"Proud" is the debut solo single by M People singer Heather Small, released on 8 May 2000. It was co-written with and produced by Peter-John Vettese, and is the title track of her debut album Proud. The song peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]
"Proud" | ||||
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Single by Heather Small | ||||
from the album Proud | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 8 May 2000[1] | |||
Length | 4:29 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Heather Small singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Proud" | Heather Small, Peter-John Vettese | 3:54 |
2. | "Don't Give Up the Fight" | Small, Danny Schogger | 3:16 |
3. | "Wonderful World" | Bob Thiele, George Weiss | 3:39 |
4. | "Proud" (music video) |
Charts
editChart (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[3] | 173 |
Croatia (HRT)[4] | 9 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] | 72 |
Germany (GfK)[6] | 92 |
Scotland (OCC)[7] | 11 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] | 83 |
UK Singles (OCC)[9] | 16 |
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[10] | 5 |
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC)[11] | 39 |
UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 33 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Downloads[13] | 3 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
In popular culture
editIn 2000, the song was used in the closing montage of the BBC's coverage of the 2000 Summer Olympics. Five years later, it was adopted as the official theme for the London 2012 Olympic bid, and was featured in a widely seen promotional video for the bid.[15] Re-released in honour of this, and due to the fact a new M People greatest hits titled Ultimate Collection, which also included two of Small's solo songs, was released the same year, the song returned to the UK Singles Chart peaking at number 33 and remaining in the Top 75 for two more weeks.[16] In 2009, almost a decade after the song was first released, it gained new popularity thanks to the hit BBC sitcom Miranda, written by and starring Miranda Hart. The song was a source of one of the show’s most frequent running gags, whereby Miranda's best friend and colleague, Stevie Sutton (played by Sarah Hadland) would sing the song's chorus in the style of Small's voice as a motivational chant, whilst holding a cardboard cutout of Small on a wooden stick. Small herself subsequently appeared in a special sketch with the Miranda cast for Comic Relief in 2011 for Red Nose Day, and also sung the song at the climax of the show’s last ever episode, "The Final Curtain", aired on New Year's Day in 2015.
References
edit- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting May 8, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 May 2000. p. 23. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "UK Top 40 Database". Retrieved 16 September 2007.
- ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2015-06-05". Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015 – via Imgur.
- ^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 10 June 2000. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 22. 27 May 2000. p. 15. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Heather Small – Proud" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Heather Small – Proud". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Heather Small". Official Charts. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Heather Small – Proud". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Celebrations across the UK as countdown to 2012 begins". London 2012. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
- ^ "UK Top 40 Database".