Starlight (Dave song)

"Starlight"
Single by Dave
Released3 March 2022 (2022-03-03)
Genre
Length3:31
Label
  • Dave
  • Neighbourhood
Songwriter(s)David Omoregie
Producer(s)
  • Dave
Dave singles chronology
"Verdansk"
(2021) 		"Starlight"
(2022) 		"My 24th Birthday"
(2022)
Music video
"Starlight" on YouTube

"Starlight" is a song by British rapper Dave. It was released on 3 March 2022 through Dave and Neighbourhood Recordings. The song was written and produced by Dave himself. It debuted at number-one in both the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart, becoming Dave's second number-one single in the UK, after "Funky Friday" in 2018, and his first in Ireland. It was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2023 Brit Awards.[2]

Composition

A self-produced track, the song samples a rendition of Bart Howard's 1954 standard "Fly Me to the Moon", by Indonesian duo ‘The Macarons Project’ in 2018. [3][4] Lyrics include references to the song itself, American rapper Meek Mill, Jamaica and his home South London.[5] Having found his significant other, he describes his wish to settle down. He also flexes career highlights and changes in his life. The "subtle" and "wavy" song is built around a "hummed melody" and a "minimal beat" that puts "bars front and centre".[6][7][8] The song was seen as separation from his usual sound, pivoting between "UK drill elements and something a little more trans-Atlantic".[1]

Music video

The music video was released on 3 March 2022. It was directed by Nathan Tettey, alongside Dave himself. The video takes place at a luxurious apartment and shows Dave and Corteiz founder Clint wearing latest fits. On top, it features models walking down a runway, as well as Dave and some friends posing for mugshots.[6][9]

Commercial performance

On 11 March 2022, "Starlight" entered the UK Singles Chart at number one. It also debuted at number 35 on the Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100.[10][11]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Starlight"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[32] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[33] Gold 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] Gold 15,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[35] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Murray, Robin (4 March 2022). "Dave's 'Starlight' Dares To Play It Simple". Clash Music. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. ^ Smith, Carl (12 January 2023). "BRIT Awards 2023 nominations REVEALED". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. ^ Corcoran, Nina (3 March 2022). "Dave Shares Video for New Song "Starlight": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ Krol, Charlotte (3 March 2022). "Dave releases first song of 2022, 'Starlight'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Dave 'Starlight' lyrics meaning explained". Capital Xtra. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b Keith, James (4 March 2022). "Dave Dons Corteiz In Fashion-Forward Video For "Starlight"". Complex UK. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  7. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (3 March 2022). "Dave – "Starlight"". Stereogum. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  8. ^ Lavin, Will (3 March 2022). "Dave shares video for wavy new track 'Starlight'". NME. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  9. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (3 March 2022). "Dave samples "Fly Me To The Moon" on new outing "Starlight"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  11. ^ "Dave's Starlight makes a massive Number 1 debut". Official Charts.
  12. ^ "Glass Animals make it ten weeks at #1 on ARIA Singles Chart with Heat Waves". Australian Recording Industry Association. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Dave Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 13, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Dave Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 13/2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  19. ^ "2022 14-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Dave – Starlight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  21. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  22. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-13". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  23. ^ "Dave – Starlight". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 10-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 14". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Dave – Starlight". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  29. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart for 2022". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  30. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2022". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  32. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Dave – Starlight". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Danish single certifications – Dave – Starlight". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  34. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Dave – Starlight". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  35. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Starlight')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  36. ^ "British single certifications – Dave – Starlight". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 January 2024.