Pocketful of Sunshine (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Pocketful of Sunshine


Artist = Natasha Bedingfield
from Album = Pocketful of Sunshine
B-side =
Released = February 11 2008 (U.S.) [ [http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691 "CHR: Available For Airplay"] . FMQB.com. Retrieved January 31 2008.]

Format = Digital download CD Single
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Pop, soul
Length = 3:23 (album version)
3:02 (radio edit)
Label = Epic/Phonogenic
Writer = Natasha Bedingfield, Danielle Brisebois, John Shanks
Producer = John Shanks
Chronology = Natasha Bedingfield singles
Last single = "Love like This"
(2007)
This single = "Pocketful of Sunshine"
(2008)
Next single = "Bruised Water"
(2008)"Pocketful of Sunshine" is a pop song performed by Natasha Bedingfield for her second North American album "Pocketful of Sunshine". It was released as the album's second single in 2008. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XszaTktJOPM "Interview with Adam Bomb on Q100 Atlanta"] . YouTube. December 12 2007. Retrieved December 14 2007.] The single was supposed to be released in the UK as Natasha's second single from the re-release of "N.B." on July 7 2008, however it was later cancelled for unknown reasons.

The song has been recorded in simlish for the video game ', [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=DsujpvMmbNs "VideoBlog: Singing In Simlish"] . YouTube. November 22 2007. Retrieved December 14 2007.] and was featured on the midseason finale of the MTV television show "The Hills". [ [http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=20071212072018AAX4LYh "Songs from Season 3 of the Hills episode 18?"] . Yahoo!. November 12 2007. Retrieved December 14 2007.] Bedingfield performed the song on the season finale of the Canadian television series '. [Warner, Tyrone. [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071205/bedingfield_preview_071205/20071205?s_name=degrassi2006&no_ads=sky "Natasha Bedingfield talks 'Degrassi'"] . CTV. December 5 2007. Retrieved January 15 2008.]

"Pocketful of Sunshine" is also used in the background of several of ABC's "Start Fresh" commercials. The song is also featured on Audition Online.

Reception

Pocketful of Sunshine was among the most praised album's tracks in the album. A critic of Allmusic praised the song. [Cite web |last=Mason |first=Stewart |title=Pocketful of Sunshine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fvftxzehld0e~T1 |work=Allmusic |publisher=Macrovision Company |date= |accessdate=2008-05-18] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone described "Pocketful of Sunshine" as "serviceable: long on catchy" and "professional-grade melodies and dance beats", but added "annoying only in spots". [Cite web |last=Hoard |first=Christian |title=Pocketful of Sunshine Review |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/18065996/review/18137481/pocketful_of_sunshine |work=Rolling Stone |date= |accessdate=2008-05-18] Meanwhile, Bill Lamb of About.com review stated that the single is "good one" for "the promise of spring". [Cite web |last=Lamb|first=Bill |title=Pocketful of Sunshine Single Review |url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/natashapocketfu.htm |work=About.com |date= |accessdate=2008-05-18] The song was also listed as one of the "top tracks" on the album of the same name, in the review, also, of About.com. [Cite web |last=Lamb |first=Bill |title=Pocketful of SunshineAlbum Review |url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/natashabpocket.htm |work=About.com |date= |accessdate=2008-05-18] The song ends similarly to "Sleep Don't Weep" by Damien Rice. Natasha Bedingfield plays a singing bowl and Louise Fox whispers, whilst banging glasses: 'I've got something for you' in Irish.

Music video

In an interview with Alloy.com, Bedingfield said she will soon be filming a music video for "Pocketful of Sunshine". She also said that she was excited about the video because "people are...making their own versions of the video on YouTube and that kind of thing, which is really exciting, so I want to get done with my video as well". [ [http://www.alloy.com/5/86/6409/5/ref/5/86/6409/4/ "Interviews: Natasha Bedingfield"] . Alloy.com. Retrieved March 21 2008.]
The music video was directed by Alan Ferguson. On Natasha's blog, she explains a little bit about the concept of the video, and how she wanted a video that showed the contrast that happens in life, like finding beauty in the middle of ugliness or strength at times of weakness.

Shot in Downtown Los Angeles, the video opens with Bedingfield at a work building; scenes of a child drawing a picture while his parents are fighting and a teenager drawing graffiti in a parking lot are intercut through the video. After she drops off her work, Bedingfield grabs a parachute and jumps out the window. When she lands, she has on different clothes. Shortly after she lands, more people jump out with parachutes to join her. While Bedingfield sings, the crowd dances. Meanwhile, the police arrive to arrest the teenager, but he punches through the wall, escaping. Bedingfield is then sitting in a chair, when an eclipse occurs, hence the line "and the darkness is light." When the eclipse passes, Bedingfield shoots red butterflies out of her hands, hence the line "there's only butterflies." Bedingfield performs a free concert for the crowd. Back at the work building, the employees watch Bedingfield's performance via the LG Voyager. The child walks out of the house he drew, when the camera shows Bedingfield meditating on a large lotus flower, while a group of belly dancers dance around her. As the child walks up to her, Bedingfield opens her eyes. The end of the video shows the lotus flower rising up, while Bedingfield sings the final lines, then looking at the child.

On August 2, 2008, "Pocketful of Sunshine" reached the #1 spot on the VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown. It returned to the #1 spot on August 23, 2008.

On September 6, 2008, "Pocketful of Sunshine" was retired to VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown 20/20 list.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Pocketful of Sunshine".

"'US Digital Single
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Radio Edit] - 3:02

Promotional CD
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Radio Edit] - 3:02
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Album Version] - 3:22
# "Love like This" [Jim Jonsin Remix] - 4:14

Club Promo Mixes CD
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Club ]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Stonebridge Club]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Radio]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Stonebridge Radio]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Warehouse Mix]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Johnny Vicious Dub]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Stonebridge Dub Radio Mix]
# "Pocketful of Sunshine" [Radio Edit]

Official remixes
* Johnny Vicious Radio mix
* Johnny Vicious Club mix
* Johnny Vicious Dub mix
* Johnny Vicious Warehouse mix
* StoneBridge Radio edit
* StoneBridge Club mix
* StoneBridge Dub mix

Chart performance

"Pocketful of Sunshine" debuted on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in the United States at number sixty-five, even though it had not been commercially released as a single. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3091358&cdi=9661936&cid=02%2F09%2F2008 "Hot 100 (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)"] . Billboard.com. Retrieved January 31 2008.] The song also debuted on the Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks charts at number twenty-four, [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=395&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Digital+Songs&ci=3091352&cdi=9661601&cid=02%2F09%2F2008 "Hot Digital Songs (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)"] . Billboard.com. Retrieved January 31 2008.] [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=362&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Digital+Tracks&ci=3091354&cdi=9661706&cid=02%2F09%2F2008 "Hot Digital Tracks (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)"] . Billboard.com. Retrieved January 31 2008.] and at number forty-three on the Pop 100 chart. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=396&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Pop+100&ci=3091397&cdi=9663152&cid=02%2F09%2F2008 "Pop 100 (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)"] . Billboard.com. Retrieved January 31 2008.] Since its release, it has climbed to number five on the Hot 100, giving Bedingfield her second top ten hit on the chart, tying with "Unwritten" (which also peaked at number five) from her first album. It has also reached number seven on the Pop 100. The song has managed to climb to number two on the U.S. iTunes chart after Natasha performed it on "American Idol" on May 1, and as such, has reached a peak of number four on the Hot Digital Songs chart. On May 28, the song was certified platinum, it has sold 2,050,593 downloads to date.

The track was also successful on Billboard's Dance charts, where it reached number one on both the Hot Dance Club Play chart in May 2008 and Hot Dance Airplay charts the following June.

In Canada, the song debuted at number forty-three on the Canadian Hot 100, [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=793&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Canadian+Hot+100&ci=3091322&cdi=9660672&cid=02%2F09%2F2008 "Canadian Hot 100 (Chart Listing for the Week of Feb 09 2008)"] . Billboard.com. Retrieved January 31 2008.] and has so far peaked at number three, becoming Natasha's third top ten single, and the second from "Pocketful of Sunshine". The song has also peaked at number one on the Canadian iTunes Chart.

On the United World Chart, "Pocketful of Sunshine" debuted at number forty and has peaked at number fourteen for one week so far.

In the UK, in the lead up to the release in July, the song was given mixed reviews from fans and the media. Despite being so successful in the United States, the song's release was eventually cancelled.

Even without official relase of the album in Brazil, the song maneged to enter at #26 on the charts and #1 on the Dance Chart.

Charts

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Pocketful of Sunshine": ["Pocketful of Sunshine" (CD liner notes). Sony BMG. January 2008.]

*Natasha Bedingfield – lead vocals, singing bowl, backing vocals
*John Shanks - guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
*Danielle Brisebois - backing vocals
*Wendy Melvoin - guitar
*Charlie Judge - keyboards
*Shari Sutcliffe - contractor
*Jeff Rothschild - recording, drums, programming
*Louise Fox - pro tools editing
*Manny Marroquin - mixing
*Anne Kasdorf, Jared Robbins - engineering assistants
*David Kutch - mastering

Notes

External links

* [http://www.natashabedingfield.com/ NatashaBedingfield.com] - Official website
* [http://www.natashabedingfieldusa.com/ NatashaBedingfieldUSA.com] - Official U.S. website