"Scars to Your Beautiful"
DJ
Single by Alessia Cara
from the album Know-It-All
ReleasedNovember 13, 2015 (streaming)
July 26, 2016 (airplay)
Recorded2015
Genre
Length3:50
LabelDef Jam
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Alessia Cara singles chronology
"Wild"
(2016)		 "Scars to Your Beautiful"
(2015)		 "How Far I'll Go"
(2016)
Music video
"Scars to Your Beautiful" on YouTube

"Scars to Your Beautiful" is a song recorded by Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara. Def Jam Recordings and Universal Music Group serviced it to contemporary hit radio on July 26, 2016, as the third single from her debut studio album Know-It-All (2015) on November 13, 2015. A pop ballad, the song was written by Cara along with its producers Pop & Oak, Sebastian Kole, and DJ Frank E.

In the United States, "Scars to Your Beautiful" peaked at number eight. It marked Cara's second top-ten single on US Billboard Hot 100.[1]

Background

Cara felt motivated to make the song after viewing an episode of Botched.[2] In an interview with Idolator's Mike Wass, Cara stated about the process behind the song:

"Basically, that song is about body image. It's directed at women, but I think men can relate to it as well. It's just a song about these things that certain women go through on a daily basis in order to feel loved or in order to love themselves. I think that's such a thing that goes on in today's world. These weird things are instilled in us. You know? They tell us that we’re not good enough or that there's only one kind of beauty. This song basically is contradicting that idea. It's saying, 'Well, if the world doesn't like how you look then they should change. They should change their perspective. You don’t have to change yourself.' I mean, I thought that that was important, you know, just to put out next. Especially because I think that's kind of the direction we're going in, you know, with 'Here'. 'Here' was about not belonging anywhere and 'Wild Things' was about finding a space you belong. Now 'Scars To Your Beautiful' is basically about embracing yourself and finally coming to that conclusion where you feel love and you can love yourself. I think it's cool to put out third because I feel like I have a bigger platform now. The point of the song is to reach as many women, or people, as possible."[3]

Critical reception

The Guardian's Kitty Empire said that "There's substance on Scars to Your Beautiful, where Cara tackles the beauty myth à la Beyoncé. The verses pack some good stuff – 'What's a little bit of hunger? I can go a little bit longer.'" and later went on to say "the thumping motivational chorus merely suggests we are all stars."[4] Katy Iandoli of Idolator stated "Scars to Your Beautiful is a modern-day version of TLC's 'Unpretty', in its acknowledgment of the beauty in both visible and invisible imperfections."[5]

Billboard ranked "Scars to Your Beautiful" at number 77 on their Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks" list, commenting “Body-positivity anthems typically don't get this dark, but on "Scars To Your Beautiful," Alessia Cara isn't afraid to talk cutting, tears and eating disorders, before getting to the uplifting chorus, where she delivers some of the most empowering, horizon-expanding lyrics of this year: ‘You don't have to change a thing / The world could change its heart.’”[6]

Music video

The music video was published on July 11, 2016, with a cameo appearance by singer JoJo.[7]

Background

On the concept of the music video, Cara said in an interview with Cosmopolitan: "I wanted to do this kind of video for a very long time. Since we had this song — and since we knew it was going to be a single — I had this vision of many different cinematic shots of different kinds of people. I wanted all kinds of people — young, old, whatever their situation, whether it's visible scars, non-visible scars — just a bunch of different women, and there are some men in there as well because it can reach out to guys too. But I wanted real shots of real people telling their stories, and showing the story through little vignettes."[8]

Impact and usage in media

The song is featured in episodes of the television shows The Bold Type and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

The song was used in the international trailer of A Wrinkle in Time,[9] as well as the background music for the introduction video of Dirt Rally 2.0.

In 2018, the song was featured in television commercials for ULTA Beauty.

Track listing

  • CD Single
  1. "Scars to Your Beautiful" – 3:50
  2. "Scars to Your Beautiful" (NOTD Remix) – 3:19
  • Digital download – Remixes[10]
  1. "Scars to Your Beautiful" (Luca Schreiner Remix) – 4:22
  2. "Scars to Your Beautiful" (NOTD Remix) – 3:19
  3. "Scars to Your Beautiful" (Cages Remix) – 4:28
  4. "Scars to Your Beautiful" (Joe Mason Remix) – 3:51
  5. "Scars to Your Beautiful" (recycle jordan Remix) – 3:32

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[59] 5× Platinum 350,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[60] Diamond 250,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[61] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[62] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[63] Platinum 200,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[64] 3× Gold 600,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[65] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] Gold 15,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[67] Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[68] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[69] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[70] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[72] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, format(s), label(s) and reference(s)
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
United States July 26, 2016 Digital download Original [73]
Top 40 radio Def Jam [1]
October 21, 2016 Digital download Remixes EP [74]
United Kingdom November 8, 2016 Top 40 radio Original [75]
Italy December 2, 2016 Radio airplay UMG [76]
DACH January 20, 2017 CD single
  • Def Jam
  • UMG
 [77][78]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates". AllAccess Music Group. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Alessia Cara Thinks This Underrated Black Eyed Peas Song Would be a Hit Today".
  3. ↑ Wass, Mike (May 24, 2016). "Alessia Cara On Touring With Coldplay & Her Next Single - Idolator". Idolator. Archived from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  4. ↑ Empire, Kitty (March 13, 2016). "Know-It-All by Alessa Cara review - teen rebel in search of better cause". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ Iandoli, Kathy (November 13, 2015). "Alessia Cara's 'Know-It-All': Album Review - Idolator". Idolator. Archived from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Scars To Your Beautiful - Alessia Cara - Vevo". Vevo. July 11, 2016. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ Iandoli, Kathy (July 11, 2016). "Alessia Cara 'Scars To Your Beautiful' Video - Alessia Cara Interview". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ A Wrinkle in Time International Trailer #1 (2018) on YouTube
  10. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Scars to Your Beautiful (Remixes) - EP by Alessia Cara". iTunes Store. 21 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  11. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  19. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201708 into search. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  20. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201642 into search. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 46, 2016". Hitlisten.NU. Archived from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Airplay Charts Deutschland – Woche 05/2017". German Charts. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  24. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History". RÚV. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  25. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 45, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Classifica settimanale WK 3" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 2017" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  29. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 5, 2016. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  33. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201716 into search. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  34. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201640 into search. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  35. ↑ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan - Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Alessia Cara Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  46. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  47. ↑ "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  49. ↑ "TÓNLISTINN - LÖG - 2017" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  50. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2017". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  51. ↑ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official Year-End singles chart". SloTop50. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  52. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  53. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  54. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  58. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  59. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". Music Canada. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  63. ↑ "French single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  64. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alessia Cara; 'Scars to Your Beautiful')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  66. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  67. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Alessia Cara" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  68. ↑ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  69. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  70. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 10, 2017 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 7, 2016. Scroll to position 98 to view certification.
  71. ↑ "British single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  72. ↑ "American single certifications – Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  73. ↑ "Know-It-All (Deluxe) by Alessia Cara on iTunes". iTunes Store (US). November 13, 2016. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  74. ↑ Scars to Your Beautiful (Remixes) - EP by Alessia Cara, October 21, 2016, retrieved October 1, 2023
  75. ↑ "BBC - Radio 1 - Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  76. ↑ "ALESSIA CARA "Scars To Your Beautiful" | (Radio Date: 02/12/2016)". Radio Airplay SRL. December 2, 2016. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  77. ↑ "Scars to Your Beautiful (2-Track): Amazon.de: CDs & Vinyl". Amazon. January 20, 2017. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  78. ↑ "Release group "Scars to Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. January 20, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
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