Title: Leave The Light On
Artist: Michelle Green
Length: 3:59
Genre: Synthpop
Written By: M.Green, B.Khan
Produced By: Oracle
Label: Chaos Records
From The Album: Live To Tell
'Leave The Light On' is a song originally written and performed by Weekend member, Billy Khan which has since been reworked and recorded by English singer-songwriter, Michelle Green. It is set to be the third single released from her upcoming third studio album, 'Live To Tell', which will be released at that end of this month after numerous delays due to a busy touring and personal schedule. The single follows two of Michelle's most commercial and mainstream songs to date, 'Break The Dawn' and 'Explode', and follows the upbeat synthpop sound featured on the former. Like her previous two releases, 'Leave The Light On' sees Michelle continue her new reinvented 'bad girl' persona who enjoys partying and wild nights. However, the song holds a hidden message which only really comes to light in the middle 8 of the song. 'Leave The Light On' has been compared to a mix of her previous two singles - not as 'in your face' as 'Break The Dawn' or as 'racy' as 'Explode', finding the perfect balance which makes it one of her most radio-friendly singles to date.
The track was originally written and performed by Weekend member, Billy Khan in late 2012 and was intended to be included on his debut solo album but the plans were shelved and the track remained unreleased. The original version had a heavy R&B vibe, almost like a tropical/Caribbean sound which had been championed by the likes of Rihanna and Nicole Scherzinger. Khan's recording of the song also contained different verses and a handful of explicit words which had all been changed when he handed the track over to his close friend, Michelle Green. When working on the track, Green stated that she wants to keep the bare bones of the song but rebuild around it to create a whole different vibe and take on the track.
Michelle Green wrote:"I remember when Riley and I were over at Billy's house helping him redecorate and move things around since Andrea was expecting at the time and they wanted to get everything ready for Daniel's arrival. I stumbled across a box filled with what I thought was blank discs but after asking Billy, I found out that they were demos of some solo stuff he was working on. After twisting his arm, he played a few for me and this one just stood out purely for it's whole carefree attitude. I loved it. I asked him if I could work on it and since he was never going to use it, he was more than happy to let me work with the track. His version was produced by his brother, it had an R&B sound to it and was all about partying and being lost in a moment. I decided to keep the original chorus and hook but rework the verses and arrangement of the song in order to create a more dreamy, ethereal vibe which I know is unusual for a 'party track'. When I started to work on 'Leave The Light On', I wanted it to sound like all this clubbing, drinking and all that jazz was an addiction. You can't escape it, it's pulling you in no matter what time of day or where you are. That's why the vocals seem very shaky and almost as if I'm running out of breath - I am trying to run away from it all but it keeps catching up. When it calms down and reaches the middle 8, the harsh reality sets in and I say 'we don't know when to stop, when we'll get hurt.....we don't know when the light will be turned out'....it really makes you think. Having a good time is fine but there are so many people out there who take things too far and at the end of the day they WILL get hurt. Another reason why I included that part is because I think the original songwriter needs to wake up and realise that his wild lifestyle is only doing him more damage. He's a friend of mine and I apologise if he's offended by the message but it just had to be said."
Michelle's version of the track was recorded at her home which has a built-in recording studio. The original R&B backing track was replaced with a more soothing, indie-pop inspired one which gives a nod to Green's older material as well as keeping in tune with her new sound. 'Leave The Light On' was produced by up and coming producer, Oracle, who has other production credits on Michelle's album and who also falls into the category of the 'fresh, new talent' that Green wanted to work with during the making of the record.
I'm ready, just hold my hand and I'll take you there
Breathe it in, this is where and when your new life begins
It's non-stop, we're gonna be living the fast life - catch your breath
Heat of the moment, pull me closer like it's between life and death
Don't worry your head about a thing
Throw your palms to the sky as we go full swing
Not a care in the world cos' that's just who we are
We came here to party, party, party
Let's get it started, started, started
We can leave the light on, it's still a good time
We can leave the light on and still feel the vibe
We leave the light on as that's just how we roll
We leave the light on so you can watch the showI don't want to wait, I just wanna live it up whilst we get down
It's like a fantasy, the room is spinning and swinging, we only living for right now
Let's turn it up, show some love, pump the party and blaze it up
A beat is all we need, yeah you and me, we're gonna keep goin' and goin', raise a glass - keep pouring
Don't worry your head about a thing
Throw your palms to the sky as we go full swing
Not a care in the world cos' that's just who we are
We came here to party, party, party
Let's get it started, started, started
We can leave the light on, it's still a good time
We can leave the light on and still feel the vibe
We leave the light on as that's just how we roll
We leave the light on so you can watch the showDon't worry your head about a thing
Throw your palms to the sky as we go full swing
We can leave the light on (on, on, light it up)
We leave the light on (on, on, turn it up)
We don't know when to st-o-o-op
We don't know when we might get hurt
That's what this life is all about
We don't know when the light will be turned out
We don't know when to st-o-o-op
We don't know when we might get hurt
That's what this life is all about
We don't know when the light will be turned out
Don't worry your head about a thing
Throw your palms to the sky as we go full swing
Not a care in the world cos' that's just who we are
We came here to party, party, party
Let's get it started, started, started
We can leave the light on, it's still a good time
We can leave the light on and still feel the vibe
We leave the light on as that's just how we roll
We leave the light on so you can watch the showDon't worry your head about a thing
Throw your palms to the sky as we go full swing
Not a care in the world cos' that's just who we are
We came here to party, party, party
Let's get it started, started, started
We can leave the light on
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