Gimme the Light

"Gimme the Light"
Single by Sean Paul
from the album Dutty Rock
B-side	"Can You Do the Work" (Liquid Riddim)
Released	21 May 2002
Recorded	October–December 2001
Genre	Dancehall
Length	3:46 3:20 (Pass the Dro-Voisier remix)
Label	Black Shadow (original) VP Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Sean Paul Henriques Troyton Rami
Producer(s)	Troyton Rami & Roger Mackenzie
Sean Paul singles chronology
"Money Jane" (2000) "Gimme the Light" (2002) "Make It Clap" (2002)

"Gimme the Light" is the first single from Jamaican dance hall artist Sean Paul's 2002 album, Dutty Rock. It was his first hit single, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also becoming a top-20 hit in Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It is the most popular hit single from the "Buzz" riddim, which was the debut hit production for Troyton Rami & Roger Mackenzie a production duo of Black Shadow Records in Miami, Florida.

Background and release[]

In 2001, a fledgling Miami-based Jamaican production team known as Black Shadow created a new dancehall riddim which they called "The Buzz". Of approximately 12 tracks that were vocalized by the latest stars and upcoming artists of dancehall, four of them became hits in the following year -- Elephant Man's "Haters Wanna War", Cobra's "Press Trigger", Sizzla's "Pump Up", and Sean Paul's "Gimme The Light", which became the most popular one because of its catchy chorus. "The Buzz" became the biggest Dancehall riddim of 2002, followed by the Diwali riddim by Steven "Lenky" Marsden later on, which was also his first hit production. Black Shadow followed up "The Buzz" with the "Surprise" riddim in 2003.^{[citation needed]}

The unedited version of "Gimme The Light", as is the case with many Sean Paul releases, makes direct reference to smoking marijuana (in this case, passing along hydroponically grown marijuana, referred to as "the 'dro" in the song's chorus). The edited version of "Dutty Rock" contains the lyrics "Just gimme the light and start the show," instead of "pass the dro." Paul is also out clubbing and checking out women for a possible nightcap. References to marijuana were removed from the song for the edited version.^{[citation needed]}

The official remix, "Gimme the Light (Pass the Dro-Voisier Remix)", was released featuring rapper Busta Rhymes. This version uses only the chorus from the original (the clean version also uses the unedited version's chorus), replaced by new lyrics from Paul and Busta, also of Jamaican heritage. The remix's name is referenced from Busta Rhymes' 2002 hit single, "Pass The Courvoisier, Part II".^{[citation needed]}

The song's instrumental was used for the remainder of the remix of Sean Paul's next single, "Get Busy" featuring Fatman Scoop.^{[citation needed]}

The song was included on Billboard's 12 Best Dancehall & Reggaeton Choruses of the 21st Century at number three.^[1]

Track listings[]

CD maxi – US

1. "Gimme the Light" (Buzz Riddim)
2. "Gimme the Light" (Buzz Riddim instrumental)
3. "Can You Do the Work" (Liquid Riddim)

CD maxi – Europe

1. "Gimme the Light" (album version) – 3:46
2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix) – 3:20
3. "Gimme the Light" (blackout remix) – 3:42
4. "Gimme the Light" (2Step Moabit relick remix) – 3:47

CD single

1. "Gimme the Light" (clean radio edit) – 3:47
2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Voisier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20

12-inch maxi – US

1. "Gimme the Light" (original mix) – 3:46
2. "Gimme the Light" (instrumental version) – 2:50
3. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - album / street mix) – 3:20
4. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20

12-inch maxi – Europe

1. "Gimme the Light" (original mix) – 3:46
2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix) – 3:20
3. "Gimme the Light" (heartless crew remix) – 4:45
4. "Gimme the Light" (heartless crew dub) – 4:45

CD maxi – Remixes

1. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20
2. "Gimme the Light" (original mix - clean "Start the Show" radio edit) – 3:47
3. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - album / street version) – 3:20
4. "Gimme the Light" (original mix - album version) – 3:46
5. "Gimme the Light" (instrumental version) – 2:49

Charts[]

Weekly charts[] Chart (2002–2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[2] 89 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[3] 11 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 15 France (SNEP)[5] 43 Germany (Official German Charts)[6] 35 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 16 Scotland (OCC)[9] 23 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 34 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 19 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 5 UK Indie (OCC)[13] 4 UK R&B (OCC)[14] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 3 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[17] 3 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 26 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[19] 4

Year-end charts[] Chart (2002) Position US Billboard Hot 100[20] 74 Chart (2003) Position UK Singles (OCC)[21] 130 Certifications[] Region Certification Certified units/sales Canada (Music Canada)[22] Gold 5,000^ United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000 ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[]