# Clarity (Zedd song)

"Clarity" is a song by Russian-German DJ Zedd featuring the vocals of singer Foxes. It was released on 14 November 2012 as the third single from the former's debut studio album of the same name. The song was written by Zedd (who produced the song), Matthew Koma, Porter Robinson and Skylar Grey. It was released as iTunes Single of the Week on 2 October 2012, and as an 4-track remix EP on 12 February 2013, by Interscope Records. Zedd released an extended mix of the song exclusively on Beatport on 18 February 2018.
When Koma listened to Foxes' song "Youth", he contacted her through Skype and asked her to be the vocalist on "Clarity". After Foxes did research on Wikipedia about Zedd, she accepted the offer. In June 2014, following the success of "Stay the Night" featuring Hayley Williams in the United Kingdom, "Clarity" was re-released there, and this time reached a better peak of number 27, compared to the previous one of 29 in 2013. It ended up being awarded silver certification by the BPI following the intake of streaming into Official Charts data in the UK.
The extended play of the track was released on 18 February 2013. It features ten remixes including Tiësto, Headhunterz and Funkagenda, among others. From December 2012 to 4 February 2013, Zedd hosted a remix contest for the track. There were 982 official entries. The winning remix by Tom Budin was due to be featured on an upcoming Zedd release.
"Clarity" won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 56th Grammy Awards, becoming their first win.

## Critical reception

Idolator editor Sam Lansky praised the vocals produced by Jonny "Ghostwriter" Harris, and praised Zedd for "[transforming] his EDM sound into a lovely, downtempo emo-style set."

## Composition

"Clarity" has a tempo of 128 beats per minute, and is written in the A♭ major key. Its main chord progression is B♭m7sus4/E♭/Fm7/Cm7/D♭ – B♭m7sus4/E♭/Fm7/Cm7/D♭/A♭.

## Music video

A music video for "Clarity" directed by Jodeb was released on January 11, 2013. The music video featured Foxes and actor and model AJ English as a couple. The video starts with the camera panning over the desert, and later switching to see Foxes and the male lead driving in different cars, until they suddenly collide head-to-head, with enough force for both characters to rocket backward. The male lead wakes up after being knocked unconscious from the collision, and finds the injured Foxes. However, she runs away through the desert, making him follow her until she falls unconscious in the sand. A rewind of the whole event was shown afterwards, before in the final scene, the two people drive in the same car, presumably enjoying themselves. All scenes were accompanied by computer effects of collisions and other images that synchronize with the music. The music video also features a cameo from Zedd.

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 140,000$^^$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 3× Platinum | 180,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 80,000$^*$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 45,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 150,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Gold | 30,000$^*$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 40,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Country | Date | Format | Label |
| Italy | 14 November 2012 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal |
| Australia | 1 February 2013 | Digital download | Interscope |
| New Zealand | 1 February 2013 | Digital download | Interscope |
| United States | 12 February 2013 | Digital download (remixes EP) | Interscope |
| Australia | 18 February 2013 | Digital download (remixes EP) | Interscope |
| Germany | 18 February 2013 | Digital download (remixes EP) | Interscope |
| New Zealand | 18 February 2013 | Digital download (remixes EP) | Interscope |
| United States | 5 March 2013 | Contemporary hit radio | Interscope |
| United Kingdom | 6 June 2014 | Digital download (remixes EP) | Interscope |