Carry On (Fun song)

"Carry On"
Single by Fun
from the album Some Nights
ReleasedOctober 23, 2012
RecordedJanuary 2011
Length4:38 (Album version)
3:54 (Radio edit)
LabelFueled by Ramen, Atlantic, Elektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jeff Bhasker
Fun singles chronology
"Some Nights"
(2012) 		"Carry On"
(2012) 		"Why Am I the One"
(2013)

"Carry On" is a song by American indie pop band Fun. It was released on October 23, 2012, as the third single off their second album, Some Nights. The song was written by the band members, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff, alongside the album's producer, Jeff Bhasker.

Composition

"Carry On" has been called "a song about perseverance in hard times", which is supported by a rock-anthem sound written in F major and composed in 12/8 time.[1][2] The song begins with Ruess singing with faint vocals, as he confronts a potential suicide.[1] Ruess's quiet vocals are eventually reinforced by a large chorus and band member Jack Antonoff's guitar-playing.[3] The narrator takes refuge in a bar alongside his friends, who begin to contemplate the mortality of the people close to them.[1] Antonoff delivers a short, 20-second "Slash-type wailing" guitar solo, which appears over two and a half minutes into the song.[3]

Live performances

On November 3, 2012, the band was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, with Louis C.K. as host, and performed this song, alongside "Some Nights".[4] They also performed the song at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

In media

It is also featured in the HGTV 2013 #LoveHome commercial and in the pilot episode of FX series Legit. The song is also featured in the 2013 documentary Bridegroom and the Portuguese telenovela Destinos Cruzados (2013/14). A shortened version is performed in the second season of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2021).

Charts

"Carry On" was released on October 23, 2012, as the third single off their second album, Some Nights. "Carry On" is their third consecutive single to reach the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It debuted at #100 on that chart and in the subsequent weeks climbed until peaking at #20. It has sold over a million downloads as of April 2013.[5]

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[33] Platinum 80,000*
Italy (FIMI)[34] Gold 15,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Gold 7,500*
United States (RIAA)[36] 2× Platinum 2,000,000[5]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c McCall, Tris. "Song of the Week: fun., "Carry On"". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  2. ^ Rosen, Jody (March 1, 2012). "fun. Some Nights > Album Review". rollingstone.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (May 24, 2012). "Fun: Some Nights – review". The Guardian. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  4. ^ "Fun. On 'SNL': 'Some Nights' And 'Carry On' (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Paul Grein (April 10, 2013). "Week Ending April 7, 2013. Songs: Discount Helps Bruno Reach #1". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Fun. – Carry On". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  7. ^ "Fun. – Carry On" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  8. ^ "fun. Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ^ Rock, Canadian. "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock – February 5, 2013". Canadianrockalt.blogspot.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  10. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Fun.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Media Forest Week 46, 2012". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  12. ^ "Musica&Dischi Italian Singles Chart Top 50" (in Italian). Musica & Dischi. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  13. ^ "fun. Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  15. ^ "Fun. – Carry On". Top 40 Singles.
  16. ^ "Chart Log UK - 2012". zobbel.de. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  17. ^ "Fun Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Fun Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Fun Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Fun Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Fun Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Fun Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "Fun Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Fun Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  26. ^ "I singoli più venduti del 2012" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  27. ^ "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  28. ^ "Best of 2013 – Rock Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  29. ^ "Triple A Songs: 2013 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  30. ^ "Best of 2013 – Adult Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  31. ^ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  32. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  33. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Fun – Carry On". Music Canada. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  34. ^ "Italian single certifications – Fun – Carry On" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 12, 2013. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Carry On" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  35. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 18 March 2013". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  36. ^ "American single certifications – Fun. – Carry On". Recording Industry Association of America.