Let It Go (James Bay song)

"Let It Go"
"Let It Go"
Single by James Bay
from the album Chaos and the Calm and the EP Let It Go
Released	15 September 2014
Recorded	2013–2014
Studio	Blackbird (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre	Indie rock; soul; blues rock; soft rock;
Length	4:21 (album version); 4:08 (international edit); 3:45 (radio mix);
Label	Republic
Songwriters	James Bay; Paul Barry;
Producer	Jacquire King
James Bay singles chronology
Music video
	"Let It Go" on YouTube

"Let It Go" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Bay. It was released in Europe on 15 September 2014 through Republic Records as the first single from Bay's second extended play of the same name. It was included on Bay's debut studio album Chaos and the Calm (2014). The song was written by Bay with Paul Barry and produced by Jacquire King. The Let It Go EP was released prior on 3 May 2014.

The song was re-released in March 2015 after "Hold Back the River" and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in July 2015, beating its previous peak of 62 on 27 September 2014.^[1] In May 2015, "Let It Go" peaked at number 8 in Australia, whilst in New Zealand, the song debuted on June 15, 2015, at number 31, before climbing to number 24 the following week. A week after that, the song entered the top 10 of the chart, peaking at number 10. "Let It Go" is Bay's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 16. A remix by Jack Steadman was released in 2015.

Critical reception

Gregory Robson of AbsolutePunk called "Let It Go" a "rising current of despondency, heartache and powerhouse vocals" and "the clearest example of who exactly Bay is, that is, supple instrumentation, gauzy textures and that ageless croon".^[2]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Let It Go"
Chart (2014–2016)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[4]	45
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[5]	23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[6]	37
France (SNEP)^[7]	55
Germany (GfK)^[8]	22
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[10]	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	10
Portugal (Official Chart AFP)^[13]	45
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[14]	82
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[15]	94
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	10
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	16
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[18]	2
US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[19]	47
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[20]	15
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[21]	12
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[22]	5
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[23]	39
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[24]	8

Year-end charts

2015 year-end chart performance for "Let It Go"
Chart (2015)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[25]	35
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	39
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[28]	32
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[29]	41
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[30]	34

2016 year-end chart performance for "Let It Go"
Chart (2016)	Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[31]	75
Denmark (Tracklisten)^[32]	92
France (SNEP)^[33]	182
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[34]	99
US Billboard Hot 100^[35]	44
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[36]	22
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[37]	15
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[38]	39
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[39]	4

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for "Let It Go"
Chart (2010–2019)	Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[40]	74

Certifications

Certifications for "Let It Go"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[41]	3× Platinum	210,000^‡
Belgium (BRMA)^[42]	Gold	10,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[43]	2× Platinum	120,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[44]	Diamond	800,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[45]	3× Platinum	270,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)^[46]	Platinum	600,000^‡
Netherlands (NVPI)^[47]	Platinum	30,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[48]	6× Platinum	180,000^‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)^[49]	Platinum	10,000^‡
Portugal (AFP)^[50]	2× Platinum	40,000^‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[51]	Platinum	60,000^‡
Sweden (GLF)^[52]	2× Platinum	80,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[53]	4× Platinum	2,400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[54]	7× Platinum	7,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Catalogue no.
Europe	3 May 2014	Download (EP)	Republic	—^[55]
Europe	15 September 2014	Download (single)		00602547187154^[56]
United States	18 April 2015	CD (EP)		DNR22594-02^[57]

References

^ "James Bay, Artist". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
^ "James Bay - Let it Go EP". June 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 28, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let It Go". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – James Bay" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com - Singles (Week 1)". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
^ "James Bay Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2015". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2015" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
^ "Top Selling Singles of 2015". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
^ "Canadian Hot 100 Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
^ "Track Top-100, 2016". Hitlisten.NU. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2016" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
^ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^ "Pop Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
^ Copsey, Rob (11 December 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest songs of the decade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2016". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
^ "Canadian single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". Music Canada. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
^ "Danish single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (James Bay; 'Let It Go')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
^ "Dutch single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 14 October 2021. Enter Let It Go in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2015 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
^ "New Zealand single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". Radioscope. Retrieved 2 March 2025. Type Let It Go in the "Search:" field.
^ "Norwegian single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
^ "Portuguese single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
^ "Spanish single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
^ "Sverigetopplistan – James Bay" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
^ "British single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
^ "American single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go (File, EP)". Discogs. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go". Ultratop. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
^ "James Bay – Let It Go (CD)". Discogs. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

[1] "James Bay, Artist". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2014.

[2] "James Bay - Let it Go EP". June 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.

[sc_Australia_James_Bay-3] "James Bay – Let It Go". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_Austria_James_Bay-4] "James Bay – Let It Go" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_James_Bay-5] "James Bay – Let It Go" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_Billboardcanadianhot100_James_Bay-6] "James Bay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2016.

[7] "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 28, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.

[sc_Germany_James_Bay-8] "James Bay – Let It Go" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 January 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_-9] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let It Go". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_James_Bay-10] "Nederlandse Top 40 – James Bay" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_Dutch100_James_Bay-11] "James Bay – Let It Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_New_Zealand_James_Bay-12] "James Bay – Let It Go". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[13] "Portuguesecharts.com - Singles (Week 1)". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 30 May 2016.

[sc_Sweden_James_Bay-14] "James Bay – Let It Go". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

[sc_Switzerland_James_Bay-15] "James Bay – Let It Go". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 November 2016.

[sc_UK_-16] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_Billboardhot100_James_Bay-17] "James Bay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

[sc_Billboardrocksongs_James_Bay-18] "James Bay Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2015.

[sc_Billboardrockairplay_James_Bay-19] "James Bay Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_James_Bay-20] "James Bay Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2016.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_James_Bay-21] "James Bay Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_James_Bay-22] "James Bay Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2016.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_James_Bay-23] "James Bay Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2017.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_James_Bay-24] "James Bay Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2016.

[25] "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

[26] "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2015". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

[27] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2015" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

[28] "Top Selling Singles of 2015". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2015.

[29] "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2016.

[30] "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 3 January 2016.

[31] "Canadian Hot 100 Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2016.

[32] "Track Top-100, 2016". Hitlisten.NU. Retrieved 31 December 2016.

[33] "Top de l'année Top Singles 2016" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

[34] "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 December 2016.

[35] "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2016.

[36] "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[37] "Adult Pop Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[38] "Pop Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[39] "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

[40] Copsey, Rob (11 December 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest songs of the decade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

[AustraliaJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-41] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 October 2021.

[BelgiumJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-42] "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2016". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 October 2021.

[BrazilJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-43] "Brazilian single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 27 June 2024.

[CanadaJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-44] "Canadian single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". Music Canada. Retrieved 4 March 2025.

[DenmarkJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-45] "Danish single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 3 March 2023.

[GermanyJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-46] "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (James Bay; 'Let It Go')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 31 July 2024.

[NetherlandsJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-47] "Dutch single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 14 October 2021. Enter Let It Go in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2015 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

[New_ZealandJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-48] "New Zealand single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". Radioscope. Retrieved 2 March 2025. Type Let It Go in the "Search:" field.

[NorwayJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-49] "Norwegian single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 14 October 2021.

[PortugalJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-50] "Portuguese single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 21 September 2020.

[SpainJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-51] "Spanish single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 18 January 2024.

[SwedenJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-52] "Sverigetopplistan – James Bay" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 April 2022.

[United_KingdomJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-53] "British single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 November 2022.

[United_StatesJames_BayLet_It_GosingleCertRef-54] "American single certifications – James Bay – Let It Go". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 April 2025.

[EP_digital_release-55] "James Bay – Let It Go (File, EP)". Discogs. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

[Single_release-56] "James Bay – Let It Go". Ultratop. Retrieved 10 March 2018.

[EP_CD_release-57] "James Bay – Let It Go (CD)". Discogs. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

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v t e James Bay
Discography
Studio albums	Chaos and the Calm Electric Light Leap Changes All the Time
Extended plays	Oh My Messy Mind
Singles	"Let It Go" "Hold Back the River" "Scars" "If You Ever Want to Be in Love" "Best Fake Smile" "Running" "Wild Love" "Pink Lemonade" "Us" "Peer Pressure" "Bad"
Featured singles	"Chasing Stars"
Other songs	"If I Ain't Got You"

Let It Go (James Bay song)

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Let It Go (James Bay song)

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Let It Go (James Bay song)

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