Starlight (Taeyeon song)

"Starlight" is a song recorded by South Korean singers Taeyeon and Dean for Taeyeon's second extended play Why (2016). The song was released on June 25, 2016, by SM Entertainment as the EP's lead single. The song's lyrics were penned by Jam Factory's Lee Seu-ran, while its music was composed by Jamil "Digi" Chammas, Taylor Mckall, Tay Jasper, Adrian McKinnon, Leven Kali, Sara Forsberg, and MZMC. "Starlight" is a pop and R&B song that features synthesizers in its instrumentation. Its lyrics detail a romantic relationship.

"Starlight"
Single by Taeyeon featuring Dean
from the album Why
Released	June 25, 2016
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	3:43
Label	SM Entertainment
Composer(s)	Jamil "Digi" Chammas Taylor Mckall Tay Jasper Adrian McKinnon Leven Kali Sara Forsberg MZMC
Lyricist(s)	Lee Seu-ran
Taeyeon singles chronology
"Rain" (2016) "Starlight" (2016) "Why" (2016)
Dean singles chronology
"Shut Up & Groove" (2016) "Starlight" (2016) "And July" (2016)
Music video
Official music video on YouTube

The single received generally positive reviews from music critics, who were favorable towards its musical styles and Dean's appearance. It peaked at number five on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart and charted at number six on the US Billboard World Digital Songs. A music video for the song was directed by Im Seong-gwan and was released simultaneously with the release of the song. Filmed in Los Angeles, California, the visual depicts Taeyeon and Dean as a loving couple. Although Taeyeon never performed the song live on music shows, "Starlight" achieved the number-one spot on KBS2's Music Bank on July 8, 2016. The track was included on the setlist of Taeyeon's concert series Butterfly Kiss, taking place in Seoul and Busan in July and August 2016.

Background and composition

South Korean alternative R&B singer Dean was featured on "Starlight".^[1]

Taeyeon officially debuted as a solo singer in October 2015 with the extended play I, which was a commercial success, peaking at number two on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and has sold over 140,000 copies in the country.^[2] Following the success of I, Taeyeon released a single for S.M. Entertainment's digital music platform SM Station titled "Rain", which was a number-one hit on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.^[3] As her popularity consolidated, S.M. Entertainment announced on June 17, 2016, that Taeyeon's second extended play Why would be released on June 28.^[4] It was also announced that "Starlight" featuring alternative R&B singer Dean would be released as the EP's lead single on June 25.^[5] "Starlight" is a midtempo 1990s retro pop and R&B song which features "bright" synthesizers in its instrumentation.^[6][7] Meanwhile, a writer from Special Broadcasting Service wrote that "Starlight" drew influences from R&B and EDM.^[8] The song's lyrics detail a romantic relationship with the lyrics "You are my starlight, shine on my heart / When I’m with you, it feels like I’m dreaming all day / You are my starlight, I get so happy / Your love is like a gift."^[9][A]

Reception

The single received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song's musical styles. Jung So-young from OSEN (Online Sports and Entertainment News) described the song as having a "pleasant" feeling.^[10]

Promotion

Taeyeon embarked on a series of concerts titled Butterfly Kiss. The concert took place in Seoul at Olympic Park on July 9–10, 2016, and in Busan at the KBS Hall on August 6–7, 2016.^[11] "Starlight" was included on the setlist of the show, which consisted of 22 songs in total.^[12]

In August 2019, she performed this song with NCT Jaehyun at 2019 SMTOWN Live in Tokyo

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Why.^[13]

• Recorded at S.M. Blue Ocean Studio
• Lyrics by Lee Seu-ran (이스란) (Jam Factory (music publisher))
• Composed by Jamil "Digi" Chammas, Taylor McKall, Tay Jasper, Adrian Mckinnon, Leven Kali, Sara Forsberg, MZMC
• Arranged by Jamil "Digi" Chammas, Taylor McKall, Tay Jasper, Leven Kali
• Administered by MARZ Music Group, LLC and MZMC Publishing

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
South Korea (Gaon)[14]	5
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[15]	6

Accolades

Music program awards

Program	Date	Ref.
Music Bank	July 8, 2016	[16]

See also

• List of Music Bank Chart winners (2016)

Notes

1. Hangul:
   You are my starlight/
   내 맘을 비춰/
   함께 있으면 온종일 꿈꾸는 기분/
   You are my starlight 참 행복해져/
   선물 같아 너란 사랑."

References

1. Nurshuhada Ramli, Bibi (August 24, 2016). "Voice of an angel". New Straits Times. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
2. "Gaon Album Chart of 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016.
3. "Gaon Digital Chart: Week 6, 2016" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016.
4. 여름 걸그룹 대전, 최종보스 등판…태연 28일 컴백 [Summer Girl Group Competition, Taeyeon's Album to Be Released on the 28th] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
5. 태연,‘Why’트랙리스트 공개..25일 ‘Starlight’ 선공개 [Taeyeon's 'Why' tracklist revealed... 'Starlight' to be released on the 25th]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). June 23, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
6. "Taeyeon Pre-Releases 'Starlight' featuring DEAN". moonROK. June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
7. 태연, 'Why' 트랙리스트 공개… 효연·딘 피처링 '기대 만발' [Taeyeon, 'Why', tracklist revealed – Hyoyeon and Dean featured]. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). June 23, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
8. "Girls' Generation's Taeyeon & Dean collaborate on new song 'Starlight'". Special Broadcasting Service. June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
9. [한밤의 신곡] 태연, 딘을 만나 ♥에 빠졌다..러블리 듀엣곡 'starlight' [[Midnight song] Taeyeon, Dean met and bring love into 'Starlight']. Online Sports and Entertainment News. June 25, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017 – via The Chosun Ilbo.
10. Jung So-young (June 23, 2016). 태연,‘Why’트랙리스트 공개..25일 ‘Starlight’ 선공개 [Taeyeon's 'Why' tracklist released, 'Starlight' available on the 25th] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved January 2, 2017 – via The Chosun Ilbo.
11. Lee Ji-hyun (June 29, 2016). "Taeyeon's 'Why' tops 12 iTunes charts globally". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Chosun Ilbo Co. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
12. Chung Joo-won (July 10, 2016). "Taeyeon of Girls' Generation sets milestone for S. Korean girl group singers". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
13. Why (Media notes) (in Korean). Taeyeon. South Korea: S.M. Entertainment, distributed by KT Music. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016.
15. "World Digital Songs: July 16, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
16. Jung Ahn-ji (July 8, 2016). "'뮤직뱅크' 태연, 방송 출연 없이도 1위...비스트-원더걸스 컴백". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 15, 2016.