Gold (Guy Sebastian song)

"Gold" is a song written and performed by Australian singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian. It is the second single from his seventh album Armageddon and was released digitally in Australia on 11 May 2012.[1] An EP with two new songs and a remix of a previous single "Who's That Girl" was released in CD format on 1 June 2012 and digitally on 15 June 2012.[2][3] "Gold" peaked at number ten on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum in 2014.[4] It was Sebastian's ninth of 12 top ten singles on the Australian charts.[5]

"Gold"
Single by Guy Sebastian
from the album Armageddon
Released11 May 2012 (2012-05-11)
GenrePop, soul
Length3:22
LabelSony Music Entertainment
Songwriter(s)Guy Sebastian, Harmony "H-Money" Samuels
Producer(s)Pro-Jay, Harmony "H-Money" Samuels
Guy Sebastian singles chronology
"Don't Worry Be Happy"
(2011)		 "Gold"
(2012)		 "Battle Scars"
(2012)
Music video
"Gold" on YouTube

Background

"Gold" is an uptempo soul song. During an interview on Australian radio station Nova 96.9 Sebastian said "Gold" was special to him because he was a huge Otis Redding fan, and he had inserted a horn line from a 1967 live recording of an Otis Redding track called "Shake" into the song. Discussing the inspiration for the song, he said: "You hear an old soul track, old Motown or Memphis, and it just makes you get on your feet." He elaborated, "It's probably the most fun, up-tempo song I've ever released to sing [...] Because it's such aggressive soul... By the end of the track I'm jumping out of my skin. It's one of those singer songs."[6] Sebastian said in an interview with Take 40 that the idea for lyrics came because of a friend who always used the term "That's Gold".[7]

There was some controversy surrounding the song when The Voice final 24 contestant Carmen Smith, who performed backing vocals on the track, was asked to leave the show because she appeared in the video. The Voice producers said she had broken the "spirit" of the rules as the video would give her an unfair advantage over other contestants.[8] Smith later stated that she had performed with Sebastian for years, and had a clause in her The Voice contract which allowed her to continue to perform and record with him. She thought appearing in the video would be permitted under her contract, but that The Voice producers saw things differently: "We had differences in opinion but in the end that is how they felt about it and I just had to go home and accept it. [...] The fact that this has happened, it is unfortunate, but the positive is that I get to move on and do what I do best and sing with Guy again."[9]

Release and promotion

"Gold" was serviced to radio on 4 May 2012 and was the second most added song to Australian radio for two consecutive weeks.[10][11] It peaked at number 26 on the national airplay charts.[12] Sebastian performed the song on the Seven Network's Dancing with the Stars, Australia's Got Talent and Sunrise.[13][14][15]

Reception

Critical response

A reviewer for Take 40 wrote: "It's already becoming one of our favourite new tunes! The song is super-fast and full of fun vibes and has an upbeat Motown feel to it!"[16] Power Fm announcer Bella Frizza said: "'GOLD' has just been released and you know what? I reckon it is just that -GOLDEN! But hey don't trust my ears – listen for yourself and if you're not dancing round your office/bedroom/loungeroom within about 40 seconds then I want to hear why!"[17] Music site auspOp wrote: "We can't tell you how happy we are that Guy Sebastian has ditched the R&B/dance hybrid sound for his latest single 'Gold'. 'Cause this new tune is precisely what Guy does best - oozing with class and old school soul. 'Gold' sounds like it could have been ripped straight from the streets of '60s Detroit, what with its flashy brass, gorgeous gospel chorus and Guy's insane pitch-perfect vocal. [...] 'Gold' is quite simply pure, unadulterated joy."[18]

Commercial performance

"Gold" debuted and peaked at number ten on the ARIA Singles Chart, and achieved platinum certification in 2014.[4] It was Sebastian's ninth of 12 top ten singles in Australia.[5]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Gold" premiered in May 2012. It was filmed at an old warehouse at the Mill Markets in Geelong, Victoria. Sebastian said the concept came from an old Billy Preston video. He sent it to the producers as a reference and the "Gold" video evolved from there.[6] It is set at a 1950s warehouse party, and Sebastian and his band are shown performing to an audience dressed in clothing of the era.[19] He and his backing vocalist leave the stage and join the dancers on the dance floor. The video is shot in black and white, and in the last 45 seconds is infused with gold highlights and then progresses to full subdued colour.[20]

Charts

Track listing
  1. "Gold" – 3:22
  1. "Gold" – 3:24
  2. "Diamond in My Hand" – 3:24
  3. "Lost in the Streets of LA" – 3:32
  4. "Who's That Girl" (7th Heaven Radio Mix) – 3:59

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from "Gold" CD liner notes.[23]

Release history
Country Format Date Label
Australia Digital download 11 May 2012[1] Sony Music Australia
CD single 1 June 2012[2]
gollark: Just use safe laser powers and/or something something optics?
gollark: No, it would just sit on a table for convenience and *aim* the lasers into your eyes.
gollark: This is unlegal.
gollark: Point them at your eyes, very precisely.
gollark: Well, you know lasers?

References
  1. iTunes - Music - Gold - Single by Guy Sebastian. iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
  2. Gold (Signed copy). Sanity Music. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012.
  3. Gold EP. iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012.
  4. ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Singles Archived 2014-06-25 at WebCite. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 March 2014
  5. Guy Sebastian in the Australian Charts Archived 2012-01-22 at WebCite. Australian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  6. Behind the Video: Guy Sebastian's "Gold" Archived 2012-08-15 at the Wayback Machine. Nova 96.9. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  7. Guy Sebastian interview (May 2012) Archived 2013-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. Take 40. MCM Media. Retrieved 12 May 2012
  8. McCabe, Kathy (16 May 2012). The Voice contestant Carmen Smith leaves TV show after singing on Guy Sebastian's new single Gold and being in video. Adelaide Confidential. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012.
  9. Byrne, Fiona (23 May 2012). Ousted The Voice contestant Carmen Smith breaks her silence about her shock exit. The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
  10. MOST ADDED. auspOp. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012
  11. MOST ADDED. auspOp. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012
  12. Australian Airplay Top 100 - Week of June 30 2012. aumreport.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012.
  13. Guy Sebastian "Gold" Dancing with the Stars. Yahoo7!TV. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012.
  14. Guy Sebastian "Gold" Australia's Got Talent. Yahoo7!TV. Retrieved 13 June 2012
  15. Guy Performs 'Gold' On Sunrise. Guy Sebastian official site. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012.
  16. LISTEN: Guy Sebastian's New Song 'Gold' - Fun and Soulful Vibes!. Take 40. MCM Media. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012
  17. Frizza, Bella (9 May 2012). Brand New: Guy Sebastian. Power Fm. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
  18. GUY SEBASTIAN : Gold. auspOp. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012
  19. Party goers for Guy Sebastian video - Victoria. starnow.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2012
  20. WATCH: Guy Sebastian's New Video 'Gold' Feat. Carmen Smith From The Voice!. Take 40. MCM Media. Retrieved 12 June 2012
  21. Guy Sebastian - Gold (Song). ARIA Chart archives. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012
  22. ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Australian Artist Singles 2012.Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013
  23. Notes for "Gold" by Guy Sebastian [CD liner notes]. Sony Music Australia
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