Sax (song)

"Sax"
Single by Fleur East
from the album Love, Sax and Flashbacks
Released	6 November 2015
Recorded	2015
Genre	Dance-pop funk hip hop soul
Length	3:56
Label	Syco
Songwriter(s)	Fleur East Edvard Førre Erfjord Henrik Michelsen James Abrahart Camille Purcell
Producer(s)	Electric Afterhrs
Fleur East singles chronology
"Could You Be the One" (2014) "Sax" (2015) "More and More" (2016)
Music video
"Sax" on YouTube

"Sax" is the debut single by English singer, rapper and songwriter Fleur East, from her debut album Love, Sax and Flashbacks (2015). It was released as the lead single from the album on 6 November 2015 by Syco Records.

The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 3 in the UK. In September 2016, "Sax" was certified platinum by the BPI.

Background

After being announced as the runner-up of 11th series of The X Factor, East signed a recording contract with Syco Music in January 2015. She began working on her debut studio album after the X Factor tour was over,^[1] splitting her time between London and Los Angeles to record it. During recording, she was inspired by "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, and described the songs on the album as "very uptempo and very energetic with lots of attitude. [The album has] got loads of influences from the old school. Lots of funk, hip-hop, soul; loads of different sounds fused together. Everything about that song - the uptempo vibe, the high energy, the brass, the old school funk sound - was just right up my street. I've definitely taken a few influences from that."^[2]

In July 2015, Syco's head Simon Cowell told The Sun: "I've heard it and it's world class. She has discovered who she wanted to be. Sometimes you just spot someone who's not obvious and Fleur's a good example of that".^[3] "Sax" was originally slated for release on 23 October 2015, then on 30 October, before being finally released on 6 November 2015 to coincide with her performance of the song on X Factor.^[4]

Critical reception

Digital Spy's writer Lewis Corner noted that the song was clearly inspired by "Uptown Funk", but its "brassed-up chorus, sassy lyrics and funky hook means it stands tall as a potential smash hit in its own right".^[5]

Music video

The official music video for "Sax" was released on 26 November 2015. It was directed by Colin Tilley.^{[citation needed]} It shows East smiling and walking in a five-colour square tunnel, and later shows her with some dancers in a colourful changing background. On 15 June 2016, another music video, titled "Sax in the City", was released for the song. It features East in different parts of New York City.^[6]

Live performances

"Sax" was first performed by East on Oxford Street Christmas lights switch-on event on 1 November 2015.^[7] She also performed it on the 12th series of The X Factor on 8 November.^[8] She performed the track on Alan Carr: Chatty Man on 20 November 2015,^[9] and also performed on The One Show on 27 November 2015,^[10] East returned to the final of the 12th series of The X Factor where she performed with girlband Little Mix, along with their song "Black Magic".^[11] On 25 December, East performed "Sax" on the Christmas special of Top of the Pops.^[12]

For her US debut, East performed "Sax" on the season finale of Dancing with the Stars on 25 May 2016. The following day, she performed the single on The Late Late Show with James Corden. On 2 June 2016, she made her debut on The Today Show where she was interviewed by Tamron Hall and Al Roker and performed the single.

Track listing

Digital download

1. "Sax" – 3:56

Digital download – The Selection EP

1. "Sax" (Dance Rehearsal) [Video] – 3:56
2. "Sax" (Wideboys Remix) – 4:02
3. "Sax" (LuvBug Remix) – 3:36
4. "Sax" (Steve Smart Remix) – 3:34
5. "Sax" (Interview) – 3:57

Other version

"Sax" (Wideboys Club Mix) – 6:05

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2015–2016) Peak position Argentina (Los 40 Principales)[13] 13 Australia (ARIA)[14] 25 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 41 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 25 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[17] 1 Costa Rica (Los 40 Principales)[18] 2 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[19] 99 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20] 43 Finland (Suomen virallinen latauslista)[21] 20 France (SNEP)[22] 200 Germany (GfK)[23] 42 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[24] 1 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[25] 18 Hungary (Single Top 40)[26] 4 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 5 Israel (Media Forest)[28] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 35 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[31] 50 Scotland (OCC)[32] 2 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[33] 41 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34] 24 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[37] 87 Chart (2016) Position Hungary (Dance Top 40)[38] 59 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[39] 2 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[40] Gold 35,000^‡ Mexico (AMPROFON)[41] Gold 30,000^‡ Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] Gold 30,000^‡ United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Platinum 600,000^‡ ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "X Factor's Fleur East signs record deal with Simon Cowell's label Syco". Digital Spy. 12 January 2015.
2. "Fleur East: 'There's definitely a few Uptown Funk influences on my album'". Digital Spy. 22 August 2015.
3. "X Factor's Simon Cowell: 'Fleur East's album is world class'". Reveal.
4. Lewis Corner (21 October 2015). "Fleur East pushes back new single 'Sax'". Digital Spy.
5. "Fleur East releases big and brassy new single 'Sax'". Digital Spy. 6 November 2015.
6. FleurEastVEVO (15 June 2016). "Fleur East - Sax in the City" – via YouTube.
7. "Fleur East's 'Sax' Revealed As 'X Factor' Star Performs New Song At Oxford Street Christmas Light Switch-On (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post UK. 2 November 2015.
8. Lee, Ben (27 October 2015). "Fleur East pushes back single 'Sax' yet again to coincide with her X Factor performance". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
9. McGeorge, Alistair (18 December 2015). "Fleur East is a beaming ray of sunshine despite all-grey outfit for ITV studios visit". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
10. "BBC One - The One Show, 27/11/2015". BBC.
11. Baillie, Katie (12 December 2015). "The X Factor final: Did Fleur East and Little Mix give the performance of the night?". Metro. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
12. Darvill, Josh (25 December 2015). "Watch X Factor's Fleur East storm Top of the Pops with Sax". Tellymix. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
13. "Lista del 27/02/2016". PRISA. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
14. "Fleur East – Sax". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
15. "Fleur East – Sax" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
16. "Fleur East – Sax" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
17. "Fleur East – Sax" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
18. "Lista del 09/04/2016". PRISA.
19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
20. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 31. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
21. "IFPI - Fleur East: Sax" (in Finnish). IFPI. 8 February 2016.
22. "Fleur East – Sax" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
23. "Fleur East – Sax" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
26. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sax". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
28. "Media Forest Week 19, 2016". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 2015" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
30. "Fleur East – Sax" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
31. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
32. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
33. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201612 into search. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
34. "Fleur East – Sax" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
35. "Vecolista Heatseeker – Vecka 49, 4 december 2015" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
37. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
38. "Dance Top 100 - 2016". Mahasz. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
39. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2016". Mahasz. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
40. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
41. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 23 February 2023. Type Fleur East in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Sax in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
42. "Spanish single certifications – Fleur East – Sax". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
43. "British single certifications – Fleur East – Sax". British Phonographic Industry.