Black Box (song)
Stan Walker's debut single, a chart-topping New Zealand hit.
"Black Box" is the debut single by Stan Walker, the winner of the seventh season of Australian Idol. It was released digitally on 22 November 2009 as the lead single from his debut studio album, Introducing... Stan Walker. The song was later covered by Blue for their 2013 album Roulette.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Stan Walker
- Album
- Introducing... Stan Walker
- Released
- 22 November 2009
- Recorded
- 2009
- Genre
- R&B
- Label
- Sony
- Writer
- Lucas Secon
- Wayne Hector
- Jonas Jeberg
- Cutfather
- Producer
- Cutfather; Jonas Jeberg
Facts from the source article.
Critical reception
Jade from MusicFix compared the song to other Australian Idol winners' singles, noting that the "black box" metaphor sets it apart. She described the sound as a "generic R&B beat" and likened Walker's voice to fellow winner Guy Sebastian, remarking that voters "decided one Sebastian just wasn't enough." At the 2010 New Zealand Music Awards, "Black Box" won 'Highest Selling New Zealand Single' and 'Radio Airplay Record of the Year', having topped the New Zealand Radio Airplay Chart for ten weeks. It was also nominated for 'Most Popular Australian Single' at the 2010 ARIA Music Awards.
Chart performance
On the New Zealand Singles Chart, "Black Box" debuted at number five on 30 November 2009 and rose to number one the following week, where it remained for ten consecutive weeks. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand on 14 February 2010 for selling 30,000 copies. In Australia, the song debuted and peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart on 30 November 2009, selling 17,493 copies in its first week and becoming the fastest-selling Sony Bandit.fm download ever. It later received double platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for 140,000 copies.
Music video and live performances
The music video for "Black Box" was shot in Sydney on 24 November 2009 under director Gemma Lee. Walker told Nova FM he was nervous at first but got into it, noting there might be some group dancing. He described the clip as a house party that illustrates the lyrics, which deal with a failed relationship where everything remains stored in the black box. It debuted on YouTube on 29 November 2009. Walker sang the track on the New Zealand programme Close Up on 6 December 2009, one day before his album Introducing... Stan Walker came out. He also performed it at Barry Curtis Park in Manukau City during Waitangi Day festivities on 6 February 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who produced Black Box (song)?
Black Box was produced by Cutfather and Jonas Jeberg.
Who wrote Black Box (song)?
Black Box was written by Lucas Secon, Wayne Hector, Jonas Jeberg and Cutfather.
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