"Little Bird" is a song composed and recorded by the Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox. Taken from her debut solo album, Diva, it was released in 1993 as a double A-side with "Love Song for a Vampire" in Ireland, the United Kingdom and various other European countries. In other territories, "Little Bird" was released alone. Lennox performed "Little Bird" during the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in London on 12 Aug 2012. A live version was played in the end credits to The Sopranos episode "Eloise". The song was also featured in the film Striptease. The video for "Little Bird" does not appear on the video album for Diva but is heard instrumentally over the end credits.
Critical reception
Aftonbladet wrote that the song is "based on a vibrant sight loop not quite unlike many old Eurythmics songs". Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented that Lennox' "hit streak is about to carryover into 1993 on the wings of a sensitively written and brilliantly produced song that expresses what many people feel from time to time. All that, and it's uptempo!" In their review of Lennox' 2009 Greatest Hits collection, HuffPost said that in the song, "Lennox observes the creature's freedom as it glides across the sky. Though the song starts out with self-doubt, she concludes, "...this little bird's fallen out of that nest now...so I've just got to put these wings to test", and both she and the collection soar from that point on." Kjell Moe from Nordlys described it as "suggestive". Pop Rescue noted that it "has a wonderful electro-pop feel to it – the beat and swirling synth helps the song grow wonderfully as Annie sings over the top." They added that "the beat builds as Annie's vocals get stronger and she's soon joined by guitars in the chorus." Alec Foege from Spin noted in his review of Diva, that "Little Bird" "is the album's finest track. Its call-and-response woo-woos exude genuine confidence, cleverness, and craft."
The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and features eight Lennox lookalikes dressed as the many different personas that Lennox has used in her videos over the past decade, with Lennox herself in a Cabaret-esque setting acting as ringmaster. Gradually the personas begin to squabble for the spotlight, pushing aside one another and Lennox herself as she fights to maintain control. The music videos referenced by the personas include:
Lennox was in late stages of pregnancy with her second daughter Tali during the filming of the video. The "ringmaster" persona, played by Lennox, wears a black dress designed to give the illusion of being close-fitting, with a fully sequinned front and a flowing matte back panel that together partially conceal her baby bump.
Track listing
All tracks were written by Annie Lennox unless otherwise noted. CD – Arista
