Spotlight (Madonna song)
"Spotlight" | ||||
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Warner Bros. | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Stephen Bray | |||
Madonna singles chronology | ||||
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Licensed audio | ||||
"Spotlight" on YouTube |
"Spotlight" is a song by American singer Madonna from her first remix album You Can Dance (1987). It was released as a single in Japan on April 25, 1988 by Sire Records and Warner-Pioneer Japan. Initially rejected during her True Blue album recording sessions, the song was written by Madonna, Stephen Bray and Curtis Hudson who had presented the original to the singer. The song was remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez.
"Spotlight" features
Background
In 1983, Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of the group
Composition
"Spotlight was originally produced by Stephen Bray and was remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez for the You Can Dance compilation. Curtis Hudson, who was given credit as a songwriter since he had the demo copyrighted, recalled that much of the demo's production was changed in the final version, including the rhythm and the basic groove.[2]
"Spotlight" begins with the sound of
Critical response
Dennis Hunt from Los Angeles Times commented that "[You Can Dance] is an attractive package for dance fans—particularly with the inclusion of a new cut, 'Spotlight'". He went on to add that the "lyrics of 'Spotlight' aren't great, but they're still more interesting than the others. Still, the words, like those of most dance songs, are just window dressing that's secondary to the beat. The big attraction of 'Spotlight' is a long, hard-driving, closing passage that's guaranteed to turn dancers on."[11] Jan DeKnock, while writing for Orlando Sentinel, noted that the song was already receiving airplay from radio stations.[12] In March 2023, Billboard ranked the song as Madonna's 94th greatest ever, as Joe Lynch called it a "lyrically simplistic affair that’s elevated by a pounding opener, sparkling keys and a charmingly earnest vocal that makes even the silliest sentiment sound like a viable philosophy for conquering the world".[13]
Chart performance
"Spotlight" was not officially released as a single in the United States; therefore it was not eligible at the time to appear on Billboard's Hot 100. Even so, it managed to garner enough airplay to appear on the publication's Hot 100 Airplay survey in early 1988. It debuted on the Airplay chart at 37 on the issue dated January 16, 1988.[14] After three weeks, "Spotlight" reached a peak of 32, but fell to 40 the next week before exiting the chart.[15][16] It had also reached the Hot Crossover 30 chart beginning on the issue dated December 12, 1987, peaking at 15 for two consecutive weeks beginning January 9, 1988 and spending eight total weeks on the chart.[17][18][19][20] The song was released commercially in Japan on April 25, 1988.[21] "Spotlight" peaked at number 68 on the Oricon weekly singles chart, remaining on the chart for five weeks.[21] It also charted on the Oricon international singles chart, reaching a peak of three on May 19, 1988, staying on the chart for ten weeks.[22]
Media appearance
"Spotlight" was featured in the last of a series of Japanese TV commercials Madonna filmed for electronics company Mitsubishi. The commercial promoted their VCR model F-5.3.[23] In the commercial, Madonna was featured as coming out of a car and sitting down on a sofa, while watching a film on the VCR, as "Spotlight" is played in the background. The song was also used as cross-promotion for the Japanese leg of her 1987 Who's That Girl World Tour under the campaign name of "Dreams Come True".[24]
Track listings and formats
- "Spotlight" (Single Edit) – 4:32
- "Where's The Party" (Remix Single Edit) – 4:13
- US 12" Vinyl Promo[27]
- "Where's The Party" (Extended Remix) – 7:11
- "Where's The Party" (Dub) – 6:22
- "Spotlight" (Extended Remix) – 6:34
- "Spotlight" (Dub) – 4:49
Credits and personnel
- Madonna – vocals, songwriter
- Stephen Bray – songwriter, production
- Curtis Hudson – songwriter
- Shep Pettibone – audio mixing
- John "Jellybean" Benitez – additional mixing
Credits adapted from You Can Dance liner notes.[28]
Charts
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
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Japanese Singles (Oricon)[21] | 68 |
Japanese International Singles (Oricon)[22] | 3 |
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[15] | 32 |
US | 15 |
US Radio & Records CHR & Pop Charts[29] | 31 |
References
- ^ Howe, Sean (July 29, 2013). "Madonna's Debut Album at Thirty: An Oral History". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ a b Kantor, Justin (February 3, 2012). "Interview: Curtis Hudson & Lisa Stevens, Songwriters of Madonna's 'Holiday'". Blogcritics. p. 2. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ a b c Rooksby 2004, p. 29
- ASIN B000XPVK4C.
- ^ Bego 2000, p. 155
- ^ Erlewine, Bogdanov & Woodstra 2002, p. 686
- The Miami Herald. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ Brown, Joe (December 18, 1988). "Angst You Can Dance To". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ McLeese, Don (November 23, 1988). "The Chain evokes a numbing reaction". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ Huk, Haunter (February 3, 2012). "The 20 Best Madonna Songs You Won't Hear at the Super Bowl". Dallas Observer. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (November 29, 1987). "Great Balls of Fire — Good Vibrations — Maybe Baby Running on Empty Madonna's Mixology". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ DeKnock, Jan (November 22, 1987). "Idol Lets 'Mony' Do Talking All The Way To Top Of Chart". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
- ^ Lynch, Joe; Unterberger, Andrew; Gracie, Bianca; Feeney, Nolan; Atkinson, Katie (March 8, 2023). "Madonna's 100 Greatest Songs (Critics' Picks)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ^ a b c スポットライト (in Japanese). Oricon. April 25, 1988. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Schilling 1997, p. 149
- ^ Rooksby 2004, p. 201
- ^ Rooksby 2004, p. 203
- ^ Spotlight (Japanese 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. 7-14727.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Spotlight (Japanese 3-inch Mini CD Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. 7-19985-0.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Spotlight (US 12-inch Vinyl Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. 4-84328.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ You Can Dance (Liner notes). Madonna. Warner Bros. Records. 1987.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Madonna". Radio & Records. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-8154-1051-4.
- ISBN 0-87930-653-X.
- Rooksby, Rikky (2004). The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna. ISBN 0-7119-9883-3.
- Schilling, Mark (1997). The Encyclopedia of Japanese pop culture. ISBN 0-8348-0380-1.
- ISBN 0-7432-2709-3.
External links