Nearly three years since its release, Aaron Bruno's runaway hit is still setting records
Aaron Bruno is writing again and trying not to think about "Sail," a song he first recorded under the name AWOLnation more than three years ago, which would be a lot easier if it weren't everywhere he turned. A creeping stain of synth rock with startlingly confessional lyrics and a frayed, single-word climactic chorus ("Sail!"), the song has soundtracked an endless string of movie trailers, viral videos, CW dramas, and car and liquor commercials since its January 2011 release-each one extending what has become a historically lengthy life cycle.
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Now a staple at mainstream top 40 radio, "Sail" climbed to No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending Sept. 21, making it the first song in history to reach a new peak after spending more than a year on the chart. This week, its 55th on the Hot 100, the song continues its ascent, landing at No. 20 with sales of 77,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Cumulative sales of "Sail," released by Red Bull's independent label Red Bull Records, are now 3.8 million.