Jar of Hearts



"Jar of Hearts" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Christina Perri. The song was released onto iTunes July 27, 2010, a week after its debut on So You Think You Can Dance. The song was included on Perri's debut EP The Ocean Way Sessions and appeared on Perri's debut album, Lovestrong.

The song was co-written by Christina Perri, Drew Lawrence, and Barrett Yeretsian. Perri drew inspiration for the song from a real-life experience with a love interestwho wanted to rekindle a broken relationship. After its debut, the song was released onto iTunes where it later rose to the Top 20 spot in one week.

Perri was unsigned at the time of the song release, which created a lot of discussion between critics who favored the song. The song charted on multiple charts in both the United States and Canada at numbers 17 and 21 respectively. The song sold a total of 47,500 downloads in its opening week. The song has sold 3.3 million digital copies in the US. ==Background and release ==

After teaching herself to play five chords on the guitar, Perri wrote "The Perfect Man" about the same person about whom "Jar of Hearts" was written.[4]  "Jar of Hearts" premiered on So You Think You Can Dance in June, before Perri even had a record deal.[4]  Perri's best friend, Keltie Colleen (a Rockette), passed it on to one of the show's choreographer's, Stacey Tookey, who later choreographed a contemporary dance routine for All-Star Kathryn McCormick and contestant Billy Bell.[4]

Perri wrote the song in December 2009, only to begin working with her production and management team in February 2010.[2]  While recording for an EP, "Jar of Hearts" was additionally going to be recorded with a full band, however Perri later decided against it stating that "I imagined people dancing to it. It was all a big 'just in case.'"[2]

The song was first added to Perri's YouTube channel on June 30, 2010 and was later released on iTunes on July 27, 2010.[5]  A karaoke-version of the song was also officially released onto iTunes February 1, 2011.[6]  The song was featured on the singer's first EP titled The Ocean Way Sessions,[7]  and has additionally appeared on Perri's debut album, lovestrong.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8] ==Theme and composition<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ==

<p style="line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">"Jar of Hearts" has been described as an autobiographical song for Christina Perri, recalling an ex-boyfriend who wanted to reconnect after a tough breakup.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-about1_9-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  Seeing writing duties by the song's performer Christina Perri, additional writing is seen by Drew Lawrence and Barrett Yeretsian; production by the song's writers Barrett Yeretsian and Christina Perri. "Jar of Hearts" is a rock-oriented tune that is about shunning the continued advances of a former flame who was ungrateful while together, yet now wants to rekindle a failed romance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-commonsensemedia1_10-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10] <p style="line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Lyrically the ballad revolves around an ex of Perri's, who sings personal lyrics.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aolradioblog1_7-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]  In a blog by the artist,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aolradioblog1_7-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]  Perri described that the song came from true experiences, stating "I wrote the song after I went home to Philadelphia for the holiday last December. I sat in my childhood bedroom and hid from the boy (with the jar of hearts) who wanted to see me. My heart wanted to see him, my head knew better. I couldn't take one more break so I wrote the song instead."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tumblr1_11-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Corporation, "Jar of Hearts" is a moderate piano-rock song pacing in common time, written in the key of C minor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sheet_12-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  Perri's vocals range from the notes Eb3-C5 as she sings to the score of pianos and chords.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-sheet_12-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  The song consists simply of a piano melody and delicate strings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-aolradioblog1_7-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]  Additionally described as a wrenching, string-drenched ballad, the song features "angsty, unvarnished piano rock."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone1_4-4" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[4]  Perri stated that she does not know how to read or write music, but knew how to perform certain piano chords, which were used in the song. In the singer's personal blog she released the piano chords of the entire song. The verse of the song is played in the chords Cm Eb Bb Fm; the pre-chorus in Fm Ab Eb Bb Fm Ab Bbsus; the chorus in Eb Bb Cm Ab (Abm) end with: Eb; the bridge in the chords Cm (right hand) Walk down C, B, Bb, A (bass note) Ab G; and the outro finishes the song in the chords Ab B F.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tumblr1_11-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11] ==Reception<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> == ===Critical reception<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ===

<p style="line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">Kyle Anderson of MTV News positively reviewed the song as a "hook-heavy ballad," while reviewing Perri's rise to fame.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13]  Gavin Edwards of Rolling Stone described the song as a "a wrenching, string-drenched ballad in which she delivers a kiss-off to an ex who won't stop hanging around."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-rollingstone1_4-5" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[4]  Megan Vick of Billboard gave the song a positive review stating that the simple piano chords of the song complement Perri's voice, which was additionally described as "A Fine Frenzy-esque."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billboard1_14-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  Vick went on to say that the song prepares for eager anticipation of Perri's album release.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billboard1_14-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  The Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine,Contactmusic.com named the song a raw, defiant break-up song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-contactmusic1_15-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone described the song as both insipid and bombastic.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">John Hill of About.com broke the song down to understand the "instant hit" within the song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-about1_9-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  Hill stated that the song begins with weariness from the opening verse and builds up strength leading to the chorus of the song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-about1_9-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  Hill continued stating "There have been countless 'you did me wrong' songs through the history of pop music, but identifying a serial dater as a collector of broken hearts is one of the more unique ways of displaying both hurt and frustration," only to later conclude that the song is a bona fide hit and contains longevity making it an "impactful introduction" for Perri.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-about1_9-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  San Francisco-based non-profit organization, Common Sense Media gave the song a rating of three-out-of-five stars, positively reviewing that although Perri is a "newcomer" to music, she proves that she can "hang with the big girls" with "Jar of Hearts".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-commonsensemedia1_10-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]  Common Sense Media continued to compliment Perri by comparing her as vocally-superior to Selena Gomez and Hayley Williams of Paramore.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-commonsensemedia1_10-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]  While reviewing the album, Chad Grischow of IGNdescribed the song as a tender ballad which contains a certain "magic" that is failed to be recaptured throughout the album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17] ===Chart performance<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ===

<p style="line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">"Jar of Hearts" debuted at No. 28 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart, No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 54 on the Canadian Hot 100, clocking 48,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[18] After landing at No. 25 on the Hot 100, the track sold 200,000 downloads in three weeks.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-contactmusic1_15-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  Spending twenty-three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number seventeen.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billboard2_19-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  Peaking at number nineteen after eleven weeks on the Pop Songs Chart, the ringtone version of the song has peaked at number twenty-one on the Ringtones chart after seven weeks.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billboard2_19-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]  As of July 2013, the song has sold over 3,576,000 digital copies in the US alone, and spent 72 weeks on the Hot Digital Songs chart, despite missing the top fifteen of the Hot 100.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chart-watch_20-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[20]  Elsewhere, "Jar of Hearts" peaked at No. 2 in Australia and the Republic of Ireland, No. 3 in the Czech Republic and No. 4 in the United Kingdom and Finland. The song has remained in the UK Singles Chart for 27 weeks.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[21] ==Music video<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ==

As a couple (Keltie Colleen) share an intimate moment in the car, her jar empties (below) as he collects the heart from it (above)<p style="line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">The music video for the song was directed by Jay Martin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22]  A "Behind the scenes..." look was given into the recording of the music video on August 25, 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_23-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]  In the video, Perri states "I really hope that the video connects me to the song and entertains all of the fans of So You Think You Can Dance because it’s because of them that this even happened. I really hope that they love it. I hope that they love the dance…and that they just feel like we did this song justice with this video."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_23-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]  So You Think You Can Dance contestants Allison Holker and Kathryn McCormick appear as dancers in the music video, performing choreography by Stacey Tookey.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_23-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">The music video premiered on September 13, 2010 on Perri's YouTube channel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[24]  The video begins with Perri on a stoop while black petals fall from the sky. As Perri begins walking, a smoke reflection is shown over her chest, showing that her "jar" is empty - her heart is missing. As the song continues, Perri walks through different scenarios of hearts being collected, all by the same man, whose "jar" is being filled. This includes an intimate moment in a car and another in a phone booth, both of which leave the women whose hearts are stolen (through their mouths) with empty jars. They fall unconscious away from the collector, a young man with dark hair. Towards the end of the video, Perri is watching as the collector, the love-interest, collects more hearts while performing choreography with different women. The video ends with Perri stealing a heart from him, leaving his "jar" empty. He falls to the ground, and she appears to recuperate with her heart newly intact.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">The music video was added to a list of "VH1’s Top 40 Music Videos Of 2010," "Jar of Hearts" coming in at number seventeen.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[25]  During the premiere of Perri's "Daydream," VH1 compared it to the music video of "Jar of Hearts" stating that it took a more cinematic route that "relied heavily on slow motion to connote emotions."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[26] ==Live performances<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ==

Perri performing "Jar of Hearts" in the[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovestrong_Tour lovestrong. tour] at the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<p style="line-height:19.190340042114258px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;">After premiering the song on So You Think You Can Dance, Perri returned to the stage on July 17, 2010, performing the song live for the first time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[27]  In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Perri discussed her thoughts on performing on the show after premiering it on the same show, stating "I am very nervous, but very excited. It’s almost like my first child is 'So You Think You Can Dance'. I will do whatever they want me to do. And if it’s perform in front of millions of people, I’ll do that too. I’m pretty certain this is gonna be the biggest audience I’ve ever performed for."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28]  Perri has additionally performed the song live on and The Early Show on CBS and theToday Show on NBC in August 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-yahoo_29-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[29]  On July 29, 2010, Perri also performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, replacing Stone Temple Pilots who couldn't make it to the show on time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[30]  On December 7, 2010, Perri performed the song on Conan O'Brien's new show, Conan, with many critics naming the performance a career peak and stellar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[31]  On November 2, 2010, VH1 allowed Perri to perform the song, along with other tracks from her EP, in the elevator lobby as part of an ongoing "Live At VH1" series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated2_32-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32]  The performances were recorded and shown through VH1's video-hosting sites.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-autogenerated2_32-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32]  In October 2011, Perri performed the song live on The Late Late Show, an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy. On November 13, 2011, Perri performed the song live on the Strictly Come Dancing Results Show. On January 29, 2012, Perri performed the song live on Dancing On Ice. On February 18, 2012, she performed the song before the world heavyweight boxing championship fight between Vitali Klitschko and Dereck Chisora in Munich. Also Perri performed the song as part of the encore for her first tour Lovestrong Tour in 2011/12. ==Charts and certifications<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ==

===Weekly charts<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ===

===Certifications<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ===

===Year-end charts<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ===

==In popular culture<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ==


 * In May 2011, "Jar of Hearts" was performed on Glee. The song was sung by Lea Michele portraying the character Rachel Berry, in the episode "Prom Queen".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[65]
 * "Jar of Hearts" was played in "It's Alive" from the Pretty Little Liars series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[66]
 * "Jar of Hearts" was featured on Switched at Birth (Season 1, Episode 4 "Dance Amongst Daggers")and The Client List (season 1 episode 10 "Past Is Prologue")
 * In July 2011, Fitzy and Wippa, from the Australian Radio Station Nova made a parody of the song called "Jar of Hoons".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[67]
 * On September 6, 2011, the song was covered by Ronan Parke.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[68]
 * On October 8, 2011, the song was covered by Craig Colton, one of the live finalists on the UK version of The X Factor.
 * On November 2, 2011, the song was covered by Josh Krajcik, one of the live finalists on season 1 of the U.S. X Factor.
 * On April 23, 2012, the song was covered by Katrina Parker, a member of Adam Levine's team on Season 2 of The Voice.
 * In late May/early June 2012, the song was used in promos for the new season of Drop Dead Diva.
 * In late 2012 the lead singer of rock band Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier played this song as an encore on their "Special Club Tour" in support of their latest album Transit Of Venus.
 * In June 17, 2012 the singer and actress Jennifer Love Hewitt covered the song for the season finale of The Client List.