"Livin' in the Light"
Single by Caron Wheeler
from the album UK Blak
Released27 August 1990
Recorded1990
GenreElectronica, soul
Length5:44 (Original Version)
4:55 (Remix Version)
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Caron Wheeler, N. P. Hail
Producer(s)Caron Wheeler, Afrika Baby Bam, Blacksmith
Caron Wheeler singles chronology
"Livin' in the Light"
(1990)		 "UK Blak"
(1990)
Music video
"Livin' in the Light" on YouTube

"Livin' in the Light" is a song by British singer-songwriter Caron Wheeler, released in August 1990 as the first single from her debut solo album, UK Blak (1990). Wheeler wrote the song with N. P. Hail, and produced it with Afrika Baby Bam and Blacksmith. It is a soul song that incorporates elements of neo soul, electronica, and 1970s-style funk music. Its lyrics describe people being dragged away from their culture and having to survive within a new surrounding. The song references slavery and reparations.

Background

EMI Records released "Livin' in the Light" on 27 August 1990 as the lead single from UK Blak. The song spent a total of six weeks on the chart and peaked number 14 on the UK Singles chart.[1] It was a number-one hit on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and achieved top-twenty peaks on several other countries' record charts.[2][3] The song went on to sell over thirty-thousand copies worldwide. The success of the song invited Wheeler to perform on Top of the Pops in mid-1990.

Critical reception

In his review of UK Blak, Alex Henderson from AllMusic described "Livin' in the Light" as a "riveting" and "moving" neosoul treasure.[4] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun remarked its "bass-heavy pulse".[5] Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Produced by Afrika Baby Bam of the Jungle Brothers, lyrically uplifting cut shuffles down a funk/swing groove path somewhat similar to SIIS, though Wheeler's own unique sense of melody and vocal arrangements ultimately shine through. A smash."[6] Andrew Mueller from Melody Maker said that Wheeler "has a perfectly splendid voice and sings some perfectly splendid things with it".[7]

Music video

A music video was shot for both the original version and the remix version of the song. The video for the original version of song features Wheeler performing the song in close-up frame shots. The imagery of the video showcases many African people in a new surrounding. As they learning to adapt to the new surrounding, many of them are shown on a beach with the sun shining on them. The video also features many different men in the water. Wheeler is also shown wearing a traditional reddish-orange outfit. The video for the remix version of the song features a similar video with the same settings and imagery.

Formats and track listings

Charts

Chart (1990/91) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 112
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 31
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 38
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 43
UK Singles (OCC)[1] 14
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) 1
West Germany (Official German Charts) 46

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "UK Charts > Caron Wheeler". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 278.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 619.
  4. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Caron Wheeler – UK Blak". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Considine, J.D. (1990). "Caron Wheeler – UK Blak". Baltimore Sun – via Milwaukee Journal (18 Nov 1990).
  6. ↑ Coleman, Bill (25 August 1990). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 87. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. ↑ Mueller, Andrew (1 September 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Bubbling DownUnder Week commencing 10 December 1990". www.bubblingdownunder.com. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "Caron Wheeler – Livin' In The Light" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 22 September 1990. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Caron Wheeler" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  12. ↑ "Caron Wheeler – Livin In The Light" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. ↑ "Caron Wheeler – Livin' In The Light". Top 40 Singles.
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