The Light (Common song)

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“The Light”
“The Light” cover
Single by Common featuring James Poyser
from the album Like Water for Chocolate
Released July 18, 2000
Format 12-inch single, CD, Vinyl
Genre Chicago hip hop
Length 4:21
Label MCA Records
Writer(s) Lonnie Lynn
James Yancey
Bobby Caldwell
Norman Harris
Bruce Malament
Producer Jay Dee
Common featuring James Poyser singles chronology
"The 6th Sense"
(2000)		 "The Light"
(2000)		 "Geto Heaven Remix T.S.O.I. (The Sound of Illadelph)"
(2001)
Also see The Light (disambiguation).

"The Light" is the Grammy nominated second single off Common's 2000 album Like Water for Chocolate. It is produced by Jay Dee and features keyboards performed by James Poyser. It samples "Open Your Eyes" as performed by Bobby Caldwell and the drums from "You're Getting a Little too Smart" by the Detroit Emeralds. Framed as a love letter, it is a confession of Common's love for a woman whom many believe to have been his girlfriend at the time, Erykah Badu. Cythia Fuchs of PopMatters describes it as a "charming, tender, and undeniably soulful declaration of affection and respect."[1] A music video directed by Nzingha Stuart features Common, Erykah Badu and "recognizable sensual delights" including "a homemade Minnie Ripperton cassette, a mango, a pink lava lamp [and] a deeply green water-beaded leaf."[1]

Contents

[edit] Overview

[edit] Reception

After the release of Like Water for Chocolate, the song almost immediately attained the status of one of hip hop's few "precious" love songs and women's anthems.[1] It also reached Common's best chart positions: #44 on The Billboard Hot 100, #21 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart and #12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Additionally, it reached #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart, a feat that Common had previously surpassed. All Music Guide writer Steve Huey says that "The Light" as well as "The 6th Sense" are "quintessential Common, uplifting and thoughtful [songs that] helped bring him a whole new audience."[2]

The song received a 2001 Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance.

[edit] Alternate versions

  • A live seven minute version featuring vocals by Erykah Badu and Bilal, scratching by DJ Dummy, keyboards by James Poyser and Omar Edwards, bass guitar by Adam Blackstone, drums by ?uestlove, guitar by Kevin Hanson and percussion by Frank "Knuckles" Walker is featured on Dave Chappelle's Block Party 2006 soundtrack.
  • A remix featuring vocals by Erykah Badu was released by Motown Records as a single in 2000 for the Bamboozled soundtrack.
  • The original version is featured on compilations such as 2000's The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 4, 2001's Grammy R&B/Rap Nominees 2001, 2001's Pure R&B, Vol. 2, 2001's Wrap It Up, 2004's The Hip Hop Box and 2006's Hip Hop: Gold.
  • Tom Middleton remixed it for his 2004 album The Trip.
  • Tony Okungbowa remixed it for his 2005 album Hollywood Sessions, Vol. 1.
  • "The Light '08 (It's Love)", a remake made by Common and producer Just Blaze, featuring Marsha Ambrosius, was released in 2008 for a Smirnoff advertising campaign.

[edit] Single track list

"The Light" US version released on July 18, 2000
"The Light" US version released on July 18, 2000

[edit] US version

[edit] A-Side

  1. "The Light (Album Version)" (4:02)
  2. "The Light (Instrumental)" (4:07)
  3. "The Light (Acappella)" (3:42)

[edit] B-Side

  1. "Funky for You (Album Version)" (4:28)
  2. "Funky for You (Instrumental)" (4:26)
  3. "Funky for You (Radio Edit)" (4:28)

[edit] Import

"The Light" import released on March 3, 2000
"The Light" import released on March 3, 2000

[edit] A-Side

  1. "The Light (Album Version)"

[edit] B-Side

  1. "The 6th Sense (Something U Feel) (Album Version)"
  2. "The Light (Instrumental)"

[edit] Remix

"The Light" remix released on October 31, 2000
"The Light" remix released on October 31, 2000

[edit] A-Side

  1. "The Light (Remix) (Radio)" (4:01)
  2. "The Light (Remix) (Main)" (6:03)

[edit] B-Side

  1. "The Light (Remix) (Instrumental)" (5:49)
  2. "The Light (Remix) (Acapella)" (5:56)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Fuchs, Cynthia. Common: The Light - PopMatters Music Video Review. Retrieved on April 27, 2007.
  2. ^ Huey, Steve. Like Water for Chocolate Review at All Music Guide. Retrieved on April 27, 2007.

[edit] See also


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