Flashlight (Jessie J song)

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"Flashlight"
Single by Jessie J
from the album Pitch Perfect 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released23 April 2015 (2015-04-23)
Recorded2014
GenrePop
Length3:29
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Jessie J singles chronology
"Masterpiece"
(2015) 		"Flashlight"
(2015) 		"Real Deal"
(2017)
Pitch Perfect singles chronology
"Cups ("When I'm Gone")"
(2013) 		"Flashlight"
(2015)
Music video
"Flashlight" on YouTube

"Flashlight" is a song recorded by English singer Jessie J for the soundtrack to the film Pitch Perfect 2 (2015). The song was written by Sia, Christian Guzman, Jason Moore, and Sam Smith.[1] The song was originally obtained when one pre-ordered the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack in the United States, beginning on 23 April 2015; it later became available for download on its own. "Flashlight" was released in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2015 both on the soundtrack and as a stand-alone single. "Flashlight" was particularly successful in Australia, peaking at number two, and number seven in New Zealand.

Hailee Steinfeld performs a version of "Flashlight" titled the "Sweet Life Mix" in the film Pitch Perfect 2. Her version of the song is included on the special edition of the film's soundtrack as well as Japanese version of Steinfeld's debut EP, Haiz (2015).[2]

Composition[edit]

According to the sheet music published at musicnotes.com, the song has a tempo of 74 beats per minute. Jessie J's version is in the key of F major.[3] Hailee Steinfeld's version is in E-flat major.[citation needed]

Critical reception[edit]

"Flashlight" received generally mixed reviews. In a less favourable review, Steven J. Horowitz of Billboard gave the song two stars out of five, saying: "prone to funny bone shout-singing on her more upbeat singles, Jessie J dials back her vocal force on the tepid "Flashlight", off the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack. The more subtle delivery would be welcome if the track weren't so paint-by-numbers, it plays like a pantomime of a Sia ballad, but without the emotive edge."[4]

Music video[edit]

The music video (directed by Hannah Lux Davis) was released on 23 April 2015 on YouTube.[5] In the video, Jessie J heads to Barden University (the campus of UCLA) where she performs the ballad while watching the students go about their days while walking around the campus, while scenes from Pitch Perfect 2 are shown.[5]

Use in film[edit]

The song is first sung by Barden University freshman Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) for her audition into the Barden Bellas, who have been suspended from competition. Emily explains that she writes songs to compensate for her anxieties, in this case, leaving home. Emily sings the song again later during the "Riff Off" which, due to it being an original song, causes the Bellas to be disqualified.

Upon learning that Emily writes her own songs, Beca (Anna Kendrick) offers to work with her on it and record the song in a studio. At the climax of the film, the Bellas incorporate "Flashlight" into their World Championships setlist.

Chart performance[edit]

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 28 May 2015, at number 68.[6][7] The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 24 May 2015, at number 62, eventually reaching number 13. The song debuted on the ARIA Charts on 18 May 2015, at number 15 and reached number 2 as of 8 June 2015. It reached number one in Indonesia.

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] 4× Platinum 280,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[31] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[32] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[33] Gold 25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] Gold 7,500*
Sweden (GLF)[35] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label
United States[37] 23 April 2015 Digital download Republic
United Kingdom[38] 11 May 2015

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Flashlight - Jessie J | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Haiz by Hailee Steinfeld on Apple Music". iTunes Store (JP). 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  3. ^ https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0149845
  4. ^ Billboard Staff (1 May 2015). "Best and Worst Singles of the Week: From Adam Lambert to Jessie J". SS. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (24 April 2015). "Watch Jessie J's Uplifting 'Flashlight' Video from 'Pitch Perfect 2'". Billboard. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  6. ^ Billboard Hot 100 Week of 6 June 2015
  7. ^ Trust, Gary (27 May 2015). "Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' Blasts to No. 1 on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Jessie J Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  12. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201532 into search.
  13. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201527 into search.
  14. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Chart Track: Week 26, 2015". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. ^ "Top Digital - Classifica settimanale WK 26 (dal 2015-06-22 al 2015-06-28)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  19. ^ "Top 30 Singles Chart Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  21. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  22. ^ "Top 30 Singles Chart Philippines". Philippine Association of the Record Industry. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  24. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201527 into search.
  25. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Jessie J – Flashlight". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Jessie J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  29. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  30. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Danish single certifications – Jessie J – Flashlight". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Jessie J; 'Flashlight')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Italian single certifications – Jessie J – Flashlight" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 31 July 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Flashlight" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  34. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Jessie J – Flashight". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  35. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 42, 2015 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 23 August 2022. Scroll to position 96 to view certification.
  36. ^ "British single certifications – Jessie J – Flashlight". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  37. ^ "Flashlight (From "Pitch Perfect 2" Soundtrack): Jessie J: MP3 Downloads". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  38. ^ "Flashlight (From "Pitch Perfect 2" Soundtrack): Jessie J: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
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