Boom Clap

## **Boom Clap**Single by Charli XCX

Patrik Berger

Stefan Gräslund

## Music video

"**Boom Clap**" is a song by Charli XCX, released on the 7th of October 2013, as the first single from the soundtrack album of The Fault in Our Stars] (2012), aswell as her second studio album, *Sucker.*

It is so far Charli XCX's most successful solo single, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the UK Singles Chart. It has been noted by many as Charli XCX's breakthrough single.

## Background

The song was initially written during writing sessions for XCX's debut studio album, *True Romance*, then later offered to singer and actress Hilary Duff for her new album. Once Duff's management declined the offer, XCX decided to use the song as her contribution to *The Fault in Our Stars* motion picture soundtrack. In a later interview, Duff said she had no idea that XCX had offered the song to her team and would have accepted the song if she had known.

Charli and Patrik Berger wrote this song in Stockholm. She explained the inspiration to Entertainment Weekly: "We had been listening to loads of French yé-yé pop and the Flying Lizards and Bow Wow Wow, and we were saying how all those songs have dumb, hooky, shouty choruses. They're all sort of childlike. So we wanted to make a song like that.

## Theme

The song celebrates epic love. "Being totally immersed in passion and feeling really safe and really alone with that person," Charli explained to MTV UK. "Although I always hear a tinge of sadness in it, that song has quite an acute feeling."

"The scene that 'Boom Clap' is in is an uplifting moment in the film," XCX explained to Billboard magazine. "And while the song itself is very euphoric and enthusiastic about romance… it's about wanting to fall in love, but there's this hint of sadness in that, which I like."

## Critical Reception

"Boom Clap" received positive reviews from music critics. 4Music said the song was "infectious" and a "feelgood track [which] contrasts softly-sung verses with a big attitude-packed chorus" resulting in a song that was "catchier than the clap." Spin listed "Boom Clap" at number 24 on its list of "The 101 Best Songs of 2013," writing that "Charli XCX's excellent use of onomatopoeia gives this intoxicated Sucker cut her most unforgettable chorus yet." Pitchfork Media named it the 37th best song of 2013. In January 2015, "Boom Clap" was ranked at number eight on The Village Voice's annual year-end Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

## Comercial Performance

The song debuted at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week dated November 22nd, 2013, becoming XCX's first entry as a lead artist. On June 28th, the song jumped to #29, becoming her first top-40 hit as a lead artist. The song became XCX's first top 10 hit as a solo artist (after her features on "I Love It" and "Fancy") and re-entered the top tier twice before peaking at #8. The song has sold more than one million copies in the United States. "Boom Clap" also peaked at #1 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and topped Dance Airplay. In the UK the song has sold over 200,000 copies and has received a silver certification.

## Music video

The accompanying music video for "Boom Clap", directed by Sing J. Lee, was filmed in Amsterdam and premiered on 2 June 2014. The video features brief clips from The Fault in Our Stars set to the song as well as on-screen text written in the style of the book cover and film poster.

An alternative music video for the song, directed by Kazuya Murayama, was filmed in Tokyo and premiered on 29 October 2014. However, this version can only be watched officially on Youtube if you are located on Japan.

## Lyrics

You're picture-perfect blue

Sunbathing under the moon

Stars shining as your bones illuminate

First kiss just like a drug

Under your influence

You take me over, you're the magic in my veins

This must be love

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

No silver or no gold

Could dress me up so good

You're the glitter in the darkness of my world

Just tell me what to do

I'll fall right into you

We're going under cast the spell, just say the word

I feel your love!

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

You are the light and I will follow

You let me lose my shadow

You are the sun, the glowing halo

And you keep burning me up with all your love, oh

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

Boom clap, the sound of my heart

The beat goes on and on and on and on and

Boom clap, you make me feel good

Come on to me, come on to me now

## Remixes

An EP of remixes for the single were released digitally July 29th, 2014, with five tracks and the name "Boom Clap (Remixes)"

1. "Boom Clap" (Aeroplane Remix) – 5:14
2. "Boom Clap" (ASTR Remix) – 3:19
3. "Boom Clap" (Surkin Remix) – 3:40
4. "Boom Clap" (Elk Road Remix) – 3:40
5. "Boom Clap" (Cahill Remix) – 5:28

## Live Performances

Charli XCX performed the song for the first time on The Fault in Our Stars Live Stream Event on 14 May 2014. She also performed the song at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show on 24 August. The song was part of the setlist of Charli's first headlining concert tour Girl Power North America Tour.

Charli XCX performed the song followed by "Break the Rules" at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards. She also performed the song along with "Break the Rules" at the American Music Awards of 2014; when she performed "Boom Clap" she wore a prom dress; after the song she performed her second song, removed her dress with another outfit underneath, and went wild at the show and destroyed parts of her set. She also performed the song on Saturday Night Live.

Charli XCX performed the song in 1989 World Tour with Taylor Swift in Toronto on 3 October 2015.

Charli XCX - Boom Clap - Live du Grand JournalCHARLI XCX Boom Clap & Break The Rules LIVE at AMAs 2014Charli XCX - Boom Clap (Live)CharliXCX BoomClap TodayShowCharli XCX - Boom Clap - Top of the Pops - BBC OneThe Fault In Our Stars I Charli XCX -- Boom Clap -- Live at The Fault In Our Stars Live Stream EventCharli XCX - Boom Clap - Live - C'Cauet sur NRJCharli XCX - Boom Clap + After The Afterparty - 21st Asian Television AwardsCHARLI XCX "Boom Clap" on PURECharli XCX - 'Boom Clap' FeaturedByShazamCharli XCX - Boom Clap (Bing Lounge)Taylor Swift and Charli XCX - Boom Clap the 1989 World Tour
## Charts

### **Year-end charts**

 US Mainstream Top 40 (*Billboard*)[70] | 16

 Russia Airplay (Tophit)[72] | 51

## Certification

 Canada (Music Canada)
 Germany (BVMI)
 Italy (FIMI)
 New Zealand (RMNZ)
 Sweden (GLF)
 United Kingdom (BPI)
 United States (RIAA)
 Denmark (IFPI Denmark) [Streaming]

## Physical Versions

* German CD Single
* Vinyl Single

## Trivia

* The song is featured as downloadable content on Just Dance 2015.
* Charli was disapointed when Hillary Duff rejected the track: "I was like, crushed," Charli added, sighing. "I thought I was a cool writer, but maybe I'm not. Hilary didn't want my song. What a life-ruiner."
* The single had a remix EP with 5 tracks.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.popjustice.com/thenews/hilary-duff-bloody-loves-boom-clap-and-didnt-know-shed-turned-it-down/129532/
2. ↑ https://ew.com/article/2014/08/15/checking-charli-xcx/
3. ↑ http://www.mtv.co.uk/charli-xcx/news/charli-xcx-boom-clap-nearly-went-to-hilary-duff
4. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6077506/charli-xcx-fancy-iggy-azalea-icona-pop-true-romance
5. ↑ https://www.spin.com/2014/12/101-best-songs-2014/?page=7
6. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9555-the-100-best-tracks-of-2014/7/
7. ↑ http://headlineplanet.com/home/2014/08/20/charli-xcxs-boom-clap-crosses-1-million-sales-mark/
8. ↑ https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/
9. ↑ https://twitter.com/justdancegame/status/525388983929274368
10. ↑ https://www.songfacts.com/facts/charli-xcx/boom-clap