| "Red" | |||||||||||
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| Single by Daniel Merriweather | |||||||||||
| from the album Love & War | |||||||||||
| Released | May 18, 2009 (see release history) |
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| Format | Digital single, CD single | ||||||||||
| Genre | R&B, Pop | ||||||||||
| Length | 3:53 | ||||||||||
| Label | Columbia | ||||||||||
| Producer | Mark Ronson | ||||||||||
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"Red" is the second single by Daniel Merriweather from his second album Love & War, which was released on June 1, 2009.[1] The single was released on May 18, 2009.[2] It was produced by Mark Ronson, like the rest of the songs on his album. It was released on the Columbia record label.
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The video for this song was shot in Brooklyn, New York[3] and was directed by Anthony Mandler.[4]
The video is made up mostly of scenes showing Merriweather and his on-screen girlfriend in a dark apartment. The video shows the emotional strain that is taking its toll on their relationship. It shows their anger and frustration with each other. Daniel Merriweather is also seen sitting alone in the corner of a dark room as images are projected over the wall behind him. The images depict bullets shooting through glass as well as fire. These scenes are interspersed with shots of Merriweather in a dark, abandoned warehouse, we also see him walking the streets of Brooklyn. Though the overall colour palette of the video is quite dark and dreary, hints of red are used throughout the video in the clothing Merriweather wears, the lighting in one of the rooms, as well as some of the images projected on the wall.
The video was released on 15 April 2009 on Daniel Merriweather's official YouTube account. As of May 28, this video has received about 410, 427 views and a 5 star rating from over 748 viewers.[5]
"Red" has received quite mixed reviews from music critics:
Digitalspy gave the song 3 out of 5 stars saying that "Sadly this press release description of Daniel Merriweather's latest single is much like the singer himself - intriguing on paper, but lacking in excitement when you actually sample the goods". They also said that "but there's something rather cold and clinical about the Australian's performance. He may list Stax and Motown as influences, but the 26-year-old doesn't transfer the fire and thrills of his heroes into his own melodic flow".[6]
The Beat Review gave the song 4 out of 5 stars saying that "It’s an emotional track that catches every emotion of everybody who hears it. It’s somehow about being “perfect” as Daniel sings, “It took something perfect, to paint it red”. Along with the impressive arrangement, Daniel’s soulful, raspy vocals ventures into the whole track making it one of his finest".[7]
Chart Blog gave the song 3 out of 5 stars saying "I can't tell if it's the quiet, uncharismatic way he has about him or the song's melodic weak spots which is the problem - for all that the chorus is great, there's a bridge which doesn't really work - but somehow this isn't an easy song to get excited about".[8]
| Country | Release Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | May 18, 2009[2] | CD single, digital download | RCA Label Group (UK) |
The song debut on the UK Singles Chart at 5, making it his second top ten as the lead vocalist. In the next weeks chart it was announced that it had stayed at 5 for a second week and the week after it was also charted at #5. On June 14 it was announced that the song was #5 for a 4th consecutive week.[9] The song debut on the Irish Singles Chart at 36, marking it the first Daniel Merriweather song, with him as a lead vocalist, to chart in the country. On the next weeks chart it rose 13 places to 23 and rose again on the following weeks chart 7 places to 16.
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Denmark (Tracklisten)[10] | 5 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 9 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[12] | 5 |
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[13] | 36 |
The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at 126, without any promotion except from being the "Red" b-side. It was the first b-side by Merriweather to chart.
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 126[14] |
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