Neon Lights (Demi Lovato song)

"Neon Lights"
Single by Demi Lovato
from the album Demi
Released November 19, 2013
Format Digital download
Recorded 2012
Genre
Length 3:53
3:38 (radio edit)
Label Hollywood
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ryan Tedder
  • Noel Zancanella
Demi Lovato singles chronology
  • "Neon Lights"
  • (2013)
Music video
"Neon Lights" on YouTube

"Neon Lights" is a song performed by American singer Demi Lovato. The song was released on November 19, 2013, as the third single from her fourth studio album, Demi (2013).[1] Ryan Tedder and Noel Zancanella produced and co-wrote the song along with Lovato, Mario Marchetti, and Tiffany Vartanyan. The song later inspired Lovato's concert tour of the same name.[2]

Background and composition

"Neon Lights" is a dance[3] and an electropop[4] song. In October 2013, Tedder explained his idea to produce the dance record, stating "That record, Neon Lights, we did intentionally because I wanted to. I heard it on [a friend's] demo-reel and the next day I woke up and the melody was in my head, and I couldn't get it out of my head for two days, that's when I knew."[5] Tedder also went on to compliment Lovato's vocals stating "She came in and just ripped it. She in pop music has one of the biggest ranges, possibly the highest full voice singer I've ever worked with. She can belt full voice like three octaves above middle C, it's just crazy, and with complete power and complete control. At the beginning she's singing the lowest note she's ever done and by the end she's going as high as she's ever gone." Tedder say the song was a "Fun dance record."[3] According to Musicnotes.com, Lovato's vocals span from the low note of C♯3 and the high note of F ♯5.[6]

Release

Lovato announced that the song would be the third single from Demi on September 27, 2013 by posting a short teaser video to her Facebook page featuring the words "Neon Lights" formed out of neon light tubes, with the background music being "Neon Lights". The words "SUNDAY 6 PM EST" appeared on screen just before it ended, suggesting the release of the music video or the new single.[7] However, this was actually a reference to a live Facebook chat Lovato had with her fans on September 29, where she confirmed "Neon Lights" as the next single of Demi and also announced her associated tour of the same name in support of the album.[8] Despite the announcement in September, the official release of the single was on November 19, with the music video being released two days later on November 21.

Critical reception

The song received mixed to positive reviews from critics upon the release of Demi. Although critics praised the song overall, its placement upon the album was criticized. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard called "Neon Lights" a "misguided dance stunt". He explained that the song "covers well-worn electro-pop territory" and does so very effectively. He also states that the song is well done for "the blinking synthesizers and clomping bass that receive a boost from the singer's unflappable power." [4] Alter The Press! gave the song a positive review, stating that "Most recent single Neon Lights is certainly a standout track on the album, and well deserving of a solo release, with a huge chorus that allows Lovato to push her voice and show off the power harbored in her vocal chords, it's an ideal seller for the whole album."[9]

Music video

The music video was released on November 21, 2013.[10] The video was directed by Ryan Pallotta, who previously worked with Lovato, who co-directed for the music video, "Made in the USA". The video begins as Lovato emerging from a pool of water. In the next scene, Lovato performed the introduction of the song in a room wired with neon lights and another scene where Lovato is later shown dancing and singing with the backup dancers in a club. During the video, Lovato is wearing neon makeup and neon rain starts falling down. The scenes are shown repeatedly throughout the video.

Live performances

Lovato first performed the song at We Day on September 20, 2013.[11] She then promoted it on October 3, 2013 at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with a performance, the first on television.[12] On October 7, 2013, Lovato performed the song during her interview at the The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[13][14] Lovato performed the song during the results show of the third season of The X Factor (U.S.) on November 28, 2013. On December 31, 2013, Lovato performed it at ET Canada‍ '​s New Year's Eve televised show.[15] On May 21, 2014, Lovato performed the song along with "Really Don't Care" at the thirteenth season finale of American Idol along with the Top 13 female contestants.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2015 Vevo Certified Awards 100 Million Views "Neon Lights" Won

Formats and track listings

  1. "Neon Lights" – 3:53
  1. "Neon Lights" (Radio Version) – 3:38
  2. "Neon Lights" (Betty Who Remix) – 3:17
  3. "Neon Lights" (Cole Plante with Myon & Shane 54 Remix) – 6:04
  4. "Neon Lights" (Jump Smokers Remix) – 4:06
  5. "Neon Lights" (Belanger Remix) – 5:17
  6. "Neon Lights" (Tracy Young Remix) – 7:26

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[17] 11
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[18] 15
Bulgaria (Bulgaria Singles Top 40)[19] 35
scope="row"Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 40
scope="row"Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 22
scope="row"Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[22] 35
scope="row"Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[23] 46
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 62
scope="row"Ireland (IRMA)[25] 67
scope="row"Israel (Media Forest)[26] 32
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[27] 32
Luxembourg (Billboard)[28] 14
Mexico (Billboard)[29] 29
scope="row"New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 12
scope="row"Scotland (Official Charts Company)[31] 9
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 15
scope="row"US Billboard Hot 100[33] 36
scope="row"US Digital Songs (Billboard)[34] 23
scope="row"US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[35] 20
scope="row"US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[36] 1
scope="row"US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 5
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[38] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[4] 39
US Hot Dance/Club Songs (Billboard)[4] 31

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] Gold 7,500*
United States (RIAA)[40] Platinumdagger 895,000[41]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

dagger Since May 2013 RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.[42]

Release history

Country Date Format Ref.
United States 19 November 2013 Digital download [1]
United Kingdom 15 June 2014 [43]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kitchener, Shaun (September 27, 2013). "Demi Lovato Announces 'Neon Lights' As New Single (LISTEN)". Entertainment Wise. Giant Digital. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (September 30, 2013). "Demi Lovato Announces 2014 Tour with Little Mix, Cher Lloyd, Fifth Harmony". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder Hails Demi Lovato's Voice And "Incredible" Range". Capital FM. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Demi Lovato, 'Demi': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Ryan Tedder Talks About Working With Demi Lovato". YouTube. Capital FM. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  6. ↑ Lovato, Demi. "Demi Lovato "Neon Lights" Sheet Music". musicnotes.com.
  7. ↑ "Demi Lovato's Facebook Video". Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Demi Lovato's Facebook Tour Announcement". Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  9. ↑ Wilce, Tasmyn (December 2013). "2013: Albums Of The Year". Alter The Press!.
  10. ↑ "Demi Lovato - Neon Lights (Official)". Youtube.com. November 25, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Demi Lovato, the Jonas Brothers, Darren Criss, Chris Hadfield and Imagine Dragons Take the Stage Today for We Day Toronto". Market Wired. Yahoo! Finance. September 20, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Demi Lovato Performs 'Neon Lights' For The First Time On TV". NOW 100.5 FM. 3 October 2013.
  13. ↑ "Demi Lovato Performs "Neon Lights" On 'Ellen,' Talks About Her Parents' Haunted House: Watch". Idolator. 7 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Demi Lovato Performs 'Neon Lights'". ellentv.com. 7 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Kennedy, John R. (January 1, 2014). [Miley, Demi, Rob Ford: NYE shows had something for all "Miley, Demi, Rob Ford: NYE shows had something for all"]. Globalnews.ca. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  16. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Neon Lights Remixes - EP by Demi Lovato". itunes.apple.com.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Demi Lovato – Neon Lights" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Demi Lovato – Neon Lights" (in French). Ultratip.
  19. ↑ http://acharts.us/song/89974
  20. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Demi Lovato.
  21. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Demi Lovato.
  22. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Demi Lovato.
  23. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201415 into search.
  24. ↑ "The Official Finnish Charts - Demi Lovato". BGTop40. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  25. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 03, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
  26. ↑ "Demi Lovato – Neon Lights Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
  27. ↑ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 - Demi Lovato". Olt20.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Luxembourg Digital Songs - December 14, 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  29. ↑ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard.
  30. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Demi Lovato – Neon Lights". Top 40 Singles.
  31. ↑ "Archive Chart: June 22, 2014". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  32. ↑ "22, 2014/ Archive Chart: June 22, 2014" UK Singles Chart.
  33. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Demi Lovato.
  34. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Digital Songs for Demi Lovato.
  35. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Demi Lovato.
  36. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Demi Lovato.
  37. ↑ "Demi Lovato Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Demi Lovato.
  38. ↑ "Pop Rock General". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. April 6, 2013.
  39. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart - December 30, 2013". RIANZ. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  40. ↑ "American single certifications – Demi Lovato – Neon Lights". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  41. ↑ "Ask Billboard: Baseball Hits, Gwen Stefani's Delay & & Demi Lovato's Best-Selling Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 12, 2014.
  42. ↑ "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  43. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Neon Lights - Single by Demi Lovato". itunes.apple.com.