"Closer to the Edge"
Single by Thirty Seconds to Mars
from the album This Is War
ReleasedAugust 20, 2010 (2010-08-20)[1]
Recorded
  • 2008–2009
  • The International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound
  • (Los Angeles, California)
GenreProgressive rock
Length
  • 4:15 (radio edit)
  • 4:34 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Jared Leto
Producer(s)
  • Flood
  • Thirty Seconds to Mars
Thirty Seconds to Mars singles chronology
"This Is War"
(2010) 		"Closer to the Edge"
(2010) 		"Hurricane 2.0"
(2010)
Music video
"Closer To The Edge" on YouTube

"Closer to the Edge" is a song written by Jared Leto and performed by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. Produced by the band, co-produced by Flood, the track is the seventh track and the third single from their third studio album This Is War. It was released in the US on August 20, 2010.[2]

Background

Tomo Miličević, the former lead guitarist of 30 Seconds to Mars, said about the song, "A really interesting track. We call it our 'pop' song, but when you really listen to it, you realize that it has a lot of rock glory in it. It's a song that fools you, and I like that. Jared really pushed himself as a songwriter here in that he was trying to reach for a new way of presenting music that was very accessible but not spoon-fed it to the audience. He has a lot of respect for the fans in that way. The guy's a trip - very inspiring to be around and work with."[3]

Music video

The music video premiered on June 9, 2010, on the band's YouTube account.[4] The video was directed by Jared Leto as "Bartholomew Cubbins".[5] The video contains concert footage from about 30 performances[6] during their Into the Wild Tour, which commenced on February 19, 2010, and ran till December 18, 2010. The six-minute-long video shows each location played at until a certain date, fan commentary and some backstage footage. "Closer to the Edge" is not the band's first live video, being preceded by "Edge of the Earth".

Critical reception

The video was received with highly positive reviews by critics. Australia's RadarRadio referred to the video as "epic".[7] UK rock music website RockLouder also called the video "lovely" and "worth the watch".[8]

About.com's Grierson says "'Closer to the Edge' emphasize atmospheric flourishes over melodic assurance."[9]

Commercial performance

"Closer to the Edge" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on July 11, 2010, at number 90 before climbing to number 82 the following week. On July 18, 2010, the single rose a further four places to number 78. The single also found success on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, where it climbed until peaking at number 1 on July 11, 2010, knocking The Pretty Reckless' "Make Me Wanna Die" off its seven-week reign. The single also peaked at number 88 on the Dutch Single Top 100. It is also their highest charted single in Australia, peaking at number 13, becoming platinum. It debuted at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated May 21, 2011,[10] more than two months after it dropped off of the Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts. The song impacted radio on August 31, 2010.[11] It became the band's first single to be played on adult contemporary radio, with the first stations added being Detroit's WNIC (which changed formats to adult top 40 in August 2011) during Spring 2011 and WLER-FM in Butler/Pittsburgh.

Track listings

All tracks are written by Jared Leto

CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Closer to the Edge" (radio edit)4:13
2."Closer to the Edge" (album version)4:32
Total length:8:45

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[33] Platinum 70,000^
Germany (BVMI)[34] Gold 150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Gold 7,500*
Portugal (AFP)[36] Platinum 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Closer to the Edge - EP by 30 Seconds to Mars". iTunes. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars New Single, 'This Is War' Claims The #1 Spot At Alternative Radio" (Press release). Virgin Records America. 2010-07-19. Archived from the original on 2006-08-28. Their new single 'Closer To The Edge' is already climbing the airplay charts across Europe and will impact U.S. radio in August.
  3. ^ Bosso, Joe (2009-12-02). "30 Seconds To Mars: exclusive track-by-track album preview :Jared Leto and band declare This Is War". Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  4. ^ 30 Seconds to Mars "Closer to the Edge" video premiere
  5. ^ Leto, Jared (2010-06-11). "Closer to the Edge: The Film". Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
  6. ^ "Closer to the Edge: de video". 2010-06-13. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  7. ^ "30 Seconds to Mars Closer to the Edge music video". Radar (radio). Austereo. 2010-06-22. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  8. ^ "Jared and crew unveil their brand new video". 2010-06-15. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  9. ^ Grierson, Tim (2009-12-11). "30 Seconds to Mars Swing for the Fences on Ambitious Third Album". Archived from the original on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  10. ^ "US Singles Top 100 (May 21, 2011)". αCharts.us. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  11. ^ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. August 24, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  12. ^ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  13. ^ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "Äänet ajalle 10:00 15.07.2010 – 10:00 22.07.2010, lista #388" (in Finnish). YLE. Retrieved September 1, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  17. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars – Closer to the Edge". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. August 15, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201033 into search. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars – Closer to the Edge". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  24. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  25. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  26. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  27. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  28. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  29. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  30. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  32. ^ "Year End Charts: Alternative Airplay (2010)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  33. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  34. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Thirty Seconds to Mars; 'Closer to the Edge')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  35. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-31. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  36. ^ "Top 50 Nacional Português". Billboard Brasil. BPP Promoções e Publicações Ltda. (2): 82. October 2010.
  37. ^ "British single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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