Bigger Than the Whole Sky

"Bigger Than the Whole Sky" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift as a bonus track of her tenth studio album, Midnights, released on October 21, 2022. As such, it is the 15th track on the extended (3am Edition) of the album, surprise-released three hours after the standard edition.[4]

"Bigger Than the Whole Sky"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Midnights[note 1]
ReleasedOctober 21, 2022 (2022-10-21)
Genre
Length3:38
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"Bigger Than the Whole Sky" on YouTube

Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff,[5] "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" is a minimal ambient ballad with ambiguous lyrics expressing grief and heartache over a person the narrator has never met, leading some critics and listeners to believe the song is about miscarriage. Upon release of Midnights, the song charted in the top 30 region in Canada, the Philippines, and the United States.

Background

On August 28, 2022, Taylor Swift announced her tenth studio album, Midnights, set for release on October 21, 2022. The track-list was not immediately revealed.[6] Jack Antonoff, a longtime collaborator of Swift who had worked with her since her fifth studio album 1989 (2014), was confirmed as a producer on Midnights by a video posted to Swift's Instagram account on September 16, 2022, titled "The making of Midnights."

On October 21, 2022, Midnights was released at 12:00 AM EDT. Three hours later, at 3:00 AM EDT, the Midnights (3am Edition) was released, containing "Bigger Than the Whole Sky".[7] On May 26, 2023, the song was included on both the Til Dawn and Late Night editions of the album.[8][9]

Composition and lyrics

The song is about heartache after a significant event.[11][12] Although the song's meaning is ambiguous,[10] some listeners have felt a connection to in relation to miscarriages that they have experienced,[13][14] with many using the song to share stories of their miscarriages on TikTok and other social media platforms.[15][16] Some listeners have compared the song with Swift's single, "Ronan".[17]

The first verse incorporates lyrics about being "sick with sadness".[10] The chorus alludes to grieving over someone whom Swift never met.[10] The second verse is about guilt.[10] The second verse also mentions religion as possibly playing a part in the loss.[11] In the song, Swift uses a "breathy upper register" to sing the word, "goodbye."[18] Staff writer Shirley Li of The Atlantic described the song as elegiac.[18]

Reception

Upon the release of the 3am Edition, all 20 tracks of the album debuted in the top 45 of the US Billboard Hot 100; "Bigger Than The Whole Sky" was at number 21.[19] On the Global 200, the track reached number 22.[20] It peaked on national record charts, at number 19 on the Philippines Songs chart,[21] at number 20 on the Canadian Hot 100,[22] at number 31 on Hungary's Single Top 40 chart,[23] at number 60 on the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100,[24] and number 68 on Portugal's Top 100 Singles chart.[25]

Charts
Chart performance for "Bigger Than the Whole Sky"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] 20
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 22
Greece International (IFPI)[26] 65
Hungary (Single Top 40)[23] 31
Philippines (Billboard)[21] 19
Portugal (AFP)[25] 68
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 13
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[28] 35
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[29] 9
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[30] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[31] 21
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[24] 60

Certifications
Certifications for "Bigger Than the Whole Sky"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Gold 35,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes
  1. "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" is present on the 3am, Til Dawn and Late Night editions of Midnights.[1][2][3]

References
  1. "Midnights (3am Edition) by Taylor Swift". Apple Music. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  2. Swift, Taylor (May 26, 2023). "Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition)". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  3. Midnights (The Late Night Edition) (CD liner notes). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2023. 2455761781.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. Brandle, Lars (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Chaotic Surprise' Is 'Midnights (3am Edition)', Featuring 7 Extra Tracks". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  5. Swift, Taylor (October 21, 2022). "Credits / Midnights (3am Edition)". Tidal. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  6. Martoccio, Angie (August 29, 2022). "Taylor Swift Announces New Album 'Midnights': 'A Journey Through Terrors and Sweet Dreams'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  7. Mier, Tomás (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift Surprises Fans With 'Midnights 3 A.M. Edition' Featuring 7 Additional Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  8. Lonsdale, John (May 26, 2023). "From 'Til Dawn' to '3 a.m.,' Here's Where to Buy Every Edition of Taylor Swift's Midnights Online". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  9. "Midnights (The Late Night Edition) Digital Album". Taylor Swift Official Store. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  10. Watts, Marina (October 25, 2022). "People Who Have Had Miscarriages Are Relating To This Taylor Swift Song". Bustle. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  11. Durney, Ellen. "Taylor Released A Song Which Many Think Is About Miscarriage And Fans Are Sharing Their Own Experiences". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  12. Stein, Michelle (October 21, 2022). "Swifties Have a Heartbreaking Theory About the Meaning of "Bigger Than the Whole Sky"". Distractify. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  13. Bologna, Caroline (October 22, 2022). "A New Taylor Swift Song Is Resonating With Those Who've Had Miscarriages". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  14. Campoamor, Danielle (October 21, 2022). "A new Taylor Swift song is speaking powerfully to people who have had a miscarriage". TODAY Parents. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.,
  15. Hampson, Laura (October 27, 2022). "Taylor Swift song praised by people who have suffered miscarriages". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  16. Chelosky, Danielle (October 26, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Bigger Than The Whole Sky' Aids Mothers Who Had Miscarriage". UPROXX. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  17. Gibson, Kelsie (October 26, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Bigger Than the Whole Sky' Song Is Resonating with Fans". People. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  18. Li, Shirley (November 2, 2022). "Taylor Swift's Best New Songs Aren't Technically on Midnights". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  19. Zellner, Xander (October 31, 2022). "Taylor Swift Charts All 20 Songs From 'Midnights' on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  20. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  21. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  22. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  23. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  24. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  25. "Taylor Swift – Bigger Than the Whole Sky". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  26. "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  27. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 43". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  28. "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  29. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  30. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  31. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  32. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
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