Like Gold

"Like Gold" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy. It was released on 3 November 2017 as the second single from Joy's album Nation of Two (2018).

"Like Gold"
Single by Vance Joy
from the album Nation of Two
Released	3 November 2017[1]
Genre	Pop rock[2]
Length	3:44
Label	Liberation Music
Songwriter(s)	James Keogh, Dan Wilson
Producer(s)	Phil Ek
Vance Joy singles chronology
"Lay It on Me" (2017) "Like Gold" (2017) "We're Going Home" (2018)

Vance wrote "Like Gold" after coming off the road at the start of 2016. Joy said: "It started with a simple melody I was humming and the idea of looking back at a relationship."^[3]

In February 2018, Joy said: "I play a different rhythm from anything I've played before. I really like what the producer Phil Ek did with this song with big spacious drums and I like the way it sounds full of life. It's about a love that you're kind of reflecting on and the fire's gone out but there was some really good times in there."^[4][5]

"Like Gold" was certified gold in Australia in 2019.

Reception

Al Newstead from ABC called the song a "slower heart-on-sleeve ballad", saying: "Between hypnotic plucking and gentle prose, he captures the embers of a relationship that "used to roar like an open fire".^[3] Emmy Mack from Music Feeds called the song a "rollicking folk toe-tapper [which] sounds like it was custom-made for group campfire singalong."^[6]

Charts

Chart performance for "Like Gold"

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	124
Australian Artist Singles (ARIA)[8]	14
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[9]	13
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10]	30
US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11]	16

Certifications

Certifications for "Like Gold"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[12]	Platinum	70,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Like Gold - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
2. "Like Gold". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
3. "First Spin: Vance Joy tugs on the heartstrings with 'Like Gold'". ABC. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
4. "Vance Joy's Nation of Two: the stories behind the songs". ABC. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
5. "Listen: Vance Joy Shares New Song 'Like Gold'". indie88. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
6. "Vance Joy Announces New Album 'Nation Of Two', Unveils New Jam 'Like Gold'". Music Feeds. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
7. "Forum - ARIA Charts: Weekly ARIA Chartifacts – ARIA Chartifacts 13-November-2017". australian charts.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
8. "ARIA Report Issue 1446" (PDF). ARIA. 13 November 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-13. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
9. "Vance Joy - Chart History (Alternative Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
10. "Vance Joy Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
11. "Vance Joy - Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
12. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 February 2023.