Rise Like a Phoenix

"Rise Like a Phoenix"
Single by Conchita Wurst
from the album Conchita
Released	18 March 2014
Format	CD single, Digital download
Recorded	2013
Genre	Operatic pop pop
Length	3:01
Label	ORF-Enterprise
Writer(s)	Charlie Mason Joey Patulka Ali Zuckowski Julian Maas
Conchita Wurst singles chronology
"That's What I Am" (2012) "Rise Like a Phoenix" (2014) "Heroes" (2014)
"Rise Like a Phoenix" Conchita Wurst presenting her song. Eurovision Song Contest 2014 entry Country Austria Artist(s) Thomas Neuwirth As Conchita Wurst Language English Composer(s) Charlie Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, Julian Maas Finals performance Semi-final result 1st Semi-final points 169 Final result 1st Final points 290 Appearance chronology ◄ "Shine" (2013)    "I Am Yours" (2015) ►

"Rise Like a Phoenix" is a pop song performed by Austrian singer Conchita Wurst, and the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. Selected to represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark,^[1] its official release on 18 March 2014 was followed on 21 March by Conchita's first live TV performance of the song, on the ORF show Dancing Stars.^[2][3] "Rise Like a Phoenix" was Austria's second winning entry in the competition, their first being in 1966.

Background

Composer Ali Zuckowski had originally composed the song for another project. Every major record label in Austria had refused to produce "Rise Like a Phoenix". A request came from the Austrian Eurovision team about possible contributions, and he immediately thought of this song, reasoning "I knew that with this song still something great was going to happen". The song was entered into the ORF internal selection process and was ultimately chosen to represent the country.^[4]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Rise Like a Phoenix" was first released onto YouTube on 18 March 2014 at a total length of three minutes and five seconds.^[5]

Release

The song was released by the ORF on 18 March 2014. The accompanying music video was premiered on YouTube on the same day, while the song was offered on the ORF website for download.^[4]

Critical reception

Stern gave the song a rating of 4 out of 5. 1966 Austrian winner Udo Jürgens said the song was "a well-composed song with a beautiful musical bow", and as the lyrics suggest, "rises from the ashes".^[4]

Track listing

Digital download[6]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Rise Like a Phoenix"	3:01

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 19 Denmark (Tracklisten)[10] 6 Finland Download (Suomen virallinen latauslista)[11] 2 France (SNEP)[12] 39 Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 5 Hungary (Single Top 40)[14] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 10 Italy (FIMI)[16] 26 Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[17] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 3 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[19] 18 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[20] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 27 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 2 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 17 UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[24] 1

Chart (2015) Peak position Iceland (Icelandic Singles Chart)[25] 41 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Austria (IFPI Austria)[26] Platinum 30,000^* ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Austria	18 March 2014[6]	Digital download	ORF-Enterprise
Europe
United States
United Kingdom	11 May 2014[27]

Trivia

The style of "Rise Like a Phoenix" is very similar to many James Bond film theme songs; spoof videos have been created on YouTube and many have speculated about the song becoming the next James Bond theme.^[28]

See also

• Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014

References

1. "Conchita Wurst präsentiert Song-Contest-Titel". ORF. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
2. "Listen: Conchita Wurst will rise like a phoenix in Copenhagen". wiwibloggs.com. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
3. "Conchita Wurst wows with live performance of 'Rise like a Phoenix'". wiwibloggs.com. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
5. Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix (Austria) 2014 Eurovision Song Contest – YouTube
6. iTunes - Music - Rise Like a Phoenix - Single by Conchita Wurst
7. "Austriancharts.at – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
8. "Ultratop.be – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
9. "Ultratop.be – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" (in French). Ultratop 50.
10. "Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten.
11. "Conchita Wurst: Rise Like A Phoenix" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
12. "Lescharts.com – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" (in French). Les classement single.
13. "Musicline.de – Conchita Wurst Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
14. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
15. "Chart Track: Week 20, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
16. "FIMI – Classifiche – Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 20 del 2014". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian).
17. "Luxembourg Digital Songs – May 31, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
19. "Archive Chart: 2014-05-24". Scottish Singles Top 40.
20. "Spanishcharts.com – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" Canciones Top 50.
21. "Swedishcharts.com – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix". Singles Top 100.
22. "Swisscharts.com – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix". Swiss Singles Chart.
23. "Archive Chart: 2014-05-24" UK Singles Chart.
24. "Archive Chart: 2014-05-24" UK Indie Chart.
25. "Netlistinn viku 21, 2015". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
26. "Austrian single certifications – Conchita Wurst – Rise Like A Phoenix" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 1 November 2014. Enter Conchita Wurst in the field Interpret. Enter Rise Like A Phoenix in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
27. "Rise Like a Phoenix by Conchita Wurst". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 12 May 2014.

External links

• Text and translation of the song
• "Rise Like a Phoenix" Official music video on YouTube