Shine a Light (Beady Eye song)
| "Shine a Light" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Beady Eye | ||||
| from the album BE | ||||
| Released | 16 August 2013 (digital) | |||
| Recorded | 2012–2013 | |||
| Genre | Rock[1] | |||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter | Liam Gallagher | |||
| Producer | David Sitek | |||
| Beady Eye singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Shine a Light" is a song by English rock band Beady Eye from their second studio album, BE (2013). It was released in August 2013 as the album's second single.[1][2] The digital single consisted of a 3:35 radio edit,[1] while contemporary music press reports described the physical release as a double A-side with "The World's Not Set in Stone".[3][4]
Background and composition
In a track-by-track interview published before the release of BE, Andy Bell said of "Shine a Light": "The intro to this we called 'the Scarface bit': like an old black-and-white movie. Very dramatic."[5]
Reviewers often singled out the song's rhythmic feel and its mix of older rock references. The Quietus described it as "invigorating", writing that a "ghostly 30s cinema piano intro" gives way to "rootsy guitar" recalling U2's "Desire" as much as the Rolling Stones alluded to in the title.[6] Writing about the video and single, Stereogum said the track made notable use of the Bo Diddley beat,[7] while NME called it "surprisingly effective" and compared its main riff to the Stooges' "1969".[8]
Release
Beady Eye confirmed in July 2013 that "Shine a Light" would be the next song taken from BE.[2] The digital single was released on 16 August 2013 through Columbia and ran for 3:35 in its radio-edit form.[1] Press coverage around the song's release described the accompanying physical issue as a double A-side with "The World's Not Set in Stone".[3][4]
Track listing
Digital download
- "Shine a Light" (radio edit) – 3:35[1]
Music video
The music video for "Shine a Light" was released on 22 July 2013 and was directed by Charlie Lightening.[7][9] Reports on the clip described it as featuring the band at a banquet, nuns, and Liam Gallagher lying beneath a group of nude women.[7][10][3]
Reception
Critical response to "Shine a Light" was mixed. The Quietus regarded it as one of the more effective songs on BE, calling it "invigorating" and highlighting its piano introduction and rootsy guitar attack.[6] The Independent named it one of the album's recommended downloads.[11] Drowned in Sound, reviewing the single itself, was more reserved, writing that Liam Gallagher handled its "psychedelic swell" reasonably well but calling the song somewhat forgettable.[12]
Chart performance
On the Official Physical Singles Chart, "Shine a Light" peaked at number 4 and spent 12 weeks in the chart's top 100.[13]
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Physical Singles (OCC)[13] | 4 |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Shine a Light - Single - Album by Beady Eye". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Beady Eye perform 'Shine A Light' at Glastonbury 2013 – watch". NME. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Beady Eye premiere video for 'Shine A Light' single". Gigwise. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Beady Eye - Shine A Light". Clash. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye on their new album". ShortList. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b Mackay, Emily (10 June 2013). "Beady Eye - BE". The Quietus. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (22 July 2013). "Beady Eye – 'Shine A Light' Video". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "Beady Eye - 'BE'". NME. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "Shine a Light - Music Video by Beady Eye". Shazam. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "WATCH: New Beady Eye vid". Hot Press. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ Gill, Andy (10 June 2013). "Album review: Beady Eye, BE (Beady Eye)". The Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ "DiS Does Singles 19.08.13: Camera Obscura, Phoenix, Lady Gaga". Drowned in Sound. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b "SHINE A LIGHT – BEADY EYE". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 March 2026.