Start a Fire

Album: La La Land (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was co-written and recorded by John Legend for the musical movie La La Land. The singer also served as one of the executive producers for the film and plays a successful mainstream jazz bandleader called Keith. Ryan Gosling stars as jazz traditionalist Sebastian.
  • Legend penned the song with British songwriter Marius De Vries who penned several of Sugababes UK hits, La La Land composer Justin Hurwitz and actress Angelique Cinelu. Asked what instruction the director Damien Chazelle gave for the tune, Legend replied:

    "The main instruction was make it a fun song that you can see as a single that still has some jazz influence, but could tell it was leaning in more of a pop direction than most music you would call jazz.

    It had to feel like it was still good and a viable alternative, but Sebastian would feel like it was selling out a bit. It was having to thread the needle because you don't want it to be so bad that it's embarrassing, but you want it to be something that Sebastian wouldn't want to make. Something he wouldn't be proud of."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.