Spirits (The Strumbellas song)

"Spirits" is a song by Canadian indie folk band the Strumbellas. It was produced by Dave Schiffman and was released as a single from the band's third album, Hope, in 2016.

"Spirits"
Single by the Strumbellas
from the album Hope
Released	January 28, 2016
Genre	Folk rock, indie rock
Length	3:24
Label	Glassnote
Songwriter(s)	Jeremy Drury Jon Hembrey Darryl James Izzy Ritchie David Ritter Simon Ward
Producer(s)	Dave Schiffman
The Strumbellas singles chronology
"Spirits" (2016) "We Don't Know" (2016)

Music video

The official music video was released on January 28, 2016.^[1] It depicts the band performing the song at a funeral where all the mourners are wearing masks and costumes. During the procession, it becomes a lively parade based on a jazz funeral.^[2]

In popular culture

The song was used in the film Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life in 2016.

The song was featured in the trailer for the 2018 film Midnight Sun, starring Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger.^[3]

In 2020, the song went viral on TikTok, with a slowed down version,^[4] and a remix version made by DragoKG.^[5] It has been in more than 289.7K videos on TikTok as of March 23, 2021.^[6]

As a result of the viral popularity of "Spirits" on TikTok, on September 10, 2020, the band re-released an official lyric video to the song more than 5 years since it was released to YouTube, which received more than 837K views as of March 23, 2022.^[7] A bittersweet nostalgia themed clip comparing then and now footage of famous celebrities has been used on social media websites using this song.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2023, the song was used in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking in Episode 1 ("Coin Flip").

In June 2023, the song was used in the Netflix animated series This World Can't Tear Me Down by Zerocalcare, at the end of episode 6 "No Place for You".

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2015–2017) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] 5 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 23 Canada AC (Billboard)[12] 20 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 12 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[14] 6 Canada Rock (Billboard)[15] 2 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[16] 5 France (SNEP)[17] 63 Germany (GfK)[18] 18 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[19] 30 Italy (FIMI)[20] 11 Italy Airplay (EarOne)[21] 1 Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[22] 10 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[23] 24 Netherlands Single Tip (MegaCharts)[24] 25 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[25] 10 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] 81 Slovenia (SloTop50)[27] 22 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 18 UK Indie (OCC)[29] 44 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[30] 9 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 22 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[32] 7 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[33] 2 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[34] 1 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[35] 3 Chart (2020) Peak position Scotland (OCC)[36] 78 UK Indie (OCC)[29] 44

Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[37] 35 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[38] 31 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[39] 57 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[40] 77 Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 68 Italy (FIMI)[42] 40 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 52 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[44] 21 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[45] 9 US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[46] 7 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[47] 22

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[48]	Gold	10,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[49]	Gold	30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[50]	5× Platinum	400,000‡
France (SNEP)[51]	Gold	66,666‡
Germany (BVMI)[52]	Platinum	400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[53]	3× Platinum	150,000‡
South Africa (RISA)[54]	Gold	10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[55]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[56]	Gold	500,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "The Strumbellas - Spirits". YouTube. January 28, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
2. Payne, Chris (January 28, 2016). "The Strumbellas Premiere James Bond-Inspired 'Spirits' Video, Talk Glassnote Debut Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
3. "Midnight Sun". Youtube. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
4. "Spirits - Strumbellas (Slowed Down)". YouTube. September 2, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
5. "The Strumbellas - Spirits / DragoKG Remix - (TIKTOK FULL VERSION By DragoKG)". YouTube. September 13, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
6. "Spirits created by The Strumbellas | Popular songs on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
7. "The Strumbellas - Spirits (Lyric Video)". YouTube. September 10, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
8. "The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
9. "The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
10. "The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
11. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
12. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada AC for The Strumbellas. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
13. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for The Strumbellas. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
14. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada Hot AC for The Strumbellas. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
15. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada Rock for The Strumbellas. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
16. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 1. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
17. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 39, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
18. "The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
19. "Vika 12 – 2016". Plötutíðindi (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
20. "The Strumbellas – Spirits". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
21. "Earone Airplay - Settimana #19 dal 06/05/2016 al 12/05/2016" (in Italian). Earone.
22. "Luxembourg Digital Songs chart History - The Strumbellas". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
23. "The Strumbellas – Chart history (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
24. "Netherlands Single Tip Chart - July 16, 2016". Mega Charts. July 16, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
25. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201636 into search. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
26. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201638 into search. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
27. "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart". SloTop50. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
28. "The Strumbellas – Spirits". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
29. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
30. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
31. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
32. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
33. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
34. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
35. "The Strumbellas Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
36. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
37. "Ö3 Austria Top 40 - Single-Charts 2016". oe3.orf.at. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
38. "Jaaroverzichten 2016". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
39. "Rapports Annuels 2016". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
40. "Canadian Hot 100 Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
41. "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2016". GfK Entertainment (in German). viva.tv. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
42. "Classifiche "Top of the Music" 2016 FIMI-GfK: La musica italiana in vetta negli album e nei singoli digitali" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original (Click on Scarica allegato to download the zipped file containing the year-end chart PDF documents) on January 10, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
43. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2016 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
44. "Hot Rock Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
45. "Rock Airplay Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
46. "Alternative Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
47. "Adult Alternative Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
48. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2016". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
49. "Brazilian single certifications – The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
50. "Canadian single certifications – The Strumbellas – Spirits". Music Canada. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
51. "French single certifications – The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
52. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Strumbellas; 'Spirits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
53. "Italian single certifications – The Strumbellas – Spirits" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
54. "South Africa certifications". Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
55. "British single certifications – Strumbellas – Spirits". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
56. "American single certifications – The Strumbellas – Spirits". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 10, 2016.