Northern Lights (song)

"Northern Lights"

7" picture disc. Clockwise from upper left: Terry Sullivan, Michael Dunford, John Tout, Annie Haslam, and Jon Camp.
Single by Renaissance (band)
from the album A Song for All Seasons
B-side "Opening Out"
Released 2 June 1978
Format 7" (45 rpm)
7" picture disc[1]
Recorded November 1977 – January 1978, London
Genre Symphonic rock, progressive rock
Length 4:06 (Album version)
4:06 (Picture disc)
3:29 (Single version)
Label Warner Bros.
Sire
Writer(s)

Music: Michael Dunford

Lyrics: Betty Thatcher-Newsinger
Producer(s) David Hentschel
Certification Silver (BPI)[2]
Renaissance (band) singles chronology
"Back Home Once Again"
1977		 "Northern Lights"
1978		 "The Winter Tree"
1979
Music sample
"Northern Lights"

"Northern Lights" is a song from 1978 by the progressive rock band Renaissance, released from their album A Song for All Seasons. It was the band's only hit single, reaching No. 10 on the UK singles chart.[3]

Song information

"Northern Lights" entered the UK singles charts on 15 July 1978 and remained there for 11 weeks, peaking at No. 10.[4] It was at No. 7 on Melody Maker's Top 30 Singles chart on 19 August 1978.[5] Renaissance performed "Northern Lights" live on The Mike Douglas Show on 4 May 1978 in the U.S.[6] The single was featured on Top of the Pops on 13 July 1978,[7] and 10 August 1978.[8] It was awarded a Silver disc on 1 September 1978 by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Lyrics

There isn't any reference to the Aurora Borealis in the lyrics; only a play on words in the title. The first verse begins with: "Destination outward bound, I turn to see the northern lights behind the wing..." suggesting a different meaning. Songfacts.com quoted lead singer Annie Haslam as commenting:

"The song is about leaving the Northern Lights of England... and Roy Wood behind, when I was working over in the U.S."[9]

Wood is known for being a founding member of The Move, The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and Wizzard. Haslam and Wood had a four year relationship. Lyricist Betty Thatcher-Newsinger wrote about Haslam's feelings of loneliness, and separation while on tour, based on their personal conversations. Hence the lines "though it's hard away from you", and "I'm missing you near me" accentuate the theme. Earlier songs "Ocean Gypsy", and "Trip to the Fair" were similarly founded in Haslam's life experiences, and friendships, the latter also involving Wood.[3]

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Renaissance. "Northern Lights" picture disc entry @discogs.com Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. ↑ BPI certified awards Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Romano, Will (2010). Mountains come out of the sky: an illustrated history of prog rock (1st Ed.). Montclair, NJ: Blackbeat Books. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-87930-991-6
  4. ↑ polyhex.com UK singles chart runs 1952-2014 Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Top Thirty Singles". Melody Maker. 19 August 1978. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  6. ↑ The Mike Douglas Show 4 May 1978 listing. TV.com. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Top of the Pops 13 July 1978 listing. BBC One. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  8. ↑ Top of the Pops 10 August 1978 listing. BBC One. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Songfacts.com "Northern Lights" entry. Retrieved 21 September 2014.