Stop This Flame

"Stop This Flame" is a song by British singer and songwriter Celeste. The single was released on 9 January 2020 through Both Sides and Polydor Records as the second single from her debut studio album Not Your Muse. It was written by Celeste and Jamie Hartman, who produced the track with John Hill.^[2] The song samples Nina Simone's version of "Sinnerman" and Nina Simone is credited as a co-author.

"Stop This Flame"
Single by Celeste
from the album Not Your Muse
Released	9 January 2020
Genre	R&B[1] jazz[1]
Length	3:29
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Jamie Hartman Celeste Epiphany Waite Nina Simone
Producer(s)	Jamie Hartman John Hill
Celeste singles chronology
"Strange" (2019) "Stop This Flame" (2020) "I Can See the Change" (2020)

The song was released following Celeste's win of BBC's annual music poll Sound of 2020.^[3] It became her first-ever solo single, and second single overall (since "Sing That Song" with Tieks), to chart in her home country, spending 8 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.^[4] From September 2020, it became the theme song for Sky Sports' weekend coverage (Saturday Night Football and Super Sunday) of the Premier League for the 2020-21 season.^[5] The song is also featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 21. The song also appears in the 2021 Peloton and Royal Mail TV adverts.

Background and composition

"Stop This Flame" was Celeste's first single of 2020, the year in which she was critically tipped for success by many major publications. Celeste told Dork, "In essence, 'Stop This Flame' is a song about seeing it through to the end. Whether it’s about not letting go of love, not letting go of a dream or stridently coming through some form of adversity. The song has always evoked those feelings within me.”^[6] She told Apple Music, "For me when I sing the song, it's about like never ending determination to get that point."^[7] The song is "driven by an insistent minor-key piano vamp."^[8]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Leonn Ward and shot in New Orleans. It premiered on YouTube on 7 February 2020,^[9][10] and was later nominated for Best British R&B/Soul Video at the 2020 UK Music Video Awards.^[11]

Critical reception

The single was described by Robin Murray of Clash as "a piano-driven stomper that carries a level of euphoria that rivals club culture", whilst comparing it to "You've Got the Love" by Florence and The Machine.^[12] Peter Helman from Stereogum described as "a catchy and vaguely jazz-indebted uptempo R&B song".^[1] The song was described by The Times as "up-tempo, piano-driven Amy Winehouse".^[13]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal:^[2]

• Celeste Epiphany Waite: vocals, composer, lyricist
• Jamie Hartman: producer, composer, lyricist, bass programming, guitar, Mellotron, organ, percussion, piano, recording engineer, strings, synthesizer
• John Hill: producer, bass, drums, guitar, programming
• Nina Simone: composer, lyricist
• Jeremie Inhaber: assistant remix engineer
• Robin Florent: assistant remix engineer
• Scott Desmaris: assistant remix engineer
• Blake Mares: engineer
• Rob Cohen: engineer
• John Davis: mastering engineer
• Chris Galland: mixing engineer
• Manny Marroquin: mixing engineer
• Rafa Padilla: percussion
• Davide Rossi: strings
• Stuart Crichton: synthesizer programming

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2020–2021) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 5 Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 6 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[17] 7 Denmark Airplay (Tracklisten)[18] 17 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 19 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[20] 21 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[21] 27 Ireland (IRMA)[22] 81 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 23 Netherlands (Mega Top 50)[24] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 80 Scotland (OCC)[26] 12 Slovenia (SloTop50)[27] 44 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 47

Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 17 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 26 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[31] 64 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 81

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[33]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Helman, Peter (9 January 2020). "Celeste, BBC Music's Sound Of 2020 Winner, Shares New Song "Stop This Flame"". Stereogum. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
2. "Credits / Stop This Flame by Celeste". Tidal. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
3. Renshaw, David (9 January 2020). "British soul singer Celeste named BBC Sound 2020 winner". The Fader. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
4. "Celeste | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
5. Homewood, Ben (11 September 2020). "Celeste to soundtrack Sky Sports Premier League coverage for new season". Music Week. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
6. "Celeste has dropped her new single 'Stop This Flame', and topped the BBC Sound of 2020 poll". Dork. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
7. "Celeste on "Stop This Flame" on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
8. Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni (2020-01-10). "Justin Bieber's Flavorless Pivot to R&B, and 10 More New Songs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
9. Celeste - Stop This Flame (Official Video), retrieved 2020-02-10
10. "Celeste on Instagram: "2 Days ago in New Orleans new stuff for Stop disss Flame coming soon 🎺"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
11. Copsey, Rob (September 30, 2020). "Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Beyoncé lead UK Music Video Awards nominations". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
12. Murray, Robin (9 January 2020). "Celeste Drops New Single 'Stop This Flame'". Clash. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
13. "The best new music, from Georgia to King Krule". The Times. 17 January 2020. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
14. "Celeste %5BUK%5D – Stop This Flame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
15. "Celeste %5BUK%5D – Stop This Flame" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
16. "Celeste %5BUK%5D – Stop This Flame" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
17. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 23. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
18. "Celeste – Stop This Flame" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
19. "Celeste Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
20. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
21. "Tónlistinn – Lög, Vika 9 – 2020". Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
22. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 7, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
24. "Lijst van 18-04-2020 – Mega Top 50" (in Dutch). Mega Top 50. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
25. "Celeste %5BUK%5D – Stop This Flame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
27. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
29. "Jaaroverzichten 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
30. "Rapports Annuels 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
31. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
32. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
33. "British single certifications – Celeste – Stop This Flame". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 13, 2023.