Go (Cat Burns song)

"Go"
Single by Cat Burns
from the EP Emotionally Unavailable and the album Early Twenties
Released31 July 2020 (2020-07-31)
Length3:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Cat Burns
  • George Morgan
  • Wille Tannergard
  • Jonah Stevens
Producer(s)Jonah
Cat Burns singles chronology
"Fool in Love"
(2020) 		"Go"
(2020) 		"Into You"
(2021)
Visualiser
"Go" on YouTube

"Go" is a song by English singer Cat Burns. It was written November 14, 2018 then released as a single on 31 July 2020, through Since 93 and RCA Records. Written by Cat Burns, Wille Tannergard, George Morgan and Jonah Stevens, the song rose to popularity in early 2022, eventually peaking at number two in the UK Singles Chart. Burns received criticism because the song is very similar to Mr. Probz's “Waves”, released in 2013.

The song was included on Burns's 2022 EP Emotionally Unavailable.[1] It was nominated for Song Of The Year at the 2023 Brit Awards.[2]

Background and composition

Burns started releasing music in 2016 and posted numerous covers and original songs on social media platforms during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. As her content kept gaining traction, her clips soon surpassed over 14 million views. "Go" had previously been uploaded as an acoustic rendition to TikTok, accompanied by American singer H.E.R., before it was officially released in July 2020.[3] According to Burns, the song is about leaving a situation without fighting. About its success, she says, "people love a song that they can sing at the top of their lungs – and 'Go' is that. It's exactly what you want to hear when you're going through a breakup, and need some power and confidence".[4] When performing "Go" in front of a crowd at the Courtyard Theatre, she recalled, "I sang my song 'Go' and I was so surprised that people actually knew the words and were singing it LOUDLY!".[5]

The song was described as "a post-breakup anthem that channels Alright, Still-era Lily Allen with real verve".[4]

A version of the song featuring British singer Sam Smith was released on 6 June 2022.[6]

Live performances

Burns performed the song in her television debut on Later... with Jools Holland on 14 May 2022 and later performed it, along with "People Pleaser" on Jools' Annual Hootenanny on 31 December 2022/1 January 2023.[7][8] Burns made her American television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden, performing the song with Sam Smith.[9] She also performed the song on the 2022 Top of the Pops Christmas Eve special.[10] Burns performed the song at the 2023 Brit Awards on 11 February 2023.

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Go"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[28] Platinum 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Gold 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[30] Platinum 90,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Review: Cat Burns releases her stunning EP 'Emotionally Unavailable'". Women in Pop. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  2. ^ Richards, Will (10 January 2023). "Mo Gilligan returning to host 2023 BRIT Awards". NME. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. ^ Kim, YeEun (30 July 2020). "Cat Burns drops new single "Go" after first reveal on TikTok". Hypebae. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Williams, Sophie (2 February 2022). "Cat Burns: uplifting songwriter that wants to "help Black queer artists" tell their story". NME. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ Cassidy, Isabelle (17 December 2021). "Cat Burns: A Social Media Star on the Rise". Notion. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Sam Smith joins Cat Burns on new version of "go"".
  7. ^ "Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny - Meet the line-up and find out how to watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer". BBC News. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Later... with Jools Holland: Series 60, Episode 1". BBC iPlayer. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Cat Burns and Sam Smith bring electrifying performance of 'Go' to 'Corden'". NME. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Verified happy Christmas Eve🥹, I'll be on Top of the pops tonight at 10:40pm on bbc 2 & iplayer. grateful to have even been considered to be on such an iconic show. 🫶🏾 if you end up watching make sure you tag me wooooooo! also can we make some commotion for the suit. How christmassy of me🎄". Instagram. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  11. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 20 June 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1685. Australian Recording Industry Association. 20 June 2022. p. 4.
  12. ^ "Cat Burns – Go" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 18, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Cat Burns – Go" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of June 25, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Cat Burns – Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  18. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 09-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 10". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Cat Burns – Go". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Track Top-100 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  26. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  27. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Cat Burns – Go" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Cat Burns – Go". Music Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Danish single certifications – Cat Burns feat. Sam Smith – Go". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  31. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Cat Burns – Go". Radioscope. Retrieved 1 January 2025. Type Go in the "Search:" field.
  32. ^ "British single certifications – Cat Burns – Go". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 February 2023.