Fly (Hilary Duff song)

"Fly" is a song recorded by the American recording artist and actress Hilary Duff for her self-titled third studio album (2004). Penned by Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks and produced by the latter, the song was released on August 10, 2004, via Hollywood Records as the lead single to the project. "Fly" was re-released on March 13, 2006, via Angel Records, in the United Kingdom as the third and final single from Duff's first compilation album, Most Wanted (2005).

"Fly"
Single by Hilary Duff
from the album Hilary Duff and Most Wanted
B-side	"Metamorphosis"
Released	August 10, 2004 (2004-08-10)
Length	3:44
Label	Hollywood
Songwriter(s)	Kara DioGuardi John Shanks
Producer(s)	John Shanks
Hilary Duff singles chronology
"Our Lips Are Sealed" (2004) "Fly" (2004) "Someone's Watching Over Me" (2005)
Music video
"Hilary Duff - Fly" on YouTube

The single received a positive reception from critics. However, it proved to be less successful than previous singles. It failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 but did enter the magazine's Pop Airplay chart. Internationally, the single cracked the top ten solely in Scotland.

Composition

The song's protagonist encourages listeners to "let go of your yesterday" and "reach for something when there's nothing left". Duff has described it as "an uplifting song in the face of all the negativity going around these days. It's about how people are scared to open up and show who they are inside because they're afraid of what others are going to say".^[1]

Critical reception

Stylus magazine said the song was very similar to Duff's previous single, "Come Clean" (2004), but called it "an easily excusable offense, as it improves on the template ... [it] rightfully leads off the album."^[2] Blender magazine said the song is "Urgent and theatrical" and "sounds like Evanescence—but the inspirational lyrics are pure Duff."^[3] John Shanks received a 2005 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for his work on "Fly" and recordings by Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Robbie Robertson and Alanis Morissette.^[4] Chuck Taylor of Billboard responded favorably of "Fly", writing that the song "addresses all that is close to young listeners' hearts...with a sing-along chorus that firmly sticks to the ears."^[5]

Chart performance

"Fly" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., but peaked at number 29 on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart. As of July 27, 2014, the song had sold 284,000 digital copies in the United States.^[6]

Music video

The single's music video, directed by Chris Applebaum, combines black-and-white backstage footage with colorized shots of Duff performing the song live. The video was filmed in Worcester, Massachusetts during rehearsal for her Most Wanted Tour. Footage of the crowd was from opening night of the tour in Worcester. The video premiered on MTV's Total Request Live on August 26, 2004, debuted on the show's countdown on August 30 and reached number one on the countdown for one day. It spent twenty-eight days on the countdown, until October 27.^[7] There was about 100 or more fans there who won a contest to watch her perform and be in the video as a crowd. The making of the video and her tour in Worcester is on the 2004 DVD Learning to Fly. It is also featured on the Raise Your Voice DVD under bonus features.

Live performances

Duff performed "Fly" on the 2004 World Music Awards.^[8][9]

Track listings

Digital download[10] "Fly" – 3:45 Australian CD single[11] "Fly" – 3:45 "Fly" (Remix by Dan Chase) – 3:27 European CD single[12] "Fly" – 3:44 "Fly" (Remix) – 3:44

UK CD single[13] "Fly" – 3:43 "Fly" (Live AOL Session) – 3:44 UK maxi single[14] "Fly" – 3:43 "Metamorphosis" – 3:28 "Fly" (Remix) – 3:44 "Fly" (Video) – 3:43

Charts

Chart (2004–2006)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[15]	21
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[16]	8
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[17]	11
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[18]	26
Ireland (IRMA)[19]	10
Italy (FIMI)[20]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21]	36
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22]	32
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23]	24
Scotland (OCC)[24]	7
UK Singles (OCC)[25]	20
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[26]	29
US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records)[27]	27

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	August 9, 2004	Contemporary hit radio hot AC radio	Hollywood	[28]
United States	October 19, 2004	Digital download		[10]
Australia	November 8, 2004	CD single	Hollywood Festival Mushroom	[29][30]
United Kingdom	March 13, 2006		Hollywood	[31]
Canada	May 9, 2006	Digital download		[32]