Cradles (song)

"Cradles" is a song by American singer Sub Urban, released on January 5, 2019, through NoCopyrightSounds.

"Cradles"
Single by Sub Urban
Published	January 5, 2019
Genre	indie rock future bass trap
Length	3:29
Label	NCS
Songwriter(s)	Daniel Maisonneuve
Producer(s)	Sub Urban Luke Arreguin
Sub Urban singles chronology
"Sick of You" (2019) "Cradles" (2019) "Isolate" (2019)
Audio sample
"Cradles" file help
Music video
"Cradles" on YouTube

Background

In January 2019, Sub Urban released his debut song "Cradles" on NoCopyrightSounds.^[1] The song went viral on TikTok, resulting in the original audio to receive over 100 million views on YouTube and pushing Sub Urban to sign a deal with Warner Records after topping Billboard's Alternative charts.^[2][3] The song's success additionally personally affected Sub Urban, resulting in the acceptance of his family for previously dropping out of high school to pursue music.^[4]

Music video

The music video was directed by Andrew Donoho and released on October 9, 2019. Throughout the video, Sub Urban is seen in a bedroom lit on fire, solid color rooms with numerous masked corpses, curtained rooms with dancing mannequins, and a narrow metal bridge.^[5]

Other uses

The song is part of the soundtrack of the 2023 rhythm video game Just Dance 2024 Edition.^[6] The song is also part of the 2023 rhythm video game Fortnite Festival, added in December 2023.

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Cradles" Chart (2020) Peak position Canada Rock (Billboard)[7] 32 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[8] 28 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] 1 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[10] 8

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Cradles" Chart (2020) Position US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] 26

Certifications

Certifications for "Cradles"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[12]	Platinum	80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[13]	Gold	50,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[14]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Sub Urban - Cradles | Bass | NCS - Copyright Free Music". YouTube. January 5, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
2. Leight, Elias (October 12, 2020). "How Do You Predict the Next TikTok Music Hit? With a Ton of Data". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
3. Rutherford, Kevin (March 24, 2020). "Sub Urban Rocks 'Cradles' to No. 1 on Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
4. Neal, Fergus (June 25, 2020). "The compelling story of Sub Urban, the boy who dropped out of school and then went viral". Beat Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
5. Aniftos, Rania (October 9, 2019). "Sub Urban's 'Cradles' Music Video Is a Nightmare Come to Life: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
6. Vicencio, Chastity (October 24, 2023). "Just Dance 2024 Edition Song List and New Mode Details". Ubisoft. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
7. "Sub Urban Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
8. "Sub Urban Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
9. "Sub Urban Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
10. "Sub Urban Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
11. "Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
12. "Canadian single certifications – Sub Urban – Cradles". Music Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
13. "Italian single certifications – Sub Urban – Cradles" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
14. "Spanish single certifications – Sub Urban – Cradles". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
15. "British single certifications – Sub Urban – Cradles". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
16. "American single certifications – Sub Urban – Cradles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 6, 2023.