"Lifted"
1996 re-release artwork
Single by Lighthouse Family
from the album Ocean Drive
B-side
  • "Beautiful Night"
  • "Absolutely Everything"
Released8 May 1995 (1995-05-08)
StudioBattery
GenreBritish soul[1]
Length4:31
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Peden
Lighthouse Family singles chronology
"Lifted"
(1995)		 "Ocean Drive"
(1995)
Alternative cover
Australasian artwork
Music video
"Lifted" on YouTube

"Lifted" is a song written by British musical duo Lighthouse Family for their 1995 debut album, Ocean Drive. The track was produced by Mike Peden and was released as the album's lead single on 8 May 1995, reaching the top 75 in the UK. In January 1996, "Lifted" was re-released, reaching a new peak of number four in the UK and entering the top 40 in Austria, Iceland, and Ireland, as well as on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart. In the UK, it was the most-played single on radio during the first quarter of the year.[2]

Background and release

"When we were writing Lifted, we were worried that the record company was going to drop us, and had these deep, intense discussions – "What is life anyway? What is love?" – which fed into the lyrics. For me, it's about being in the darkness, looking for that spiritual thing to lift you out of something. People seemed to connect with it emotionally, mentally, even politically."

—Tunde Baiyewu talking about the song.[3]

Songwriter Paul Tucker worked in a house music club in Newcastle and had written a song called "Ocean Drive". After four years he decided to find a singer to sing it. A friend told him about singer Tunde Baiyewu from London and after singing the song, Tucker felt he was the right person to sing it. Tucker contacted several record companies and sent them the song on cassettes. Several labels showed interest and the duo signed to Polydor Records with only one song. The record company kept asking for more material. They brought in some musicians to record a few songs, but Polydor rejected the songs.

"Lifted" came up in this process. The duo felt they needed some kind of spiritual lift. Tucker also remembered the tunes he had heard in the club where he worked, like "Promised Land" by Joe Smooth. He drew inspiration from these songs and has also stated that the song was inspired by a breakup back when he was living in Newcastle in the early 1990s.[4] The duo had a lot of worries in the writing process. They worried that the record company would drop them. These thoughts also fed into the lyrics of "Lifted". They sent a tape of the new song to Polydor and they loved it.[3]

Critical reception

Ethan Alter from AllMusic picked "Lifted" as one of two "best tunes" from the album, stating that it is "virtually guaranteed to buoy one's spirits."[5] In Billboard, the reviewer felt singer Tunde Baiyewu's style was in some ways similar to that of Seal, calling the track a "wonderful British-soul single... With its shuffling, funk-derived beat and strumming melody."[1] James Masterton for Dotmusic called it "wonderful".[6] Pan-European magazine Music & Media said, "Pop made from an adult angle, but finely tuning into the youngster's taste too by the clever Soul II Soul-inspired rhythm track, it will open up lots of radio possibilities."[7] A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, writing, "Feelgood, radio friendly fare from the Newcastle duo which echoes the uplifting sentiments of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. A grower." [8] Ralph Tee from the magazine's RM Dance Update deemed it a "wholesome guitar-tinged funky soul tune", noting that the original radio friendly version is mixed by British record producer, remixer and composer Mike Peden.[9] Another editor, James Hamilton described it as a "husky soulful superb Roger Troutman-ishly vocodered lovely languid strolling 96.8bpm song of hope".[10]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It features the duo performing in Zabriskie Point and Death Valley Junction, California. The indoor scenes are filmed in Amargosa Opera House and Hotel. It was shot on 35mm film, and the idea was to get something that looked more cinematic than a standard pop video.[4]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 8 May 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
[36]
United Kingdom (rerelease) 29 January 1996
  • 12-inch
  • CD
  • cassette
 [37]
United States 25 June 1997 Hot adult contemporary radio A&M [38]

The song was used as the official campaign song for the British Labour Party under Tony Blair in their successful 2001 election campaign.[39]

References

  1. 1 2 Taylor, Chuck, ed. (21 June 1997). "Reviews & Previews – Singles: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. New York: BPI Communications. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ↑ Kwaku (8 June 1996). "Brit Rhythm: Getting Better All The Time" (PDF). Billboard. New York: BPI Communications. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (12 November 2019). "Lighthouse Family: How We Made Lifted". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 Eames, Tom (29 January 2021). "The Story of... 'Lifted' by Lighthouse Family - as told by the band". Smooth Radio. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ↑ Alter, Ethan. "Lighthouse Family – Ocean Drive". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Masterton, James (8 October 1995). "Week Ending October 14th 1995 – This week's Official UK Singles Chart". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "New Releases – Singles: Lighthouse Family" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 25. Amsterdam: BPI Communications. 24 June 1995. p. 10. ISSN 1385-612X. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Reviews – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. London: Miller Freeman Entertainment. 29 April 1995. p. 14. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Tee, Ralph (3 June 1995). "Hot Vinyl – Soul: Lighthouse Family "Lifted" (Wildcard)" (PDF). RM (Record Mirror Dance Update). Music Week. London: Miller Freeman Entertainment. p. 14. ISSN 0265-1548.
  10. ↑ Hamilton, James (3 February 1996). "Dj directory" (PDF). RM (Record Mirror Dance Update). Music Week. London: Miller Freeman Entertainment. p. 11. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Lifted (UK CD1 liner notes). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1995. CARDD 17, 851667-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Lifted (UK CD2 liner notes). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1995. CARDW 17, 851669-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Lifted (UK cassette single sleeve). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1995. CARDC 17, 851666-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Lifted (European CD single liner notes). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1995. 851666-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Lifted (UK & Australasian CD single liner notes). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1996. 577943-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Lifted (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1996. 577943-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ Lifted (UK cassette single sleeve). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1996. 577 942-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ Lifted (European CD single liner notes). Lighthouse Family. Polydor Records, Wildcard Records. 1996. 576156-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "Lighthouse Family – Lifted" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  23. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9888." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  24. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 8. Amsterdam: BPI Communications. 24 February 1996. p. 16. ISSN 1385-612X. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  25. ↑ "Lighthouse Family – Lifted" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 165: Vikuna 13.4. – 19.4. '96". Dagblaðið Vísir. 13 April 1996. p. 38. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  27. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lifted". Irish Singles Chart.
  28. ↑ "Lighthouse Family – Lifted" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  29. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  30. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  31. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  32. ↑ "Hot Dance Music – Maxi-Singles Sales" (PDF). Billboard. New York: BPI Communications. 9 August 1997. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510.
  33. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1996" (PDF). Music Week. London: Miller Freeman Entertainment. 18 January 1997. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  34. ↑ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1996 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  35. ↑ "British single certifications – Lighthouse Family – Lifted". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "New Releases – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. London: Miller Freeman Entertainment. 6 May 1995. p. 59. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "New Releases – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. London: Miller Freeman Entertainment. 27 January 1996. p. 37. ISSN 0265-1548. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  38. ↑ Sexton, Paul (5 July 1997). "Lighthouse Family Coming Ashore in U.S.: A&M To Release 'Ocean Drive' By Slow-Growing U.K.l Act" (PDF). Billboard. New York: BPI Publications. p. 11. ISSN 0006-2510. [...] "Lifted" which was worked starting June 25 to hot AC radio.
  39. ↑ "Labour campaign lifts off on song". BBC News. 20 April 2001. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
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