Faded (Alan Walker song)

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"Faded"
Alan Walker - Faded.png
Single by Alan Walker
from the album Different World
Released 3 December 2015
Format
CD single7-inch vinyldigital download
Recorded 2015
Genre Progressive house[1]
Length 3:32
Label Mer Musikk
Songwriter(s)
Alan WalkerJesper BorgenAnders FroenGunnar Greve Pettersen
Producer(s)
WalkerBorgenMood Melodies
Alan Walker singles chronology
"Force"
(2015) "Faded"
(2015) "Sing Me to Sleep"
(2016)
Music video
"Faded" on YouTube
"Faded" is a song by Norwegian record producer and DJ Alan Walker. Incorporating
vocals provided by Norwegian recording artist Iselin Solheim, the single was
originally set to be released on 25 November 2015, but was delayed to 3 December
2015. The song was highly successful, peaking in the top 10 in most of the
countries it charted in, and reached the top spot in more than 10 countries. It is
currently the 24th most viewed video on YouTube, with over 2.1 billion views as of
December 2018.

Walker debuted a live performance of "Faded" with Iselin Solheim and string support
on 27 February 2016 at X Games Oslo 2016.[2] The performance was aired live on
Norwegian television.

Contents
1 Background
2 Chart performance
3 Live performances
4 Music video
4.1 Synopsis
4.2 Filming locations
5 Acoustic version
6 Formats and track listings
7 Charts
7.1 Weekly charts
7.2 Year-end charts
8 Certifications
9 Release history
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
Background
The progressive house song "Faded" is a revamped version of Walker's past electro
house track "Fade", which was released via the record label NoCopyrightSounds in
2014.
In the creation of "Fade", Walker was inspired by the music producer Ahrix's sound
on his track "Nova" from 2013. In a couple of interviews he stated: "The melodies
and the way the track progresses are what�s so unique and its what inspired me to
create "Fade" which later on became "Faded".[3][4] The style is inspired by the
Norwegian producer K-391. The melody, I don�t know where it came from, but I try to
let my emotions and feelings have a big influence on the melodies I produce."[5]

While the structure and melody are almost identical to "Fade", "Faded" is
noticeably different for its piano intro; with uncredited vocals by Iselin Solheim
and improved production.[6]

The song is set in common time and has a tempo of 90 beats per minute. Having the
chord progression of E?m�C?-G?�D?, the song is written in the key of E? minor.

Chart performance
"Faded" became a worldwide commercial success upon its release, topping Norwegian,
Finnish and Swedish singles charts, as well as entering the top 3 in the Danish
singles chart. The song peaked at number one in more than ten countries and in the
top 5 in more than 25 countries.

It also charted in various countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,

France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also
reached number one on the Shazam Worldwide Top 100 Popular Songs in February 2016,
and by March 2016, had become the world's most Shazamed song.[7]

Its music video on YouTube reached 1 billion views on 26 March 2017, and has
received over 2.1 billion views to date, making it the 24th most viewed YouTube
video. It is also one of the 10 most liked YouTube videos with over 14.1 million
likes.[8]

On Spotify, "Faded" has over 930 million streams as of December 2018 and is one of
the 30 most streamed songs.

Live performances
Several female vocalists have performed the song Faded live with Alan Walker. In
addition to Iselin Solheim who also is the original singer on the recording, the
song has also been performed live with Ingrid Helene Havik (vocalist of
Highasakite), Tove Styrke, Alexandra Rotan, Angelina Jordan, Zara Larsson and
Torine Michelle.[9] On November 4, 2017 Alan Walker performed the song live with
Against the Current at the 2017 League of Legends World Championship closing
ceremony in Beijing.[10]

Music video

Derelict Rummu quarry utility buildings in the water at night, September 2014
A music video was released, featuring Shahab Salehi[11] as the protagonist.[12] The
video was shot in Rummu quarry in Estonia, and produced and edited by Bror Bror and
directed by Rikkard and Tobias H�ggbom, with Rikkard H�ggbom also as director of
photography.

Synopsis
The video shows a young man dressed in black bloc styled attire including a mask,
roaming with his backpack and a photograph of his home in his hand. He wanders
through abandoned areas including high rise devastated buildings and derelict
structures, an S.O.S. flare is used by him at one point to explore a dark building.
Guided by the photo, he finally locates his home, but finds it in ruins. With a
final look at his home, he removes his mask, as the video fades to black.[12][13]
Filming locations

Linnahall in November 2011.

Architects Raine Karp and Riina Altm�e
The video was filmed in Estonia,[12][14] and primarily concentrated on buildings
that were derelict, abandoned, or in disrepair.[15] Most filming locations are
interspersed across the video and do not appear in a continuous order.

Notable locations include the Linnahall building (built from limestone);[15] a

disused textile manufacture and live concert building at Pohja puiestee 7 in
Tallinn; the former Rummu prison, the Rummu limestone quarry[15] and lake alongside
the adjoining spoil tip in Vasalemma Parish; and some locations around the city of
Paldiski.[16] The last shot features the ruins of a building near the shore on
Pakri Peninsula just outside Paldiski, on the outskirts of Laok�la village, Keila
Parish (59.327337�N 24.103941�E).

Acoustic version

R1 reactor hall in a facility of KTH, Sweden (2010)

On 11 February 2016, Alan Walker published an acoustic version of the song called
"Faded (Restrung)". The song is performed with a piano and strings, with all the
EDM elements taken out. Walker wrote in a note to The FADER, that he had decided on
an alternative version of "Faded", so as "to highlight other aspects of the song;
to present it to another audience who may like Iselin [Solheim]'s voice and the
melodies, but can't stand the electronic parts of it".[17]

The music video to "Restrung" features Walker, Iselin Solheim and an 11-person
string ensemble performing in the reactor hall of the dismantled R1, Sweden's first
nuclear reactor. The cast were wearing the trademark hoodies that sport Alan
Walker's artist logo composed of his stylized initials.[18] The R1 reactor hall is
located underground at Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm.
[19]

The same team who created the video for "Faded", also made the music video for
"Restrung" � Bror Bror was the producer, Rikkard and Tobias H�ggbom directed, and
Shahab Salehi was credited as an assistant. The filming atmosphere closely
resembles that of "Faded"; according to Alan Walker's behind the scenes video, the
"Restrung" video was filmed as a continuation of sorts to the original "Faded"
video.[18][19]

Formats and track listings

Digital download[20]
No. Title Length
1. "Faded" 3:32
2. "Faded" (Instrumental) 3:35
Digital download � Restrung[21]
Digital download � Remixes EP[22]
Digital download � Remixes II[23]
Digital download � Remixes[24]
Digital download � EP[25]
Digital download � Lost Stories Remix[26]
CD single[27]
7" Vinyl[28]
Charts