Sweet Disposition
2008 single by the Temper Trap
"Sweet Disposition" is a song by Australian indie rock band the Temper Trap. Described by critics as an "indie anthem", 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.
01Chart 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 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 and 4× Platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry.
02Music 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.
As of 2026, the most popular music video has around 90 million views, whereas the other two versions both have around 15 million views each.
03Track listings
Australian digital download
- "Sweet Disposition", 3:54
- "Sweet Disposition" (video), 3:54
Australian CD single
- "Sweet Disposition"
- "Sweet Disposition" (Curtis Vodka remix)
Australian 12-inch single
- 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
- A. "Sweet Disposition"
- B. "Little Boy"
04Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
05Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 8× Platinum | 560,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 5× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
06Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 16 September 2008 | Digital download | Liberation | |
| 22 October 2008 | 12-inch vinyl | |||
| 26 January 2009 | CD single | |||
| United States | 14 July 2009 | Digital download | Glassnote | |
| United Kingdom | 2 August 2009 | Infectious | ||
| 3 August 2009 | 7-inch vinyl | |||
| United States | 31 August 2009 | Alternative radio |
|
|
| United Kingdom | 11 October 2009 | Digital download (remixes) | Infectious | |
| United States | 24 August 2010 | Digital download (remixes) | Glassnote |
07"Sweet Disposition (A Moment, a Love)"
| "Sweet Disposition (A Moment, a Love)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Lost Frequencies and The Temper Trap | ||||
| Released | 30 May 2025 | |||
| Length | 3:32 | |||
| Label | Lost & Cie | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Lost Frequencies | |||
| Lost Frequencies singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| The Temper Trap singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
On 30 May 2025, a version titled "Sweet Disposition (A Moment, a Love)" credited to Belgium DJ Lost Frequencies and The Temper Trap was released.
Reception
Freddy Pawle from Rolling Stone Australia said "De Laet's remix features bouncy echoes of the original chorus atop a trance-inducing beat built for both mainstream and underground fans to sing along to."
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 6 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 16 |
| NZ Hot Singles (RMNZ) | 39 |
| North Macedonia Airplay (Radiomonitor) | 12 |
| Chart (2025) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 32 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 117 |
| Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) | 102 |
08In popular culture
Film
- The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 2009 romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer.
- The song was featured on the soundtrack and played during the ending scene for the 2014 action thriller film, 3 Days to Kill.
- The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 2020 romantic film, I Still Believe.
Advertisements
- The song was used in the 2009 "Memories Start Here" advert for Center Parcs.
- The song was used in a 2009 Sky Sports advert featuring Jose Mourinho.
- The song was used in a 2009 of Network 10 AFL Finals Series advert.
- The song was used in a 2009 O2 advert.
- The song was used in a 2010 Indonesian advert promoting the Toyota Yaris.
- The song was used in a long-form commercial for Chrysler released in 2010.
- The song was used in a commercial for Diet Coke that reportedly aired on the 2010 Academy Awards.
- Coca-Cola Company used the song again for its Coke Zero drink in 2025.
- The song was used in a 2010 commercial for Rhapsody Music service.
- A cover of the song was used in a 2024 Nissan X-Trail e-POWER hybrid electric vehicle ad.
Video games
- The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 2010 video game, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.
Other
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Sweet Disposition”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Sweet DispositionCoverArt.png by Unknown author, Fair use
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