "Safe and Sound" – 2:52 "Safe and Sound" – 5:30 "Safe and Sound" – 5:22 "Safe and Sound" – 5:53 "Safe and Sound" – 7:48
CD single (Germany) "Safe and Sound" – 3:12 "Safe and Sound" – 5:53
11th Anniversary Bundle (remix EP) "Safe and Sound" – 2:31 "Safe and Sound" – 2:41 "Safe and Sound" – 2:58 "Safe and Sound" – 3:08 "Safe and Sound" – 3:09 "Safe and Sound" – 2:31 "Safe and Sound" – 4:23
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Safe and Sound" Chart (2012–2014) Peakposition Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100) 56 Brazil Hot Pop Songs 22 Finland (Suomen virallinen radiolista) 31 Israel (Media Forest) 2 Italy Airplay (EarOne) 1 Mexico (Billboard Ingles Airplay) 1 Mexico Anglo (Monitor Latino) 2 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50) 1 Slovenia (SloTop50) 7 Venezuela Pop Rock General (Record Report) 1
Year-end charts +2013 year-end chart performance for "Safe and Sound" Chart (2013) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)18Brazil Airplay (Crowley) 69 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)28 France (SNEP)71 Germany (Official German Charts)8 Italy (FIMI)35 Italy Airplay (EarOne) 3Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)155 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 37 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)42 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 62 US Billboard Hot 10029 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)41 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)19 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)20 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)4 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)16 +2014 year-end chart performance for "Safe and Sound" Chart (2014) PositionBrazil Airplay (Crowley) 86 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)59 France (SNEP)173 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 27 Slovenia (SloTop50)18 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 48 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)35 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)17 + Chart (2025) Position Argentina Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) 91
Decade-end charts +Decade-end chart performance for "Safe and Sound" Chart (2010–2019) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard) 47
Certifications
Release history +Release dates for "Safe and Sound" Region Date Format Label United States January 12, 2011 Digital download Lazy Hooks January 14, 2013 Modern rock radio Capitol February 4, 2013 Adult album alternative radio April 2, 2013 Contemporary hit radio Germany April 5, 2013 Digital download Canada April 16, 2013 United States Germany May 17, 2013 Compact disc Capitol Italy June 14, 2013 Contemporary hit radio EMI Australia June 21, 2013 Digital download New Zealand Australia August 16, 2013 Digital download New Zealand United States August 19, 2013 Rhythmic contemporary radio Capitol United Kingdom September 20, 2013 Digital download
References