"Sofia" is a song by American singer Clairo. Fader Label released it as the third single from her debut studio album Immunity on July 26, 2019. The song was written by Clairo and Rostam Batmanglij, who also produced the song, and features drums from Danielle Haim. "Sofia" became a sleeper hit after going viral on the video-sharing platform TikTok, charting on the Billboard Hot 100 more than a year after its initial release.

"Sofia"
Single by Clairo
from the album Immunity
ReleasedJuly 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)
Genre
Length3:08
LabelFader Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rostam Batmanglij
Clairo singles chronology
"Closer to You" / "Bags"
(2019)
"Sofia"
(2019)
"I Don't Think I Can Do This Again"
(2019)

Background and composition

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Musically, "Sofia" is a Eurodisco,[1] dance-rock,[2] and soft rock song,[3] with a pulsating electropop beat.[4] In a Facebook post, Clairo explained that "Sofia" was inspired by her first experiences having crushes on older women whom she saw in the media.[5] She named Sofía Vergara and Sofia Coppola as examples, and claimed that writing "Sofia" was her way of celebrating her discovery whilst "maintaining the cheesy/corny lyrics you'd normally find in songs where you profess your love". She continued by writing that the song "captures a moment in [her] life but instead of hiding it, it's expressed in an almost 'explosive' manner".[5][6]

Other versions

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in 2021,[7] Royal Musical Artist [8] "Matthew Edward Hall" from a line of Legendary Chiefs & Native American Kings including the Patron Saint of America Saint Tammany[8][9] released his version with a prominent new bass line and male vocal performance.

Critical reception

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Carolyn Droke of Uproxx described the song as an "anthem for the actualization of [Clairo's] sexuality", saying that the lyrics and rhythm "encapsulate feelings of exhilaration and trepidation at the threshold of a new relationship".[4] Harry Todd of Paste compared the production of the song to that of The Strokes and Sleigh Bells, with its "heavily processed guitars and crunchy drums". He continued to praise producer Batmanglij for "peppering [the song] with arpeggiated synths and vocoder melodies that recall Daft Punk's lovelorn slow-burns", and Clairo for "selling" the song with her vocal performance.[10] Katherine St. Asaph of Pitchfork compared the synths in "Sofia" to that of "Dancing on My Own" by Robyn.[11]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Sofia"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Gold 35,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[28] 2× Platinum 80,000
Canada (Music Canada)[29] 2× Platinum 160,000
Poland (ZPAV)[30] Gold 25,000
Portugal (AFP)[31] Gold 5,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[33] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Mackay, Emily (August 4, 2019). "Clairo: Immunity review – a winning debut". The Observer. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  2. ^ Donelson, Marcy. "Immunity – Clairo". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "Clairo - Immunity". Sputnikmusic. August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Droke, Carolyn (July 26, 2019). "Clairo Explore Her Sexuality On The Punchy New Single 'Sofia'". UPROXX. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  5. ^ a b D'Souza, Shaad (July 26, 2019). "Clairo drops new track "Sofia"". The FADER. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  6. ^ Cottrill, Claire (July 27, 2019). "sofia explanation". Facebook. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "Matthew Edward Hall - Sofia (Sex Song) (CD, US, 2021) for Sale | Discogs". Discogs.
  8. ^ a b "Matthew Edward Hall: Divine Proof & Royal Native American Musical Artist".
  9. ^ "Matthew Edward Hall | Producer". IMDb.
  10. ^ Todd, Harry (July 26, 2019). "Listen to Clairo's New Song "Sofia," the Final Single from Her Debut Album Immunity". Paste. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  11. ^ St. Asaph, Katherine (August 2, 2019). "Clairo: Immunity". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  12. ^ "Sofia - Clairo". Tidal. 2 August 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 2 November 2020". The ARIA Report. No. 1600. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 2, 2020. p. 4.
  14. ^ "Clairo – Sofia" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  15. ^ "Chart Search: Clairo, Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "Clairo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  17. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  18. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "NZ Top 40 Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 5, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  20. ^ "RIAS International Top Charts Week 43". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on October 27, 2020.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  22. ^ "Clairo, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  23. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs | Week of November 14, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  24. ^ "Alternative Airplay | Week of February 21, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  25. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  26. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  28. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Clairo – Sofia" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  29. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Clairo – Sofia". Music Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  30. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 2, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Sofia in the search box.
  31. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Clairo – Sofia" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  32. ^ "British single certifications – Clairo – Sofia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  33. ^ "American single certifications – Clairo – Sofia". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  NODES
Association 6
INTERN 2
Note 1