Cannonball (Damien Rice song)

In Ireland the single was issued as a CD maxi single in May 2002 on the artist's own label Damien Rice Music.^[1] It contained a remixed version of the track by Paul "P-Dub" Walton and Mark "Spike" Stent, plus a demo, a live track and an instrumental of the A-side.^[2] Unlike the album version, the single mix includes drums.

In Britain the single was released in October 2003 by 14th Floor Records, on a standard CD single and Enhanced CD. The Enhanced CD featured an exclusive B-side, "Moody Monday", and the music video for "Cannonball". It was packaged in a gatefold card sleeve with a poster.^[3] The second CD contained live versions of "Cannonball", "Amie" and "The Blower's Daughter", recorded live at Union Chapel.^[4] This release included four postcards. A limited edition one-track 7" single was also pressed.^[3]

The single was re-released on 5 July 2004, with an additional DVD single containing two remixes and a filmed interview and a biography, rising to #19 on its re-release.

The single versions (of which there are two, with slightly differing production) are markedly different from the original version found on the album, with background production and a quicker vocal.

The song was originally released on 17 May 2002 and did not chart at the time.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, it reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart on the chart of 1 November 2003, slipping back to 57 the following week for a total run of just 2 weeks in the charts.^{[citation needed]}

On its re-release in 2004, the song had limited success, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 19 on 17 July 2004 and then slipping back in the charts. It had a total run of seven weeks in the charts that year. It also peaked at number 21 on the Irish Singles Chart.^{[citation needed]}

The song was rereleased in 2011 reaching number 13 on 22 September 2011 (week 38) in Irish Singles Chart.^[5] Due to an impressive and popular X Factor audition from John Adams, singing an acoustic cover in the first round of 2011 auditions, Cannonball reentered the British Singles Chart on 24 September 2011 at number 39, and rising to 9 in the week of 1 October 2011^[5] before slipping back in the charts.

As of December 2011, the song has sold 191,696 copies in the UK.^[6]

Irish CD

1. "Cannonball" (Single Version)
2. "Lonelily" (Original Demo)
3. "Woman Like a Man" (Live Unplugged)
4. "Cannonball" (Instrumental Album Version)

British CD

1. "Cannonball" (live)
2. "Amie" (live)
3. "The Blower's Daughter" (live)

British Enhanced CD

1. "Cannonball" (Radio Remix)
2. "Moody Monday"
3. "Cannonball" (Video)

Quick Facts Single by Little Mix, Released ...

"Cannonball"
Single by Little Mix
Released	11 December 2011 (2011-12-11)
Recorded	December 2011
Length	3:25
Label	Syco Sony
Songwriter(s)	Damien Rice
Producer(s)	Richard "Biff" Stannard Ash Howes Steve Mac
Little Mix singles chronology
"Cannonball" (2011) "Wings" (2012)

Close

The song was chosen as the winner's single for the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011. It was then released by girl group and X Factor champions Little Mix (formerly known as Rhythmix) on 11 December 2011, through Syco Music.^[13] It was later included on the expanded edition of Little Mix's debut album DNA (2012).

"Cannonball" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart; becoming the fastest-selling single of 2011 in the UK.^[14][1] By the end of the year, it had sold over 390,000 copies. The song also reached number one in Scotland and Ireland; later becoming the Christmas number one single of that year.^[2][4]

Rice had no involvement with the production of the Little Mix cover of "Cannonball".^[15] After the X-Factor release, he proceeded to donate money to Haiti to "cleanse myself of any possible X Factor money that could come in".^[16] As of 2022, "Cannoball" had sold over 561,000 copies in the UK and has been certified gold in the country and in Ireland.^[6] It also ranks as the ninth best-selling X Factor winner's single.^[17]