Up We Go

"Up We Go" is a song recorded by Canadian electropop artist Lights for her third studio album, Little Machines (2014). Written by Lights in collaboration with songwriter-producer Tawgs Salter, the song was released July 22, 2014 via LIGHTS Music as the lead single from the album.[1] In the United States, it was released to modern rock radio through Warner Bros. Records on September 9, 2014.[2]

"Up We Go"
Single by Lights
from the album Little Machines
ReleasedJuly 22, 2014 (2014-07-22)
GenreSynthpop
Length2:56
Label
  • LIGHTS Music
  • Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lights singles chronology
"Cactus in the Valley (Acoustic)"
(2013)		 "Up We Go"
(2014)		 "Running with the Boys"
(2015)

The song has enjoyed commercial success - it reached number 31 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and the top ten on multiple airplay formats, and was certified Gold by Music Canada in January 2015 - and was also met with positive reviews from contemporary music critics, being described as "impossibly catchy."[3]

Composition

"Up We Go" is a synthpop song that combines Lights' signature electro-influenced pop production style with "lush" guitars. Jeff Benjamin of fuse described the style as a compromise between the lighter synths of her debut and the grittier electropop territory explored on Siberia.[4] Lyrically, the song is an anthem about persevering through difficult times, with the chorus assuring the listener that "from down this low / It's only up we go".

Critical reception

The song received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. In his "Song of the Day" spotlight featuring "Up We Go", Jeff Benjamin of fuse praised Lights for "[mixing] clever lyrics... with inspiring lyrics about persevering and looking forward to the brighter day" and was also complimentary of the shift in her sound.[4] Also praising the lighter musical approach, Greg Moskovitch of Music Feeds wrote that "[t]he punchy, synth-pop production provides a soaring and glittering soundbed for Poxleitner’s motivational lyrics, which lead into an anthemic, impossibly catchy chorus."[3] British music blog Popjustice rated the song 8/10 and felt the song had the potential to elevate Lights's career to the next level: "Canadian electronic pop expert Lights hasn't yet enjoyed the UK success she deserves... which is a shame, because if this excellent first track from her new album 'Little Machines' is anything to go by she's about to scale new heights."[5]

Chart performance

"Up We Go" debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the chart dated August 9, 2014. On the chart dated November 8, 2014, "Up We Go" reached a new peak of number 31, becoming her second highest-charting single yet, behind "Drive My Soul", which peaked at number 18. It debuted at number 42 on Canada CHR/Top 40 on the chart issued September 13, 2014, as well as number 47 on Canada Hot AC and number 43 on Canada AC the following week. The song has since peaked in the top 10 on the former two, and the top 5 on the latter.

Music video

The official music video for "Up We Go" was directed by Alon Isocianu and premiered on Lights's VEVO channel on September 3, 2014. The one shot video features the singer in an elevator, with various background events and characters appearing as the doors open to new locations.[6][7]

Other appearances

The song "Up We Go" also features in the soundtrack and ingame songs of EA's The Sims 4. The song has been remixed to be sung in the Sims language Simlish

Track listings

Digital download[8]

  1. "Up We Go" - 2:51

Digital download — Borgeous Remix[9]

  1. "Up We Go" (Borgeous Remix) - 4:41

Digital download — Borgeous Remix (UK)[10]

  1. "Up We Go" (Borgeous Remix) - 4:41
  2. "Up We Go" (Borgeous Instrumental Remix) - 4:41

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Little Machines liner notes.[11]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Gold 40,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Canada July 22, 2014 Digital download LIGHTS Music / Universal Music Canada [1]
United States September 9, 2014 Modern rock Warner Bros. Records [2]
United Kingdom November 14, 2014 Digital download
(Borgeous Remix)		 [10]
Canada December 15, 2014 LIGHTS Music / Universal Music Canada [9]
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References
  1. Stern, Bradley. "LIGHTS Announces New Album 'Little Machines' And Premieres New Single, "Up We Go": Listen". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Mediabase. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  3. Moskovitch, Greg. "Lights Announces New Album 'Little Machines', Streams Single 'Up We Go'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. Benjamin, Jeff. "LIGHTS Returns With Inspiring Electro-Pop Smash "Up We Go"". Fuse. The Madison Square Garden Company. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  5. "Listen: Lights - 'Up We Go'". Popjustice. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. "Lights "Up We Go" (Video Premiere)". Ultimate Music. josepvinaixa. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. Daw, Robbie. "LIGHTS' "Up We Go" Video: Watch The Charming Elevator-Set Romp". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  8. "Little Machines (Deluxe Version) by Lights". iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  9. "Up We Go (Borgeous Remix) - Single by Lights". iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  10. "Up We Go (Borgeous Remix) - Single by Lights". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  11. Little Machines (Compact disc liner notes). Lights. LIGHTS Music. 2014. B00M2D7HFY.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. "Lights Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  13. "Lights Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  14. "Lights Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  15. "Lights Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  16. "Billboard Canada AC Top 40 of 2015". Music Canada via Nielsen N.V. December 26, 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  17. "Billboard Canada Hot AC Top 40 of 2015". Music Canada via Nielsen N.V. December 26, 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  18. "Canadian single certifications – Lights – Up We Go". Music Canada.
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