"Black Box" is the debut single recorded by season seven winner of Australian Idol, Stan Walker. It is from his debut album, Introducing... Stan Walker. The song was released digitally on November 22, 2009 where it broke records as the fastest-selling Sony Music download ever[1] with 17,493 copies sold on its third week alone.[2] A physical single followed on November 25.
| "Black Box" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
Music video
A music video for the song has been confirmed with filming commencing on November 24, 2009.[3] Walker has stated, "There might be a little bit of group dancing… we'll see what happens. At first I was really nervous but I've warmed up now and I'm getting into it. I'm working on my look [...] It's pretty cool – it's my first ever film clip. It's basically a house party that explains the lyrics. It talks about a relationship that has gone down but everything is still recorded in the black box. I really like it."[4]
Critical reception
"Black Box" has received mixed reviews. Jade from Music Fix compared the song to all other Australian Idol winners singles but stating that the "black box" metaphor differentiates it from the others. She called the sound a "generic R'n'B beat" and continued by comparing his voice to fellow Idol winner Guy Sebastian saying "[...] [Black Box] suggest[s] the voting audience decided one Sebastian just wasn't enough."[5]
Chart performance
"Black Box" debuted on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart a week after its release at number 5, reaching number 1 in its second week, where it stayed for 10 weeks straight.[6] It spent 14 weeks in the RIANZ top ten and 23 weeks in the top 40 and gained double platinum accreditation.[7] In Australia, "Black Box" debuted at number 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart, where it stayed for two weeks. It spent 9 weeks in the ARIA top ten and 20 weeks in the ARIA top 50.[8] and also gained double platinum accreditation.
Chart positions
|
Certifications
|
End of Year charts
| Chart (2009) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| ARIA Australian End of Year Singles | 50[11] |
| RIANZ New Zealand Annual Singles Chart | 19[12] |
Chart procession and succession
Track listing
- Australian CD single
- "Black Box" – 3:27
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australien | November 22, 2009[13] | Digital download | Sony Music Australia |
| November 25, 2009[14] | CD single | ||
| Neuseeland | November 22, 2009 | Digital download |
References
- ^ "STAN WALKER SMASHES RECORDS!". MTV Networks. (MTV Australia). November 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- ^ Introducing... Stan Walker rush release article. Australian Idol winner Stan Walker album released early, Susan Boyle still at Number 1 Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "Stan Walker talks about his plans after winning Australian Idol". News Limited. November 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Behind the scenes of Stan Walker's "Black Box" video shoot!". DMG Radio Australia. Nova (radio network). November 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- ^ Music Fix review. Music review: Stan Walker & Michael Buble Ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ New Zealand chart peaks. RIANZ chart peaks charts.org.nz. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ Introducing... Stan Walker RIANZ certification. RIANZ Chart dated 28 December, 2009 Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
- ^ Australian chart peaks. ARIA chart peaks australian-charts.com. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles Chart - Australian Record Industry Assocation". Ariacharts.com.au. 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ ARIA End of Year Charts 2009. ARIA end of year charts Smh.com.au . Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ RIANZ Annual chart singles 2009. ANNUAL TOP 50 SINGLES CHART 2009 RIANZ . Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Stan Walker: Black Box - Single". Apple Inc. (iTunes Store). November 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ "STAN WALKER: NEW OZ IDOL". MTV Networks. (MTV Australia). November 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-23.