When the Lights Go Out (song)

Not to be confused with When the Lights Went Out.

"When the Lights Go Out" is the second single released from British group Five's debut studio album, Five (1998). It was released in early 1998. The song was co-written by the group alongside Eliot Kennedy, Tim Lever and Mike Percy (from the band Dead or Alive), and John McLaughlin. It was co-produced by Kennedy, Lever and Percy, with the US version receiving additional production from Cutfather & Joe.

"When the Lights Go Out"
Single by Five
from the album Five
B-side	"Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" (extended mix)
Released	2 March 1998 (1998-03-02)
Studio	Steelworks (Sheffield, England)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:11
Label	RCA BMG
Songwriter(s)	Eliot Kennedy Tim Lever Mike Percy John McLaughlin Five
Producer(s)	Eliot Kennedy Tim Lever Mike Percy
Five singles chronology
"Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" (1997) "When the Lights Go Out" (1998) "Got the Feelin'" (1998)
Music videos
"When the Lights Go Out" on YouTube
"When the Lights Go Out" (US version) on YouTube

"When the Lights Go Out" is the band's only top ten hit in the United States. An alternate version of the song, in which J's rap is replaced by Abz's rap, was made exclusively for the US release; there are separate videos for each version. Five's biggest hit to date internationally, "When the Lights Go Out" is considered somewhat to be their debut single in most countries (except in the UK), peaking at number two in Australia, reaching the Top 30 in the US on 23 June 1998 and eventually spending seven nonconsecutive weeks at its peak of number 10, starting 21 July 1998. The song also spent six months on the US Billboard Hot 100, and sold 800,000 copies in the US alone.^[1]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Does pop radio need yet another clique of young, videogenic harmonizers? The answer was a resounding no ... until the onset of Five, a UK quintet of cuties who swagger with undeniably sharp vocal precision and an appealing degree of soul. "When the Lights Go Out" chugs with faux-funk authority and a crackling pop chorus. You will be irreversibly hooked on this tasty guilty pleasure long before the track reaches its conclusion. Voted best new act of 1997 by the teenybopper readers of Smash Hits in the UK, Five are the first real reason the Backstreet Boys have had to look over their shoulders in a serious sweat."^[2] In a retrospective review, Can't Stop the Pop said that with the song, "Five demonstrated a sense of personality, identity and charisma far beyond that of just good marketing."^[3]

A reviewer from Music Week gave the song three out of five, noting that the follow-up to "Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" "is a slower blend of hip-hop, soul and rap and should be destined for the Top 10."^[4] The magazine's Alan Jones felt that "its jack swing-ish backing track probably doesn't bring out the best from a fair tune, and their rapping seems little more than perfunctory. They're probably hot enough to get away with it, but more inspiration will be needed next time."^[5] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked "When the Lights Go Out" number 67 in their list of "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time".^[6]

Music videos

The UK version (directed by duo Liam & Grant) starts with a woman using a VR machine and sees the members as they dance together and in separate rooms with each getting a distinct color: Abs in teal, Scott in orange, Ritchie in purple, Sean in blue and J in red. Through the woman's perspective, the viewers sees the members with a given number and their horoscope sign respectively.

The US version (directed by Nigel Dick) takes place at night in a closed bowling alley, where Abs takes control of the place and allows the other members and himself to hang out with a couple girls they brought along with them. One of the girls is played by Bethany Joy Lenz of Guiding Light and One Tree Hill fame.^[7]

Track listings

UK CD1[8] "When the Lights Go Out" (radio edit) "When the Lights Go Out" (extended mix) "When the Lights Go Out" (The Drummers mix) "When the Lights Go Out" (Loop Da Loop full vocal mix) "When the Lights Go Out" (video) UK CD2[9] "When the Lights Go Out" (radio edit) "When the Lights Go Out" (Blacksmith R&B rub) "Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" (extended mix) Interview UK cassette single[10] "When the Lights Go Out" (radio edit) "When the Lights Go Out" (extended mix) European CD single[11] "When the Lights Go Out" (radio edit) "When the Lights Go Out" (Blacksmith R&B rub) US CD and cassette single[12][13] "When the Lights Go Out" (US remix) – 4:20 "Straight Up Funk" – 3:57

US maxi-CD single[14] "When the Lights Go Out" (US remix) – 4:20 "When the Lights Go Out" (hip hop mix) – 6:19 "When the Lights Go Out" (R&B rub mix) – 4:24 "Shake" – 3:25 US 12-inch single[15] A1. "When the Lights Go Out" (radio mix) A2. "When the Lights Go Out" (R&B rub mix) B1. "When the Lights Go Out" (hip hop mix) B2. "Shake" Australian CD single[16] "When the Lights Go Out" (radio edit) "When the Lights Go Out" (extended mix) "When the Lights Go Out" (Blacksmith R&B rub) "When the Lights Go Out" (The Drummers mix) "When the Lights Go Out" (Loop Da Loop full vocal mix) Note: The Japanese CD single contains a sixth track: a shorter radio edit of "When the Lights Go Out".[17]

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Five album booklet.^[18]

Studio

• Recorded at Steelworks Studios (Sheffield, England)

Personnel

• Eliot Kennedy – writing, production, mixing
• Tim Lever – writing, production, mixing
• Mike Percy – writing, production, mixing
• John McLaughlin – writing
• Five – writing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 8 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[22] 10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 30 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[24] 23 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[25] 19 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[26] 28 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 32 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 35 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 20 Scotland (OCC)[31] 4 Spain (AFYVE)[32] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 7 UK Singles (OCC)[34] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[35] 10 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[36] 14 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 29

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 25 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[39] 76 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[40] 50 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 67 US Billboard Hot 100[42] 38 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 36

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44]	Platinum	70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[45]	Gold	25,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[46]	Silver	200,000^
United States (RIAA)[47]	Gold	800,000[1]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	2 March 1998	CD cassette	RCA BMG	[48]
Sweden	16 March 1998	CD		[49]
United States	April 1998	Radio	Arista	[50]
Japan	1 July 1998	CD	RCA BMG	[51]

References

1. Jeffrey, Don (31 January 1999) (30 January 1999). "Best-selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Retrieved 5 January 2012.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. Flick, Larry (2 May 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles - New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 22. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
3. "Five – When The Lights Go Out". Can't Stop the Pop. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
4. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 21 February 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
5. Jones, Alan (28 February 1998). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 9. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
6. "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
7. "Bethany Joy Lenz Image: 'When The Lights Go Out' Videoclip". www.fanpop.com.
8. When the Lights Go Out (UK CD1 liner notes). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 562312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. When the Lights Go Out (UK CD2 liner notes). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 562322.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. When the Lights Go Out (UK cassette single sleeve). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 562314.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. When the Lights Go Out (European CD single liner notes). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 570272.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. When the Lights Go Out (US CD single liner notes). Five. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13495-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. When the Lights Go Out (US cassette single sleeve). Five. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13495-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. When the Lights Go Out (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Five. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13496-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. When the Lights Go Out (US 12-inch single sleeve). Five. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13496-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. When the Lights Go Out (Australian CD single liner notes). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321 569262.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. When the Lights Go Out (Japanese CD single liner notes). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. BVCP-4905.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. Five (UK CD album booklet). Five. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321589762.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. "Five – When the Lights Go Out". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
20. "Five – When the Lights Go Out" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
21. "Five – When the Lights Go Out" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
22. "Five Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
23. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7907." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
24. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7049." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
25. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 13. 28 March 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
26. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 271 Vikuna 7.5. – 14.5. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 6 July 2018.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – When the Lights Go Out". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Five" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
29. "Five – When The Lights Go Out" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
30. "Five – When the Lights Go Out". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
32. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
33. "Five – When the Lights Go Out". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
34. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
35. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 1 August 1998. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
36. "Pop Airplay". Billboard. 19 September 1998. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
37. "Rhythmic Airplay". Billboard. 8 August 1998. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
38. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
39. "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
40. "Rapports Annuels 1998" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
41. "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
42. "Billboard Top 100 – 1998 – Longbored Surfer – Charts". Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
43. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 45.
44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
45. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
46. "British single certifications – Five – When the Lights Go Out". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
47. "American single certifications – Five – When the Lights Go Out". Recording Industry Association of America.
48. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 28 February 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
49. "Five: When the Lights Go Out". click2music.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2002. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
50. "Hot New Releases". Hits. 17 April 1998. p. 1.
51. "ホエン・ザ・ライツ・ゴー・アウト | Five" [When the Lights Go Out | Five] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 3 October 2023.

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