Pocketful of Sunshine

"Pocketful of Sunshine"
Single by Natasha Bedingfield
from the album Pocketful of Sunshine and Strip Me Away
Released11 February 2008 (2008-02-11)
Studio
GenrePop
Length3:23
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Shanks
Natasha Bedingfield singles chronology
"Love Like This"
(2007)
"Pocketful of Sunshine"
(2008)
"Bruised Water"
(2008)
Music video
"Pocketful of Sunshine" on YouTube

"Pocketful of Sunshine" is a song recorded by English singer Natasha Bedingfield for her second studio album of the same title (2008).[a] Bedingfield co-wrote the song together with American songwriter Danielle Brisebois and American musician and songwriter John Shanks; Shanks also produced the track as well as performing on most of the instruments present. Epic Records serviced the song to the US contemporary hit radio as the second single from Pocketful of Sunshine on 11 February 2008.

Bedingfield noted "Pocketful of Sunshine" as her favourite, stating that it centers on escaping from one's troubles. It adapts dance-pop and adult contemporary styles, differing from her previous recordings. Lyrically, the song discusses escapism and finding a peaceful place in difficult situations. The message is amplified by the melancholic tone of the lyrics mixing with the exuberance displayed in Bedingfield's voice. "Pocketful of Sunshine" was well received by contemporary music critics; the majority of them named it as one of the album's highlights. Several critics also praised it as a bright and lively summer tune.

Despite not charting in Bedingfield's native United Kingdom, "Pocketful of Sunshine" experienced commercial success in North America. In the US, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling three million downloads and becoming her most successful single there. In Canada, it peaked at number three on Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum by Music Canada. The song was not released in Europe until April 2011, when it was released as the lead single from her third European studio album Strip Me Away (2011), to moderate success.

The music video for "Pocketful of Sunshine" premiered on 15 April 2008, and features Bedingfield escaping from a stressful situation and dancing on a roof with other background dancers, also portraying scenes of other people escaping their troubles, coming to Bedingfield for comfort. The single has been used widely in the media, being featured in movies and television series such as Easy A, Degrassi: The Next Generation and The Ugly Truth.
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