"Spotlight" is a song by American entertainer Jennifer Hudson. It was written and produced by Ne-Yo and Norwegian production duo Stargate for Hudson's self-titled debut album (2008). The mid-tempo song was released digitally by Arista Records and J Records as the album's first single on June 10, 2008.
The song reached the top 30 of the US Billboard Hot 100. Outside the US, it became a top 20 hit in Hungary, Japan, and the United Kingdom. "Spotlight" received two Grammy Award nominations at the 2009 ceremony for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The video was voted 12th on BET: Notarized Top 100 videos of 2008.
Background
"Spotlight" was written and produced by Ne-Yo along with Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen from Norwegian production duo Stargate.[3] In the lead-up to the release of the song, Ne-Yo explained in an interview with Billboard magazine: "They were really trying to figure out where to take her. The main issue with Jennifer Hudson is her voice is so huge, so how do you take that and radio-ize it, make it radio-friendly. She can't do every song 'cause you'll eventually be tired of it. So ("Spotlight") is kind of a classy midtempo, and I hope and pray it does well 'cause Jennifer is an amazing talent."[4]
Critical reception
The song received generally positive reviews. About.com said that "If you were one of the people wondering if Jennifer Hudson could sustain her vocal energy, power and passion on a full album like she did in the role of Effie in the movie Dreamgirls and like she also does on the album's opening song and first single, "Spotlight," then wonder no more: the answer's a definite yes. "Spotlight" exemplifies the album as a whole: it's got a strong, independent woman singing strongly about love and relationships. In this case, the song is about a controlling lover: "If I'm just love's prisoner, then I'm bustin' out," she sings."[5]AllHipHop said that ""Spotlight" as catchy as it is was not debut single-worthy, and a brand new artist wouldn't have been looked at twice; but because it was Jennifer (and penned by Ne-Yo) attention was paid."[6]
AllMusic said that "Spotlight" was "both promising and satisfying, nearly a dead-center bull's-eye – dramatic but not over the top, powerful but not a gratuitous fireworks display, a melancholy but striking midtempo track with a gently thumping four-four pulse."[7]Digital Spy said that Hudson "navigates the emotional complexities of 'Spotlight', on which she plays a downtrodden girlfriend".[8]New York Daily News said that the song's "trendy, staccato backup vocals give the song spine. Better, the character presented by the lyrics – a put-upon woman who's finally stepping out – fits Hudson's persona as the angry queen of payback."[9]Slant magazine said that "Lead single "Spotlight" is a serviceable, pulsating, you-did-me-wrong jam that is, thanks to Stargate and Ne-Yo, perfectly in line with today's trends."[10]The Times said the song "is predictably mid-tempo as it tries to please all her fan bases at once."[11]
Chart performance
"Spotlight" peaked at number twenty-four on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Hudson her first top thirty entry.[12] The song also peaked at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, spending two consecutive weeks at number one.[13] On September 21, 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number fifteen on downloads alone.[14] It climbed to number eleven on September 28 despite there being no CD single release.[15] It also peaked at number one on UK Airplay Chart. In 2008, "Spotlight" was the biggest selling non-top ten single of the year.[15] In 2017, following an impromptu performance on The Voice UK the song re-entered the United Kingdom charts at number 90.[15]
Music video
The music video for "Spotlight" was filmed in Los Angeles in June 2008.
The song's music video was directed by Chris Robinson and produced by Robot Films.[17] Hudson spent a 22-hour day filming the visuals with Robinson in Los Angeles in June 2009.[17] The final scene in the "Spotlight" video was shot at 4 a.m. and depicts Hudson, backlit, walking through an alley toward the camera as she sings about an overbearing lover.[16]Ryan Gentles from the plays Madea Goes to Jail and Diary of a Mad Black Woman appears in the video as Hudson's love interest.[18] Hudson introduced its premiere screening on BET's106 and Park on June 24, 2008.[19]
Hudson appears talking on her cellphone to her friend, complaining about her over-protective boyfriend. After she gets off her cellphone, she puts on a jacket and a scarf and leaves her house into an alley, then enters a nightclub, dancing and having a good time until she sees her boyfriend Gentles. She then takes his hand and leads him into a white room with stripes telling him that she loves him but that he needs to realize that she is a good girlfriend and not to worry before it is too late. Towards the end of the video, Hudson is walking down a runway with her boyfriend sitting in front of the runway. The video ends with Hudson getting off her cellphone. A bottle of Campari is prominently displayed in the video in a scene featuring Hudson and Gentles at the nightclub.
Track listings
US CD single
"Spotlight" (album version) – 4:10
"Spotlight" (instrumental) – 4:11
"Spotlight" (call out hook) – 0:11
"Spotlight" (Remix By Jemell Moore [Google My Name]) – 4:09
German basic CD
"Spotlight" (album version) – 4:10
"Spotlight" (part 2; featuring Young Jeezy) – 5:07
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