Red Lights (song)

"Red Lights"
Single by Tiësto
from the album A Town Called Paradise
Released December 13, 2013
Format Digital download
Recorded 2013
Genre Progressive house
Length 4:23 (main version)
3:21 (radio/video edit)
Label PM:AM
Writer(s) Wayne Hector, Carl Falk, Michel Zitron, Rami Yacoub, Tijs Verwest, Måns Wredenberg[1]
Producer(s) Tiësto, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub
Tiësto singles chronology
"Take Me"
(2013)		 "Red Lights"
(2013)		 "Wasted"
(2014)

"Red Lights" is a song by Dutch musician, DJ and record producer, Tiësto. The song features uncredited vocals from Michel Zitron,[2] who co-wrote the song with Wayne Hector, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, Tijs Verwest and Måns Wredenberg. "Red Lights" was first released on December 13, 2013[3] through PM:AM Recordings as the lead single from Tiësto's fifth studio album, A Town Called Paradise (2014).

"Red Lights" is mostly a musical change from Tiësto's previous releases as it departs from his trademark trance influenced sound and sees him experimenting with new genres through the incorporation of acoustic elements into his music, which highlights his ability to adapt to the expanding EDM market.[4]

"Red Lights" received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics and performed moderately well in most major music markets. It became Tiësto's first number-one hit in Scotland, his first top ten hit in the United Kingdom and his highest charting single in Ireland and Australia. Additionally, "Red Lights" also became Tiësto's second highest charting single in the United States, where it has peaked at number fifty-six on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also enjoyed success on the US Dance charts, peaking at number-two on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs and number-six on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts.

Background and release

Tiësto's fifth studio album, A Town Called Paradise was released on June 13, 2014. While little was initially known regarding Tiësto's collaborators for the album, it had been revealed that the album would mark a departure from Tiësto's "traditional trance sound".[5] "Red Lights" was eventually released as the album's lead single on December 13, 2013 after making its premier on November 29, 2013 on BBC Radio 1.[6] The song's release coincided with Tiësto's move to Republic Records and his announcement of plans to release an "artist album" in 2014.[7] Tiësto stated that "Red Lights" would be one of two songs unveiled prior to the release of "Footprints", another one of his songs which premiered at the Tomorowworld Festival in September 2013.[8]

During an interview with the Miami NewTimes, Tiësto revealed that the original version of "Red Lights" had been developed two and a half years prior to its release. Swedish record producer Rami Yacoub brought the song to Tiësto's attention by playing its chorus to him. Tiësto reflected on this experience by commenting, "I was like, Wow, this is so uplifting and euphoric! This is so me! And I knew that I wanted to work on the track. It was a very long process, but it was definitely worth it".[9]

Reception

Bill Lamb from About.com spoke positively about "Red Lights", describing it as a "wistful dance track that brings all the audio excitement of club music without any lyrics likely to offend" and subsequently ranked the song tenth on his list of "Top 10 Clean Party Songs for Kids".[10] However, the song was not as well received by Joe Bish of The Guardian. In his review of newly released songs during the final week of February 2014, Bish initially praises the track, calling it "real dance music" but ultimately concludes that "it will come back to haunt you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life".[11]

Music video

The song's accompanying music video was released on February 10, 2014 and runs for approximately three minutes and thirty-two seconds. Tiësto describes "Red Lights" as a song about “letting loose of your inhibitions and running free" and states that the song's music video is a reflection of this. The video centres on two close friends who embark on a road trip to Las Vegas to attend one of Tiësto's shows in Hakkasan.[12]

Track listing

Digital download
No. Title Length
1. "Red Lights"   4:23

Remixes

No. Title Length
1. "Red Lights" (extended mix) 6:01
2. "Red Lights" (Afrojack Remix) 5:34
3. "Red Lights" (twoloud Remix) 5:50
4. "Red Lights" (Fred Falke Remix) 6:44
5. "Red Lights" (Blame Remix) 4:19

Credits and personnel
  • All instruments played and programmed by Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk, Dean Gillard and Matt Ward
  • Additional guitars – Carl Fark
  • Vocals – Michel Zitron
  • Mastered by Stuart Hawkes at Metropolis Studios, London

Chart performance

"Red Lights" has performed moderately well worldwide, reaching the top forty on most of the charts it has entered. In the Netherlands, "Red Lights" debuted at number sixty-eight and eventually peaked at number forty-two on the Mega Single Top 100.

In Australia, "Red Lights" debuted at number forty-four and eventually peaked at number eight on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, becoming Tiësto's first top ten single there.[13] It has been certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments in excess of 70,000 copies.[14] "Red Lights" also became Tiësto's highest charting single in Ireland and his first top ten hit in the United Kingdom when it debuted at number three[15] and number six[16] on the Irish Singles Chart and UK Singles Charts respectively. Elsewhere in the world, "Red Lights" has reached number-one in Scotland, the top ten in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the top twenty in Finland and Hungary and the top forty in Germany, Austria and Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia).

In the United States, "Red Lights" debuted at number ninety-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eventually peaked at number fifty-six. It also enjoyed success on the US Dance Charts, topping the US Hot Dance Airplay and reaching the top three of the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and top ten of the US Hot Dance Club Songs charts. In August 2014, "Red Lights" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies.[17] "Red Lights" enjoyed similar success in Canada, peaking at number forty-five on the Canadian Hot 100.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
scope="row"Australia (ARIA)[19] 8
scope="row"Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 36
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[21] 32
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 28
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[22] 20
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[22] 16
scope="row"Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 41
scope="row"Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[24] 83
scope="row"Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[25] 47
scope="row"Denmark (Tracklisten)[26] 10
scope="row"Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] 11
scope="row"France (SNEP)[28] 156
scope="row"Germany (Media Control Charts)[29] 29
scope="row"Hungary (Dance Top 40)[30] 39
scope="row"Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[31] 10
scope="row"Hungary (Single Top 40)[32] 20
scope="row"Ireland (IRMA)[33] 3
scope="row"Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 42
scope="row"Norway (VG-lista)[35] 5
scope="row"Poland (Dance Top 50)[36] 13
scope="row"Scotland (Official Charts Company)[37] 1
scope="row"Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[38] 46
scope="row"Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 9
scope="row"Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 74
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 6
scope="row"UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[42] 2
scope="row"US Billboard Hot 100[43] 56
scope="row"US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[44] 5
scope="row"US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[45] 1
scope="row"US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[46] 2
scope="row"US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 17

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
Australia (ARIA)[48] 99

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[14] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Gold 5,000^
Sweden (GLF)[50] Gold 20,000x
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000^

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

References

  1. ↑ "Tiësto – Red Lights (song)". Australian-charts.com. 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  2. ↑ Carr, Kim (December 19, 2013). "Tiesto and his Christmas pal Calvin Harris team up for arena super tour". Daily Star. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Red Lights - Single by Tiësto". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  4. ↑ "Tiësto Releases His Newest Track 'Red Lights' (Listen)". Elite Daily. 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  5. ↑ New Single from Tiësto- ‘Red Lights’. "New Single from Tiësto- ‘Red Lights’". Fresh 92.7. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  6. ↑ Renck, Lizzie. "Tiësto premieres latest 'Red Lights' on BBC Radio 1". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  7. ↑ https://papaya.com.hr/news/6-tiesto-premieres-latest-red-lights-on-bbc-radio-1
  8. ↑ AsankaD. "Tiesto – ‘Red Lights’ (Single Premiere)". Jamsplay.com. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  9. ↑ http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2014/03/tiesto_interview_ultra-music-festival_miami_2014.php
  10. ↑ Lamb, Bill. "Top 10 Clean Party Songs for Kids". About.com. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  11. ↑ Bish, Joe (2014-02-22). "Max Marshall, Jake Bugg, Rudimental: this week's new tracks". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  12. ↑ "Tiesto: 'Red Lights' Music Video - Watch Now!". Veeoz Australia. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  13. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Tiësto - Red Lights". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2014.htm
  15. ↑ http://acharts.us/ireland_singles_top_100/2014/09
  16. ↑ http://acharts.us/uk_singles_top_75/2014/10
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "RIAA Certifications Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  18. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100?page=4
  19. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Tiësto – Red Lights". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  20. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Tiësto – Red Lights" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Ultratop.be – Tiësto – Red Lights" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Ultratop.be – Tiësto – Red Lights" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  23. ↑ "Tiësto Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Tiësto.
  24. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20146 into search. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  25. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201418 into search. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  26. ↑ "Tiësto – Red Lights Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  27. ↑ "Tiësto: Red Lights" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  28. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Tiësto – Red Lights" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  29. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Tiësto > Red Lights – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  30. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  31. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  32. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  33. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 09, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
  34. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tiësto – Red Lights" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  35. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Tiësto – Red Lights". VG-lista. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  36. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  37. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-08". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  38. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201415 into search.
  39. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Tiësto – Red Lights". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  40. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Tiësto – Red Lights". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  41. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-08" UK Singles Chart.
  42. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-08" UK Dance Chart.
  43. ↑ "Tiësto Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Tiësto.
  44. ↑ "Tiësto Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs for Tiësto.
  45. ↑ "Tiësto Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Tiësto.
  46. ↑ "Tiësto Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Tiësto.
  47. ↑ "Tiësto Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Tiësto.
  48. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  49. ↑ http://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/
  50. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan: Tiësto – Red Lights" (TO ACCESS CERTIFICATION, ONE MUST SEARCH (SöK) FOR "RED LIGHTS" OR "RED LIGHTS TIëSTO" AND CLICK THE "VISA" BUTTON.) (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Grammofonleverantörernas förening. Retrieved 2014-03-17.