See the Lights

"See the Lights"
Single by Simple Minds
from the album Real Life
B-side	"Theme for Great Cities '91"
Released	13 May 1991 (1991-05-13)
Length	4:22
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Charlie Burchill Jim Kerr
Producer(s)	Stephen Lipson
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Let There Be Love" (1991) "See the Lights" (1991) "Stand by Love" (1991)

"See the Lights" is the second single released from Scottish rock band Simple Minds' ninth studio album, Real Life (1991). Written by band members Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr, the song was released on 13 May 1991 by Virgin Records and became a top-40 hit in six countries. It reached number 20 in the United Kingdom, number 10 in Canada, and number 40 in the United States. It also went to number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 10 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It was Simple Minds' fifth and final song to reach the top 40 in the US.

Track listings

• 7-inch and cassette single

1. "See the Lights" (7-inch mix)
2. "Theme for Great Cities '91"

• 12-inch single

1. "See the Lights" (12-inch mix)
2. "Theme for Great Cities '91"

• CD single

1. "See the Lights" (7-inch mix)
2. "Theme for Great Cities '91"
3. "See the Lights" (12-inch mix)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "See the Lights" Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [1] 100 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [2] 10 Denmark (IFPI) [3] 10 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [4] 45 Ireland (IRMA) [5] 16 Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [6] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [7] 42 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [8] 27 UK Singles (OCC) [9] 20 US Billboard Hot 100 [10] 40 US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [11] 1 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [12] 10

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "See the Lights" Chart (1991) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM) [13] 95 Europe (European Hit Radio) [14] 98 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [15] 7

Release history

Release dates and formats for "See the Lights"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	13 May 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl	Virgin	[16]
Australia	24 June 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[17]

References

1. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 253.
2. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1528." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
3. "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 26. 29 June 1991. p. 22.
4. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 24. 15 June 1991. p. 21.
5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Simple Minds". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
6. "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 28. 13 July 1991. p. 26.
7. "Simple Minds – See the Lights" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
8. "Simple Minds – See the Lights". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
10. "Simple Minds Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
11. "Simple Minds Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
12. "Simple Minds Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
13. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM . Retrieved 29 March 2025– via Library and Archives Canada.
14. "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
15. "The Year in Music 1991: Top Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-41.
16. "New Releases: Singles: Highlights". Music Week . 11 May 1991. p. 21.
17. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 24/06/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 74. 23 June 1991. p. 18.