Kristian Bush - "Light Me Up"

[avalyn]

Writers: Kristian Bush and Jesse Rice

Source and Studio Version: Billboard.com - www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/6509435/kristian-bush-song-light-me-up-exclusive-premiere

Bush worked with a wealth of new collaborators on Southern Gravity, and with Jesse Rice he came up with "Light Me Up," which Bush considers a unique moment for him as an artist. "For me it's a special one, because for the first time in my country music career, I am getting to sing a love song directly to you," Bush explains. "I've spent the better part of 12 years being aware that the songs I wrote were going to be delivered by a woman, and there are certain things I wanted to say as a man that didn't quite fit in that context. 'Light Me Up' is about how I feel when I am loved. A woman's love is a powerful, unforgettable force. It changes you forever. The men out there reading this know what I mean. You can't go back to who you were before. I decided to write a song to celebrate that."

With one single, "Trailer Hitch," already out, Bush says the general tone of Southern Gravity is upbeat. "I'm trying to make you dance," he says. "I'm trying to give you a groove that you can hang your hat on. Music is supposed to shake your hips, so there's a lot of that. It's a radio album, too. I meant for it to be shared and discovered by people."

[rsmatto]

The album is very, very good stuff and it's not at all hard to see where most of the band's interesting melodies came from.

This song's chorus is very strong as well.

[Kentucky25]

I heard him play this acoustically at the "Coyote's Fairwell Concert" (not exact name) in Louisville, KY and I really dug it.

As a side note, there were about 15 artists there that night performing 2-3 songs acoustically and it was pretty awesome. Great way to see a lot of artists I hadn't seen before and everyone that performed was very good.

[sabre14]

I really enjoy this one. Not the biggest fan of the production in the chorus but the melody and lyrics are top notch. I don't think this will match the success of "Trailer Hitch" but perhaps a solid top 40 peak.

I think I found out a major reason why I enjoyed Sugarland so much (other than Jennifer's voice). I'm definitely going to get a hard copy of Southern Gravity when it comes out.

[Deleted]

Seems like Kristian is doing an album release party on his Twitter in case anyones interested

[LBTrocks]

This song is actually really good and I wasn't expecting it. I didn't care for "Trailer Hitch" at all and I think this one is much better. However, I would be more excited about this song if I liked his voice. I'm just not a fan of it.

[hosssulpizio]

His voice is a lil' rough but I like it. I agree about this song. I hope it becomes a hit.

[.indulgecountry]

Meh, this is better than "Trailer Hitch," but his voice is still not something I enjoy at all. I really wish Sugarland would just reunite and make another record like Twice the Speed of Life.

[sabre14]

I'm a little surprised we haven't gotten an add date yet for this one, though I'm sure that Streamsound wants this to not be thrown to the wolves with the way the chart is. As far as I know it hasn't been officially sent to radio yet, so an add date in late May or early June is what will likely happen.

Kristian's album is pretty darn good and definitely more commercial for mainstream radio than Jennifer's. I do think this was a good choice for the follow up to "Trailer Hitch."

[avalyn]

Kristian said last weekend in various interviews for the ACM Awards that the song will be released in a few weeks to radio. So we'll see how that that turns into. He didn't seem to have a date when asked so it was simple "in a couple weeks/in a few weeks" to each person that asked the question.

[sabre14]

WBEE put this up as their "music meeting song of the day" so I expect this to be given an add date either tonight in Aircheck and/or Billboard, or next week.

[rsmatto]

The single has just been serviced and has an impact date of June 1.
Cover art:

[Deleted]

The Cumulus block has added "Light Me Up" this week. Kristian isn't getting a ton of airplay on those stations just yet, but at least it's something.

[tvoss20]

Mar 23, 2015 15:46:09 GMT -5 Kentucky25 said:

I heard him play this acoustically at the "Coyote's Fairwell Concert" (not exact name) in Louisville, KY and I really dug it.

As a side note, there were about 15 artists there that night performing 2-3 songs acoustically and it was pretty awesome. Great way to see a lot of artists I hadn't seen before and everyone that performed was very good.

Those are the best kind of events to attend!

[sabre14]

Official Lyric Video:

[Daryl the Beryl]

Debuts at no. 60 on BB

[sabre14]

Official Music Video

This is one of my favorite songs charting right now. Just like "Trailer Hitch", it took a few listens but I'm on fully board with this. I doubt it does much more than what its already done (which is chart) though.

[onebuffalo]

New K.B. single?

COLE SWINDELL You Should Be Here 8 86
CARRIE UNDERWOOD Heartbeat 1 20
KIP MOORE Running For You 1 12
BIG & RICH Lovin' Lately f/Tim McGraw 1 12
KRISTIAN BUSH Thinking About Drinking For .. 1 10

[sabre14]

Dec 27, 2015 15:28:39 GMT -5 onebuffalo said:

New K.B. single?

COLE SWINDELL You Should Be Here 8 86
CARRIE UNDERWOOD Heartbeat 1 20
KIP MOORE Running For You 1 12
BIG & RICH Lovin' Lately f/Tim McGraw 1 12
KRISTIAN BUSH Thinking About Drinking For .. 1 10

That's his Christmas song, "Thinking About Drinking For Christmas". It's not an official single, just for the holidays.

[onebuffalo]

Dec 27, 2015 15:32:03 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Dec 27, 2015 15:28:39 GMT -5 onebuffalo said:

New K.B. single?

COLE SWINDELL You Should Be Here 8 86
CARRIE UNDERWOOD Heartbeat 1 20
KIP MOORE Running For You 1 12
BIG & RICH Lovin' Lately f/Tim McGraw 1 12
KRISTIAN BUSH Thinking About Drinking For .. 1 10

That's his Christmas song, "Thinking About Drinking For Christmas". It's not an official single, just for the holidays.

Thanks. I knew there was more to that title. Who knows, it just may be the first Christmas song to chart this season.

[sabre14]

Dec 27, 2015 15:36:11 GMT -5 onebuffalo said:

Dec 27, 2015 15:32:03 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

That's his Christmas song, "Thinking About Drinking For Christmas". It's not an official single, just for the holidays.

Thanks. I knew there was more to that title. Who knows, it just may be the first Christmas song to chart this season.

Kristian has been wanting to release some Christmas music on his own for a while and since "Light Me Up" did next to nothing, Streamsound decided to release a Christmas song to radio, rather than a third release from Southern Gravity. It keep Kristian's name out there and the song is really good, too.

[rsmatto]

Dec 27, 2015 15:40:17 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Dec 27, 2015 15:36:11 GMT -5 onebuffalo said:

Thanks. I knew there was more to that title. Who knows, it just may be the first Christmas song to chart this season.

Kristian has been wanting to release some Christmas music on his own for a while and since "Light Me Up" did next to nothing, Streamsound decided to release a Christmas song to radio, rather than a third release from Southern Gravity. It keep Kristian's name out there and the song is really good, too.

Actually he self-released the single. I don't know if Streamsound and Kristian are still tied together at all at this point.