Invisible (D-Side song)

"Invisible" is a song by Irish boy band D-Side, released as the third single (second in the United Kingdom)[1] from their first studio album, Stronger Together (2003). The song was written and produced by Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson, and Chris Braide. Released on 14 July 2003, the song became a top-10 hit in Ireland and the United Kingdom, peaking at number five in the former country and number seven in the latter. The same year, American Idol second two runner-up Clay Aiken covered the song and reached number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with his rendition. The song has been frequently targeted by music critics for its unsettling lyrical content, with several calling the track a "stalkers' anthem".

"Invisible"
Single by D-Side
from the album Stronger Together
B-side
  • "Fallen for You"
  • "Bring You Out"
Released14 July 2003 (2003-07-14)
GenrePop[1]
Length3:41
Label
  • WEA
  • Blacklist
  • Edel
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Desmond Child
  • Andreas Carlsson
  • Chris Braide
D-Side singles chronology
"Speechless"
(2003)		 "Invisible"
(2003)		 "Real World"
(2003)
Audio
"Invisible" on YouTube

Release and reception

D-Side's version of "Invisible" was released on 14 July 2003.[2] Can't Stop the Pop called it a "meticulously crafted" track, praising its composition, the band's vocals, and its airplay appeal, but criticised the lyrical content for being too "creepy", noting that the chorus has aged poorly.[1] Commercially, "Invisible" became the group's third consecutive top-10 hit in their home country, debuting and peaking at number five on the Irish Singles Chart on 17 July 2003.[3][4] At the end of 2003, the song was placed at number 73 on Ireland's year-end chart.[5] On 20 July, the single appeared at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, becoming D-Side's highest-charting single in the UK and staying in the top 100 for six weeks.[6]

Track listings

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the UK CD1 liner notes.[7]

Charts

Clay Aiken version
"Invisible"
Single by Clay Aiken
from the album Measure of a Man
B-side"Measure of a Man"[15]
Released29 September 2003 (2003-09-29)
Recorded2003
Studio
  • The Gentlemen's Club, The Gallery (Miami, Florida)
  • Storm (Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Red Door (St. Davids, Pennsylvania)
  • Master Mix (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Length4:03
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Desmond Child
Clay Aiken singles chronology
"Bridge over Troubled Water" / "This Is the Night"
(2003)		 "Invisible"
(2003)		 "The Way" / "Solitaire"
(2004)
Music video
"Invisible" on YouTube

After finishing as runner-up to the second season of American Idol, Clay Aiken covered the song for his debut studio album, Measure of a Man, and released it as the album's lead single. This version was produced by Child only and contains an extended bridge.[1] Released two months after D-Side's version, Aiken's cover charted within the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 37 in January 2004. It also charted in New Zealand, reaching number 47 in December 2003.

Background and release

Aiken recorded his vocals before D-Side had released their version in the UK. He first went to Child's studio in Miami, when American Idol season two winner Ruben Studdard chided Aiken for wanting to record in a dark studio and not explore the city. After recording the rest of the demo in Minneapolis, Aiken and his coworkers discovered that D-Side had released their version, so they discussed whether to issue the song in the UK. The team decided that the song was too good to defer, and they eventually released the song in the United States on 29 September 2003.[16][17] In an interview with Billboard, Aiken stated that he wanted to amend the track's lyrics, but he believed that the content could have been much worse and decided to tone down the disturbing message with the video, calling the lyrical content "nasty" and encouraging people not to partake in stalking.[16]

Critical reception

In 2004, Blender magazine ranked Aiken's version of "Invisible" at number 11 on their list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever", calling it a "disturbing voyeur fantasy" and noting that its worst lyric is "I wish you could touch me with the colors of your life".[18] Matt Keohan of online lifestyle publication BroBible called the song the "creepiest song ever made", referring to it as "The Stalkers' Anthem".[19] The Baltimore Sun also called the track a "stalker anthem".[20] In 2020, Return of Rock ranked the song as Aiken's best, calling his voice "beautiful".[21]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Invisible" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late November 2003.[22] The song remained on the Hot 100 for 20 issues, reaching its peak of number 37 during its ninth week on the chart.[23] The song entered the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary ranking, peaking at number eight, and charted with the top 30 of the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 listings.[24][25][26] "Invisible" was also released in New Zealand, where "Bridge over Troubled Water" / "This Is the Night" had topped the chart. It appeared on the country's RIANZ Singles Chart for two nonconsecutive weeks in December 2003, peaking at number 47 on both occasions.[27]

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Measure of a Man album booklet.[28]

Studios

Personnel

Charts
Chart (2003–2004) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 47
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 37
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[24] 8
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[25] 25
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 14

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[29] Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 29 September 2003
RCA [17]
1 November 2003 Digital download [29]
16 December 2003 7-inch vinyl [27]

References
  1. "D-Side – Invisible". Can't Stop the Pop. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  2. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 12 July 2003. p. 31.
  3. "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 24 July 2003". GfK Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – D-Side". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  5. "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. "D Side: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  7. Invisible (UK CD1 liner notes). D-Side. WEA, Blacklist, Edel. 2003. WEA369CD1, 5046675392.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Invisible (European CD1 liner notes). D-Side. Edel. 2003. 0150485ERE.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Invisible (UK CD2 liner notes). D-Side. WEA, Blacklist, Edel. 2003. WEA369CD2, 5046675402.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Invisible (UK cassette single sleeve). D-Side. WEA, Blacklist, Edel. 2003. WEA369C, 5046675414.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Invisible (European CD2 liner notes). D-Side. Edel. 2003. 0150486ERE.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Invisible (Japanese CD single liner notes). D-Side. Avex Trax. 2003. AVCD-30609.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 22, no. 32. 2 August 2003. p. 7.
  14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  15. Invisible (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Clay Aiken. RCA Records. 2003. 82876-58520-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Aiken, Clay (4 October 2003). "Clay Aiken 'Measures' Up on RCA Debut". Billboard (Interview). Interviewed by Fred Bronson. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  17. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1523. 26 September 2003. p. 18.
  18. Aizlewood, John; Collis, Clark; Kandell, Steve; Mitchell, Ben; Power, Tony; Slaughter, James; Tannenbaum, Rob; Udovitch, Mim; Vienet, Rene; Weiner, Jonah (May 2004). "Run for Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever!". Blender. Archived from the original on 8 May 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  19. Keohan, Matt (18 January 2018). "Should Clay Aiken Be Thrown in Jail for His 2003 Hit 'Invisible,' Aka the Creepiest Song Ever Created?–A Legal Analysis". BroBible. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  20. Ollison, Rashod D. (24 July 2004). "Clay Aiken Is a School Teacher Distracted by Fame". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  21. "Clay Aiken Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  22. "The Hot 100". Billboard. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  23. "Clay Aiken Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  24. "Clay Aiken Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  25. "Clay Aiken Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  26. "Clay Aiken Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  27. "Clay Aiken – Invisible". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  28. Measure of a Man (US CD album booklet). Clay Aiken. RCA Records. 2003. 82876-58520-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. "American single certifications – Clay Aiken – Invisible". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
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