Gimme the Light

"Gimme the Light" is the first single from Jamaican dance hall artist Sean Paul's 2002 album Dutty Rock. It was his first hit single, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100[1] and also becoming a top 20 hit in the Netherlands, UK and Canada. It is the most popular hit single from the "Buzz" rhythm, which was the debut hit production for Troyton Rami & Roger Mackenzie a production duo of Black Shadow Records in Miami, Florida.

"Gimme the Light"
Single by Sean Paul
from the album Dutty Rock
B-side
  • Version ((Black Shadow 7" release)
  • Remix VP/Atlantic release)
Released21 May 2002
RecordedOctober–December 2001
GenreDancehall
Length3:46
3:20 (Pass The Dro-Voisier Remix)
LabelBlack Shadow (original)
VP Records
VP/Atlantic
Songwriter(s)Sean Paul Henriques
Troyton Rami
Producer(s)Troyton Rami & Roger Mackenzie
Sean Paul singles chronology
"Money Jane"
(2000)		 "Gimme the Light"
(2002)		 "Make It Clap"
(2002)

Background and release

In 2001, a fledgling Miami-based Jamaican production team known as Black Shadow created a new dancehall rhythm which they called "The Buzz". Of approximately 12 tracks that were vocalized by the latest stars and upcoming artists of dancehall, four of them became hits in the following year -- Elephant Man's "Haters Wanna War", Cobra's "Press Trigger", Sizzla's "Pump Up", and Sean Paul's "Gimme The Light", which became the most popular one because of its catchy chorus. "The Buzz" became the biggest Dancehall rhythm of 2002, followed by the Diwali rhythm by Steven "Lenky" Marsden later on, which was also his first hit production. Black Shadow followed up "The Buzz" with the "Surprise" rhythm in 2003.

The unedited version of "Gimme The Light", as is the case with many Sean Paul releases, makes direct reference to smoking marijuana (in this case, passing along hydroponically grown marijuana, referred to as "the 'dro" in the song's chorus). The edited version of "Dutty Rock" contains the lyrics "Just gimme the light and start the show," instead of "pass the dro." Paul is also out clubbing and checking out women for a possible nightcap. References to marijuana were removed from the song for the edited version.

The official remix, "Gimme the Light (Pass the Dro-Voisier Remix)", was released featuring rapper Busta Rhymes. This version uses only the chorus from the original (the clean version also uses the unedited version's chorus), replaced by new lyrics from Paul and Busta, also of Jamaican heritage. The remix's name is referenced from Busta Rhymes' 2002 hit single, "Pass The Courvoisier, Part II".

The song's instrumental was used for the remainder of the remix of Sean Paul's next single, "Get Busy" featuring Fatman Scoop.

The song was included on Billboard's 12 Best Dancehall & Reggaeton Choruses of the 21st Century at number three.[2]

Track listings

CD maxi – US

  1. "Gimme the Light" (Buzz Riddim)
  2. "Gimme the Light" (Buzz Riddim instrumental)
  3. "Can You Do The Work" (Liquid Riddim)

CD maxi – Europe

  1. "Gimme the Light" (album version) – 3:46
  2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix) – 3:20
  3. "Gimme the Light" (blackout remix) – 3:42
  4. "Gimme the Light" (2Step Moabit relick remix) – 3:47

CD single

  1. "Gimme the Light" (clean radio edit) – 3:47
  2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Voisier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20

12" maxi – US

  1. "Gimme the Light" (original mix) – 3:46
  2. "Gimme the Light" (instrumental version) – 2:50
  3. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - album / street mix) – 3:20
  4. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20

12" maxi – Europe

  1. "Gimme the Light" (original mix) – 3:46
  2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix) – 3:20
  3. "Gimme the Light" (heartless crew remix) – 4:45
  4. "Gimme the Light" (heartless crew dub) – 4:45

CD maxi – Remixes

  1. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20
  2. "Gimme the Light" (original mix - clean "Start the Show" radio edit) – 3:47
  3. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - album / street version) – 3:20
  4. "Gimme the Light" (original mix - album version) – 3:46
  5. "Gimme the Light" (instrumental version) – 2:49

Charts

References
  1. "Sean Paul - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  2. Platon, Adelle (28 April 2017). "The 12 Best Dancehall & Reggaeton Choruses of the 21st Century". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  3. Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved 17 May 2009)
  4. "Gimme the Light", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 17 May 2009)
  5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  6. "Gimme the Light", UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 17 May 2009)
  7. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  8. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  9. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  10. "Canadian single certifications – Sean Paul – Gimme the Light". Music Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  11. "British single certifications – Sean Paul – Gimme the Light". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 August 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Gimme the Light in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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