Sway (Bic Runga song)

"Sway" is a song by New Zealand singer Bic Runga. It was released as the second single from her debut studio album, Drive (1997), in 1997. The song peaked at No. 7 in New Zealand and No. 10 in Australia, earning gold certifications in both countries. At the 32nd New Zealand Music Awards, the song won three awards: Single of the Year, Best Songwriter, and Best Engineer (Simon Sheridan).[1] In 2001, it was voted the 6th best New Zealand song of all time by members of APRA.[2] A music video directed by John Taft was made for the song.[3]

"Sway"
Single by Bic Runga
from the album Drive
B-side
  • "I Don't Mean It"
  • "Lonely Lola Cherry Cola Girl"
Released1997 (1997)
Length4:24
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bic Runga
Producer(s)Bic Runga
Bic Runga singles chronology
"Bursting Through"
(1996)		 "Sway"
(1997)		 "Suddenly Strange"
(1997)
Audio
"Sway" on YouTube

An acoustic version of the song can be found on the charity album Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 2. In September 2019, Runga re-recorded the song for Waiata / Anthems, a collection of re-recorded New Zealand pop songs to promote te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week). The new version, retitled "Haere Mai Rā / Sway", featured lyrics reinterpreted by scholar Tīmoti Kāretu.[4] Runga contributed to the project for a second time in 2021, releasing an original song "Kāore He Wā / There Is No Time", accompanied by a documentary on the creation process.[5]

Commercial performance

"Sway" was a modest hit entering the charts in five countries. In New Zealand "Sway" received commercial success, debuted at number twenty-eight on the Recorded Music NZ chart, then it climbed on the top ten at number seven, the song spent a total of seventeen weeks on the chart it left the chart at number fifty position.[6] "Sway" was certified RMNZ Gold with 5,000 copies sold in New Zealand.[7]

In Australia, "Sway" also received commercial success in the country, it debuted on the ARIA Singles chart at number forty-two, then it climbed up on the chart at number ten, it spent a total of twenty-two weeks on the chart it left the chart at number forty-nine position.[8] The song was certified ARIA Gold with 35,000 copies sold in Australia.[9] In Ireland, the song debuted at number twenty-six on the IRMA chart, and spent two weeks on the chart.[10] In Scotland the song debuted at number seventy-five. In United Kingdom, "Sway" debutet at number eighty-three on the UK Singles chart, it only spent one week on the chart and completely left the chart.[11]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[26] Gold 5,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
New Zealand 1997 (1997)
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia
United States February 1998 (1998-02) Radio [27]
United Kingdom 31 August 1998 (1998-08-31)
  • CD
  • cassette
 Epic [28]

References
  1. "Award History". New Zealand Music Awards. Retrieved 25 August 2020. Select 1998 from the Select a Year box.
  2. "APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. "Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. 31 January 1998. p. 88. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. "Waiata / Anthems". iTunes. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  5. Cudby, Chris (9 September 2021). "Listen To Bic Runga's 'Kāore He Wā / There Is No Time' - Waiata Anthems Week". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  6. "charts.org.nz - Bic Runga - Sway". charts.nz. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  8. "australian-charts.com - Bic Runga - Sway". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  9. "1998 Accreds.pdf" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  10. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  11. "BIC RUNGA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  12. Sway (New Zealand CD single liner notes). Bic Runga. Columbia Records. 1997. 664198.1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Sway (New Zealand cassette single sleeve). Bic Runga. Columbia Records. 1997. 664198.4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Sway (Australian CD single liner notes). Bic Runga. Columbia Records. 1997. 665416.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Sway (US promo CD liner notes). Bic Runga. Columbia Records. 1997. CSK 41553.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Sway (UK CD single liner notes). Bic Runga. Epic Records. 1997. 666143 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Sway (Irish CD single liner notes). Bic Runga. SME Records Ireland. 2004. 6661439000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. "Bic Runga – Sway". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bic Runga". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  20. "Bic Runga – Sway". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  23. "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  24. "1998 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  25. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  26. "New Zealand single certifications – Bic Runga – Sway". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  27. Russell, John (28 February 1998). "New Zealand's Bic Runga 'Drives' Sony Debut to Top". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 9. p. 14. 'Sway' is the first single to be unveiled in America and will be serviced to radio this month.
  28. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 29 August 1998. p. 35.
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