Gold (Guy Sebastian song) explained

Gold
Cover:Guy Sebastian Gold Cover.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Guy Sebastian
Album:Armageddon
Genre:Pop, soul
Label:Sony Music Entertainment
Producer:Pro-Jay, Harmony "H-Money" Samuels
Chronology:Guy Sebastian
Prev Title:Don't Worry Be Happy
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:Battle Scars
Next Year:2012

"Gold" is a song written and performed by Australian singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian. It is the second single from his seventh album Armageddon and was released digitally in Australia on 11 May 2012.[1] An EP with two new songs and a remix of a previous single "Who's That Girl" was released in CD format on 1 June 2012 and digitally on 15 June 2012.[2] [3] "Gold" peaked at number ten on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum in 2014.[4] It was Sebastian's ninth of 12 top ten singles on the Australian charts.[5]

Background

"Gold" is an uptempo soul song. During an interview on Australian radio station Nova 96.9 Sebastian said "Gold" was special to him because he was a huge Otis Redding fan, and he had inserted a horn line from a 1967 live recording of an Otis Redding track called "Shake" into the song. Discussing the inspiration for the song, he said: "You hear an old soul track, old Motown or Memphis, and it just makes you get on your feet." He elaborated, "It's probably the most fun, up-tempo song I've ever released to sing [...] Because it's such aggressive soul... By the end of the track I'm jumping out of my skin. It's one of those singer songs."[6] Sebastian said in an interview with Take 40 that the idea for lyrics came because of a friend who always used the term "That's Gold".[7]

There was some controversy surrounding the song when The Voice final 24 contestant Carmen Smith, who performed backing vocals on the track, was asked to leave the show because she appeared in the video. The Voice producers said she had broken the "spirit" of the rules as the video would give her an unfair advantage over other contestants.[8] Smith later stated that she had performed with Sebastian for years, and had a clause in her The Voice contract which allowed her to continue to perform and record with him. She thought appearing in the video would be permitted under her contract, but that The Voice producers saw things differently: "We had differences in opinion but in the end that is how they felt about it and I just had to go home and accept it. [...] The fact that this has happened, it is unfortunate, but the positive is that I get to move on and do what I do best and sing with Guy again."[9]

Release and promotion

"Gold" was serviced to radio on 4 May 2012 and was the second most added song to Australian radio for two consecutive weeks.[10] [11] It peaked at number 26 on the national airplay charts.[12] Sebastian performed the song on the Seven Network's Dancing with the Stars, Australia's Got Talent and Sunrise.[13] [14] [15]

Reception

Critical response

A reviewer for Take 40 wrote: "It's already becoming one of our favourite new tunes! The song is super-fast and full of fun vibes and has an upbeat Motown feel to it!"[16] Power Fm announcer Bella Frizza said: "'GOLD' has just been released and you know what? I reckon it is just that -GOLDEN! But hey don't trust my ears – listen for yourself and if you're not dancing round your office/bedroom/loungeroom within about 40 seconds then I want to hear why!"[17] Music site auspOp wrote: "We can't tell you how happy we are that Guy Sebastian has ditched the R&B/dance hybrid sound for his latest single 'Gold'. 'Cause this new tune is precisely what Guy does best – oozing with class and old school soul. 'Gold' sounds like it could have been ripped straight from the streets of '60s Detroit, what with its flashy brass, gorgeous gospel chorus and Guy's insane pitch-perfect vocal. [...] 'Gold' is quite simply pure, unadulterated joy."[18]

Commercial performance

"Gold" debuted and peaked at number ten on the ARIA Singles Chart, and achieved platinum certification in 2014.[4] It was Sebastian's ninth of 12 top ten singles in Australia.[5]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Gold" premiered in May 2012. It was filmed at an old warehouse at the Mill Markets in Geelong, Victoria. Sebastian said the concept came from an old Billy Preston video. He sent it to the producers as a reference and the "Gold" video evolved from there.[6] It is set at a 1950s warehouse party, and Sebastian and his band are shown performing to an audience dressed in clothing of the era.[19] He and his backing vocalist leave the stage and join the dancers on the dance floor. The video is shot in black and white, and in the last 45 seconds is infused with gold highlights and then progresses to full subdued colour.[20]

Charts

Year-end charts

Track listing

  1. "Gold" – 3:22
  1. "Gold" – 3:24
  2. "Diamond in My Hand" – 3:24
  3. "Lost in the Streets of LA" – 3:32
  4. "Who's That Girl" (7th Heaven Radio Mix) – 3:59

Credits and personnel

"Gold"

"Diamond in My Hand"

"Lost in the Streets of LA"

"Who's That Girl"

Credits taken from "Gold" CD liner notes.[23]

Release history

CountryFormatDateLabel
AustraliaDigital download11 May 2012Sony Music Australia
CD single1 June 2012

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531115858/http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/gold-single/id526538046 iTunes – Music – Gold – Single by Guy Sebastian
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20120628032443/http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2211113/Gold_SIGNED_COPY Gold (Signed copy)
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20140619050348/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/gold-ep/id532211248 Gold EP
  4. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2014.htm ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles
  5. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Guy+Sebastian Guy Sebastian in the Australian Charts
  6. http://www.novafm.com.au/video/behind-video-guy-sebastians-gold Behind the Video: Guy Sebastian's "Gold"
  7. http://www.take40.com/artists/1748/guy-sebastian/interviews?movideo_p=47824 Guy Sebastian interview (May 2012)
  8. McCabe, Kathy (16 May 2012). . Adelaide Confidential. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012.
  9. Byrne, Fiona (23 May 2012). Ousted The Voice contestant Carmen Smith breaks her silence about her shock exit. The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
  10. http://auspop.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/most-added_14.html MOST ADDED
  11. http://auspop.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/most-added_21.html MOST ADDED
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20120611084459/http://www.aumreport.com/amr100.html Australian Airplay Top 100 – Week of June 30 2012
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20130925155959/http://au.tv.yahoo.com/dancing-with-the-stars/video/-/watch/29282717/ Guy Sebastian "Gold" Dancing with the Stars
  14. http://au.tv.yahoo.com/australias-got-talent/video/-/watch/29447328/ Guy Sebastian "Gold" Australia's Got Talent
  15. https://archive.today/20121230124725/http://www.guysebastian.com.au/newsEvents/home.do?newsId=20030829007253 Guy Performs 'Gold' On Sunrise
  16. http://www.take40.com/news/31204/listen:-guy-sebastian LISTEN: Guy Sebastian's New Song 'Gold' – Fun and Soulful Vibes!
  17. Frizza, Bella (9 May 2012). Brand New: Guy Sebastian. Power Fm. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
  18. http://auspop.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/guy-sebastian-gold.html GUY SEBASTIAN : Gold
  19. http://www.starnow.com.au/listings/ListingDetail.aspx?l_id=340798 Party goers for Guy Sebastian video – Victoria
  20. http://www.take40.com/news/31317/watch:-guy-sebastian%27s-new-video-%27gold%27-feat.-carmen-smith-from-the-voice! WATCH: Guy Sebastian's New Video 'Gold' Feat. Carmen Smith From The Voice!
  21. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Guy+Sebastian&titel=Gold&cat=s Guy Sebastian – Gold (Song)
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20130409211536/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-australian-singles-2012.htm ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Australian Artist Singles 2012
  23. Notes for "Gold" by Guy Sebastian [CD liner notes]. Sony Music Australia