Light Me Up (Hunter Hayes song) explained

Light Me Up
Cover:HunterHayes-LightMeUp.png
Type:single
Artist:Hunter Hayes
Album:I Want Crazy
Recorded:2011–13, 2015
Length:
    Label:Atlantic
    Prev Title:Tattoo
    Prev Year:2014
    Next Title:21
    Next Year:2015

    "Light Me Up" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Hunter Hayes. Co-written by busbee and Shane McAnally, it was originally recorded for Hayes's self-titled debut studio album (2011) but was only included on the 2013 Encore edition re-issue.[1] The song was re-recorded in 2015, and was released to the UK and Oceania on March 13, 2015.[2] as the lead single for Hayes's international compilation album, I Want Crazy (2015).[3]

    Composition

    "Light Me Up" was written by Hayes with pop songwriter busbee and country music singer Shane McAnally as an upbeat country pop song about the excitement of love. Beginning with a drum loop and B-3, its instrumentation later incorporates guitar, banjo, and bouzouki.[4] [5] Bob Paxman at Nash Country Weekly described the chorus, which features firework and sunshine imagery, as "uplifting."[4]

    The UK single version downplays the country elements of the original for a more pop-oriented sound.[6] Drawing influences from electropop and dance-pop,[6] the remix features a more heavily processed vocal and synthesized backbeat.

    Background and release

    Conceived during the writing sessions for Hayes's self-titled debut studio album, "Light Me Up" was originally recorded sometime in 2011 but was ultimately not included on the original release of the album due to not fitting the tone of the album at the time.[7] In 2012, the song was re-recorded and offered to fans for free through Hayes' official Facebook page as part of a partnership with Country Financial.[8] After the success of "Wanted" and the inspiration he received during his Most Wanted Tour, Hayes began working on new material. It was mutually decided by Hayes and his label in late 2012 that it "[wasn't] necessarily the right time... to make a new record," so the Encore edition of the album was developed as an alternative to make the newly-written songs and a handful of re-recorded tracks (including a new version of "Light Me Up") available to the fans.[9] [10] In 2015, the song was partially re-recorded for a fourth time and given a pop mix for an exclusive UK single release.

    Critical reception

    "Light Me Up" was mostly well received by critics in review for its parent album. Marc Engel of Fox News praised the mainstream appeal of the song, noting that "with chiming guitars plus a sing-a-long chorus it’s easy to understand why “Light Me Up” has become a fan favorite."[11] Matt Bjorke at Roughstock wrote that the song "feel[s] like [a] potential hit" and "gets the listener in a good mood," while complimenting Hayes's use of the song as a concert opener.[12] Robert Silva at Dotdash Meredith was more critical of the song's repetitive lyrics and the overall sameness of the new tracks on Encore.[13]

    Commercial performance

    Upon the release of Hunter Hayes (Encore), "Light Me Up" sold over 13,000 units.[14] This prompted a number 50 debut on the Billboard Country Digital Songs (the digital sales component of Hot Country Songs).[15]

    Music video

    A lyric video for the UK version of the song premiered on 22 January 2015.

    The official music video premiered on 9 February 2015 exclusively through Digital Spy.[16] It features Hayes playing the guitar, keyboard, and drums to the song, and "letting his inner rock star out."[16] [17]

    Personnel

    Credits adapted from the Hunter Hayes (Encore) album liner.[5]

    Release history

    CountryDateFormatLabel
    Australia13 March 2015Digital downloadAtlantic Records[18]
    Ireland[19]
    New Zealand[20]
    United Kingdom
    16 March 2015Mainstream radio[21]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Download Hunter Hayes' New Song, 'Light Me Up,' For FREE! . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130194525/https://www.mtv.com/news/tazrq8/hunter-hayes-light-me-up-new-song-download . dead . January 30, 2023 . Brodsky . Rachel . . . 30 January 2023.
    2. Web site: Light Me Up (UK Version) - Single by Hunter Hayes . . . 30 January 2023.
    3. Web site: I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes . . . 30 January 2023.
    4. News: Paxman . Bob . 18 June 2013 . Hunter Hayes (Encore) by Hunter Hayes . dead . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230511/http://www.countryweekly.com/reviews/hunter-hayes-encore-hunter-hayes . 3 March 2016 . 30 January 2023.
    5. . . 2013 . . Atlantic Records / Warner Music . B00C6P7IFW.
    6. Web site: Hunter Hayes to release new single Light Me Up . Ellwood . Pip . 19 January 2015 . Entertainment Focus . 25 January 2015.
    7. News: Mansfield . Brian . 17 June 2013 . Hunter Hayes extends debut album with '(Encore)' . . . 25 January 2015.
    8. News: 28 September 2012 . Hunter Hayes Gives Fans Free Download Of 'Light Me Up' . All Access Media Group . 25 January 2015.
    9. Hampp . Andrew . 4 June 2013 . Hunter Hayes Announces CMT Tour, Talks 'Encore' Album Out June 18 . . . 30 January 2023.
    10. News: Vena . Jocelyn . 17 June 2013 . Hunter Hayes Just Needed To 'Reset' To Write Encore Tunes . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130173102/https://www.mtv.com/news/zlsu8s/hunter-hayes-encore . dead . January 30, 2023 . . . 30 January 2023.
    11. News: Engel . Marc . 17 June 2013 . Album Review: Hunter Hayes, (Encore) . dead . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20130627080550/http://magazine.foxnews.com/celebrity/album-review-hunter-hayes-encore . 27 June 2013 . 24 January 2015.
    12. News: Bjorke . Matt . 19 June 2013 . Album Review: Hunter Hayes – Hunter Hayes (ENCORE) . Roughstock . Cheri Media . 24 January 2015.
    13. Web site: Hunter Hayes - 'Hunter Hayes (Encore)' Album Review . Silva . Robert . . 30 January 2023 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150909225958/http://countrymusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/Hunter-Hayes-encore-Album-Review.htm . 9 September 2015.
    14. Web site: Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles: The Week of June 26, 2013: Danielle Bradbery, Hunter Hayes, The Swon Brothers, Florida Georgia Line Dominates . Bjorke . Matt . roughstock.com . 26 June 2013 . 26 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130919224254/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-chart-news-the-top-30-digital-singles-june-26-2013-danielle-bradbery-hunter-hayes-the-swon-brothers-florida-georgia-line-dominate . 19 September 2013.
    15. Web site: Hunter Hayes Album & Song Chart History . Billboard Country Digital Songs for Hunter Hayes . 30 January 2023 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170331044242/http://www.billboard.com/artist/303698/Hunter%20Hayes/chart?f=1088 . 31 March 2017.
    16. News: Corner . Lewis . 9 February 2015 . Exclusive: Premiere: Hunter Hayes unveils 'Light Me Up' music video . https://archive.today/20150210073256/http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a627042/premiere-hunter-hayes-unveils-light-me-up-music-video.html%23~p3QaQowrzHaBnK . February 10, 2015 . 9 February 2015 . . . dead.
    17. Web site: Hunter Hayes Releases 2013's "Light Me Up" As New Single: Watch The Music Video! . Apaza . Kevin . 9 February 2015 . directlyrics.com . 9 February 2015.
    18. Web site: Light Me Up - Single by Hunter Hayes . . . 30 January 2023.
    19. Web site: Light Me Up - Single by Hunter Hayes . . . 30 January 2023.
    20. Web site: Light Me Up - Single by Hunter Hayes . . . 30 January 2023.
    21. Web site: Radio1 - New UK Singles . 7 February 2015 . Radio1 . 11 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150211031420/http://www.radio1.gr/newmusic/new-uk-singles/. 11 February 2015.

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