Blinded by the Lights
"Blinded by the Lights" is a song by English rapper and producer Mike Skinner under the music project the Streets. It was released in September 2004 as the third single from the project's second studio album A Grand Don't Come for Free. The song reached number ten on the UK Single Chart and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.
"Blinded by the Lights" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Streets | ||||
from the album A Grand Don't Come for Free | ||||
Released | 27 September 2004[1] | |||
Length | 4:45 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Mike Skinner | |||
Producer(s) | Mike Skinner | |||
The Streets singles chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
Leonie Cooper of NME called the best part of the song the, "massive wobbly synth line."[2] Decca Aitkenhead of The Guardian said that, "nothing has ever evoked the atmosphere of clubbing on ecstasy in the 90s more perfectly."[3] Ethan Brown of New York called the song, "a panicky haze of impure pills, paranoia, and social isolation."[4] Andy Battaglia of The A.V. Club called the song, "a sparse, moody track that gets washed in whoosh as his second dose of ecstasy kicks in."[5]
Music video
The music video was directed by Adam Smith and premiered in September 2004.[6]
Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[7] | 92 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[8] | 63 |
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 16 |
Scotland (OCC)[10] | 10 |
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 10 |
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[12] | 2 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 25 September 2004. p. 37.
- Cooper, Leonie (13 October 2017). "The Streets' 10 best songs". nme.com. NME. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- Aitkenhead, Decca (18 March 2012). "Mike Skinner: 'I get withdrawal symptoms if I've not created something for a few days'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- Brown, Ethan (7 June 2004). "Straight Talk". nymag.com. New York. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- Battaglia, Andy (18 May 2004). "The Streets: A Grand Don't Come For Free". music.avclub.com. AV Club. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- Blinded by the Lights - Music Video Music Video Database
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 269.
- "The Streets – Blinded by the Lights" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- "Chart Track: Week 46, 2004". Irish Singles Chart.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- "British single certifications – Streets – Blinded by the Lights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 September 2021.