Lights On

Album: On a Mission (2010)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second single by British R&B and dubstep singer-songwriter Katy Brien, better known as Katy B. Like her debut release, "Katy On A Mission" this song is about a night out clubbing.
  • The song features R&B and garage singer-songwriter Ms. Dynamite, who is best known for her 2002 Mercury Prize winning album, A Little Deeper. Brien performed at the London Jazz Festival in 2009 with Ms. Dynamite and also collaborated with the garage singer on her third album.
  • Geeneus, who is one of the stalwarts of the London underground radio station Rinse FM, helmed the song. He also produced Brien's cover of Inner City's "Good Life."
  • Brien explained to the Daily Mirror that the inspiration for this song came to her when she was clubbing. She said: "I was in a club in Brixton on my friend's birthday drinking cocktails having a wicked time and the lights went on. I was like, 'Oh my God, why hasn't anyone written a song about this?' How many times have you been in a club wanting to keep on dancing and the lights come on and you're left standing with your mascara all running?"
  • This marked the highest ever chart placing for Ms Dynamite. Her previous best was the #5 peak of her own single "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" in September 2002.
  • Brien told The Daily Star that she joined forces with Ms. Dynamite after she struggled to complete the track by herself due to a bout of writer's block. Said the London singer: "I was a fan of Ms. Dynamite, so I was so happy when she came on it. She came in the studio to work with my producers DJ Zinc and Geeneus. I was struggling a bit so they said let's get Dynamite in and I was very grateful she said yes."
  • This was Katy B's second successive single to reach the top 5 of the UK singles chart. She said: "I never expected to do so well, at all - 'On a Mission' and 'Lights On' were written as club tracks, and I never thought they'd do anything outside that world."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.