In GQ’s new series, ‘On Repeat’, we talk to the artist behind a track having a moment, whether a new track climbing the streaming charts or a retro track being reappraised after a perfect needledrop in TV. Here, Natasha Bedingfield talks about the second life of her track “Unwritten”, revived by its pivotal role in ‘Anyone But You’.
You know it from the opening: the synthetic drum kick and guitar melody that build toward the euphoric chorus, inviting you to ‘feel the rain on your skin’. It's cheesy, earnest pop music at it's nostalgia-baiting best; one of those songs that could make a trip to the dental hygienist feel like a romantic comedy montage.
It was the perfect track, then, for a montage in the romantic comedy Anyone but You, and since the film was released last month, Natasha Bedingfield’s 2004 track “Unwritten” has gone viral all over again. The song has had a 250% surge in daily views on its music video and re-entering the UK Top 20 charts on the heels of its 20th anniversary. Whether it's blaring through Glen Powell’s headphones while he’s fast asleep on a plane, or passing through Sydney Sweeney’s lips as she dangles from a helicopter over an Australian harbour — Natasha Bedingfield's Unwritten is the often deployed weapon of the film.
“I get sent videos every day of people singing “Unwritten” at the top of their lungs,” Bedingfield says. “It's one of those [songs] that feels good to sing.” GQ caught up with the singer to talk about the song blowing up all over again.
"Unwritten” will celebrate its 20th anniversary this September and the song is back in the UK top 20 chart — how do you feel?
I get a lot of requests for my different songs to go in movies, but I love when it's a romcom because I really am a romcom fan. My publishers [said] it's being used a lot, and I'm like, ‘Yeah, yeah’ and then I watched it and wow. They told me they actually sang the song in every single scene.
Did you get a sense of how the song would be used when they approached you?
The original synopsis was that it's [Glen Powell’s character Ben’s] serenity song and she overhears it in his headphones while he’s asleep. Then we got another request because as the movie went on, they wanted to use it more.
What do you remember from how the track first came together?
My brother [Daniel Bedingfield] had two huge hits and he kept on telling everyone about his sister. I signed a record deal with some songwriters in LA and it was such a great flow. Danielle Brisebois, who was a famous child star from All in the Family in the '70s and '80s in America, would talk about dancing in the rain and I was like, I used to dance in the rain!
Wayne Rodrigues was making beats for another friend of ours and [came] along to the session. He was scratching records and doing loops, coming from a hip-hop background. We all had that experience where it just flowed through us.
It was also the theme song of The Hills — how did that come about?
My song was rising up in the charts and MTV said we’d love to use it in a new show. It's funny because Lauren [Conrad] actually came and visited the studio as part of an episode. My favourite people on that show were Heidi [Montag] and Spencer [Pratt]. I know they were the villains early on, but from the moment I met them they were always really real.
Would you say it’s your ‘serenity song’ like it is for Glen Powell’s character Ben in the film?
When I'm stressed out, I promise you I don't go and sit and put on my own songs. Writing songs is my serenity. I'm known as a positive writer, [but] to get those positive songs without them feeling cheesy, you have to start from real pain.
Why do you think this song is hitting people all over again?
From what I can guess, that song was played to everyone when they were kids. They remember it. Everyone has a memory with it.
We saw a similar thing happen with Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor” in Saltburn going viral. Have you been in touch?
Sophie is my friend and we've been texting and congratulating each other. I'm really happy for her because she's just one of those classy people that's not only talented, but also a great person. My kid is six, and over Christmas I texted her asking for some mum advice.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
