"Sing" is a song by Scottish rock band Travis from their third studio album, The Invisible Band (2001). The song was written in 1999 by frontman Fran Healy, produced by Nigel Godrich and recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. It was released as the album's lead single in the United States on 23 April 2001. Healy originally titled the melody "Swing" but eventually changed the title to "Sing", making it about working past the troubles of a relationship by not being afraid to let oneself go and sing in front of a loved one. The song is noted for its prominent use of the banjo, played by lead guitarist Andy Dunlop, and contains a string arrangement performed by Millennia Strings.
"Sing" received acclaim from contemporary music critics, who often praised its writing and production. The song became the band's highest-charting single in their home country, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It was a worldwide success as well, reaching the top 10 in several other European countries, including France, peaking at number two, and New Zealand, peaking at number eight. In the US, the song reached the top 40 of the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs and Modern Rock Tracks charts.
A music video for the song was released on 20 April 2001—it was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Filmed in Pasadena, California over three days, it features Travis attending a dinner party that eventually turns into a massive food fight. When Travis appeared on British music programme Top of the Pops, the band members threw pies at each other and the audience while the track played in the background. The video was nominated for Best British Video at the 2002 Brit Awards.
Background and release
Fran Healy explained on the band's official website that he wrote the song in 1999, the day before he planned to go to the studio to record the B-sides for their 1999 single" "Turn". He came up with the song as he watched a swingbeat video on MTV, leading him to compose a basic melody called "Swing" on his guitar. Healy liked the results and said that he appreciated the free chorus and verse melody. "It really felt like it took to the air", he said on the band's official website. The following day, after recording the B-side "We Are Monkeys", Healy began to play the song's chords while the track was rewinding, and the rest of his bandmates soon joined him. Healy then asked for the production of "We Are Monkeys" to be put on hold so they could record a demo of the new composition. As he performed with the rest of Travis, he changed the word "swing" to "sing" on the chorus. Since lead guitarist Andy Dunlop had brought his banjo into the studio for "We Are Monkeys", the instrument was overdubbed into the recording.
The night after recording the demo, Healy decided to change all instances of "swing" to "sing" and modify the lyrics so that the song described the healing powers of singing. The track was recorded between October 2000 and March 2001 at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, California, and was included on The Invisible Band as the opening track. Along with "Flowers in the Window", Healy dedicated the song to his wife Nora Kryst in the album booklet. In the United States, record label Independiente added "Sing" to triple A radio on 23 April 2001 and to alternative radio the following day, while in the United Kingdom, the label serviced the song to radio during the same month and issued it as a CD and cassette single on 28 May 2001. The song was released on CD in Australia on the same day. The following week, on 4 June, a 7-inch single was issued in the UK.
Composition and lyrics
Musically, "Sing" is a pop song with folk elements, which includes a banjo played by Dunlop. Robert Wilonsky of the Dallas Observer described the song as "front-porch blues, if your front porch opens onto central London". Set in common time, it is written in the key of F minor and has a tempo of 80 beats per minute. Healy sings lead vocals and plays guitar while Dougie Payne plays bass and Neil Primrose plays the drums. Dunlop additionally plays piano on the song. The song begins with a synth chord that leads into a rhythm consisting of strumming guitars and the banjo. Additional strings on the song were provided by Millennia Strings and arranged by British composer Joby Talbot.