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| Length = {{duration|m=3|s=29}}<!-- Radio version -->
| Length = {{duration|m=3|s=29}}<!-- Radio version -->
| Format = [[Music download|Digital download]]
| Format = [[Music download|Digital download]]
| Genre = <!-- Provide a reliable source -->
| Genre = [[Pop]], [[Bubblegum pop]], [[Disco]]
| Label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| Label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| Writer = [[Alex da Kid]], Mike Del Rio, Jayson DeZuzio, [[The Jackie Boyz|Steven Battey, Carlos Battey]], Cheryl Cole
| Writer = [[Alex da Kid]], Mike Del Rio, Jayson DeZuzio, [[The Jackie Boyz|Steven Battey, Carlos Battey]], Cheryl Cole

Revision as of 08:03, 20 November 2012

"Under the Sun"
Song

"Under the Sun" is a song recorded by English recording artist Cheryl Cole, from her third studio album A Million Lights (2012). The song was released as the second single from "A Million Lights" on September 2, 2012 through Polydor Records. It was written and produced by Alex da Kid, with additional writing from Mike Del Rio, Jayson DeZuzio, Steven Battey, Carlos Battey and Cole.

Lyrically, it speaks of a male telling a girl anything she wants to hear to get his way. "Under the Sun" is a mid-tempo song, piano riffs, sun-kissed breakbeats and a pop chorus. The song received a positive reaction from most music critics, with most of them, calling it a summery, carefree and enjoyable song. Some critics cited the Chemical Brothers, Natasha Bedingfield and Lily Allen as references.

The accompanying music video sees Cole travel back to the '50s to perform the track while strutting down the street. Further scenes see the singer draped on the bonnet of a classic car and performing a choreographed dance sequence with a handful of businessmen. "Under the Sun" was promoted with live performances in the United Kingdom, including a T4 special and The Jonathan Ross Show.

Composition

"Under the Sun" was written and produced by Alex da Kid, with additional writing from Mike Del Rio, Jayson DeZuzio, Steven Battey, Carlos Battey and Cole. Lyrically, it speaks of a male telling a girl anything she wants to hear to get his way. "Under The Sun" finds her bidding a scornful farewell to an unfaithful lover.[1] "I wont give you my heart because it don't break twice," sings Cheryl.[2] Under the Sun is a mid-tempo song[3], with hip hop beats, piano riffs, sun-kissed breakbeats and a pop chorus.[4]

Cole described the song as being a "really fun song. It's about a guy telling you anything you want to hear to get his way, and you saying, 'actually, normally I wouldn’t, but today I might.' The sun just makes you feel good."[5] Cole also expressed that the song is one of her favourites, "At the moment I've got a song that's actually a hip-hop beat with a pop verse and that's called Under The Sun. So that's my favourite today! I can't wait!."[4] According to Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine, on the song Cheryl is adopting a bit of a Natasha Bedingfield hangover.[6]

Critical reception

Alexis Petridis from The Guardian praised the song, explaining, "Opener Under the Sun offers a weird and hugely enjoyable cocktail of tinny synthesiser, vast Chemical Brothers-style breakbeat and football-terrace backing vocals".[7] Entertainment Wise also gave praise to the song, calling it "exceptional" along with album track "All Is Fair".[8] Al Fox wrote for BBC Music that "the casual, high-spirited Under the Sun boasts a playful, summery, arguably alternative trait."[9] Laura Hills wrote a positive review for MSN Music, calling it "a perfectly acceptable track full of bounce, upbeat vocals and what some may say are obvious references to ex-husband Ashley Cole."[2] Joanne Dorken of MTV called it a "a summery, mid-tempo song and provides a bright start to A Million Lights."[3]

Laurence Green from musicOMH analized that "Under the Sun serves as a thrillingly carefree album opener, all jaunty piano riffs and frat party chants. As one of Cole’s own co-writes, it’s hard not to read into the flippant breeziness of lyrics like “I got paid today, is this really my life, now that I’m over you... I can finally feel alive”. In interviews, she might pointedly distance herself from any deeper meaning to the words, but truth be told, it’s the way lines like these resonate so closely to Cole’s own life that bolsters the album’s cohesiveness and marks it out as a body of work that sounds fundamentally like ‘her’."[10] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy agreed, writing, "Cheryl may refuse to admit that her tracks are autobiographical, but when the credits list her as the primary songwriter, it's hard to ignore the song's potential to be a two-fingered salute to those who have attempted to sway her - and more power to her for it."[11] Kim Taylor Bennet from Time Out London called it a "Lily Allen-lite, cheapened instantly to a Magaluf anthem by an inexplicable football chant refrain."[12]

Chart perfomance

"Under the Sun" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 57, on 11 August 2012.[13] Later, the song jumped to number 36, while on the third week, it climbed to number 26.[13] On 8 September 2012, the song climbed to number 13, and in the midweek chart, it peaked at 11. This, along with The Flood are the only songs of Cole's to date that haven't entered the top five.[13] "Under the Sun" debuted at number 30 on the Irish Singles Chart, for the week ending 9 August 2012 and went on to peak at number 16 becoming her seventh top-twenty hit in Ireland.[14][15]

Music video

Background

Cheryl reclining on the bonnet of a classic car while a gang of gents in 50s suits dance around her in the music video for "Under the Sun".

The music video was filmed on 25 June 2012.[16] Cole also tweeted that she was in music video rehearsals the previous day when the single was first announced.[17] Cole was allegedly spotted on the former set of The Bill filming the video at the Merton Studios in South London. The video reportedly features the axed programme's Sun Hill building in the background.[18] Furthermore the scenes were filmed at Wimbledon Studios on the former set of the now defunct Channel Five soap "Family Affairs." The accompanying music video was released on July 26, 2012, and it sees Cole travel back to the '50s to perform the track while strutting down the street. Further scenes see the singer draped on the bonnet of a classic car and performing a choreographed dance sequence with a handful of businessmen.[19]

Synopsis

The video starts with Cheryl in a crowded café of suited men strolling to a juke box before leaving - attracting the attention of every bloke present. Later, she walks down a decidedly modern street, complete with phone box, bus stop and cash point, before reclining on the bonnet of a classic car while a gang of gents in 50s suits dance around her. Not being able to get enough of hunky dancers, after more strutting down the street in her leopard print heels, Cheryl breaks out a routine in front of a flashing background with the help of two shirtless blokes. As the sun sets, Cole walks down a dark street - with yet more dancing - before going back into a café and chatting up a group of soldiers, making sure she nabs a slurp of milkshake on the way.[20] The music video has around 4 million views on Cole's VEVO Channel.

Live performances

"Under the Sun" was performed live for the first time during Cole's T4 special. It was broadcast on Channel 4 on 16 June 2012. "Screw You", "Call My Name" and "Fight For This Love" were also performed.[21] Cole performed "Under the Sun" on The Jonathan Ross Show on the 8th of September.[22][23]

Track listing

Digital EP[24]
No.TitleLength
1."Under the Sun" (Radio Version)3:29
2."Under the Sun" (The Alias Remix / Radio Version)3:33
3."Under the Sun" (Pantha Remix)4:16
4."Under the Sun" (Agent X Bassline Mix)5:00
Total length:16:18

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 13

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[24] 2 September 2012 Digital EP Polydor

References

  1. ^ Gittins, Ian (18 June 2012). "Cheryl: A Million Lights Album Review - Reviews - Music - Virgin Media". Virgin Media. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b Hills, Laura (15 June 2012). "Cheryl Cole, A Million Lights: review". MSN Music. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b "MTV album review". MTV.co.uk. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Cheryl Cole, Lana Del Rey Collaboration on New Album, "Under The Sun"". MTV.co.uk. Retrieved June 9, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Robinson, Peter (2012–06–06). "Cheryl Cole Interview". PopJustice.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (19 June 2012). "A Million Lights - Cheryl Cole: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  7. ^ Alexis Petridis. "Cheryl Cole: A Million Lights – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  8. ^ "REVIEW: Cheryl Cole's 'A Million Lights' Is Pop Triumph". Entertainmentwise. 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  9. ^ Fox, Al (15 June 2012). "BBC - Music - Review of Cheryl - A Million Lights". BBC Music. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  10. ^ Green, Laurence (18 June 2012). "Cheryl - A Million Lights | album reviews | musicOMH". musicOMH. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  11. ^ Corner, Lewis (August 14, 2012). "Cheryl: 'Under The Sun' - Single review". Digital Spy. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  12. ^ Bennett, Kim Taylor. "Cheryl – 'A Million Lights' album review". Time Out London. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  13. ^ a b c "Chart Archive - Cheryl - Under the Sun". Chart Archive. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  14. ^ "TOP 50 SINGLES, WEEK ENDING 9 August 2012". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  15. ^ "TOP 50 SINGLES, WEEK ENDING 30 August 2012". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  16. ^ "Cheryl Cole Wears Bright Green High Heels During Promotional Tour In Berlin". Capital FM. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  17. ^ "Video Rehearsal..." Facebook. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  18. ^ "Cheryl Cole pops down to Sun Hill". The Sun. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  19. ^ Corner, Lewis (July 26, 2012). "Cheryl Cole debuts 'Under The Sun' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  20. ^ "Cheryl Cole's Under The Sun video sees pop star ooze 60s glamour". Metro. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  21. ^ "London Live - Series 1 - Episode 3 - Cheryl: T4 Special". Channel 4. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  22. ^ http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/cheryl-cole/news/jonathan-ross-interview/
  23. ^ http://entertainment.stv.tv/showbiz/188872-cheryl-cole-steps-out-with-new-boyfriend/
  24. ^ a b "Under the Sun: Cheryl". Amazon.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  25. ^ "Chart Track: Week 39, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.