"Daylight"
Single by Bobby Womack
from the album Safety Zone
B-side"Trust Me" (7")
ReleasedJanuary 1976 (7")
Recorded1975
StudioWally Heider Recording Studios
Genre
Length
  • 3:15 (7")
  • 3:29 (12")
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)David Rubinson
Bobby Womack singles chronology
"It's All Over Now"
(1975)		 "Daylight"
(1976)		 "Where There's a Will, There's a Way"
(1976)

"Daylight" is a R&B song recorded by American recording artist Bobby Womack for his 1975 album Safety Zone. Written by Womack with lyricist Harold Payne, it was issued as a single and reached No. 5 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart in the spring of 1976.

Background

Harold Payne would recall that his brother Larry Payne met up with Womack when the latter was in San Francisco to record the Safety Zone album: Larry Payne ran the pop culture magazine Where It's At which had recently profiled Womack who was resultantly receptive when Larry Payne recommended the singer meet with Larry Payne's aspiring songwriter brother Harold Payne. After receiving a call from Larry Payne, Harold Payne flew from Los Angeles to San Francisco and met with Womack at the Wally Heider Recording Studios where after hashing over musical ideas with Harold Payne, Womack devised a rhythm track: Harold Payne then completed the lyric for "Daylight" at his home in Los Angeles which he describes as "a notorious party house" - "the lyric took on the story of what went on at the house and it meshed well with what Bobby had in mind."[1] Produced by David Rubinson - with Wah Wah Watson as associate producer - "Daylight" featured background vocals by the Pointer Sisters. "Daylight" inaugurated a long songwriting collaboration between Bobby Womack and Harold Payne which extended to Womack's final album: The Bravest Man in the Universe (2012).

Charts

Chart (1976) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[2] 5

Kelly Rowland version

"Daylight"
Single by Kelly Rowland featuring Travis McCoy
from the album Ms. Kelly (deluxe edition) and Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2008
RecordedOctober 2007
Studio
  • Undisclosed studio (London)
  • Fresh Kills (New York City)
Genre
Length3:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)S*A*M & Sluggo
Kelly Rowland singles chronology
"Work"
(2008)		 "Daylight"
(2008)		 "No Future in the Past"
(2008)
Travis McCoy singles chronology
"Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)"
(2006)		 "Daylight"
(2008)		 "Coconut Juice"
(2008)

Recording and production

In 2007, the song was covered by American singer Kelly Rowland along with a rap by Travis McCoy, front man of the indie hip-hop band Gym Class Heroes, for the soundtrack of French comedy film Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008). The cover was produced by S*A*M & Sluggo.

Rowland recorded "Daylight" circa October 2007 in London, while she was promoting Ms. Kelly in the United Kingdom. Although she "had a great time recording it",[3] she was nervous about meeting with McCoy in the studio: "When we got into the studio it was just magic together and I'm happy that it was because you always wonder how a collaboration is going to come out", she said.[4] Stating her reasons for choosing to work with McCoy, she told British songwriter Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul: "I love the fact that Gym Class Heroes' music and sound is something different and eclectic. I figured me and Travis together would be an unusual type a duo. And I'm really happy I trusted my instincts. Because it turned out to be a really cool, different type of collaboration. To me Travis is like a rapper-slash-poet-slash-rocker, and our combination really worked!".[5]

Initially recorded solely for the soundtrack for Asterix at the Olympic Games, Rowland was so satisfied with the track, she wanted to include it on her extended play (EP) Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe (2008) and release it as a single as well: "I love doing collaborations – it's always good to do something that's out the box."[6] She also stated the cover was her favorite addition to Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe; the cover was also added to the deluxe edition of Ms. Kelly soon after, along with other tracks from the EP.[4]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Daylight" was filmed in November 2007, and was directed by Jeremy Rall and produced by Gina Leonard for Siblings Inc. It was shot in New York City, ten blocks from the Empire State Building.

The video shows Rowland among a bunch of people in a party inside an apartment building alongside Travis McCoy. The video begins at 5:00 a.m. while the party is still in full swing; when the sun begins to rise and shines through the windows, the party-goers move up to the roof of the building to continue the party.

About shooting, Rowland said: "Shooting the music video for the song was hilarious, with Travis especially. He looked so funny and cute when he was riding a weird modified-bicycle in the middle of the bustling city."[3] The other members of Gym Class Heroes made cameos in the video.

A seven-second snippet of the video premiered on NBC's Clash of the Choirs. The full video finally premiered on Vivement Dimanche in France on January 6, 2008, including clips from the Asterix at the Olympic Games film. In the United States, the video premiered via MySpace on January 17, excluding the Asterix at the Olympic Games clips; the same day, it also premiered on BET's 106 & Park as the "New Joint" of the day. In the United Kingdom, the video premiered via music channel Bubble Hits on March 19.

Commercial performance

"Daylight" debuted at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart, based solely on digital downloads. Upon its physical release on May 5, 2008, the song climbed 22 places to number 14, being the largest climber within the UK Singles Chart's top 40 that week. The song became Rowland's eighth consecutive top-20 hit in the country, although it was not as successful as the first two singles from Ms. Kelly–"Like This" and "Work", both of which peaked within the top five.

Formats and track listings

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Daylight"
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 43
CIS (TopHit)[8] 125
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9] 44
Global Dance Songs (Billboard)[10] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 43
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[12] 41
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[13] 15
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[14] 91
Scotland (OCC)[15] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 14
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[17] 5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[18] 4

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Daylight"
Region Date Version(s) Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 22, 2008 Original Contemporary hit radio
March 11, 2008 Remixes Digital download (EP)
United Kingdom April 18, 2008 Radio edit Digital download RCA
India April 29, 2008 Original Sony BMG
United Kingdom Remixes Digital download (EP) RCA
May 2, 2008 Hex Hector remix Digital download
May 5, 2008 Original CD
Australia June 28, 2008 Digital download Sony BMG
June 30, 2008 CD
Germany August 1, 2008

Other versions

"Daylight" was recorded by Vicki Sue Robinson for her self-titled 1976 album release from which it was issued as lead single reaching No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 (#91 R&B). The song has also been recorded by Leon Russell and Mary Russell (album Wedding Album - the track was produced by Bobby Womack), and also by Black Slate (album Midnight/ 2013). Candy Dulfer performs the song with Chance Howard (vocals) during her concerts when the two are together. In 2018 the Fun Lovin' Criminals released their own version, which differs very much from the original, such as new lyrics.

References

  1. ↑ "Harold Payne - The Story behind "Daylight"". YouTube. 2008-04-19. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  2. ↑ "Bobby Womack Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  3. 1 2 "Interview: "Kelly Rowland's All About Action"". TeenMusic. Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  4. 1 2 "Interview: "Interview: Kelly Rowland Goes Deluxe"". TeenMusic. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  5. ↑ "Kelly Rolland: Fulfilling Her Destiny". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  6. ↑ "Interview". Digital Spy. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  7. ↑ "Kelly Rowland feat. Travis McCoy – Daylight". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  8. ↑ Kelly Rowland — Daylight. TopHit. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles (2008-05-24)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  10. ↑ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Global Dance Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Kelly Rowland". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  12. ↑ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  13. ↑ "week 30 (26 juli 2008)" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Romanian Top 100". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original (Please see "Issue 21" of the year 2008) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Kelly Rowland feat. Travis McCoy: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  17. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Kelly Rowland Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  19. ↑ "Available For Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Daylight (feat. Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes) [The Remix] – EP". Apple Music. March 11, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Daylight (feat. Travis McCoy) [Radio Edit] – Single". Apple Music. April 18, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Daylight – Single". Apple Music. April 29, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Daylight (Remixes)". Apple Music. April 29, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Daylight (feat. Travis McCoy) [Hex Hector Remix] – Single". Apple Music. May 2, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  25. ↑ "New Single Daylight feat. Travis from Gym Class Heroes- out 5th May". KellyRowland.Bebo.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  26. ↑ "Daylight – Single". Apple Music. June 28, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  27. ↑ "New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 30th June 2008" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 30, 2008. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2022 – via Pandora archive.
  28. ↑ "Release.beat.preview". Musicbeat.de. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
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