"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]
Commercial performance
"Black Box" debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number five on the chart date 30 November 2009. The next week it moved up to number one, where it remained for ten weeks. After spending twenty-three weeks in the chart, it slipped out in May 2010.[6] On 14 February 2010, it was awarded a double platinum certification for selling over 30,000 copies.[7]
In Australia, the song appeared on the ARIA Singles Chart at its peak position of number two on 6 December 2009. It exited the chart after twenty weeks,[8] and was certified double platinum, selling 140,000 copies.[9]
Chart positions
End of Year charts
|
Certifications
|
Track listing
- Australian CD single
- "Black Box" – 3:27
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australien | November 22, 2009[12] | Digital download | Sony Music Australia |
| November 25, 2009[13] | CD single | ||
| Neuseeland | November 22, 2009 | Digital download |
See also
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.
- ^ a b "Stan Walker - Black Box". Hung Medien. charts.org.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ^ a b "Stan Walker - Black Box". Hung Medien. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ^ a b "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2010 Singles". 30 September 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ^ ARIA End of Year Charts 2009. ARIA end of year charts Smh.com.au . Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ "Annual Top 50 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. 2009. Retrieved 17 October 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.