Peak
70
Weeks
7
Score
337
Chart Year
2018
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This song of forbidden love was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for the P.T. Barnum musical biopic The Greatest Showman. Pasek and Paul's previous works include the music for the movie La La Land, the Broadway musicals James and the Giant Peach and Dear Evan Hansen and the NBC TV series Smash. The song is a duet between Zac Efron (playing a rich white playwright called Phillip Carlyle who becomes P.T. Barnum's partner) and Zendaya (who portrays Anne Wheeler, a poor black acrobat and trapeze artist). The pair are in love, but after Phillip's parents insult Anne's lowly status, she runs away. Philip chases after Anne, trying to convince her that they can "rewrite the stars" and change their destiny. What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine Nothing could keep us apart You'd be the one I was meant to find Anne is less optimistic, believing there are too many barriers to having a relationship with someone of another color in racist 19th century America. You think it's easy You think I don't want to run to you But there are mountains And there are doors that we can't walk through Anne declares that though they love each other, no one can rewrite the stars, and sadly there is no hope for their relationship. Speaking in an on-set interview Zendeya said: "There's always the factor of them not being able to be together because of, literally, the color of their skin. You know, at the time that was a hundred and twenty percent not allowed, and it was in fact very dangerous." The song's commercial success represented a chart comeback for Zac Efron, who previously reached the Hot 100 with his Vanessa Hudgens duet "Can I Have This Dance" from High School Musical 3. It was one of a number of tunes that Efron recorded for the High School Musical franchise, the most successful tune being "Breaking Free," which peaked at #4 in 2006. Zendaya had charted several times prior to this song. She posted a #40 high in 2014 with "Replay," from her self-titled debut album. This was covered by English singers Anne Marie and James Arthur for The Greatest Showman: Reimagined, a re-recording of the original soundtrack by some of music's biggest stars. Atlantic Records West Coast president Kevin Weaver explained to Billboard that because of the popularity of The Greatest Showman soundtrack in the UK, he wanted to support that market by recruiting two of Britain's most popular young artists. Their version peaked at #7 in the UK and also reached the top 10 in several other European countries including Belgium and The Netherlands.
You know I want you It's not a secret I try to hide I know you want me So don't keep sayin' our hands are tied You claim it's not in the cards And fate is pullin' you miles away And out of reach from me But you're here in my heart So who can stop me if I decide That you're my destiny? What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine Nothing could keep us apart You'd be the one I was meant to find It's up to you, and it's up to me No one can say what we get to be So why don't we rewrite the stars? Maybe the world could be ours Tonight You think it's easy You think I don't wanna run to you But there are mountains And there are doors that we can't walk through I know you're wondering why because we're able to be Just you and me within these walls But when we go outside, you're gonna wake up and see That it was hopeless after all No one can rewrite the stars How can you say you'll be mine? Everything keeps us apart And I'm not the one you were meant to find It's not up to you It's not up to me When everyone tells us what we can be How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours Tonight All I want is to fly with you All I want is to fall with you So just give me all of you It feels impossible It's not impossible Is it impossible? Say that it's possible How do we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine? Nothing can keep us apart 'Cause you are the one I was meant to find It's up to you And it's up to me No one can say what we get to be And why don't we rewrite the stars? Changing the world to be ours You know I want you It's not a secret I try to hide But I can't have you We're bound to break and my hands are tied
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 13, 2018 | 85 | 41 |
| 2 | Jan 20, 2018 | 78 | 48 |
| 3 | Jan 27, 2018 | 70 | 56 |
| 4 | Feb 3, 2018 | 77 | 49 |
| 5 | Feb 10, 2018 | 81 | 45 |
| 6 | Feb 17, 2018 | 85 | 41 |
| 7 | Feb 24, 2018 | 100 | 26 |