Three Little Birds
"Three Little Birds" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Exodus | ||||
B-side | "Every Need Got an Ego to Feed" | |||
Released | 29 August 1980[1] | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Roots reggae | |||
Length | 3:01 | |||
Label | Tuff Gong | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bob Marley | |||
Producer(s) | Bob Marley and the Wailers | |||
Bob Marley and the Wailers singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Three Little Birds" on YouTube |
"Three Little Birds" is a song by
Writing and inspiration
The source of Marley's inspiration for the lyrics of "Three Little Birds" remains disputed. Some believe Marley was using birds as a metaphor for the way Jamaicans had to grow cannabis. Some believe the lyrics are partly inspired by birds that Marley was fond of that used to fly and sit next to his home.
The song is written in the key of A major.[4]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
---|---|
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] | 49 |
Spain (AFYVE)[6] | 3 |
17 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[8] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[9] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[10] sales since 2009 |
Platinum | 70,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[11] | 5× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[12] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] sales since 2004 |
2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Monty Alexander version
"Three Little Birds" | |
---|---|
Reggae | |
Label | Telarc International Corporation |
Songwriter(s) | Bob Marley |
Monty Alexander recorded a cover of "Three Little Birds" in January 1992 and, in 1999, he released it as a hit single. The cover was also produced by him and, unlike the original, the Monty Alexander version is very Jazz-heavy.
Track listings
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Three Little Birds" | Bob Marley | 3:00 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
2. | "Could You Be Loved" | Bob Marley | 2:50 |
Connie Talbot version
"Three Little Birds" | |
---|---|
YouTube |
"Three Little Birds" was released as the first single by British child singer
Background
After rising to fame on
Release and reception
"Three Little Birds" was released as Talbot's first single on 10 June 2008 in the UK,
Music video
The music video for the single was released on 19 June 2008.[27] It was shot in Jamaica in late March/early April 2008.[28]
The video begins with images of Talbot skipping through a garden, which is then replaced with an image of her singing on a beach. She then joins a child whose parents had been arguing and plays with them and others in a field, then dances with them on the beach. The children are then led to a stage, where Talbot performs as the others sing and play musical instruments. The video closes with Talbot in the garden, skipping away from the camera.
Chart performance
Chart | Country | Peak | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Independent Singles Charts | United Kingdom | 3 | 20 June 2008 |
Hot Singles Sales
|
United States | 1 | 27 November 2008 |
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Three Little Birds" | Bob Marley | Bob Marley | 3:08 |
2. | "You Raise Me Up" | Brendan Graham | Rolf Løvland | 4:04 |
References
Footnotes
- ^ "Bob Marley & the Wailers – Three Little Birds". New Zealand-charts.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "Three little birds | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ^ a b c d Goldman (2006), p. 241
- ^ Bob Marley "Three Little Birds" Sheet Music
- ^ "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bob Marley & The Wailers; 'Three Little Birds')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Dreams". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Bob Marley - Three Little Birds". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Connie's dream of a hit single". Express & Star. 13 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
- ^ "Britain's Got Talent Connie Talbot sings Three Little Birds". Daily Mirror. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Mason, Kerri (10 October 2008). "Record buyers head-"Over"-heels for 7-year-old". Reuters. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
- U.S.A. Today. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
- ^ "Buy Connies single today!". Rhythm Riders. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
- ^ "Connie Talbot Soars 'Over The Rainbow' and Up the Billboard Charts (press release)". AAO Music/Reality Records. 27 October 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
- ^ Bedi, Rashvin. "Over the Rainbow". The Star. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
- ^ "Connies single at No. 3!". Rhythm Riders. 20 June 2008. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
- ^ "Three Little Birds- Hot 100". Billboard. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the originalon 2 December 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Connie tops the US charts". Sutton Coldfield Observer. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Harrison, Ruth (27 November 2008). "Album Review: Connie Talbot's Christmas Album". FemaleFirst. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Connie Talbot – Three Little Birds". YouTube.
- The Sunday Mirror. Archived from the originalon 10 April 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
Bibliography
- ISBN 1-4000-5286-6
External links
- Talbot's "Three Little Birds" music video on YouTube