Cannonball

Cannonball is a song by American singer-actress Lea Michele, taken from her upcoming debut studio album Louder. The song was released to iTunes Store in the United States on December 10, 2013 as the album's lead single and made its radio debut on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on December 16, 2013. The song was written by Sia Furler, Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, and was produced by Stargate.

"Cannonball" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised Michele's vocal delivery. It garnered moderate success on charts, peaking at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and enter the top fifty of several countries' singles charts. Michele performed the song during The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The X Factor.

Composition
Michele told MTV that "Cannonball" is a song that helped her cope in the aftermath of her boyfriend and co-star Cory Monteith's death in the summer of 2013. Initially, Michele didn't plan on having the song be a part of the album, which she'd finished recording in June; but after Monteith died aged 31 in July, Michele put her album on hold and took a moment to think if there was anything else she needed to get off her chest. Working with songwriters Sia Furler and Benny Blanco, who co-wrote "Cannonball," she recorded the track and the single became a mantra of survival.

Live Performances
Her first live performance of the song was on December 12, 2013 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after a sit down interview with Ellen DeGeneres. She performed the song live during the final of the third season of The X Factor USA on December 19, 2013.

Critical Reception
The song received positive reviews from critics. Rolling Stone writer Ron Blistein gave Michele's "Cannonball" a favorable review, writing: “The track is instantly memorable, not surprising considering the number of top hit-makers behind it, including cowriters Sia Furler and Benny Blanco. Production comes courtesy of the Norwegian duo Stargate. Still, it’s Michele’s powerhouse vocals that take center stage on 'Cannonball' as she deftly switches from her Broadway-trained belting and 'Glee'-honed pop chops.”

Billboard wrote: "The song's booming pop chorus features a confident Michele, whose Broadway-bred voice is as on-point as you'd expect: "And now I will start living today, today, today. I closed the door / I got this new beginning, and I will fly, I'll fly like a cannonball."

Music Video
Michele filmed parts of the music video for "Cannonball" on two separate occasions; on November 17, 2013 and December 16, 2013. The video was premiered January 9th, 2014. It was directed by Robert Hales and styled by Estee Stanley.