Spotlight (Marshmello and Lil Peep song)

"Spotlight" is a song by American music producer Marshmello and singer and rapper Lil Peep. It was released on January 12, 2018, as a tribute to Peep following his death. Marshmello initially had no plans to release the song until Peep's mother made said request. The song is the rapper's first posthumous release.

"Spotlight"
Single by Marshmello and Lil Peep
ReleasedJanuary 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)
RecordedNovember 2017
Length2:57
Label
Marshmello singles chronology
"Wolves"
(2017)		 "Spotlight"
(2018)		 "Friends"
(2018)
Lil Peep singles chronology
"Avoid"
(2017)		 "Spotlight"
(2018)		 "4 Gold Chains"
(2018)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Spotlight" on YouTube

Background

Marshmello was among the first artists in the dance music community to comment on Peep's death. In a series of tweets, Marshmello says Peep was "the nicest person" and that they had spoken about a collaboration a week before. "Peep was the nicest person. Hanging out with him, talking to him about music, the song ideas we were going to do together and touring was so amazing. Everyone will miss you man," he wrote.[1] On November 20, 2017, Marshmello worked a live tribute into his performance at GoldRush Festival in Arizona, by mixing the rapper's song "Beamer Boy" into his set, as a large image of Peep reading "RIP" appeared on the screen behind him.[2]

On December 20, 2017, it was announced that Marshmello would release the song on January 12, 2018. A spokesperson said the pair began working on the song before Peep died, and that it will be accompanied by a music video.[3][4] While some fans questioned Marshmello's decision, since other artists are withholding their work with Peep, he revealed that Peep's mother encouraged him to release it as a tribute to her son. He wrote in a tweet: "I didn't plan on releasing the song until peeps mom reached out and told me she wanted her sons music to come out...what am I supposed to do?"[5][6][7][8] On January 10, 2018, Marshmello unveiled the song's title and artwork on social media.[9][10] He later uploaded a brief audio preview of the track on social media.[11][12]

Marshmello praised Peep's enthusiasm for making music in a statement, writing: "Peep brought an excitement to music that was unparalleled to anybody I've ever met. We started an idea together, that unfortunately we were never able to officially finish together. When I listen to this track now I get chills wishing he could hear it. This record is dedicated to Peep's mother, family, friends and his fans. Gus will live forever through his music and that is something we should all be extremely thankful for."[13][14][15][16] Peep's mother added that she was appreciative that Marshmello released the song since it continued "to allow Peep's voice to be heard through his art."[17]

Critical reception

Beatrice Hazlehurst of Paper regarded it as "a classic example of Peep's emo garage-rap that made him so popular".[18] Colin Joyce of Vice called the song a "heartbreaker", and described it as "slow-moving, but starry-eyed". He wrote that Marshmello "bends in Peep's direction" by "offering foreboding mid-aughts-emo-intro guitar line for [Peep] to sing over before launching into the skyscraper-scale drums", similar to his collaboration with Migos, "Danger", and his remix of the Future song "Mask Off".[19] Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork deemed the song "a reminder of Peep's promise as a rap-rock spitfire", with "all the urgency of the more lovestruck Peep tracks, full of obsession and contempt".[20] Jeff Benjamin of Fuse wrote that it "honors Peep's signature trap/emo sound and his knack for brutally honest storytelling", and that "the track indicated bigger things coming for Lil Peep as he edged closer and closer to mainstream accessibility, bringing an exciting new look and sound to the scene". He noted that the song does not feature Marshmello's signature sound, and "instead plays more to Peep's trap styles".[21] Similarly, Eric Skelton of Complex opined the it strays away from Marshmello's style, and "is more in line with the grungy pop-punk aesthetic Lil Peep was known for".[22] Your EDM's Karlie Powell also wrote: "Don't expect the usual, bubbly Marshmello beat, because Lil Peep's bold style is front and center on this one."[23] Jon Wiederhorn of CBS Radio wrote: "The melancholy track combines melodic vocals with smooth rapping and the lyrics address a painful breakup."[24] Molly Hudelson of Substream Magazine opined that it is "more somber in sound than most of Marshmello's releases", and found "the themes of heartache and feeling 'all alone again' are relatable to anyone who's gone through a breakup or otherwise lost someone they loved".[25]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 53
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 73
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[28] 34
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[29] 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 61
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 74
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[32] 3

Year-end charts
Chart (2019) Position
Portugal (AFP)[33] 1774

References
  1. Rishty, David (November 16, 2018). "Marshmello on Lil Peep's Death: 'Everyone Will Miss You Man'". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. Bein, Kat (November 20, 2018). "Marshmello Pays Tribute to Lil Peep in Concert". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. Kaufman, Gil (December 20, 2017). "Lil Peep Collaboration With DJ Marshmello Coming in January". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  4. Meadow, Matthew (December 20, 2018). "Marshmello & Lil Peep Collaboration To Be Released In January". Your EDM. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. Bein, Kat (January 8, 2018). "Marshmello to Release Posthumous Lil Peep Collab on Friday". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  6. Mojica, Nick (January 8, 2018). "Marshmello to Release Lil Peep Collaboration". XXL. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  7. Slingerland, Calum (January 8, 2018). "Marshmello to Release Lil Peep Collaboration". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  8. A., Aron (January 8, 2018). "Lil Peep's Unreleased Marshmello Collaboration Dropping This Friday". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  9. Bein, Kat (January 10, 2018). "Marshmello Reveals Lil Peep Collaboration Title and Artwork". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  10. Rhiannon, Alexis (January 10, 2018). "Lil Peep's Song With Marshmello Will Be Released Posthumously & It's A Bittersweet Way To Remember The Rapper". Bustle. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  11. Powell, Karlie (January 10, 2018). "LISTEN: Lil Peep's Post-Humous Collab with Marshmello". Your EDM. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  12. Kats, Jeanette (January 10, 2018). "Listen to Marshmello's Collaboration With Lil Peep". Noiseporn. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  13. Bein, Kat (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello Drops Lil Peep Posthumous Collab 'Spotlight': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  14. Reilly, Nick (January 12, 2018). "Listen to 'Spotlight', Lil Peep's posthumous collaboration with Marshmello". NME. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  15. Arcand, Rob (January 11, 2018). "Marshmello and Lil Peep – "Spotlight"". Spin. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  16. Coleman II, C. Vernon (January 12, 2018). "Lil Peep and Marshmello Link on New Track "Spotlight"". XXL. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  17. Kreps, Daniel (January 12, 2018). "Hear Marshmello's Vibrant Lil Peep Collaboration 'Spotlight'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  18. Hazlehurst, Beatrice (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello Releases Lil Peep Collab at Mother's Request". Paper. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  19. Joyce, Colin (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello's New Single With Lil Peep Is a Heartbreaker". Noisey. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  20. Pearce, Sheldon (January 12, 2018). ""Spotlight" by Lil Peep / Marshmellow Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  21. Benjamin, Jeff (January 12, 2018). "Remember Lil Peep's Promising Career With New Marshmello Collaboration 'Spotlight'". Fuse. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  22. Skelton, Eric (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello Shares "Spotlight" f/ Posthumous Vocals From Lil Peep". Complex. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  23. Powell, Karlie (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello x Lil Peep "Spotlight" Lives Up To Bittersweet Expectations [LISTEN]". Your EDM. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  24. Wiederhorn, Jon (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello Releases Collaboration with Lil Peep 'Spotlight': Listen". CBS Radio. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  25. Hudelson, Molly (January 12, 2018). "Marshmello shares posthumous Lil Peep collaboration, "Spotlight"". Substream Magazine. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  26. "Austriancharts.at – Marshmello x Lil Peep – Spotlight" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  27. "Marshmello Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  28. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  29. "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  30. "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  32. "Marshmello Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  33. "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
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