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| Name = Bright Lights, Bigger City
| Name = Bright Lights, Bigger City
| Cover = CeeLo-BrightLightsBiggerCity.jpg
| Cover = CeeLo-BrightLightsBiggerCity.jpg
| Artist = [[Cee Lo Green]]
| Artist = [[Cee Lo Green]] feat. [[Wiz Khalifa]]
| from Album = [[The Lady Killer (album)|The Lady Killer]]
| from Album = [[The Lady Killer (album)|The Lady Killer]]
| Released = April 11, 2011
| Released = March 27, 2011<ref>http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bright-lights-bigger-city/id427455253</ref>
| Format = [[CD single]], [[music download|digital download]]
| Format = [[music download|digital download]], [[CD single]]
| Recorded = 2010
| Recorded = 2010
| Genre = [[soul music|Soul]], [[electro music|electro-funk]], [[synthpop]]<ref name="Music OMH review" />
| Genre = [[soul music|Soul]], [[electro music|electro-funk]], [[synthpop]]<ref name="Music OMH review" />
Line 17: Line 17:
}}
}}


"'''Bright Lights, Bigger City'''" is the third single from American soul singer [[Cee Lo Green]]'s third studio album, ''[[The Lady Killer (album)|The Lady Killer]]''. The song is produced by Ben H. Allen III and Graham Marsh (who also co-produced [[Gnarls Barkley]]'s "[[Who's Gonna Save My Soul]]"<ref name="Discogs - Graham Marsh">{{cite web|title=Graham Marsh Discography at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Graham+Marsh|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref>)<ref name="The Lady Killer at Discogs">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Green* - The Lady Killer, Album at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/Cee-Lo-Green-The-Lady-Killer/release/2542417|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref> and is written by Cee-Lo Green, Tony Reyes and Ben H. Allen III (who, according to reports, has worked with Cee Lo since 2004's ''[[Cee Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine]]'').<ref name="Ben Allen at Discogs">{{cite web|title=Ben H. Allen (III) at Discogs.com|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ben+H.+Allen|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=January 27, 2011}}</ref> The single will be released on April 11, 2011 and has so far peaked at number 83 on the [[Canadian Singles Chart]].<ref name="Cee-Lo Bright Lights at acharts.US">{{cite web|title=Cee-Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City - Music Charts|url=http://acharts.us/song/60646|publisher=aCharts.us|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref>
"'''Bright Lights, Bigger City'''" is the third single from American soul singer [[Cee Lo Green]]'s third studio album, ''[[The Lady Killer (album)|The Lady Killer]]''. The song is produced by Ben H. Allen III and Graham Marsh, <ref name="Discogs - Graham Marsh">{{cite web|title=Graham Marsh Discography at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Graham+Marsh|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref>)<ref name="The Lady Killer at Discogs">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Green* - The Lady Killer, Album at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/Cee-Lo-Green-The-Lady-Killer/release/2542417|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref> and was written by Cee-Lo Green, Tony Reyes and Ben H. Allen III.<ref name="Ben Allen at Discogs">{{cite web|title=Ben H. Allen (III) at Discogs.com|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ben+H.+Allen|publisher=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=January 27, 2011}}</ref> The single was released on March 27, 2011<ref>http://www.ceelogreen.com/news,bright-lights-bigger-city-ft-wiz-khalifa-out-now_172.htm</ref>, and has so far peaked at number 31 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="Cee-Lo Bright Lights at acharts.US">{{cite web|title=Cee-Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City - Music Charts|url=http://acharts.us/song/60646|publisher=aCharts.us|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref> The single version of the track features a guest rap from American rapper [[Wiz Khalifa]].


==Background==
==Background==
Of the song, Cee Lo told ''MTV News'':<ref name="Cee Lo BLBC/Living - MTV.com">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Is 'Living For The Weekend' On 'Bright Lights, Bigger City'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652309/cee-lo-living-weekend-on-bright-lights-bigger-city.jhtml|work=[[MTV]]|publisher=MTV.com|last=Montgomery|first=James|last2=Roberts|first2=Steven|date=November 15, 2010|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref>
Of the song, Cee Lo told ''MTV News'':<ref name="Cee Lo BLBC/Living - MTV.com">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Is 'Living For The Weekend' On 'Bright Lights, Bigger City'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652309/cee-lo-living-weekend-on-bright-lights-bigger-city.jhtml|work=[[MTV]]|publisher=MTV.com|last=Montgomery|first=James|last2=Roberts|first2=Steven|date=November 15, 2010|accessdate=January 26, 2011}}</ref> {{quote|"This song, I think, just has a broader appeal, because it's just not talking about me, it's talking about us. It's a song about the nightlife and just kinda being out and living for the weekend. [And] it's kinda got that 'working-class hero' quality too; I reference, you know, songs like [[Johnny Kemp]]'s "[[Just Got Paid]]". So it's a story that's been told before, and it's so true to life. ... We all work pretty hard throughout the week, and Friday and Saturday, you know, will always be special, so this is just a song to commemorate that."|Cee-Lo Green}} In late January 2011, Cee Lo rescheduled his UK tour dates, with the five-show run now ending on March 31, 2011. "Bright Lights, Bigger City" was released four days before the tour concluded, on March 27, 2011.<ref name="Green Tour - Stereoboard">{{cite journal|last=Stickler|first=Jon|title=Cee Lo Green forced to reschedule upcoming UK tour & tickets|url=http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/163102/9|journal=Stereoboard UK|accessdate=January 26, 2011|date=January 24, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Cee Lo Tour - Glasswerk">{{cite journal|title=Cee Lo Green Reschedules Tour|url=http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/12255/Cee+Lo+Green+Reschedules+Tour|journal=Glasswerk National|accessdate=January 26, 2011|date=January 24, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Winehouse/Green Duet - Star">{{cite news|title=Amy Winhouse goes green in duet|url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/173138/Amy-Winehouse-goes-Green-in-duet/|newspaper=[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]|publisher=[[Northern & Shell]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|date=January 22, 2011}}</ref>

{{quote|"This song, I think, just has a broader appeal, because it's just not talking about me, it's talking about us. It's a song about the nightlife and just kinda being out and living for the weekend. [And] it's kinda got that 'working-class hero' quality too; I reference, you know, songs like [[Johnny Kemp]]'s "[[Just Got Paid]]". So it's a story that's been told before, and it's so true to life. ... We all work pretty hard throughout the week, and Friday and Saturday, you know, will always be special, so this is just a song to commemorate that."|Cee-Lo Green}}

In late January 2011, Cee Lo rescheduled his UK tour dates, with the five-show run now ending on March 31, 2011. "Bright Lights, Bigger City" will be released four days after Cee-Lo's UK tour concludes, on April 4, 2011.<ref name="Green Tour - Stereoboard">{{cite journal|last=Stickler|first=Jon|title=Cee Lo Green forced to reschedule upcoming UK tour & tickets|url=http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/163102/9|journal=Stereoboard UK|accessdate=January 26, 2011|date=January 24, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Cee Lo Tour - Glasswerk">{{cite journal|title=Cee Lo Green Reschedules Tour|url=http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/news/national/12255/Cee+Lo+Green+Reschedules+Tour|journal=Glasswerk National|accessdate=January 26, 2011|date=January 24, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Winehouse/Green Duet - Star">{{cite news|title=Amy Winhouse goes green in duet|url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/173138/Amy-Winehouse-goes-Green-in-duet/|newspaper=[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]|publisher=[[Northern & Shell]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|date=January 22, 2011}}</ref>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
The track has not been reviewed as a single by ''Digital Spy'' yet, however, reviews of the track itself in the context of ''The Lady Killer'' were mostly favorable. Several reviews, including (but not limited to) Rob Williams of ''The Winnipeg Free Press'' and Zachary Berman of ''The Diamondback Online'' argue "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is reminiscent of [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Billie Jean]]" due to a similar looping bassline. Williams writes, "Bright Lights, Bigger City sounds like the cousin of Michael Jackson's Billy [sic] Jean";<ref name="Winnipeg Free Press Review">{{cite news|title=New Music|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/music/107676878.html|newspaper=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Williams|first=Rob|page=C4|edition=Print|date=November 13, 2010}}</ref> while in Berman's analysis, "Green even goes so far as to touch on disco and early-1980s pop elements, as with "Bright Lights, Bigger City," which opens the album with a bang. With a bass line that references Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," a string section straight out of any classic disco dance tune and even a synth reminiscent of [[Van Halen]]'s "Jump," the song is still a powerful, cohesive pop track."<ref name="Berman review">{{cite news|title=On the D-Lo|url=http://www.diamondbackonline.com/diversions/on-the-d-lo-1.1764236|newspaper=[[The Diamondback]]|publisher=[[University of Maryland, College Park]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Berman|first=Zachary|date=Monday, November 8, 2010}}</ref> Luke Winkie of ''Music OMH'' says "the only thing that sounds inherently new [on ''The Lady Killer''] is the post-intro curveball, "Bright Lights, Bigger City", which combines an electro-funk groove, swirling violins and a massive rave-synth chorus. It's great, off-the-wall, and totally engaging."<ref name="Music OMH review">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/cee-lo-green_1110.htm|publisher=Music OMH|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Winkie|first=Luke|date=November 8, 2010}}</ref>
The track has not been reviewed as a single by ''Digital Spy'' yet, however, reviews of the track itself in the context of ''The Lady Killer'' were mostly favorable. Several reviews, including Rob Williams of ''The Winnipeg Free Press'' and Zachary Berman of ''The Diamondback Online'' argue "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is reminiscent of [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Billie Jean]]" due to a similar looping bassline. Williams writes, "Bright Lights, Bigger City sounds like the cousin of Michael Jackson's Billy [sic] Jean";<ref name="Winnipeg Free Press Review">{{cite news|title=New Music|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/music/107676878.html|newspaper=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Williams|first=Rob|page=C4|edition=Print|date=November 13, 2010}}</ref> while in Berman's analysis, "Green even goes so far as to touch on disco and early-1980s pop elements, as with "Bright Lights, Bigger City," which opens the album with a bang. With a bass line that references Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," a string section straight out of any classic disco dance tune and even a synth reminiscent of [[Van Halen]]'s "Jump," the song is still a powerful, cohesive pop track."<ref name="Berman review">{{cite news|title=On the D-Lo|url=http://www.diamondbackonline.com/diversions/on-the-d-lo-1.1764236|newspaper=[[The Diamondback]]|publisher=[[University of Maryland, College Park]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Berman|first=Zachary|date=Monday, November 8, 2010}}</ref> Luke Winkie of ''Music OMH'' says "the only thing that sounds inherently new [on ''The Lady Killer''] is the post-intro curveball, "Bright Lights, Bigger City", which combines an electro-funk groove, swirling violins and a massive rave-synth chorus. It's great, off-the-wall, and totally engaging."<ref name="Music OMH review">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/cee-lo-green_1110.htm|publisher=Music OMH|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Winkie|first=Luke|date=November 8, 2010}}</ref> Not all reviews of "Bright Lights, Bigger City" were overwhelmingly positive. For example, Jeremy Gartzke, writing for ''The Daily Cardinal'', argues "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is a straightforward song about the virtues of Saturday nights. With a staccato intro and a fantastic bass line, this song was written specifically with the dance floor in mind. Unfortunately, this song just isn't memorable, and as soon as it's over you've forgotten about it."<ref name="Gartzke review - Daily Cardinal">{{cite news|title=Few 'killers' on Green's latest|url=http://www.dailycardinal.com/arts/few-killers-on-green-s-latest-1.1750648|newspaper=[[The Daily Cardinal]]|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Gartzke|first=Jeremy|date=November 7, 2010}}</ref>

Not all reviews of "Bright Lights, Bigger City" were overwhelmingly positive. For example, Jeremy Gartzke, writing for ''The Daily Cardinal'', argues "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is a straightforward song about the virtues of Saturday nights. With a staccato intro and a fantastic bass line, this song was written specifically with the dance floor in mind. Unfortunately, this song just isn't memorable, and as soon as it's over you've forgotten about it."<ref name="Gartzke review - Daily Cardinal">{{cite news|title=Few 'killers' on Green's latest|url=http://www.dailycardinal.com/arts/few-killers-on-green-s-latest-1.1750648|newspaper=[[The Daily Cardinal]]|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Gartzke|first=Jeremy|date=November 7, 2010}}</ref>


==Music video==
==Music video==
The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhdIcb84Hw official video] for "Bright Lights, Bigger City" was released on November 9, 2010 (the same day as the release of ''The Lady Killer'').<ref name="Billboard - BLBC video review">{{cite journal|title=Cee Lo Goes Wild in New Video, Sings 'Fox News' on 'Colbert'|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/news/cee-lo-goes-wild-in-new-video-sings-fox-1004125930.story|journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=January 27, 2011|last=Frazier|first=Walter|date=November 10, 2010}}</ref> In describing the video, ''MTV.com'''s Kyle Anderson reports: "The video puts Cee Lo in the back of a car, cruising through the streets of New York surrounded by glammed-out women and flower petals. In between, he seduces a woman in a bathtub, gets his head shaved in a black-lit room and gets into some sort of super-spy battle with a female ninja in a restaurant kitchen. The video reflects the posh and slightly hallucinatory nature of the track, which borrows elements of the bass line from [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Billie Jean]]" and also features the same kind of lush keyboard swirls that [[Van Halen]] used in "[[Jump (Van Halen song)|Jump]]". It's emblematic of the rest of ''The Lady Killer'', which borrows all sorts of classic [[Motown]] and [[Stax Records|Stax]] elements and augments them with futuristic sounds, all buoyed by Cee-Lo's remarkably elastic voice."<ref name="MTV.com video review">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Premieres Video For 'Bright Lights, Bigger City'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651911/cee-lo-premieres-video-bright-lights-bigger-city.jhtml|publisher=MTV|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=November 10, 2010}}</ref>
The first music video for "Bright Lights, Bigger City", which features the album version of the track, was released on November 9, 2010, the same date as the release of ''The Lady Killer'' in the US.<ref name="Billboard - BLBC video review">{{cite journal|title=Cee Lo Goes Wild in New Video, Sings 'Fox News' on 'Colbert'|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/news/cee-lo-goes-wild-in-new-video-sings-fox-1004125930.story|journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=January 27, 2011|last=Frazier|first=Walter|date=November 10, 2010}}</ref> In describing the video, ''MTV.com'''s Kyle Anderson reports: "The video puts Cee Lo in the back of a car, cruising through the streets of New York surrounded by glammed-out women and flower petals. In between, he seduces a woman in a bathtub, gets his head shaved in a black-lit room and gets into some sort of super-spy battle with a female ninja in a restaurant kitchen. The video reflects the posh and slightly hallucinatory nature of the track, which borrows elements of the bass line from [[Michael Jackson]]'s "[[Billie Jean]]" and also features the same kind of lush keyboard swirls that [[Van Halen]] used in "[[Jump (Van Halen song)|Jump]]". It's emblematic of the rest of ''The Lady Killer'', which borrows all sorts of classic [[Motown]] and [[Stax Records|Stax]] elements and augments them with futuristic sounds, all buoyed by Cee-Lo's remarkably elastic voice."<ref name="MTV.com video review">{{cite web|title=Cee Lo Premieres Video For 'Bright Lights, Bigger City'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651911/cee-lo-premieres-video-bright-lights-bigger-city.jhtml|publisher=MTV|accessdate=January 26, 2011|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=November 10, 2010}}</ref>


⚫
A second version of the music video, featuring the remix featuring [[Wiz Khalifa]], was released on March 10, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/03/10/new-music-cee-lo-green-f-wiz-khalifa-bright-lights-bigger-city-remix/ |title=New Music: Cee Lo Green f/ Wiz Khalifa – ‘Bright Lights Bigger City (Remix)’ |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=2010-10-18 |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> Khalifa's verse begins at approximately two minutes and twenty seconds in.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6onBi5uNUc |title=Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City ft Wiz Khalifa |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> Drew Grant of [[Salon Magazine]] described the "neon" video as "a city populated entirely by neon signs instead of people," allowing one to "visualize all the words of the song, so it's kind of like a Sing-a-long!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/music/?story=/ent/tv/feature/2011/03/11/cee_lo_green_bright_lights_bigger_city |title=Cee Lo Green's neon video for "Bright Lights, Bigger City" - Music News: Artists. Songs. Videos |publisher=Salon.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> The remix video has been compared to Cee Lo's original video for ''[[Fuck You!]]'' and other videos that feature a visualization of the song's lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bry |first=Dave |url=http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/cee-lo-featuring-wiz-khalifa-bright-lights-bigger-city-remix |title=Cee-Lo Featuring Wiz Khalifa, "Bright Lights Bigger City" Remix |publisher=The Awl |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pedestrian.tv/music/news/cee-los-new-music-video-looks-exactly-like-everyon/38455.htm |title=Cee Lo's New Music Video Looks Exactly Like Everyone Else's - Music News |publisher=Pedestrian TV |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref>
== Remix ==
⚫
A [[remix]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6onBi5uNUc video] featuring [[Wiz Khalifa]] was released on March 10, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/03/10/new-music-cee-lo-green-f-wiz-khalifa-bright-lights-bigger-city-remix/ |title=New Music: Cee Lo Green f/ Wiz Khalifa – ‘Bright Lights Bigger City (Remix)’ |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=2010-10-18 |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> Khalifa's verse begins at approximately two minutes and twenty seconds in.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6onBi5uNUc |title=Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City ft Wiz Khalifa |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> Drew Grant of [[Salon Magazine]] described the "neon" video as "a city populated entirely by neon signs instead of people," allowing one to "visualize all the words of [the] song, so it's kind of like a Sing-a-long!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/music/?story=/ent/tv/feature/2011/03/11/cee_lo_green_bright_lights_bigger_city |title=Cee Lo Green's neon video for "Bright Lights, Bigger City" - Music News: Artists. Songs. Videos |publisher=Salon.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> The remix video has been compared to Cee Lo's original video for ''[[Fuck You!]]'' and other videos that feature a visualization of the song's lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bry |first=Dave |url=http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/cee-lo-featuring-wiz-khalifa-bright-lights-bigger-city-remix |title=Cee-Lo Featuring Wiz Khalifa, "Bright Lights Bigger City" Remix |publisher=The Awl |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pedestrian.tv/music/news/cee-los-new-music-video-looks-exactly-like-everyon/38455.htm |title=Cee Lo's New Music Video Looks Exactly Like Everyone Else's - Music News |publisher=Pedestrian TV |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref>


== Live performances ==
==Live performances==
===Promotion===
Green performed this song with an all-[[female]] [[backing band]] named ''[[Scarlet Fever (band)|Scarlet Fever]]'' on
Green performed this song with an all-[[female]] [[backing band]] named ''[[Scarlet Fever (band)|Scarlet Fever]]'' on
November 11, 2010, as part of the ''Symmetry Live Concert Series'' at the [[W Hotel]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]], New York,<ref>
November 11, 2010, as part of the ''Symmetry Live Concert Series'' at the [[W Hotel]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]], New York,<ref>
Line 109: Line 101:
|date=January 16, 2011
|date=January 16, 2011
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
===Television promotion===
On February 26, 2011, they performed the song at the ''[[Let's Dance for Comic Relief]]'' semi-final in London,<ref>
On February 26, 2011, they performed the song at the ''[[Let's Dance for Comic Relief]]'' semi-final in London,<ref>
{{cite web
{{cite web
Line 128: Line 119:
|date=28 February 2011
|date=28 February 2011
}}</ref>
}}</ref>

==Tracklisting==
; Digital Download<ref>http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bright-lights-bigger-city/id427455253</ref>
# "Bright Lights, Bigger City" (Feat. Wiz Khalifa) - 3:37

; Promotional CD Single Set
* A limited edition pair of two promotional cd singles were made available to fans through Green's official store, with each cd contained in it's own cardboard sleeve with seperate artwork. Each disc only contains one track.
; CD1
# "Bright Lights, Bigger City" - 3:41
; CD2
# "Bright Lights, Bigger City" (Feat. Wiz Khalifa) - 3:37


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Line 171: Line 173:
|-
|-
|United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3462998/I-Cee-Lo-three-ladies-a-day.html |title=I Cee Lo three ladies a day &#124; The Sun &#124;Showbiz&#124;Bizarre |publisher=The Sun |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref>
|United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3462998/I-Cee-Lo-three-ladies-a-day.html |title=I Cee Lo three ladies a day &#124; The Sun &#124;Showbiz&#124;Bizarre |publisher=The Sun |date= |accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref>
|April 11, 2011
|March 27, 2011
|[[CD single]], [[Music download|digital download]]
|[[Music download|digital download]]
|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=25em}}
{{reflist}}

{{Cee Lo Green}}
{{Cee Lo Green}}

[[Category:Cee-Lo Green songs]]
[[Category:Cee-Lo Green songs]]
[[Category:2011 singles]]
[[Category:2011 singles]]

Revision as of 06:01, 2 April 2011

"Bright Lights Bigger City"
Song

"Bright Lights, Bigger City" is the third single from American soul singer Cee Lo Green's third studio album, The Lady Killer. The song is produced by Ben H. Allen III and Graham Marsh, [4])[5] and was written by Cee-Lo Green, Tony Reyes and Ben H. Allen III.[6] The single was released on March 27, 2011[7], and has so far peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] The single version of the track features a guest rap from American rapper Wiz Khalifa.

Background

Of the song, Cee Lo told MTV News:[9]

"This song, I think, just has a broader appeal, because it's just not talking about me, it's talking about us. It's a song about the nightlife and just kinda being out and living for the weekend. [And] it's kinda got that 'working-class hero' quality too; I reference, you know, songs like Johnny Kemp's "Just Got Paid". So it's a story that's been told before, and it's so true to life. ... We all work pretty hard throughout the week, and Friday and Saturday, you know, will always be special, so this is just a song to commemorate that."

— Cee-Lo Green

In late January 2011, Cee Lo rescheduled his UK tour dates, with the five-show run now ending on March 31, 2011. "Bright Lights, Bigger City" was released four days before the tour concluded, on March 27, 2011.[10][11][12]

Critical reception

The track has not been reviewed as a single by Digital Spy yet, however, reviews of the track itself in the context of The Lady Killer were mostly favorable. Several reviews, including Rob Williams of The Winnipeg Free Press and Zachary Berman of The Diamondback Online argue "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" due to a similar looping bassline. Williams writes, "Bright Lights, Bigger City sounds like the cousin of Michael Jackson's Billy [sic] Jean";[13] while in Berman's analysis, "Green even goes so far as to touch on disco and early-1980s pop elements, as with "Bright Lights, Bigger City," which opens the album with a bang. With a bass line that references Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," a string section straight out of any classic disco dance tune and even a synth reminiscent of Van Halen's "Jump," the song is still a powerful, cohesive pop track."[14] Luke Winkie of Music OMH says "the only thing that sounds inherently new [on The Lady Killer] is the post-intro curveball, "Bright Lights, Bigger City", which combines an electro-funk groove, swirling violins and a massive rave-synth chorus. It's great, off-the-wall, and totally engaging."[2] Not all reviews of "Bright Lights, Bigger City" were overwhelmingly positive. For example, Jeremy Gartzke, writing for The Daily Cardinal, argues "Bright Lights, Bigger City" is a straightforward song about the virtues of Saturday nights. With a staccato intro and a fantastic bass line, this song was written specifically with the dance floor in mind. Unfortunately, this song just isn't memorable, and as soon as it's over you've forgotten about it."[15]

Music video

The first music video for "Bright Lights, Bigger City", which features the album version of the track, was released on November 9, 2010, the same date as the release of The Lady Killer in the US.[16] In describing the video, MTV.com's Kyle Anderson reports: "The video puts Cee Lo in the back of a car, cruising through the streets of New York surrounded by glammed-out women and flower petals. In between, he seduces a woman in a bathtub, gets his head shaved in a black-lit room and gets into some sort of super-spy battle with a female ninja in a restaurant kitchen. The video reflects the posh and slightly hallucinatory nature of the track, which borrows elements of the bass line from Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and also features the same kind of lush keyboard swirls that Van Halen used in "Jump". It's emblematic of the rest of The Lady Killer, which borrows all sorts of classic Motown and Stax elements and augments them with futuristic sounds, all buoyed by Cee-Lo's remarkably elastic voice."[17]

A second version of the music video, featuring the remix featuring Wiz Khalifa, was released on March 10, 2011.[18] Khalifa's verse begins at approximately two minutes and twenty seconds in.[19] Drew Grant of Salon Magazine described the "neon" video as "a city populated entirely by neon signs instead of people," allowing one to "visualize all the words of the song, so it's kind of like a Sing-a-long!"[20] The remix video has been compared to Cee Lo's original video for Fuck You! and other videos that feature a visualization of the song's lyrics.[21][22]

Live performances

Green performed this song with an all-female backing band named Scarlet Fever on November 11, 2010, as part of the Symmetry Live Concert Series at the W Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York,[23][24] and the January 15, 2011, episode of Saturday Night Live.[25] The performance received positive reviews, being described as "rock-star-esque",[26] "surprisingly good",[27] "the best song that mid-80’s Glenn Frey never wrote,"[28] and "better than all right".[29] On February 26, 2011, they performed the song at the Let's Dance for Comic Relief semi-final in London,[30] and again the next night after a long flight at the Jimmy Kimmel Live! special show following the Academy Awards.[31]

Tracklisting

Digital Download[32]
  1. "Bright Lights, Bigger City" (Feat. Wiz Khalifa) - 3:37
Promotional CD Single Set
  • A limited edition pair of two promotional cd singles were made available to fans through Green's official store, with each cd contained in it's own cardboard sleeve with seperate artwork. Each disc only contains one track.
CD1
  1. "Bright Lights, Bigger City" - 3:41
CD2
  1. "Bright Lights, Bigger City" (Feat. Wiz Khalifa) - 3:37

Personnel

  • Arrangement (strings) - Salaam Remi
  • Songwriting - Ben H. Allen III, Cee-Lo Green, Tony Reyes
  • Production - Ben H. Allen, Graham Marsh
  • Recording - Ben H. Allen III, Graham Marsh
  • Mixing - Ben H. Allen III
  • Assistant Mixing - Robert Gardner
  • Bass - Tony Reyes
  • Drums - Bradley Hagen

Source:[5][33]

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[34] 13
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[35] 83
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 39
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[39] 31
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[40] 9

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[41] March 27, 2011 digital download Elektra

References

  1. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bright-lights-bigger-city/id427455253
  2. ^ a b Winkie, Luke (November 8, 2010). "Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer". Music OMH. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  3. ^ http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm
  4. ^ "Graham Marsh Discography at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Cee Lo Green* - The Lady Killer, Album at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  6. ^ "Ben H. Allen (III) at Discogs.com". Discogs. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. ^ http://www.ceelogreen.com/news,bright-lights-bigger-city-ft-wiz-khalifa-out-now_172.htm
  8. ^ "Cee-Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  9. ^ Montgomery, James; Roberts, Steven (November 15, 2010). "Cee Lo Is 'Living For The Weekend' On 'Bright Lights, Bigger City'". MTV. MTV.com. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  10. ^ Stickler, Jon (January 24, 2011). "Cee Lo Green forced to reschedule upcoming UK tour & tickets". Stereoboard UK. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  11. ^ "Cee Lo Green Reschedules Tour". Glasswerk National. January 24, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  12. ^ "Amy Winhouse goes green in duet". Daily Star. Northern & Shell. January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  13. ^ Williams, Rob (November 13, 2010). "New Music". Winnipeg Free Press (Print ed.). p. C4. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  14. ^ Berman, Zachary (Monday, November 8, 2010). "On the D-Lo". The Diamondback. University of Maryland, College Park. Retrieved January 26, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Gartzke, Jeremy (November 7, 2010). "Few 'killers' on Green's latest". The Daily Cardinal. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  16. ^ Frazier, Walter (November 10, 2010). "Cee Lo Goes Wild in New Video, Sings 'Fox News' on 'Colbert'". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  17. ^ Anderson, Kyle (November 10, 2010). "Cee Lo Premieres Video For 'Bright Lights, Bigger City'". MTV. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  18. ^ "New Music: Cee Lo Green f/ Wiz Khalifa – 'Bright Lights Bigger City (Remix)'". Rap-Up.com. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  19. ^ "Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City ft Wiz Khalifa". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  20. ^ "Cee Lo Green's neon video for "Bright Lights, Bigger City" - Music News: Artists. Songs. Videos". Salon.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  21. ^ Bry, Dave. "Cee-Lo Featuring Wiz Khalifa, "Bright Lights Bigger City" Remix". The Awl. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  22. ^ "Cee Lo's New Music Video Looks Exactly Like Everyone Else's - Music News". Pedestrian TV. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  23. ^ Goodman, Lizzy (November 12, 2010). "Cee-Lo Rocks Some Nasty Sh*t at New York City Party". Spin. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  24. ^ D. O’Garro, Felicia (November 12, 2010). "Cee Lo Green lights up New York City". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  25. ^ Tucker, Ken (January 16, 2011). "'Saturday Night Live' recap: Gwyneth Paltrow was country weak and comedy strong". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  26. ^ Ziegbe, Mawuse (January 16, 2011). "Gwyneth Paltrow Sings With Cee Lo, Covers Taylor Swift On 'SNL'". MTV. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  27. ^ Yuan, Jonathan (January 16, 2011). "SNL Recap: Gwyneth Paltrow / Cee Lo Green". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  28. ^ McGee, Ryan (January 16, 2011). "Recap: 'Saturday Night Live' - Gwyneth Paltrow and Cee Lo Green". Monkeys As Critics. Hit Fix. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  29. ^ Boedeker, Hal (January 16, 2011). "'Saturday Night Live': Cee Lo Green upstages comedy, Gwyneth Paltrow". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  30. ^ McGarry, Lisa (27 February 2011). "James Thornton & Charlie Baker and Noel Fielding through to final of Let's Dance For Comic Relief (VIDEO)". Primetime Unreality. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  31. ^ "Video: Cee Lo Green Lights Up 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'". Rap-Up.com. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  32. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bright-lights-bigger-city/id427455253
  33. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Cee Lo Green – Bright Lights Bigger City" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  35. ^ "Cee-Lo Green Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "Chart Track: Week 11, 2011". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  37. ^ "Cee Lo Green – Bright Lights Bigger City" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  38. ^ "Cee Lo Green – Bright Lights Bigger City". Top 40 Singles.
  39. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  40. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  41. ^ "I Cee Lo three ladies a day | The Sun |Showbiz|Bizarre". The Sun. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
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