The iconic song “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and The Wailers is the first to achieve triple platinum status in the UK for the reggae group.
The Official Charts Company reported that Three Little Birds had sold over 1.8 million units in the UK, and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) said that this had led to the song receiving a BRIT Certified Platinum 3X award on Friday, September 6.
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It was certified double platinum in December 2021 and platinum in August 2018. It recently became the “One Love” singer’s first song to reach one billion plays on Spotify.
The song was first released on June 3, 1977, and peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart. It was included in the groundbreaking Exodus album. The birds that flew past Bob’s window at 56 Hope Road in Kingston before his evacuation brought him to the UK in 1976 are credited with inspiring Three Little Birds.
Later, it was included on the legendary best hits compilation album Legend (1984), which sold 100,000 copies.
In 2020, a brand-new animated music video for the song “Three Little Birds” was released in honor of Marley’s 75th birthday. Cedella, Marley’s daughter, remarked at the time, “This song has helped provide hope and light for so many over the years, including me, and I hope it does the same for people now, especially with all that is going on in the world.” The recently released images, which show a wolf and a pig becoming close to one another while being watched over by the three little birds that are the subject of the video, have received over 125 million views on YouTube.
2014’s UK and US No. 1 smash “Rude” by MAGIC! included a sample of the song’s rhythm.
Several movies’ soundtracks have also used the song, including the biography Bob Marley: One Love (2024), Zombieland: Double Tap (2019), Brightburn (2019), Romona and Beezus (2010), Funny People (2009), and I Am Legend (2007).
One of the reggae band’s seven UK platinum-selling hits is “Three Little Birds.”
Both Could You Be Loved (1980) and Is This Love (1978) have achieved a milestone of over 1.2 million sales and are presently certified double platinum. Four further tracks—No Woman, No Cry (1974), Jammin’ (1977), One Love (1977), and Buffalo Solider (1983)—have achieved Platinum status in the nation, each having sold over 600,000 copies.
Gold certification has been attained by Stir It Up, Waiting In Vain, and Redemption Song (400,000 units), while Silver certification has been attained by Get Up, Stand Up, I Shot The Sheriff, and Satisfy My Soul (200,000 units).
