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Sweet Disposition
Sweet Disposition
from Wikipedia

"Sweet Disposition"
Single by the Temper Trap
from the album Conditions
B-side
  • "Science of Fear"
  • "Little Boy"
Released16 September 2008 (2008-09-16)
GenreIndie rock
Length3:52
Label
Songwriters
  • Dougy Mandagi
  • Lorenzo Sillitto
ProducerJim Abbiss
The Temper Trap singles chronology
"Sweet Disposition"
(2008)
"Fader"
(2010)
Music video
"Sweet Disposition" on YouTube

"Sweet Disposition" is a song by Australian indie rock[1] band the Temper Trap. Described by critics as an "indie anthem",[2] the song was written by Dougy Mandagi and Lorenzo Sillitto. "Sweet Disposition" peaked at number 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Outside Australia, "Sweet Disposition" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Renewed interest in the song was generated after it was included in the soundtrack for the 2009 film 500 Days of Summer — eventually peaking at number nine on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the United States. In 2025 the song was voted 11th in the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.[3]

Chart performance and sales

[edit]

Despite the Temper Trap originating from Australia, "Sweet Disposition", the lead single from the debut album Conditions, proved to be more popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland, reaching No. 6 (in the week beginning 11 October 2009) and No. 8, respectively, while it only reached a peak of No. 14 in Australia. However, it was eventually certified 3× Platinum in Australia for sales exceeding 210,000 copies, becoming the band's highest-selling single in their home country.

The song reached No. 9 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart due to interest in the song after it appeared in the film 500 Days of Summer. In 2014, it was featured in the action film 3 Days to Kill starring Kevin Costner. In 2023, it was used in promotional trailers for the final instalment of The Crown. A dance remix made by Axwell and Dirty South of this song reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart in April 2010. It received a Platinum certification from the RIAA in 2013 for more than 1,000,000 copies sold.

The single was certified Gold by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry[4] and 3× Platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry.[5]

Music videos

[edit]

There are three music videos for the song. The Australian/domestic version, directed by Madeline Griffith, features the band performing alongside slow motion footage of light bulbs smashing on the floor.

The UK/international version directed by Barnaby Roper, begins with a gradual descent towards the lights on a runway before featuring a girl roller blading through space, past transparent images of each band member. That version was also played in Australia following the song's increase in popularity in 2010.

The US version, directed by Daniel Eskils, was released in March 2010. This version displays the band members playing around with musical instruments as well as demolishing them, this all being taped with a high-speed camera.

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] 8× Platinum 560,000
Italy (FIMI)[44] Gold 25,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] 4× Platinum 120,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] 3× Platinum 1,800,000
United States (RIAA)[46] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Australia 16 September 2008 Digital download Liberation [47]
22 October 2008 12-inch vinyl [48]
26 January 2009 CD single [49]
United States 14 July 2009 Digital download Glassnote [50]
United Kingdom 2 August 2009 Infectious [51]
3 August 2009 7-inch vinyl [52]
United States 31 August 2009 Alternative radio
  • Liberation
  • Glassnote
[53]
United Kingdom 11 October 2009 Digital download (remixes) Infectious [54]
United States 24 August 2010 Digital download (remixes) Glassnote [55]
Worldwide 30 May 2025 Lost Frequencies remix Lost & Cie [10]
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Film

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Advertisements

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Video Games

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Other

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  • The song was used in a farewell tribute video by WWE for John Cena ahead of his retirement, featuring several WWE superstars and production crew.[69]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
"Sweet Disposition" is a by indie rock band , released as the lead single from their debut studio album Conditions in 2009. Written by vocalist Mandagi and guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto, the track is characterized by its anthemic structure, soaring vocals, and echoing guitar riffs reminiscent of U2's style. It explores themes of love, recklessness, and fleeting moments through lyrics such as "Sweet disposition, never too soon / Oh, reckless abandon, like no one's watching you." The song was initially released in in October 2008 but re-recorded with producer and re-issued internationally in June 2009, coinciding with the album's global launch. Its breakthrough came with prominent placement in the of the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer, which helped propel to international recognition. Commercially, "Sweet Disposition" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number six in , while reaching number 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart in . Critics have hailed "Sweet Disposition" as an "indie anthem" for its emotional resonance and production, earning it the APRA Song of the Year award in 2010 as well as the Award for Most Popular Australian Single that same year. The track's enduring popularity is evident in its use across television series like One Tree Hill and Surviving Summer, advertisements including a commercial, and recent remixes such as the 2024 John Summit and Silver Panda version.

Background and recording

Development

The Temper Trap formed in 2005 in , , with Mandagi on vocals and guitar, Toby Dundas on drums, and Jonathon Aherne on bass, marking the beginning of their collaborative songwriting efforts in the local scene. During these initial sessions, "Sweet Disposition" emerged as one of the band's earliest compositions, capturing the raw energy of their creative development. The track was primarily written by Mandagi, who handled the vocals and lyrics, and guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto, who contributed to the riff development. Mandagi drew from personal reflections on his childhood experiences, including the loss of his father in a plane crash at age six and subsequent feelings of from frequent relocations across , , and , which instilled a sense of emotional vulnerability that permeates the song's themes of innocence and introspection. The , already prepared by Mandagi, explore youthful abandon and fleeting moments of connection, aligning with the band's aim to evoke emotional depth in their music. Sillitto introduced opening guitar during a , prompting Mandagi to sing over it immediately, resulting in an instant creative . This session highlighted the influences shaping their sound, though the exact evolution of the remained organic to the band's experimentation. An initial demo of "Sweet Disposition" was recorded that same day in 2007, closely resembling the final version and serving as a of their early . The band chose to feature it as the opening track on their 2008 debut album Conditions, positioning it to encapsulate the youthful introspection central to their artistic identity and setting the tone for the record's exploration of personal and emotional landscapes.

Production

"Sweet Disposition" was initially recorded in for its release as the in October 2008. The track was later re-recorded in with producer , who had previously worked with artists such as and . This re-recorded version appeared on the band's debut album Conditions, released in 2008 in and internationally in , and was re-issued as the single in June 2009. The production emphasized the song's anthemic build-up, with echoing guitars and soaring vocals, enhancing its emotional resonance.

Composition

Musical elements

"Sweet Disposition" is composed in the key of and maintains a of 129 beats per minute. The song follows a conventional verse-chorus structure, incorporating pre-choruses that heighten tension and a climactic bridge that intensifies the emotional arc before resolving into the final chorus. The track opens with an arpeggiated guitar riff played by Lorenzo Sillitto, layered with delay effects to create an expansive, echoing atmosphere, as described by band members in interviews detailing the song's development. This riff is supported by driving from Toby Dundas and a steady bass line from Jonathon Aherne, forming the rhythmic backbone that propels the energy. Central to the arrangement are the soaring vocals of lead singer Mandagi, which serve as the primary , particularly in the choruses where they rise dramatically. The song's stylistic influences draw from and traditions, evident in the U2-inspired delay on the guitars that contributes to a sense of grandeur and spaciousness. This reverb-heavy production evokes a "cathedral-like" quality, enhancing the track's anthemic feel without overpowering the raw . The overall length is 3:52, featuring dynamic shifts from the intimate, riff-driven verses to explosive choruses that build layers of sound for emotional release.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of "Sweet Disposition" commence with the lines "A moment, a love / A dream, aloud / A kiss, a cry / Our rights, our wrongs," evoking transient emotional highs and lows in a stream-of-consciousness style. As the song unfolds, it shifts to introspective verses contemplating the erosion of innocence and the inexorable march of time, exemplified by "So stay there / 'Cause I'll be comin' around / And while our blood's still young / It's so young, it runs / Won't stop 'til it's over / Won't stop to surrender." The recurring refrain "Sweet disposition" anchors the composition, symbolizing an innate, resilient positivity that persists through upheaval. At its core, the song delves into themes of ephemeral youth, emotional fortitude, and the dissonance between nostalgic ideals and mature disillusionment, fostering a sense of self-discovery amid life's flux. Lead singer and lyricist Dougy Mandagi has characterized the words as capturing a "visceral kind of melancholic-but-also-kind-of-hopeful feeling," drawn from the raw energy of the track's creation rather than a specific narrative. Though frequently embraced as an anthem for young love—owing to its placement in the romantic film (500) Days of Summer—Mandagi insists "It’s not even a ," underscoring its abstract on human and fleeting joy. Mandagi's abstract, metaphorical avoids linear , instead layering that invites diverse personal resonances, with the titular phrase's repetition emphasizing unyielding as a to transience. The were developed quickly alongside the music during the band's time in , the night before Mandagi's return home to , allowing listeners to imprint their own interpretations. Mandagi's soaring delivery amplifies the ' wistful , blending with anthemic uplift.

Release

Single formats

"Sweet Disposition" was initially released in in 2008 by Liberation Music as both a (LMCD0023) and a 12" vinyl single (LMLP0023), featuring the album version alongside remixes of the track and B-sides including "Science of Fear." Internationally, the single appeared in multiple formats, including a 7" vinyl in the UK in 2009 via Infectious Records (INFECT103S), with the B-side track "" and limited signed copies for the first 150 pressings. Digital releases were issued through Infectious Records starting in , often as bundles containing the standard album edit (3:52 duration) paired with album tracks or select remixes, such as the 2×File EP (INFECT103DA) for and . In , a limited-edition CD maxi-single was released in in by TIME (TIME 569 CDM), compiling the original track with additional remixes and extended versions aimed at club play, running up to 4:04 in length. For the US market, Glassnote Records distributed the single primarily in digital formats and promotional CDr editions in 2010, including remixes tailored for radio and club use. Track listings across formats typically centered on the album edit, with variations incorporating remixes by artists like Cagedbaby, Evil Nine, and later contributors such as Thomas Datt; no major alternate edits beyond these remixes were produced for the initial singles.

Promotion and release dates

"Sweet Disposition" debuted in Australia on September 16, 2008, marking the lead single from The Temper Trap's debut album Conditions. The release was promoted through extensive radio play on Triple J, Australia's national youth broadcaster, which helped build early buzz among indie music listeners. Additionally, the band performed live sets at major festivals, including Splendour in the Grass, where the song's anthemic energy resonated with festival crowds and amplified its grassroots appeal. The song's international rollout began in the UK and in July 2009, with the physical single released on August 3, 2009, aligned with the album's launch via Infectious Records. Promotion featured prime-time airplay on , which introduced the track to a broader audience. This timing capitalized on the growing European interest in Australian acts, positioning "Sweet Disposition" as a key track for summer playlists and live shows. In the US, promotion included high-profile performances at (SXSW) in March 2009, where the song garnered industry attention, building anticipation ahead of the album's Glassnote Records release on October 13, 2009. Expansion continued to and later that year, with targeted radio and digital pushes to tap into North American and Asian markets. Overall marketing strategies emphasized accessibility and viral potential, including free downloads offered during the band's early international tours to encourage fan sharing. The song's , released in mid-2009, served as a key , with its visually striking narrative boosting online engagement. Endorsements from tastemaking outlets like further validated its indie anthem status, driving organic promotion through blog features and playlist inclusions. Various single formats, such as digital downloads and promotional CDs, were leveraged to support these efforts.

Commercial performance

Chart positions

"Sweet Disposition" achieved varying degrees of commercial success on music charts worldwide, with particular strength in formats in the United States and the , where it resonated with radio audiences and gained traction through film soundtracks and streaming. The song did not enter the but performed well on genre-specific charts, reflecting its appeal to indie and alternative listeners. In and , it saw moderate peaks on national singles charts, entering several top 40 lists but not always sustaining high positions. In 2025, renewed interest led to a re-entry on the ARIA Singles Chart, peaking at number 14, and the song ranked number 11 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. The following table summarizes the song's peak positions on selected weekly charts:
ChartPeak positionYear
US Alternative Airplay ()92010
UK Singles Chart (OCC)62009
Australian ARIA Singles Chart142009
(Ultratop 50 )62009
(IRMA)82009
Dutch Singles Chart (Dutchcharts)542009
US Heatseekers Songs ()182010
The track demonstrated a slow-burn trajectory, bolstered by consistent radio play and early streaming growth following its inclusion in media placements.

Sales and certifications

"Sweet Disposition" has sold over 911,000 digital copies in the United States as of 2012, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. Globally, the track contributed significantly to the of its parent Conditions, which has exceeded 750,000 units worldwide. The single earned a certification from the RIAA in the United States on May 31, 2013, recognizing 1,000,000 units in sales and streaming equivalents. In Australia, it received a certification from , denoting 70,000 units. The song was certified in the United Kingdom by the BPI in 2009 for 400,000 units, later upgraded to in November 2014 for 600,000 units and reaching 3× Platinum by 2024, equivalent to 1,800,000 units. In the streaming era, "Sweet Disposition" has accumulated over 819 million streams on as of November 2025. These streaming figures have supported ongoing commercial impact, including potential renewals to existing certifications where applicable. The track's strong chart positions further drove its sales and streaming performance.

Critical reception

Initial reviews

Upon its release in 2009, "Sweet Disposition," the from The Temper Trap's debut Conditions, garnered significant attention from critics, who frequently praised its anthemic quality and emotional resonance while noting its stylistic echoes of earlier acts. lauded the "epic" guitar riff and soaring vocals on "Sweet Disposition" as key elements that propelled the album toward broader acclaim, describing it as a track that captures the band's ambitious, stadium-ready sound. Pitchfork rated Conditions 6.8 out of 10, commending "Sweet Disposition" as a "majestic anthem" with undeniable mainstream hit potential due to its sweeping arrangement and falsetto-driven hooks, though critiquing its derivative nods to U2's atmospheric style. In the UK, The Guardian offered a mixed assessment, appreciating the song's "thrilling otherness" and urgent emotional depth but pointing out overt influences from U2 and Coldplay that made it feel somewhat familiar and prosaic. Another Guardian review earlier in the year was more favorable, suggesting that an "Antipodean version of Coldplay" like The Temper Trap filled a welcome niche with their polished, melodic debut. Overall, initial reception emphasized the track's role in driving Conditions' success, with critics consensus lauding its evocative production—featuring delayed guitars and layered reverb—and profound sense of yearning, positioning it as the album's emotional centerpiece despite occasional reservations about originality.

Retrospective assessments

In the years following its release, "Sweet Disposition" has been frequently cited in retrospective compilations of music, underscoring its status as a defining track of the era. For instance, it was included in Billboard's 2017 list of the 15 best 21st-century songs influenced by , with critics noting its immediate evocation of the band's "Where the Streets Have No Name" through echoing guitars and anthemic builds. Similarly, highlighted the song in 2023 as an "era-defining" Australian single, crediting music mogul for amplifying its global reach amid the indie export boom. Cultural analyses have positioned "Sweet Disposition" as a key example of Australia's post-2000s surge, blending elements with accessible pop structures to bridge local scenes and international audiences. In a 2023 examination of Gudinski's influence, the track exemplified how Melbourne's indie ecosystem propelled bands like to worldwide acclaim, influencing subsequent acts in the genre. On its 15th anniversary in 2023, Debate magazine described it as an "iconic Australian indie pop-rock song," reflecting on its role in elevating the nation's music profile during a period of renewed global interest in down-under talent. By 2025, the song's enduring appeal is evident in its streaming dominance and revivals, particularly on , where featuring live performances, acoustic covers, and remixes has sustained its virality among younger audiences. An acoustic version released in early 2025 further boosted engagement, appearing in festival clips from events like EDC Vegas and shows. This resurgence contributed to its No. 11 ranking on triple j's Hottest 100 Australian Songs countdown in 2025, as reported by Rolling Stone Australia, highlighting remixes by artists like John Summit and that introduced it to electronic and dance contexts. In a 2022 Guardian review of Louis Tomlinson's album, the song was invoked as a benchmark for soaring indie falsettos, with one track "echo[ing] the Temper Trap's Sweet Disposition" through its emotive production.

Music video

Production

Several music videos were produced for "Sweet Disposition" to target different markets. The Australian version, directed by Madeleine Griffith, was filmed in 2008 at the historic Younghusband Wool Store, a disused in Melbourne's Docklands area, over a two-day shoot that captured the band's performance in a single location. The /international version was directed by Barnaby Roper in 2009. The version, directed by Daniel Eskils and released in March 2010 as a , was produced as a low-budget independent project by the Melbourne-based Moop Jaw, featuring key crew members including Rhett Wade-Ferrell and Angus Kemp, emphasizing a raw, intimate aesthetic suitable for the band's emerging sound.

Content and style

The Australian version directed by Madeleine Griffith features the band performing with abstract projections of swirling colors and patterns across the warehouse walls and floor, combined with slow-motion footage to convey a sense of dreamlike and emotional intensity. The grainy texture was achieved through selective effects, enhancing the organic, vintage feel without relying on high-end digital polish. The /international version, directed by Barnaby Roper, begins with a gradual descent towards the lights on a before featuring a girl roller blading through empty streets at night. It then cuts to the band performing in a stark, minimalist room with projections on the walls. This concept evokes themes of and urban , contrasting the band's intense performance with the girl's carefree movement to underscore the song's themes of fleeting and emotional vulnerability. The visual narrative weaves motion and , creating layered that amplifies the track's lyrics. The US director's cut, directed by Daniel Eskils, features the band members playing around with musical instruments as children in a colorful , overlaid with superimposed home-movie-style footage of children playing. Key scenes highlight the song's through dynamic visuals: the opening introduces playful elements, building tension as the intensifies. During the soaring chorus, explosions of vibrant color and abstract projections flood the screen, mirroring the music's euphoric swell and evoking a sense of release and transcendence. The video fades to black at the end, paralleling the ' sense of resolution and quiet reflection. These elements prioritize mood over plot, using and overlays to deepen the song's atmospheric . Editing by Warran Wright synchronized the 3:52 runtime precisely to the song's length, with cuts and transitions that escalate alongside the track's iconic guitar riff build-up, incorporating intensifying light flares to mirror the music's crescendo. Stylistically, the videos adopt a cinematic indie aesthetic, blending raw performance footage with abstraction to forgo heavy emphasis on lip-syncing, much like the ethereal videos of Sigur Rós. This fusion creates an immersive, dreamlike quality that complements the track's reverb-heavy sound. Roper's and Eskils' versions are the primary international releases, with Eskils' often considered the main official video due to its popularity. In , fan-made edits also surfaced for festival use, offering slight variations while preserving core concepts.

Cultural impact

Use in films and television

"Sweet Disposition" gained significant exposure through its inclusion in various films and television programs, particularly in the United States. The song features prominently in the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer, where it underscores a pivotal montage sequence illustrating the highs of the protagonists' relationship and is included on the official . This placement is widely credited with boosting the track's popularity and introducing it to a broader American audience, contributing to a chart resurgence in 2009–2010. It also appeared in the 2014 action film . In television, "Sweet Disposition" appeared in episodes of during season 3, enhancing dramatic scenes, and in 90210 season 2 episode 7 "Unmasked," where it accompanies characters Teddy and Silver practicing on a rooftop. The song was featured in One Tree Hill season 7 episode 11 "You Know I Love You... Don't You?", during scenes involving Clay and Quinn. It played in The Vampire Diaries season 1 episode 6 "Lost Girls". Additionally, it was used in an episode of Greek in 2009. More recently, the track opened Surviving Summer season 1 episode 1 on in 2022. These editorial uses, along with the film's integration, helped solidify the song's cultural footprint in episodic storytelling and romantic narratives during the late and beyond.

Use in advertisements and video games

"Sweet Disposition" has been prominently featured in various television advertisements, often utilizing shortened edits to highlight its uplifting chorus and ethereal sound. In , the song was used in Diet Coke's "Stay Extraordinary" campaign, which debuted during the broadcast and emphasized themes of inspiration and everyday magic. A 30-second clip focusing on the track's iconic guitar riff and accompanied visuals of diverse individuals pursuing their , helping to boost the song's visibility in the U.S. market. The track continued to appear in commercials throughout the and beyond. In 2013, it soundtracked Google's tablet advertisement titled "New Baby," where the full chorus underscored a of moments and technological connection. In 2020, it featured in Cricket Australia's campaign promoting the sport's emotional and communal aspects. More recently, a shortened version featured in Vodafone's 2023 Italian campaign for the "Infinito Insieme" service package, pairing the song's energetic build with imagery of shared digital experiences. In 2025, Coca-Cola's "Who Will You With?" spot incorporated the chorus to evoke and in beverage . These placements typically employed edited versions, such as 30-second segments centered on the refrain, to fit commercial time constraints while capturing the song's emotional core. In video games, "Sweet Disposition" has been integrated as a full track to enhance atmospheres, particularly in sports titles appealing to younger demographics. It was included on the soundtrack of (PES 2011), where the complete song played during menu navigation and match highlights, syncing its rising tempo with on-screen action. This licensing allowed for immersive synchronization, contributing to the game's energetic vibe and exposing the track to international gaming audiences. The game's popularity in and helped introduce the song to a new generation of players, leading to notable streaming increases following its release.

References

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