Today the Sun's on Us
Encyclopedia
"Today the Sun's on Us" is a pop
song written by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
, Steve Robson and Nina Woodford for Ellis-Bextor's third album, Trip the Light Fantastic. It's the third single taken from the album. The song is a mid-tempo ballad
written about "giving yourself permission to enjoy things when the going is good, despite the fact you know the good may not last forever". It was released as the album's third single
on August 13, 2007. The single spent one week in the UK Singles Chart
, where it peaked at #64.
's Jeremy Allen compared the song to Ellis-Bextor's performances with theaudience
"when they were at their very best", and Scotland on Sunday
named the song as the best from the album. Arwa Haider in a review for Metro
wrote that the song was too safe and radio-friendly, saying that it "won't set pulses racing". Yahoo!
was not impressed with the song and described it as "a slow, downbeat, adult pop number" that is "reminiscent of the Cardigans
on a bad day". Popjustice
called "Today the Sun's on Us" "brilliant" and ranked it number eight on its list of the greatest singles of 2007. The music video
was directed by Sophie Muller
and was filmed in Iceland
in June 2007. The video was inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde
, and features Ellis-Bextor trying to keep her partner interested in her.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song written by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer, songwriter, model and occasional DJ. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo, achieving widespread success in the early 2000s...
, Steve Robson and Nina Woodford for Ellis-Bextor's third album, Trip the Light Fantastic. It's the third single taken from the album. The song is a mid-tempo ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
written about "giving yourself permission to enjoy things when the going is good, despite the fact you know the good may not last forever". It was released as the album's third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on August 13, 2007. The single spent one week in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, where it peaked at #64.
Background
"Today the Sun's on Us" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. PlayLouderPlayLouder
Playlouder is a digital music and media company. It is a music site which provides news, reviews, and other related content. It also claims to be the world's first Music Service Provider or MSP — a broadband, Internet Service Provider that bundles access to music content with broadband...
's Jeremy Allen compared the song to Ellis-Bextor's performances with theaudience
Theaudience
Theaudience were a Britpop group active in the 1990s. They released one album and saw three singles enter the UK Singles Chart. The band's singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor became a successful solo artist after the band's disbandment....
"when they were at their very best", and Scotland on Sunday
Scotland on Sunday
Scotland on Sunday is a Scottish Sunday newspaper, published in Edinburgh by The Scotsman Publications Ltd and consequently assuming the role of Sunday sister to its daily stablemate The Scotsman...
named the song as the best from the album. Arwa Haider in a review for Metro
Metro (Associated Metro Limited)
Metro is a free daily newspaper in the United Kingdom published by Associated Newspapers Ltd . It is available from Monday to Friday each week on many public transport services across the United Kingdom.-History:The paper was launched in London in 1999, and can now be found in 14 UK urban centres...
wrote that the song was too safe and radio-friendly, saying that it "won't set pulses racing". Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
was not impressed with the song and described it as "a slow, downbeat, adult pop number" that is "reminiscent of the Cardigans
The Cardigans
The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band formed in the town of Jönköping in October 1992.Their debut album Emmerdale gave them a solid base in their home country and enjoyed some success abroad, especially in Japan. It was not until their second album Life that an international reputation was secured...
on a bad day". Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
called "Today the Sun's on Us" "brilliant" and ranked it number eight on its list of the greatest singles of 2007. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by Sophie Muller
Sophie Muller
Sophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...
and was filmed in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
in June 2007. The video was inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow were well-known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. Their exploits captured the attention of the American public during the "public enemy era" between 1931 and 1934...
, and features Ellis-Bextor trying to keep her partner interested in her.
Tracklisting
- 2 Track Single
- "Today the Sun's on Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:45
- "Duel" – 4:24
- Maxi Single
- "Today the Sun's on Us" (Radio Edit) – 3:45
- "Duel" - 4:24
- "Today the Sun's on Us" (Richmann Remix) – 6:38
- "Today the Sun's on Us" (Richmann Radio Edit) – 4:10
- "Today the Sun's on Us" (Video)
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
64 |