Summary
"Promises" is a song by British EDM trio Nero that appears on their debut studio album, Welcome Reality (track No. 4) on 5 August 2011. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's first chart-topping single.[1] It sold 46,700 copies in its first week, the lowest first-week sales for a number one in 97 weeks.[2] In 2013, the Skrillex and Nero remix of the song, won the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. "Promises" was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award in the category of Best Contemporary Song. The song was featured on a Hewlett-Packard TV commercial in the United Kingdom, France, United States and Latin America, giving it a broader audience and more recognition. It was also featured in trailers from the video game Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. It also featured in the 2013 video game Saints Row IV.
| "Promises" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Nero | ||||
| from the album Welcome Reality | ||||
| Released | 5 August 2011 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Nero | |||
| Nero singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video edit
A music video to accompany the release of "Promises", directed by Ben Newman, was uploaded to YouTube on 7 July 2011 at a total length of four minutes and sixteen seconds.[3] It shows a woman in a dystopian regimented future society with mandatory drug consumption, similar in style to the film Equilibrium. By April 2022, it had surpassed 43 million YouTube views.
Critical reception edit
Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review, stating:
"Promises, and they still feel oh so wasted on myself," she admits with her high-wired vocals over a thick, head-banging melody, fuzzy synths and pulsating basslines wobblier than our man's dodgy left knee. The result is the sharpest, most head-spinning of their releases to date – and given that we're in the year of dubstep-goes-pop, should leave fans fully equipped to handle the g-force levels of their first long player.
[4]
Impact and legacy edit
In 2022, American magazine Rolling Stone ranked "Promises" number 42 in their list of 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time.[5]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Promises" | 4:17 |
| 2. | "Promises" (Skrillex and Nero remix) | 4:28 |
| 3. | "Promises" (Calvin Harris remix) | 5:59 |
| 4. | "New Life" | 4:33 |
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
|
Year-end charts edit
|
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[20] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[21] | Platinum | 80,000* |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] | Gold | 7,500* |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[24] | Gold | 500,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history edit
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland[25] | 5 August 2011 | Digital download | |
| Spain[26] | |||
| United Kingdom[27] |
References edit
- ^ "Nero delivers Promises". Official Charts Company. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- ^ Jones, Alan (15 August 2011). "Nero continue UK domination with Promises". Music Week. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ "Nero – Promises – Official Video". 7 July 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011 – via YouTube.
- ^ Robert Copsey (26 July 2011). "Nero: 'Promises'". Digital Spy.
- ^ Dolan, Jon; Lopez, Julyssa; Matos, Michaelangelo; Shaffer, Claire (22 July 2022). "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Nero – Promises". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Top 20 Dance Chart – Australian Record Industry Association". ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008.
- ^ "Nero – Promises" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Nero – Promises" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Nero – Promises" (in French). Ultratip.
- ^ "Nero – Promises" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Nero – Promises" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Nero – Promises". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Nero – Promises". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Nero Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "End of Year Chart 2011" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Nero – Promises". Music Canada. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Nero – Promises". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ "British single certifications – Nero – Promises". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Nero – Promises". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Promises – EP by Nero iTunes
- ^ "Promises – EP by Nero iTunes". iTunes Store. January 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "Promises – EP by Nero iTunes". iTunes Store. January 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
External links edit
- Official Vevo music video
- Official Skrillex remix