Sweet Disposition

"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 Silitto. Upon the song's release, it peaked at No. 14 in Australia and reached the top 10 in 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 reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the United States.

"Sweet Disposition"
Single by the Temper Trap
from the album Conditions
B-side	"Science of Fear" "Little Boy"
Released	16 September 2008 (2008-09-16)
Genre	Indie rock
Length	3:52
Label	Liberation (Australia) Infectious (UK) Columbia (US)
Songwriter(s)	Dougy Mandagi Lorenzo Sillitto
Producer(s)	Jim Abbiss
The Temper Trap singles chronology
"Sweet Disposition" (2008) "Fader" (2010)

Chart performance and sales

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 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^[3] and 2× Platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry.^[4]

Music videos

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

Australian digital download^[5] "Sweet Disposition" – 3:54 "Sweet Disposition" (video) – 3:54 Australian CD single^[6] "Sweet Disposition" "Sweet Disposition" (Curtis Vodka remix) Australian 12-inch single^[7] A1. "Sweet Disposition" A2. "Sweet Disposition" (Curtis Vodka remix) B1. "Science of Fear" B2. "Science of Fear" (Pocketknife remix)

UK 7-inch picture disc single^[8] A. "Sweet Disposition" B. "Little Boy" US remixes promo CDR^[9] "Sweet Disposition" (Dirty South remix) "Sweet Disposition" (Caged Baby disco remix) "Sweet Disposition" (Doorly's dubstep remix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009–2012) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[10] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11] 6 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[12] 13 Ireland (IRMA)^[13] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14] 32 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15] 54 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16] 34 Scotland (OCC)^[17] 6 UK Singles (OCC)^[18] 6 UK Indie (OCC)^[19] 1 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[20] 8 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[21] 3 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)^[22] 1 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[23] 17

Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position Australian Artist Singles (ARIA)^[24] 34 UK Singles (OCC)^[25] 78 Chart (2010) Position Australia (ARIA)^[26] 56 Australian Artist Singles (ARIA)^[27] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[28] 65 Italy (FIMI)^[29] 55 UK Singles (OCC)^[30] 150 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[31] 43 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)^[32] 5 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[33] 45

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[34]	8× Platinum	560,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)^[35]	Gold	25,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[36]	Gold	7,500^*
United Kingdom (BPI)^[4]	2× Platinum	1,200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[37]	Platinum	1,000,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Australia	16 September 2008	Digital download	Liberation	^[38]
	22 October 2008	12-inch vinyl		^[39]
	26 January 2009	CD single		^[40]
United States	14 July 2009	Digital download	Glassnote	^[41]
United Kingdom	2 August 2009		Infectious	^[42]
	3 August 2009	7-inch vinyl		^[43]
United States	31 August 2009	Alternative radio	Liberation Glassnote	^[44]
United Kingdom	11 October 2009	Digital download (remixes)	Infectious	^[45]
United States	24 August 2010	Digital download (remixes)	Glassnote	^[46]

In popular culture

Film

• The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 2009 romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer.^[47]
• The song was featured on the soundtrack and played during the ending scene for the 2014 action thriller film, 3 Days to Kill.^[48]
• The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 2020 romantic action film, I Still Believe.^[49]

Advertisements

• The song was used in the 2009 "Memories Start Here" advert for Center Parcs.^[50]
• The song was used in a 2009 Sky Sports advert featuring Jose Mourinho.^[51]
• The song was used in a 2009 O2 advert.^[52]
• The song was used in an 2010 Indonesian advert promoting the Toyota Yaris.^[53]
• The song was used in a long-form commercial for Chrysler released in 2010.^[54]
• The song was used in a commercial for Diet Coke that reportedly aired on the 2010 Academy Awards.^[55]
• The song was used in a 2010 commercial for Rhapsody Music service.^[56]
• A cover of the song was used in a 2024 Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER hybrid electric vehicle ad^[57]

Gaming

• The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 2010 video game, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.^[58]

See also

• List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2010 (U.S.)

References

1. "The Temper Trap Ponder Album No. 2". Clash. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
2. "16 Albums you need to listen to in June". Harper's Bazaar. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
3. (PDF) (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
4. "British single certifications – Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
5. "Sweet Disposition – Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
6. Sweet Disposition (Australian CD single liner notes). The Temper Trap. Liberation Music. 2008. LMCD0023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Sweet Disposition (Australian 12-inch single liner notes). The Temper Trap. Liberation Music. 2008. LMLP0023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Sweet Disposition (UK 7-inch picture disc sleeve). The Temper Trap. Liberation Music, Infectious Records. 2009. INFECT103S.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Sweet Disposition (US promo CDR liner notes). The Temper Trap. Columbia Records. 2008. ORAW 08993 JK.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. "The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
11. "The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
12. "The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition" (in French). Ultratip.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweet Disposition". Irish Singles Chart.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
15. "The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
16. "The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition". Top 40 Singles.
17. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
18. "Temper Trap: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
19. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
20. "The Temper Trap Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
21. "The Temper Trap Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
22. "The Temper Trap Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
23. "The Temper Trap Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
24. "ARIA Top 50 Australian Singles for 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
25. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
26. "2010 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
27. "ARIA Top 50 Australian Singles for 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
28. "Jaaroverzichten 2010" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
29. . Nielsen. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
30. "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
31. "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
32. "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
33. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
34. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
35. "Italian single certifications – The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 March 2019. Select "2015" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Sweet Disposition" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
36. . Radioscope. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
37. "American single certifications – The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
38. (XML). Apple Inc. 2 April 2009. Archived from the original (XML) on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2022. 133. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap [...] Sweet Disposition - Single [...] Release Date: Sep 16, 2008 [...] 2008 Liberation Music
39. . JB Hi-Fi. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
40. "New Releases Singles - Week Commencing 26th January 2009" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 987. Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 January 2009. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2022 – via Trove.
41. . Amazon.com. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
42. . Amazon.co.uk. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
43. . Amazon.co.uk. 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
44. . FMQB. Archived from the original on 4 February 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
45. "Sweet Disposition - Single by The Temper Trap". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). 11 October 2009. from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
46. . iTunes Store (United States). 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
47. Walmsley, Sophia (15 August 2021). "10 Best Songs In (500) Days Of Summer". Screen Rant. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
48. "3 Days to Kill (2014): Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
49. "I Still Believe Soundtrack". Tunefind. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
50. "Center Parcs – Memories Start Here". TV Advert Music. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
51. "Jose: Football on Sky Sports - It's special". YouTube. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
52. "O2 Treats ad Temper Trap". YouTube. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
53. "Toyota Yaris Indonesia Commercial - Sweet Disposition". YouTube. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
54. "Chrysler Commercial". Retrieved 5 March 2022 – via YouTube.
55. "Diet Coke Commercial". Retrieved 5 March 2022 – via YouTube.
56. "Rhapsody Commercial". Retrieved 5 March 2022 – via YouTube.
57. Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER. Retrieved 21 April 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
58. PES 2011 Soundtrack, retrieved 7 April 2022