Fire Within (Birdy album)

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Fire Within
A black-and-white photo of the artist staring straight into the camera. Her name is written in the top-left corner and the album's in the top-right.
Standard edition[a]
Studio album by
Birdy
Released16 September 2013 (2013-09-16)
Recorded2012–2013
Studio
  • Abbey Road (London)
  • Avatar (New York City)
  • Ballroom West (Los Angeles)
  • Cyclops Sound (Los Angeles)
  • Dean Street (London)
  • El Dorado (Burbank, California)
  • Harpoon Clubhouse (London)
  • My Audiotronic (The Matrix) (London)
  • Patriot (Denver)
  • RAK (London)
  • Shangi La (Sydney)
  • Skinny Dipper (Silver Lake, California)
  • Westlake (Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length43:43
Label
Producer
Birdy chronology
Birdy
(2011) 		Fire Within
(2013) 		Breathe
(2013)
Singles from Fire Within
  1. "Wings"
    Released: 29 July 2013
  2. "No Angel"
    Released: 23 September 2013
  3. "Light Me Up"
    Released: 23 February 2014
  4. "Words as Weapons"
    Released: 14 April 2014

Fire Within is the second studio album by English musician Birdy, released on 16 September 2013 by 14th Floor Records and Atlantic Records. It is her first album of predominantly original compositions, as her eponymous debut album consisted largely of covers. Birdy collaborated with several producers including Jim Abbiss, Rich Costey, Jake Gosling, John Hill, Ben Lovett, Eric Rosse, Fraser T Smith, Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson and Greg Wells during its recording. The album includes the singles "Wings", "No Angel", "Light Me Up" and "Words as Weapons".

Fire Within received generally positive reviews from music critics. In North America, Fire Within was released on 3 June 2014. Prior to that, several album tracks and live versions of past songs were released as a US-only EP titled Breathe on 24 September 2013.[1][2]

Background and recording[edit]

"It's an album of all originals and for me, that is very exciting! It's what I've always wanted to do. I had never thought of doing covers before "Skinny Love" so that was a different experience." [...] It was my first time co-writing and it was really weird because I've always been a writer on my own. It's weird to be open with someone you just met but I learned a lot and I love what we made."

 — Birdy on Fire Within.[3]

Following the commercial success of her debut album Birdy (2011), Birdy decided for her second record to be mostly of original compositions instead of covering songs like in her previous album.[4] She noted that she began writing songs aged eight, and considers this album "very special" for her.[5] She also talked about her experience as a songwriter: "A lot of people thought [she couldn't write] but then it was good doing it by stealth so I could develop my own writing and have time to work on it."[6]

For Fire Within Birdy worked with various musicians during its recording including Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson, Rich Costey, Ben Lovett from the British folk rock band Mumford & Sons, Tim Commerford from American rock band Rage Against the Machine, Paul Jackson Jr. and Omar Hakim.[7] She released a preview of the recording of the album through YouTube alongside the album's release date.[7] Birdy cited the changes of routine and relationships she had after her breakthrough work as a primarily influence for the album.[3]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Contactmusic.com[10]
Daily Echo9/10[11]
Digital Spy[12]
Hot Press[13]
The Independent[14]
Mail & Guardian[15]
Mojo[16]
musicOMH[17]
PopMatters7/10[18]
Time Out London[19]

Fire Within received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 66, based on seven reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[8]

Track listing[edit]

Fire Within – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wings"
4:12
2."Heart of Gold"Van den Bogaerde
3:34
3."Light Me Up"
4:15
4."Words as Weapons"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Tedder
Tedder3:59
5."All You Never Say"
Jim Abbiss4:38
6."Strange Birds"
  • Abbiss
  • Alex H. N. Gilbert[b]
3:03
7."Maybe"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Wilson
  • Abbiss
  • Wilson[a]
3:14
8."No Angel"
Abbiss4:03
9."All About You"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Wilson
  • Abbiss
  • Costey[a]
4:37
10."Standing in the Way of the Light"
Smith4:04
11."Shine"Van den BogaerdeAbbiss4:04
Total length:43:43
Fire Within – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."The Same"
Wells3:29
13."Dream"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Lovett
  • Lovett
  • Gilbert[a]
  • Jamie Muhoberac[a]
1:52
14."Older"Van den BogaerdeGilbert3:57
15."Home"
Gosling3:36
Total length:56:37
Fire Within – North American edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Skinny Love"Justin VernonGilbert3:23
2."Wings"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Tedder
  • Costey
  • Tedder
4:12
3."Heart of Gold"Van den BogaerdeCostey3:34
4."Light Me Up" (US version)
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Harpoon
  • Costey
  • Tedder
  • Jerrod Bettis
3:59
5."Words as Weapons" (US version)
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Tedder
Tedder3:41
6."All You Never Say" (US version)
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Wilson
  • Hill
  • Wilson
4:28
7."Strange Birds"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Furler
  • Rechtshaid
Abbiss3:03
8."Maybe"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Wilson
Abbiss3:14
9."No Angel"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Lovett
Abbiss4:03
10."All About You"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Wilson
Abbiss4:37
11."Standing in the Way of the Light"
  • Van den Bogaerde
  • Smith
Smith4:04
12."Shine"Van den BogaerdeAbbiss4:04
13."People Help the People"Simon AldredJames Ford4:16
Total length:50:38

Notes[edit]

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • ^[b] signifies a strings producer.

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for Fire Within
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[57] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[58] Gold 7,500*
France (SNEP)[59] Platinum 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[60] Gold 100,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[61] Gold 1,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[62] Gold 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Gold 103,786[63]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The deluxe edition features the greyscale picture of Birdy in a bluish color.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wass, Mike (4 September 2013). "Birdy Plans US Domination With 'Breathe' EP: See The Tracklist & Watch A Live Version Of "Wings"". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. ^ Davis, Rebecca Willa (18 September 2013). "Album premiere: Birdy". Nylon. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Faure, Tiffany (3 June 2014). "A Little Birdy Told Us Fire Within Drops Today!". InStyle. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  4. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (22 July 2013). "Birdy Reveals Fire Within Album Details". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. ^ Murphy, Lauren (28 February 2014). "Tweety Pie – how Birdy went from doing covers to finding the fire within". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  6. ^ Zuel, Bernard (22 September 2013). "Birdy: Teenage songstress' latest album ignites fire within". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b Stickler, Jon (22 July 2013). "Birdy Announces New Album 'Fire Within'". Stereoboard. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Reviews for Fire Within by Birdy". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  9. ^ Kerr, Scott. "Fire Within – Birdy". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  10. ^ Barker, Alice (16 December 2013). "Birdy – Fire Within Album Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  11. ^ "REVIEW: Fire Within by Birdy". Daily Echo. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  12. ^ Nissim, Mayer (26 September 2013). "Birdy: 'Fire Within' – Album review: 'Kicking off the stabilisers'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  13. ^ Power, Ed (21 October 2013). "Birdy – Fire Within". Hot Press. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  14. ^ Richman, Simmy (22 September 2013). "Album review: Birdy, Fire Within (14th Floor/Atlantic)". The Independent. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  15. ^ Koen, Grethe (18 December 2013). "Birdy's 'Fire Within': Solid fare from music's youngest gem". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  16. ^ Brown, Glyn (December 2013). "Birdy - Fire Within". Mojo (241): 86.
  17. ^ Baber, Andy (20 September 2013). "Birdy – Fire Within". musicOMH. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  18. ^ D'Arcy-Orga, Francesca (13 December 2013). "Birdy: Fire Within". PopMatters. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  19. ^ Goldstein, Danielle (20 September 2013). "Birdy – 'Fire Within' album review". Time Out London. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
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  26. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Birdy – Fire Within" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "Birdy: Fire Within" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
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  29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Birdy – Fire Within" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2014. 1. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  31. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Birdy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Birdy – Fire Within". Hung Medien.
  33. ^ "Charts.nz – Birdy – Fire Within". Hung Medien.
  34. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Birdy – Fire Within". Hung Medien.
  35. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  37. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Birdy – Fire Within". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  38. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Birdy – Fire Within". Hung Medien.
  39. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  41. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard.
  42. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  43. ^ "Birdy Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2013 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  45. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2013 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2013" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  47. ^ "Le Top de l'année : Top Albums Fusionnés – 2013" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  48. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2013" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  49. ^ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – eladási darabszám alapján – 2013" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  50. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2013". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  51. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2014 – Albums" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  52. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2014 – Albums" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  53. ^ "Le Top de l'année : Top Albums Fusionnés – 2014" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  54. ^ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – chart-pozíció alapján – 2014" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  55. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2014". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  56. ^ "Folk Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  57. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  58. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Birdy – Fire Within" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  59. ^ "Certifications Albums – Année 2013" (PDF) (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  60. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Birdy; 'Fire Within')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  61. ^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2014" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  62. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Fire Within')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  63. ^ Jones, Alan (1 April 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Zayn's Mind of Mine tops the Official Albums Chart". Music Week. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  64. ^ "British album certifications – Birdy – Fire Within". British Phonographic Industry. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2021.

External links[edit]

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