"Rewrite the Stars" is a song performed by Zac Efron and Zendaya for the film The Greatest Showman (2017). It was released on November 17, 2017 by Atlantic Records as a promotional single from The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.[1][2][3] In Australia, "Rewrite the Stars" was released to radio on July 20, 2018.[4][5] The song sees Efron's character, Phillip, serenading Zendaya's character, Anne, trying to convince her that they're meant to be together, despite their different races.[6]
| "Rewrite the Stars" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Zac Efron and Zendaya | ||||
| from the album The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
| Released | July 20, 2018 | |||
| Length | 3:37 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Benj Pasek and Justin Paul | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Zac Efron singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Zendaya singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Rewrite the Stars" on YouTube | ||||
Composition
According to sheet music published at Sheetmusicdirect.com, "Rewrite the Stars" is a moderately fast tempo of 125 beats per minute. Written in common time, the song is in the key of B♭ major. Throughout the track, Efron's vocal range spans from the low note of E♭3 to the high note of B♭4, and Zendaya's vocal range spans from the low note of E♭3 to the high note of E♭5.[7] "Rewrite the Stars" had many melodic inspirations, most notably being "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry, produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut.
Reception
Sam Damshenas from GayTimes called the song a "stunning duet" with perfectly fitting romance,[6] and Michael Ordoña from the Los Angeles Times called the song "a standout duet" and "a signature karaoke duet".[8] However, Emily Yoshida from Vulture described the song as a "Jason Derulo castoff circa 2012."[9]
Accolades
| Award | Date | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen Choice Awards | August 12, 2018 | Choice Music: Collaboration | Won | [10] |
Charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[32] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[33] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[34] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[35] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[36] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[37] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[38] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[39] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[41] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[42] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Version | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | November 17, 2017 | Atlantic | Promotional single | [1][2][3] | |
| Australia | July 20, 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Atlantic | Radio single | [4][5] |
Reimagined version
| "Rewrite the Stars" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Anne-Marie and James Arthur | ||||
| from the album The Greatest Showman: Reimagined | ||||
| Released | November 16, 2018 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Benj Pasek and Justin Paul | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Anne-Marie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| James Arthur singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Rewrite the Stars (Reimagined version") on YouTube | ||||
On November 16, 2018, The Greatest Showman: Reimagined was released, which features a cover of "Rewrite the Stars" by English singers James Arthur and Anne-Marie as a single. The pair performed the song on the fifteenth season of British The X Factor on December 1 and the fifteenth season of American The Voice on December 4.[43][44] It was released to Australian radio,[45] and a remix by Wideboys was released on December 14.[46]
Track listing
- Remix[46]
- "Rewrite the Stars" (Wideboys Hands in the Air remix) – 3:36
Charts
| Chart (2018–19) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[47] | 67 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[48] | 7 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[49] | 19 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[50] | 85 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[51] | 100 |
| Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[52] | 99 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40)[53] | 27 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[54] | 12 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55] | 10 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] | 24 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[57] | 5 |
| Portugal (AFP)[58] | 61 |
| Portugal Airplay (AFP)[59] | 1 |
| Romania (Airplay 100)[60] | 12 |
| Scotland (OCC)[61] | 4 |
| Singapore (RIAS)[62] | 15 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[63] | 79 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[64] | 27 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[65] | 44 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[66] | 7 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[67] | 24 |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Indonesia (Billboard)[68] | 13 |
| Malaysia International (RIM)[69] | 20 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2019) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[70] | 37 |
| Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[71] | 87 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[72] | 74 |
| Portugal (AFP)[73] | 118 |
| Romania (Airplay 100)[74] | 31 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[75] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[76] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[77] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[78] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[79] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[80] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||