{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox song | name = Scared to Start | type = single | cover = Michael Marcagi - Scared to Start.png | alt = | artist = Michael Marcagi | EP = American Romance | released = {{start date|2024|01|12}} | recorded = | genre = Folk<ref>{{cite web | url=https://holler.country/news/breaking/exclusive-michael-marcagi-discusses-his-viral-song-scared-to-start-noah-kahan-and-more/ | title=Exclusive: Michael Marcagi Discusses His Viral Song, 'Scared to Start', Noah Kahan and More | Holler }}</ref> | length = 2:39 | label = Warner | writer = * Michael Marcagi * Andrew Yorio | producer = David Baron | prev_title = The Other Side | prev_year = 2023 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = }} "'''Scared to Start'''" is a song by American singer Michael Marcagi, released as his second single on January 12, 2024, through Warner Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Rising-Singer-Songwriter-Michael-Marcagi-Signs-to-Warner-Records-20240112|title=Rising Singer-Songwriter Michael Marcagi Signs to Warner Records|website=BroadwayWorld|last=Major|first=Michael|date=January 12, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> It charted internationally, reaching the top 10 in both Ireland and the UK, and the top 20 in both Australia and New Zealand.
==Background and promotion== Michael Marcagi, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, previously fronted the rock band the Heavy Hours. He previewed the song "Scared to Start" on TikTok in November 2023, after which it was used in over 70,000 videos on the platform.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billboard-charts-first-timers-michael-marcagi-zach-top-1235588330/|title=5 First-Timers on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Charts This Week: Michael Marcagi, Zach Top, The Ramona Flowers & More|magazine=Billboard|last=Zellner|first=Xander|date=January 24, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref>
==Commercial performance== The song reached the top 10 in Ireland and the UK,<ref name="Ireland"/><ref name="UK"/> as well as the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.<ref name="AUS"/><ref name="Canada"/><ref name="NZ"/> It also charted in Sweden at number 29,<ref name="Sweden"/> and peaked at number 54 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the issue dated April 20, 2024.<ref name="US"/>
==Charts==
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for "Scared to Start" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref name="AUS">{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2024-03-25|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=March 25, 2024|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> | 12 |- {{single chart|Austria|17|artist=Michael Marcagi|song=Scared to Start|rowheader=true|access-date=March 27, 2024}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|33|artist=Michael Marcagi|song=Scared to Start|rowheader=true|access-date=May 5, 2024}} |- ! scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)<ref name="Canada">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2024-04-20/|title=''Billboard'' Canadian Hot 100: Week of April 20, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> | 20 |- {{single chart|Germany|43|songid=2421852|artist=Michael Marcagi|song=Scared to Start|rowheader=true|access-date=March 28, 2024}} |- ! scope="row"| Global 200 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2024-04-20/|title=''Billboard'' Global 200: Week of April 20, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> | 35 |- {{single chart|Ireland4|4|date=20240412|rowheader=true|access-date=April 12, 2024|refname=Ireland}} |- {{single chart|Dutch40|20|year=2024|week=18|rowheader=true|access-date=May 4, 2024}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|26|artist=Michael Marcagi|song=Scared to Start|rowheader=true|access-date=April 13, 2024}} |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref name="NZ">{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2024-04-12|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=April 15, 2024|access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> | 13 |- ! scope="row"| Norway (VG-lista)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2024-w12/|title=Singel 2024 uke 12|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=March 23, 2024}}</ref> | 13 |- ! scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)<ref name="Sweden">{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2024&dspp=15|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 15|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> | 19 |- {{single chart|Switzerland|16|artist=Michael Marcagi|song=Scared to Start|rowheader=true|access-date=March 24, 2024|refname=SWI}} |- {{single chart|UK|9|date=20240329|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2024|refname=UK}} |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="US">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-04-20/|title=''Billboard'' Hot 100: Week of April 20, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 16, 2024}}</ref> | 54 |- ! scope="row"| US Adult Pop Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-pop-songs/2024-07-20/|title=Adult Pop Airplay: Week of July 20, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref> | 36 |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-songs/2024-03-30/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of March 30, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 26, 2024}}</ref> | 5 |- ! scope="row"| US Rock & Alternative Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-airplay/2024-06-22/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of June 22, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> | 11 |}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for "Scared to Start" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart for 2024|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref> | 18 |- ! scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2024|title=Jaaroverzichten 2024|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=January 1, 2025}}</ref> | 71 |- ! scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/canadian-hot-100/|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref> | 45 |- ! scope="row"| Global 200 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/billboard-global-200/|title=Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref> | 116 |- ! scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2024&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2024|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref> | 45 |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2024-12-19|title=End of Year Top 50 Singles|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 21, 2024|archive-date=December 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220001402/https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2024-12-19|url-status=live}}</ref> | 24 |- ! scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43/?dspy=2024&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 2024|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=January 15, 2025}}</ref> | 35 |- ! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2024|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2024|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=December 30, 2024}}</ref> | 76 |- ! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-songs-of-2024/|title=The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2024|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Ainsley|first=Helen|date=December 27, 2024|access-date=December 27, 2024}}</ref> | 20 |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-rock-songs/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> | 15 |- ! scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/rock-airplay-songs/|title=Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref> | 32 |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Scared to Start"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|certyear=2024|access-date=October 15, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=2024|access-date=December 21, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Platinum|number=5|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2026|access-date=April 15, 2026}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|id=15741|access-date=August 14, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=July 9, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=January 11, 2025|certyear=2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=August 16, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|id=19895-6735-1|access-date=August 30, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Michael Marcagi|title=Scared to Start|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2026|access-date=January 16, 2026}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2024 singles Category:2024 songs Category:2020s ballads Category:Folk ballads Category:Michael Marcagi songs Category:Song recordings produced by David Baron (composer) Category:Warner Records singles