Parachute (Cheryl Cole song)

"Parachute"
Single by Cheryl Cole
from the album 3 Words
B-side	"Just Let Me Go"
Released	11 March 2010
Recorded	2009
Studio	Metropolis (London, UK)
Genre	Pop[1] R&B[2]
Length	3:40
Label	Fascination Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Ingrid Michaelson Marshall Altman
Producer(s)	Syience
Cheryl Cole singles chronology
"3 Words" (2009) "Parachute" (2010) "Promise This" (2010)
Music video
"Cheryl Cole - Parachute (Official Video)" on YouTube

"Parachute" is a song by English singer Cheryl Cole from her debut studio album, 3 Words (2009). It was written by Marshall Altman and Ingrid Michaelson, music production by American producer Syience. "Parachute" was released on 11 March 2010 as the album's third and final single and became Cole's third consecutive solo UK top 5 hit, and her third Irish top 10 hit. It was nominated for a Brit Award in 2011.

Composition

"Parachute" is written by Ingrid Michaelson and Marshall Altman and combines R&B^[2] rhythms with pop melodies.^[1] It also makes use of military percussion,^[3] strings^[4] and a big pop music-hook^[5] with quirky melodic verses that were compared to "3" by Britney Spears.^[6] The melody was said to resemble "beats from the Argentine Tango"^[7] whilst Cole makes use of auto-tuning for her vocals.^[4] It was initially put forward as one of the options for the lead single of the album but "Fight for This Love" was chosen instead.^[8]

Lyrically the song was criticised for being "mundane" but also well written enough to "get horribly stuck in everyone's heads".^[9] The song has an overall "tender and mourningful" theme.^[4] Critics noted that "Parachute" was one of several songs on the album where there "lurks a deeper undertow of paranoia".^[10] Cole also said that the song contains her favourite lyric from the album; "you are your own worst enemy, you'll never win the fight".^[8] Other lyrics such as "I don't need a parachute, baby if I got you" led to the song being labelled "sultry" as the subject of the lyrics appeared to be Cole's spouse Ashley^[7] though at the time the couple had announced their separation.^[11] The timing of the single release was described as "bittersweet" due to the "talk about being safe in the love of another person" in the lyrics.^[1]

Reception

Critical response

The song received positive reviews from music critics. BBC Music's Mike Diver said, in the album's review, that the "Parachute" is "memorable" due to its use of "military percussion" and Nick Levine of Digital Spy claimed that the track contains a "cute combination" of "strings and sweet nothings".^[12][13] Tom Ewing of The Guardian said that the song was "an austere take on modern pop that gives Cole's voice the space it needs" and Louise McCudden of in the News said that, despite having "possibly the most lyrically mundane chorus [she had] ever heard", "Parachute" is a "well-calculated song" that gets stuck in the listener's head.^[14][15] MusicOMH writer Sam Shepherd voiced his belief that the song includes's Cole's best vocal from the album and he praised the "deftly orchestrated production" and Andy Gill of The Independent said that there is an "undertow of paranoia" in the piece.^[16][17] Later Fraser McAlpine, during his chart blog review of the song, awarded "Parachute" five out of five stars, saying "Cheryl's pleading voice strikes home. Hard. [..] It's nothing to do with anything which is happening in her personal life, I don't need the back-story to get carried away, it's simply that she sings these tender, mournful lyrics as if she means every word."^[18] 4 Music described the track as an "instant stand-out" from the album and claimed that Cole's "well-executed vocal performance", together with the mix of "military-style percussion with delicate strings", meant the track would be "another huge hit".^[19] It was named as Single of the Week by Ram FM, described as "sultry pop at its finest".^[20]

Commercial performance

Following the initial broadcast of Cheryl Cole's Night In, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 65 because of digital downloads, on the issue dated 26 December 2009.^[21]

The song re-entered the chart at 88 on 9 January 2010.^[21] On 14 February 2010, The single made its top-40 debut by appearing at number 26. By the end of March 2010 the song reached its highest peak of five giving Cole her third consecutive top-five UK hit and third consecutive top-10 hit in Ireland. In Ireland it had a similar chart trajectory although it did manage to peak at number four, one position higher than in the UK.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Parachute" was filmed in early January 2010 at Eltham Palace in London and made its debut on T4 at 12.20 GMT on 31 January 2010.^[22] The concept of the video is very much the same of that of the performance on Cheryl Cole's Night In; Cole performs a Latin dance routine with 3-time Emmy award-winning choreographer, professional dancer and 6-time Dancing with the Stars champion, Derek Hough, who also choreographed the routine, and a group of other dancers. The video was directed by AlexandLiane and produced by Factory Films.^[23]

Digital Spy was complimentary about Cole's choice of attire in the video.^[24] Promo News also gave the video a good review and called it "a top-notch pop vid".^[23] The video caused some controversy after it was claimed that Cole was using imagery associated with the Hindu goddess Kali.^[25]

Live performances

Cole debuted "Parachute" on the television special Cheryl Cole's Night In, which was broadcast on 12 December 2009 on ITV1. During the performance, Cole wore "a hot pink tiered skirt and asymmetrical sequinned body" and she performed a Latin dance with Derek Hough, an Emmy award-winning choreographer, professional dancer and 6-time champion of Dancing with the Stars.^[26] Rick Fulton of the Daily Record was complimentary of the performance as he compared the dance routine that accompanied "Parachute" to a routine from the programme Strictly Come Dancing.^[26]

Cole was due to perform the track on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on Friday 12 March 2010 and on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge however pulled out after contracting bronchitis.^{[citation needed]} "Parachute" was performed live on Sport Relief on 19 March 2010. On 23 March 2010, Cole rescheduled her performance of the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, where she performed "Parachute", as well as a cover of Owl City's "Fireflies".

Track listing

Buzz Junkies Dub Single[27] "Parachute" (Buzz Junkies Dub Remix) – 5:38 Buzz Junkies Radio Single[28] "Parachute" (Buzz Junkies Radio Remix) – 3:52 Euphonix Single[29] "Parachute" (Euphonix Instrumental Mix) – 3:12 Ill Blue Dub Single[30] "Parachute" (Ill Blu Dub Remix) – 4:50 Ill Blue Radio Single[31] "Parachute" (Ill Blu Radio Remix) – 4:06

CD single[32] "Parachute" (Radio Mix) – 3:31 "Just Let Me Go" – 3:07 Digital EP[33] "Parachute" – 3:39 "Parachute" (Buzz Junkies Club Mix) – 5:44 "Parachute" (Ill Blu Remix) – 4:50 "Parachute" (The Euphonix Remix) – 3:10 "Parachute" (Self-Taught Beats Remix) – 3:41 [UK iTunes Only][34]

Credits and personnel

"Parachute" was recorded at Metropolis Studios; London, UK and mixes at The Warehouse Studios; Atlanta, Georgia, US.^[35]

• Songwriters:
  • "Parachute" – Ingrid Michaelson, Marshall Altman
  • "Just Let Me Go" – Claude Kelly, Reggie "Syience" Perry
• producer – Reggie "Syience" Perry
• recording – Neil Tucker
• mixing – Kevin 'KD' Davis

Charts and certifications

Charts Chart (2010) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[36] 14 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[37] 21 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[38] 12 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[39] 19 Germany (GfK)[40] 78 Ireland (IRMA)[41] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 78 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[43] 2 Poland (Video Chart)[44] 5 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[45] 1 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[46] 24 Scotland (OCC)[47] 2 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[48] 49 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 5 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[49] 24

Year-end charts Chart (2010) Position CIS (TopHit)[50] 73 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[51] 90 UK Singles (OCC)[52] 49 2011 year-end chart performance for "Parachute" Chart (2011) Position Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[53] 124 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Gold 400,000^‡ ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Ireland	11 March 2010	Digital EP,[55] Digital download: Remixes[56][57]	Polydor Records
Norway	14 March 2010	Digital: Buzz Junkies Remixes,[28][58] Ill Blue Remixes,[31][59] Euphonix Instrumental Mix[29]	Universal Music
United Kingdom		Digital EP[60] Digital download; Ill Blu Remix[30]	Fascination Records
	15 March 2010	CD Single[32]
	31 August 2010	Digital download; Buzz Junkies Remix[27]
Sweden	13 September 2010	Digital EP[61]	Universal Music

See also

• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2010s

References

1. Pip (15 March 2010). "Cheryl Cole – Parachute (Review)". Entertainment Focus. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
2. Ewing, Tom (22 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole – 3 Words (Album)". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
3. Diver, Mike (22 October 2009). "Review – 3 Words (Album)". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
4. McAlpine, Fraser (6 March 2010). "Cheryl Cole – Parachute (Review)". BBC Chart Blog. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
5. Shepherd, Sam (26 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole – 3 Words (Album)". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
6. Nissim, Mayer (15 March 2010). "Cheryl Cole: 'Parachute'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
7. J (RAM FM) (15 March 2010). "Single of the Week: Cheryl Cole". thisisderbyshire.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
8. "Parachute". Brightcove. 15 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
9. McCudden, Louise (27 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole – 3 Words (Album)". In The News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
10. Gill, Andy (23 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole – 3 Words". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
11. "Official: Cheryl And Ashley Split – Statement Released". Marie Claire. IPC Media. 23 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
12. Diver, Mike (22 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole 3 Words Review". BBC. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
13. Levine, Nick (26 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole: '3 Words'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
14. Ewing, Tom (22 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole: 3 Words". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
15. McCudden, Louise (27 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole: Three Words". In The News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
16. Shepherd, Sam (26 October 2009). "Cheryl Cole – 3 Words". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
17. Gill, Andy (23 October 2009). "Album: Cheryl Cole, 3 Words (Fascination)". The Independent. London. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
18. McAlpine, Fraser (6 March 2010). "Cheryl Cole – Parachute". BBC. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
19. "New Releases: w/c 15th March 2010". 4 Music. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
20. "Single of the Week: Cheryl Cole". thisisderbyshire.co.uk. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
21. "Cheryl Cole: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
22. Balls, David (27 January 2010). "Cole 'Parachute' video premiere announced". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi Médias). Retrieved 2 February 2010.
23. "Cheryl Cole's Parachute by AlexandLiane". Promo News. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
24. Levine, Nick (1 February 2010). "It's only the new Cheryl Cole video!". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
25. Balls, David (12 February 2010). "Cheryl Cole 'offends Hindus with video'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
26. Fulton, Rick (12 December 2009). "TV queen Cheryl Cole's takes on the Beeb in ballroom blitz". Daily Record. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
27. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 Downloads". 7digital. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
28. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". No.7digital.com. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
29. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". No.7digital.com. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
30. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 Downloads". 7digital. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
31. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". No.7digital.com. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
32. "Music CDs, DVDs, Games & More". hmv.com. 15 December 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
33. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute – MP3 Single-Download bei 7digital.de". De.7digital.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
34. "Parachute – EP by Cheryl Cole – Download Parachute – EP on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
35. Parachute (CD booklet). Cheryl Cole. London: Fascination Records (Polydor). 2010.
36. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute" (in French). Ultratip.
37. Cheryl Cole — Parachute. TopHit. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
38. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 31. týden 2010 in the date selector. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
39. "Hits of the World: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 14. 10 April 2010. p. 55.
40. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
41. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Parachute". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
42. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
43. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
44. "Top 5 Airplay TV". ZPAV. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
45. "Romanian Top 20 Airplay 06.09.2010". Romanian Top 100. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
46. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 19, 2010". TopHit. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
47. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
48. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201029 into search. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
49. "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2011-02-21." TopHit. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
50. "Airplay Detection Tophit 200 Yearly – 2010". Tophit. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
51. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2010". TopHit. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
52. "End of Year Charts: 2010" (PDF). UkChartsPlus. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
53. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2011" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
54. "British single certifications – Cheryl Cole – Parachute". British Phonographic Industry.
55. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". Ie.7digital.com. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
56. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". Ie.7digital.com. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
57. "Cheryl Cole MP3 downloads music and videos at – 7digital". Ie.7digital.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
58. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". No.7digital.com. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
59. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". No.7digital.com. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
60. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 Downloads". 7digital. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
61. "Cheryl Cole – Parachute MP3 music downloads – 7digital". Se.7digital.com. 13 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.