Red Light (song)
Encyclopedia
"Red Light" is a song co-written by Jonathan Singleton
, Melissa Peirce and Dennis Matkosky, and recorded by country music
artist David Nail
. It is the second single released from his album I'm About to Come Alive, and the third single of his career. It has become Nail's first Top 10 country hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs
chart.
from him. The narrator is expecting a different setting for his breakup, but instead is with her in the car at a "red light in the sunshine on a Sunday."
described the song as "slow-rolling melancholy", calling it a "perfect introduction" to Nail's album.
on July 16, 2009. It was directed by Roman White
, who also directed David Nail's previous video "I'm About to Come Alive". The video shows Nail driving through the countryside in a convertible. Flashback scenes of his girlfriend getting out of his car at a gas station and arguing with him. He is then shown driving through the city, as well as scenes of him walking down the middle of the street. According to a 2009 interview, the girlfriend is played by his wife. The video was shot in downtown Nashville.
Matt Pfingsten directed an alternate video for the song, released one month later, which uses an acoustic version of the song.
Jonathan Singleton
Jonathan Singleton is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is known for co-writing the songs "Don't" by Billy Currington, "Watching Airplanes" by Gary Allan, "Red Light" and "Let It Rain" by David Nail and "Why Don't We Just Dance" by Josh Turner...
, Melissa Peirce and Dennis Matkosky, and recorded by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist David Nail
David Nail
David Brent Nail is an American country music artist. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis," a cut from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years later, he signed to MCA Nashville , and released the album I'm About to Come Alive in August 2009...
. It is the second single released from his album I'm About to Come Alive, and the third single of his career. It has become Nail's first Top 10 country hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart.
Content
In the song, the male narrator's lover has announced her breakupRelationship breakup
A relationship breakup, often referred to simply as a breakup, is the termination of a usually intimate relationship by any means other than death. The act is commonly termed "dumping [someone]" in slang when it is initiated by one partner...
from him. The narrator is expecting a different setting for his breakup, but instead is with her in the car at a "red light in the sunshine on a Sunday."
Reception
Dan Milliken of Country Universe.net gave the song a C- rating, and said in his review of the song that it had an interesting story but did not expand on it: "the guy has taken this time to tell us about it because he’s flabbergasted that she would let their relationship end under such ordinary circumstances[…]It’s an OK start, and one could see how that might make for an interesting song." Chris Neal of Country WeeklyCountry Weekly
Country Weekly is an American tabloid style weekly magazine established in 1994. The magazine focuses on country music stars and events, and regularly features exclusive interviews with recording artists and country music news...
described the song as "slow-rolling melancholy", calling it a "perfect introduction" to Nail's album.
Music video
A music video for the song premiered on CMTCountry Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
on July 16, 2009. It was directed by Roman White
Roman White
Roman White is a music video director who has directed most of Carrie Underwood's videos. He has also directed music videos for Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and more...
, who also directed David Nail's previous video "I'm About to Come Alive". The video shows Nail driving through the countryside in a convertible. Flashback scenes of his girlfriend getting out of his car at a gas station and arguing with him. He is then shown driving through the city, as well as scenes of him walking down the middle of the street. According to a 2009 interview, the girlfriend is played by his wife. The video was shot in downtown Nashville.
Matt Pfingsten directed an alternate video for the song, released one month later, which uses an acoustic version of the song.
Chart performance
"Red Light" debuted at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in March 2009. The song became his first Top Ten hit in November 2009 and peaked at number 7 in December 2009. On the week ending October 10, 2009, the song debuted at number 95 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.| Chart (2009–2010) | Peak position |
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