So Am I (Ava Max song)

"So Am I" is a song by American singer Ava Max. It was released as a single on March 7, 2019 through Atlantic Records as the second single from her upcoming debut studio album Heaven & Hell (2020). The song was co-written by Max, Charlie Puth, Maria Smith, Victor Thell, Gigi Grombacher, Roland Spreckley, and Cirkut, the latter whom also handled production. It is an electropop song which discusses the importance of self-love, being an outcast and not fitting into society. A remixed version of the song featuring South Korean boy band NCT 127 was released on July 3, 2019, in which new rap verses are performed in English and Korean. "So Am I" was generally praised by critics for being a catchy and empowering anthem.

"So Am I"
Single by Ava Max
from the album Heaven & Hell
B-side"Sweet but Psycho"
ReleasedMarch 7, 2019 (2019-03-07)
GenreElectropop
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Cirkut
Ava Max singles chronology
"Make Up"
(2018)		 "So Am I"
(2019)		 "Slow Dance"
(2019)
Alternative cover
NCT 127 remix cover
NCT 127 singles chronology
"Superhuman"
(2019)		 "So Am I"
(2019)		 "Highway to Heaven"
(2019)
Music video
"So Am I" on YouTube

The song peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 14 on the ARIA Charts in Australia, while also charting at number 5 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It was certified double platinum in Poland and platinum in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Switzerland, while also receiving a gold certification in seven countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. The music video was released on March 7, 2019, and directed by Isaac Rentz. It showcases Max performing in a school with students, which was used to represent the theme of bullying.

Background and composition

Ava Max teased the release of "So Am I" on Twitter for several weeks,[1][2] encouraging fans to share pictures of themselves to "show the world what makes you different" using the hashtag #SoAmI.[3] The song was released for digital download and streaming on March 7, 2019,[4] and on contemporary radio stations in the United States on June 25, 2019.[5] It was co-written by Max, Charlie Puth, Maria Smith, Victor Thell, Gigi Grombacher, Roland Spreckley, and Cirkut, who also handled production.[6]

A remix featuring South Korean boy band NCT 127 was announced by Max on July 2, 2019 with the official cover art, which resembled a high school yearbook. It was released on July 3, 2019.[7] Mark and Taeyong perform new life-affirming rap verses in English and Korean halfway through the song before Jaehyun accompanies Max during the chorus. Both Jaehyun and Doyoung also perform backing vocals throughout the remix.[8][9]

"So Am I" is an electropop song,[4] described as an "inspirational, self-acceptance anthem".[8] The song's tempo is 130 BPM and is played in F♯ major.[10] The song was recorded in pieces over several days.[11] According to Max, the lyrics are about "loving yourself, being different, being an outcast and not fitting in the format that society wants to put us in".[12]

Critical reception

Michael Silva of Billboard described the song as a "bouncy, pop-heavy anthem" with lyrics about "navigating your adolescent years".[12] Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal described her vocals as "crisp, soothing and expressive" and praised the song's production which has "infectious hooks and a catchy beat to it that will inspire listeners to get up and dance along". He concluded by comparing the song's "message of hope and optimism" to her 2018 single "Sweet but Psycho".[13]

Writing about the song's remix, Madeline Roth of MTV News praised the guest appearance of NCT 127, stating that "they lend more empowering, feel-good vibes with a fresh verse about appreciating someone who owns their originality."[14]

Commercial performance

"So Am I" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 50 on March 21, 2019, peaking at number 13 on April 26, 2019 after spending 16 weeks on the chart.[15][16] It was eventually certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling over 400,000 units.[17] The track topped the Polish Airplay Top 100 chart,[18] where it received a double platinum certification on July 22, 2020.[19] The song peaked at number two in Norway, where it charted for 18 weeks.[20] "So Am I" charted at number five in Scotland, spending 16 total weeks on the chart.[21] In Finland, it bowed at number eight.[22] "So Am I" was certified platinum in Switzerland and Denmark, where it also peaked in the top 20.[23][24]

"So Am I" reached number five on the US Dance Club Songs issue dated July 6, 2019.[25] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 26, 2020, for selling over 500,000 units.[26] In Canada, "So Am I" received a platinum certification by Music Canada (MC) for selling over 80,000 units.[27] In Australia, the single debuted on the ARIA Charts on April 7, 2019 at number 29. It reached number 14 on May 5, 2019, and spent 13 weeks on the chart.[28] It was eventually certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling over 70,000 units.[29]

Music video

Background

The Isaac Rentz-directed music video was simultaneously released with the song and was uploaded on YouTube on March 7, 2019.[12] Max described the video's setting: "I actually filmed it in a school because of the bullying that goes on. It starts in school. That’s where a lot of people get hurt from it all. I wanted the storyline to focus on all the outcasts and all that diversity to show that we are all one in unity. It’s okay to be different. In general, I think society wants to put us in a format and I don’t think we should be fitting into it. We should do our own thing."[30] She also acknowledged that she was bullied during the seventh grade, consequently retaliating against the bully and was kicked out.[31] As of January 2020, the video has over 128 million views on YouTube.[32]

A second fanmade music video was also released on June 12, 2019, which consisted of 15 German fans who were personally selected by Max from the #SoAmIFanVideo challenge. The video was filmed inside YouTube Space Berlin.[33][34]

Synopsis
The music video's school setting was deliberately chosen to represent the theme of bullying,[30] which Max experienced in her childhood.[31]

The video begins with Max walking down a school corridor, wearing a black & red striped shirt, along with a black dress. As she opens a locker, she begins singing while beginning to walk down the hallway, while students begin entering their designated classrooms. She performs a dance alongside two girls wearing Catholic school uniform, before performing a choreographed dance routine in the playground with 6 other school students while wearing a white shirt. Various shots of students are interspersed throughout the routine.

Max is then shown sitting on top of the teacher's desk, as the word 'Detention' is written on the blackboard. The students stare at each other while she dances around them. In the next segment, Max performs a dance in a black blazer on top of a red shirt inside a football stadium with multiple students. She is then seen wearing red Beats by Dre headphones while standing next to a wall. The final segment shows Max walking onto the field with the students, as they socialize with each other while sitting down. She performs a belt on the field, as the students stand in a horizontal line, holding up their right hand under their mouth with the words 'So Am I' written in black ink. The video ends with Max placing her right hand over her forehead at the end of the line as she falls backwards.

Live performances

"So Am I" was performed live on several occasions, including on Sunrise,[35] Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[36] The Voice van Vlaanderen[37] and Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2019[38][39]

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] Platinum 70,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[107] Gold 15,000*
Belgium (BEA)[108] Gold 20,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[109] Platinum 40,000
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[24] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[110] Gold 100,000
Germany (BVMI)[111] Gold 200,000
Poland (ZPAV)[19] 2× Platinum 40,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[23] Platinum 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 500,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various March 7, 2019
Atlantic [4]
United States June 25, 2019 Contemporary hit radio [5]

Notes
  1. Martin Sue is credited as a writer on streaming services but ASCAP lists Puth as a writer instead.[50]
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