| "Dark Side" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by R5 | ||||
| from the album Sometime Last Night | ||||
| Released | February 1, 2016 | |||
| Genre | Funk-pop | |||
| Length | 3:08 | |||
| Label | Hollywood | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| R5 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Dark Side" is a song by American pop rock band R5. It was released on February 1, 2016 as the fifth and final single from Sometime Last Night . [1] It was written by Ross Lynch, Riker Lynch, Rocky Lynch, Brigitte Guitart and Ellington Ratliff, and produced by Rocky Lynch and Matt Wallace. [2]
In an interview to Billboard , Ross said that "Dark Side" was the first song written for the album and it generated inspiration for the band to write other songs. [3] He said: "I think it was at that moment that we realized we actually have the capability and the skill set to just write the whole record. And then we just kept writing songs and beating off songs that we previously had. We had a checklist; We'd be like, 'Alright, 'Dark Side' is better than this song, so it'll take that song's spot, and then this song can take this other song's spot.' We basically worked our way down and replaced the whole record". [3] The funky guitar riffs came about with a bass line from Rocky, then the band sprinkled a little synth on top". [4] It was written by Ross Lynch, Riker Lynch, Rocky Lynch, Brigitte Guitart and Ellington Ratliff, and produced by Rocky and Matt Wallace. [5]
The song was released on February 1, 2016. [6] To Maria Ciezak of The Aquarian, Riker commented that the band wanted the song as a single from the beginning of the album: "Everyone on our crew, our friends, our fans, everybody kept telling us "Dark Side" is the one you have to make the single! We all love it, and we know it’s a fan favorite, so it’s been going over really well". [7]
"Dark Side" received positive reviews from critics. Jamee-Beth Livingston of Breakaway Daily said the song brings "a deeper level of honesty and realness" in their songwriting. She also said the band "giving in to bad temptations because they usually end up making good stories". [8] Tim Sendra of AllMusic was positive and said that "Dark Side" "has a loose-limbed bounce that's missing from the pro tracks, the disco throwback". [9] Gary Graff of Billboard was positive about the funk-theme direction, highlighting the other songs of the album, and compared it to songs of Michael Jackson. [3] Katrina M. of Sputinik Music was positive and said the song is reversed, bright and cheerful. [10]
Katy Amjs of Music Is The Home For You Pain said she was surprised by the disco rhythm and commented: "Unlike its title indicates, the track is fast paced from the first beat and maintains its energy throughout". She also said that the song convincing the listener to get up and dance along. [11] Emery Columna of Maaf Box said that "Dark Side" is the key that opens the traditional rock door that held the R5 within the predictable. He also said: "[the song] is a clue to where R5 can go musically to break the evil spell some [critics] have unfairly cast upon this groovy band". [12]
The "Dark Side" music video was released on March 10, 2016 and directed by band members. [13] The video was recorded by R5 with a GoPro and contains scenes of the Sometime Last Night Tour, showing concerts by the United States, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil, meet with fans and behind the scenes of travel. [14] Ross said the band chose not to record a studio video clip, because they wanted their own vision of the before and after shows to show for the fans. [4]
| Country | Date | Format(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States [6] | February 1, 2016 | Digital download | Hollywood |
Riker Anthony Lynch is an American singer and actor. He was previously cast as Jeff, one of the members of the Dalton Academy Warblers singing group, on Fox's television series Glee. He finished in second place on season 20 of Dancing with the Stars with Allison Holker as his dance partner.
Ross Shor Lynch is an American actor, singer, and musician. He was the lead vocalist of the pop rock band R5 and is one half of the band the Driver Era. As an actor, he rose to recognition for his debut role as Austin Moon on Disney Channel's comedy television series Austin & Ally and for his role as Brady in the network's Teen Beach Movie film series.
R5 was an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in 2009. The band consisted of Ross Lynch, Riker Lynch, Rocky Lynch, Rydel Lynch (keyboards/vocals), and Ellington Ratliff (drums/vocals). They released their first EP Ready Set Rock on March 9, 2010, but it was removed once Ross got his role on the Disney Channel show Austin and Ally. They then released the EP Loud on February 19, 2013. Since releasing their debut album, Louder, on September 24, 2013, which peaked at 24 on the Billboard 200, followed by their world tour. Their second album, Sometime Last Night, was released on July 10, 2015, and debuted at 6 on the US Billboard 200, and reached the top 20 in five other countries. They have also released five EPs, eleven singles, and a documentary. In 2018, the band ended and Ross and Rocky formed the duo The Driver Era.
Louder is the debut studio album by American pop rock band R5, which was released on September 24, 2013 by Hollywood Records. Louder was also released as a deluxe edition, with four extra tracks only available for digital download. As of October 2014, Louder has sold 150,000 physical copies in the US.
American pop rock band R5 released two studio albums, five extended plays, thirteen singles, two promotional singles, twenty-two music videos and other album appearances. In March 2010, they self-released an EP, Ready Set Rock and in September they signed with Hollywood Records. The second EP, Loud, was released on February 19, 2013, which featured the lead single and title track "Loud", the debut single from upcoming album. The band's first full-length album, Louder, was released on September 24, 2013 and the album not only includes the four songs from Loud and also seven new songs. The second single from the album, "Pass Me By", premiered on Radio Disney on August 16. The music video premiered on 29 August on Disney Channel and is available for public viewing on the band's Vevo channel. The third single, "(I Can't) Forget About You", was released on December 25, 2013 and reached number 47 on Billboard Digital Pop Songs, and the fourth single "One Last Dance" on May 29, 2014.
"Pass Me By" is a song by American pop rock band, R5. It was released on August 20, 2013, as the second single from their debut studio album, Louder (2013).
"(I Can't) Forget About You" is a song by American pop rock band R5, taken from their debut studio album, Louder. The song was released as the third single on December 25, 2013.
"Love Me Like That" is a song by American band R5 from their 2013 debut studio album Louder. It is the first R5 song to feature Rydel Lynch as lead vocalist.
Rydel Mary Lynch is an American singer and actress. She is one of the founding members of the pop rock band R5.
Ellington Lee Ratliff is an American drummer and actor. He is best known as the drummer of pop rock band R5, which was active from 2009 until 2018, and as a contributor to The Driver Era.
"Heart Made Up on You" is a dance-rock song by American pop rock band R5, taken from their third extended play of the same name. The song was released for streaming on July 21, 2014, one day before the EP came out. It was then released for purchase at the iTunes Store on August 1.
"Smile" is a song by American pop rock band R5. It had its radio premiere on November 14, 2014, as the lead single from their second studio album, Sometime Last Night.
"One Last Dance" is a song by American pop rock band R5, taken from their debut album Louder. It was released as the fourth and final single off the album on May 30, 2014.
"Let's Not Be Alone Tonight" is a power pop song by American pop rock band R5. It was released on February 13, 2015, as the second single from their second studio album, Sometime Last Night. Its music video premiered on April 6, 2015 along with the announcement of the album.
Sometime Last Night is the second and final studio album by American pop rock band R5. It was released on July 10, 2015 by Hollywood Records. The album was announced alongside a tour, which began in June 2015 and ended in December 2016. Five singles were released from the album—"Smile", "Let's Not Be Alone Tonight", "All Night", "I Know You Got Away" and "Dark Side", while "F.E.E.L.G.O.O.D" was released as a promotional single. Sometime Last Night debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, with 31,000 copies sold during its first week, making it the band’s first top ten album.
"All Night" is a pop rock and power pop song by American pop rock band R5. It was released on June 2, 2015, as the third single from Sometime Last Night, along with the album's iTunes pre-order. The song was announced on May 28 as the album's opening track.
"I Know You Got Away" is a song by American pop rock band R5. It was released on October 17, 2015 as the fourth single from Sometime Last Night. "I Know You Got Away" shows off "some nice arrangement skills" and a "sweepin power pop chorus" and features a powerful bass arrangement.
The Driver Era (TDE) is an American music duo consisting of brothers Rocky and Ross Lynch. Both are former members of the now defunct R5.
X is the debut studio album from American music duo the Driver Era, released on June 28, 2019, by BMG.