"Sax" is the debut single by English singer, rapper and songwriter
Fleur East
Fleur East (born 29 October 1987) is an English singer, songwriter, rapper and presenter. East competed on the second series of ''The X Factor'' in 2005 as part of the girl group Addictiv Ladies but was unsuccessful. In 2012, she signed with ...
, from her debut album ''
Love, Sax and Flashbacks'' (2015). It was released as the
lead single
A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
A similar term, "debut ...
from the album on 6 November 2015 by
Syco Records
Syco Music, originally S Records, was a division of Syco Entertainment which operated from 2002 until 2020. The label was founded by British entrepreneur, record executive and media personality Simon Cowell, who was formerly employed at Bertels ...
.
The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 3 in the UK. In September 2016, "Sax" was certified platinum by the
BPI.
Background
After being announced as the runner-up of 11th series of ''
The X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...
'', East signed a recording contract with
Syco Music
Syco Music, originally S Records, was a division of Syco Entertainment which operated from 2002 until 2020. The label was founded by British entrepreneur, record executive and media personality Simon Cowell, who was formerly employed at Bertels ...
in January 2015. She began working on her debut studio album after the ''X Factor'' tour was over, splitting her time between London and Los Angeles to record it. During recording, she was inspired by "
Uptown Funk
"Uptown Funk" is a song by British record producer Mark Ronson featuring American singer Bruno Mars. It was released on 10 November 2014, as the lead single from Ronson's fourth studio album, '' Uptown Special'' (2015). "Uptown Funk" was wri ...
" by
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson (born 4 September 1975) is a British-American DJ, record producer, and songwriter. He has won nine Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year for Amy Winehouse's album '' Back to Black'' (2006), as well as two for Record ...
featuring
Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...
, and described the songs on the album as "very uptempo and very energetic with lots of attitude.
he album hasgot loads of influences from the old school. Lots of funk, hip-hop, soul; loads of different sounds fused together. Everything about that song - the uptempo vibe, the high energy, the brass, the old school funk sound - was just right up my street. I've definitely taken a few influences from that."
In July 2015, Syco's head
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell (; born 7 October 1959) is an English television personality and businessman. He has judged on the British television talent competition shows ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003), ''The X Factor (British TV series), The X Factor UK ...
told ''
The Sun
The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System. It is a massive, nearly perfect sphere of hot Plasma (physics), plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy from its surface mainly as ...
'': "I've heard it and it's world class. She has discovered who she wanted to be. Sometimes you just spot someone who's not obvious and Fleur's a good example of that". "Sax" was originally slated for release on 23 October 2015, then on 30 October, before being finally released on 6 November 2015 to coincide with her performance of the song on ''X Factor''.
Critical reception
Digital Spy
Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its initial launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television pro ...
's writer Lewis Corner noted that the song was clearly inspired by "Uptown Funk", but its "brassed-up chorus, sassy lyrics and funky hook means it stands tall as a potential smash hit in its own right".
Music video
The official music video for "Sax" was released on 26 November 2015. It was directed by
Colin Tilley
Colin Tilley (born June 27, 1988) is an American filmmaker, music video director, and television commercial director. Tilley is the CEO and owner of Boy in the Castle Productions. He has directed more than 300 music videos.
Tilley directed, pr ...
. It shows East smiling and walking in a five-colour square tunnel, and later shows her with some dancers in a colourful changing background. On 15 June 2016, another music video, titled "Sax in the City", was released for the song. It features East in different parts of New York City.
Live performances
"Sax" was first performed by East on
Oxford Street Christmas lights
Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road via Oxford Circus. It marks the notional boundary between the areas of Fitzrovia and Marylebone to the no ...
switch-on event on 1 November 2015. She also performed it on the
12th series of ''The X Factor'' on 8 November.
She performed the track on ''
Alan Carr: Chatty Man'' on 20 November 2015, and also performed on ''
The One Show
''The One Show'' is a British television magazine and chat show programme. Broadcast live on BBC One weekdays at 7:00 pm, it features topical stories and studio guests. It is currently co-hosted by Alex Jones, Roman Kemp, Ronan Keating ...
'' on 27 November 2015, East returned to the final of the
12th series of ''The X Factor'' where she performed with girlband
Little Mix
Little Mix are an English girl group that formed on the eighth series of ''The X Factor (British TV series), The X Factor.'' They are the first group and the only girl group to win the original UK series. The lineup consisted of Leigh-Anne Pin ...
, along with their song "
Black Magic
Black magic (Middle English: ''nigromancy''), sometimes dark magic, traditionally refers to the use of Magic (paranormal), magic or supernatural powers for evil and selfish purposes.
The links and interaction between black magic and religi ...
". On 25 December, East performed "Sax" on the Christmas special of ''
Top of the Pops
''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...
''.
For her US debut, East performed "Sax" on the season finale of ''
Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
'' on 25 May 2016. The following day, she performed the single on ''
The Late Late Show with James Corden
''The Late Late Show with James Corden'' (also known simply as ''Late Late'') is an American late-night talk show that aired on CBS from 2015 to 2023. It is the fourth and final iteration of '' The Late Late Show'', and aired in the United Sta ...
''. On 2 June 2016, she made her debut on ''
The Today Show
''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'') is an American morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was the first of its genre on American television ...
'' where she was interviewed by
Tamron Hall
Tamron Hall (born September 16, 1970) is an American broadcast journalist, television talk show host and author. In September 2019, Hall debuted her self-titled syndicated daytime talk show, which has earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards. Hall ...
and
Al Roker
Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. (born August 20, 1954) is an American weather presenter, journalist, television personality, and author. He is the weather anchor on NBC's ''Today'', and occasionally co-hosts '' 3rd Hour Today''. He has a lapsed Ameri ...
and performed the single.
Track listing
;Digital download
#"Sax" – 3:56
;Digital download – The Selection EP
#"Sax" (Dance Rehearsal)
ideo
IDEO () is a design firm, design and consulting firm with offices in the U.S., England, and China. It was founded in Palo Alto, California, in 1991. The company's 500 staff uses a design thinking approach to design products, services, environmen ...
– 3:56
#"Sax" (
Wideboys
The Wideboys are an English electronic music duo known for club remixes and for their own song "Sambuca", featuring Dennis G on vocals, which reached number 15 in the UK in October 2001. Another top 40 single, "Daddy-O" featuring Shaznay Lewis ...
Remix) – 4:02
#"Sax" (
LuvBug
LuvBug is an English electronic dance music trio consisting of London-born DJ & producer Marvin Humes, Manchester-based producer White N3rd and producer/songwriter JKAY.
Career
Humes and JKAY grew up in Woolwich, East London with JKAY becom ...
Remix) – 3:36
#"Sax" (Steve Smart Remix) – 3:34
#"Sax" (Interview) – 3:57
;Other version
"Sax" (Wideboys Club Mix) – 6:05
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
{{Fleur East
2015 songs
2015 singles
British funk songs
Fleur East songs
Songs written by Kamille (musician)
Songs written by Henrik Barman Michelsen
Songs written by James Abrahart
Syco Music singles
Songs written by Edvard Forre Erfjord