The Man Who Can't Be Moved
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is the second single from Irish band the Script from their debut album The Script. The song was released on 25 July 2008. The song was used heavily in the CBS show Ghost Whisperer during its fourth season. This song served as their radio promotional single in the United States, gaining airplay on multiple radio stations. On 8 June 2009, the song was released as the second official single in the United States. The song was chosen as one of the soundtracks for the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. This song has been covered by the American a cappella group Straight No Chaser.
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" | ||||
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Single by the Script | ||||
from the album The Script | ||||
B-side | "Anybody There" | |||
Released | 25 July 2008 | |||
Genre | Pop rock[1] | |||
Length | 4:01 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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The Script singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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Music video
The video was directed by Marc Klasfeld. It was released on the band's YouTube channel and other music channels. The video is quite similar to that of the band's debut single "We Cry" in the sense that Danny is once again walking around an urban city (in this case, Downtown Los Angeles) and there are also shots of the full band together, in a parking lot this time rather than the flat in "We Cry". However, it is different because there is a more apparent plot in this video. Danny is sitting on the pavement patiently singing about how he is waiting for a girl to come and meet him. Crowds begin to gather round him and he makes the news, becoming something of a celebrity. Near the end of the video there are time lapsed scenes of days passing with Danny in the rain and snow, growing older with a larger beard but still waiting on the pavement. The video ends with a close-up on Danny, who is still waiting as the girl has yet to come to him.
Track listing
- "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" – 4:02
- "Anybody There" – 2:57
- German CD single[4]
- "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" – 4:02
- "Anybody There" – 2:57
- "Rusty Halo" (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire) – 3:45
- "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (Making of the Video) – 3:00
- Digital EP[5]
- "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" – 4:02
- "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (Music Video) – 3:59
Chart performance
On 27 July 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 30, eventually peaking at number 2, narrowly losing the top spot to Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl". On its third week on the chart, the song moved up from 72 to number 19 in New Zealand. On 3 November 2008, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" debuted at number 93 on the Australia ARIA Singles Chart, eventually peaking at number 44 and being certified Gold indicating sales of 35,000. On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it debuted on number 96, making it Script's second single to enter the chart after "Breakeven". On 19 September 2010, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 35 following the release of second studio album, Science & Faith, which reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified gold by the RIAA for shipment of 500,000 copies in the US. Although it only reached number 86 in the chart, it has received slow burning popularity in the US. On 15 April 2012, The Man Who Can't Be Moved re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 18 following the cover performance by David Julien on The Voice UK.[6]
Copyright infringement lawsuit
In May 2018, the Script filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against British singer James Arthur, claiming that Arthur's 2016 single "Say You Won't Let Go" sounded similar to "The Man Who Can't Be Moved". The lawsuit was settled in December 2018 on unknown terms, but it was announced afterwards that Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan, the writers of "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", had each officially received a co-writing credit for "Say You Won't Let Go". When the Script filed the suit, Arthur reacted negatively, calling the band "jealous" and "snakes", and saying that they would "never see a single flipping dime of mine [in requested royalties]." However, the Script did not comment on Arthur's reaction.[7]
Live performances
As a support act for U2 on the third concert of their 360° Tour at Croke Park, the band included this song in their set.[8]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
All-time charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[42] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[43] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[44] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[45] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[47] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- "The Script Score Their Fourth No. 1 Album in the U.K With 'Freedom Child'". Forbes. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- "The Man Who Can't be Moved". Amazon UK.
- "Archived copy". iTunes. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "The Man Who Can't be Moved". Amazon UK.
- "ITunes - Music - the Man Who Can't be Moved - Single by the Script". iTunes. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- David Julien performs 'The Man Who Can't Be Moved' – The Voice UK – Blind Auditions 2 – BBC One on YouTube
- EXCLUSIVE: James Arthur settles copyright lawsuit with The Script over his biggest hit – The Mirror, 23 September 2021, retrieved 1 October 2021
- "The Script Setlist". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in French). Ultratip.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Tracklisten.
- "Hits of the World – Euro Singles Sales" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 36. 6 September 2008. p. 58. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in French). Les classement single.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- "Media Forest Week 01, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
- "The Script Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Top 40 Singles.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200843 into search.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" Canciones Top 50.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Singles Top 100.
- "The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "The Script: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- "The Script Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "The Script Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- "The Script Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "The Script Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "The Script: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- "Year End Charts: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- "Best of Singles 2008". IRMA. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- "End of Year 2012" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "The UK's Top 100 most downloaded tracks of all-time revealed!". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014.
- "The UK's most downloaded rock tracks of all time revealed!". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- "Danish single certifications – The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". IFPI Danmark.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Script; 'The Man Who Can't Be Moved')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- "Italian single certifications – The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 December 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- "British single certifications – Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- "American single certifications – The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved". Recording Industry Association of America.