We Are Stars

"We Are Stars" is the debut single released by Canadian pop rock singer Virginia to Vegas, featuring Canadian recording artist Alyssa Reid. The song was written by Derik John Baker (Virginia to Vegas) and Reid along with Jamie Appleby, Nathan Ferraro, Kevin Figs, and O.C, while it was produced by Figs. It was released to digital retailers through Universal Music Group, Wax Records and Ultra Records on January 7, 2014 as the lead single from Virginia to Vegas' debut studio album, Utopian (2016).[2] It was later released to the US on July 29, 2014.[3] The song is also included on Virginia to Vegas' debut extended play, Vol. I (2014).

"We Are Stars"
Single by Virginia to Vegas featuring Alyssa Reid
from the EP Vol. I and the album Utopian
ReleasedJanuary 7, 2014 (2014-01-07)
Genre
Length3:52
LabelWax, Ultra Records, Universal Music Group
Songwriter(s)
  • Jamie Appleby
  • Derik John Baker
  • Nathan Ferraro
  • Kevin Figs
  • Alyssa Reid
Producer(s)
  • Kevin Figs
  • O.C.
Virginia to Vegas singles chronology
"We Are Stars"
(2014)		 "Don't Fight the Music"
(2014)
Alyssa Reid singles chronology
"Satisfaction Guaranteed"
(2013)		 "We Are Stars"
(2014)		 "Hurricane"
(2014)

The song was a success in Canada, peaking at number 14 on the Canadian Hot 100 and being certified Gold by Music Canada by March 2014.[4] It has since reached Platinum sales.[5] "We Are Stars" reached the top 15 on multiple Canadian airplay charts reported by Billboard. On the year-end Hot 100 chart, the song ranked at 57.

Reid later recorded a solo acoustic version of the song for her third studio album, Phoenix (2015).[6] It served as the first promotional single in November 2015.[7]

Reception

Critical

Janie Contreras at UMusicians gave the song a positive four-star (out of five) review. She describing "We Are Stars" as "exquisitely mixed" and "quite catchy", while drawing particular attention to the anthemic positivism of the lyrics.[1]

Due to its strong reception on contemporary hit radio in its first month, Virgin Radio Toronto dubbed Virginia to Vegas its "Future Star" for the month of January 2014.[8]

Commercial

"We Are Stars" debuted at No. 94 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for the week ending February 1, 2014.[9] The song peaked at No. 14 in its fourteenth chart week, on the chart dated May 3, 2014.[10] It has been well received by Top 40, AC, and Hot AC radio in Canada, attaining a top 15 position on the Billboard airplay charts for all three of these formats. As of May 24, 2014 "We Are Stars" has peaked at No. 13 on the Canada AC chart,[11] at No. 11 on the Canada CHR/Top 40 chart,[12] and at No. 14 on the Canada Hot AC chart.[13] The song ranked at number 57 on the Billboard Year-End Canadian Hot 100 chart.

Music video

The official music video for "We Are Stars" was directed by Marc Andre Debrunye and premiered March 15, 2014.[14] Black and white concert footage of Virginia to Vegas performing the song and behind-the-scenes shots of him and Reid from their Time Bomb Tour are shown intermittently between neon-lit scenes of the two touring Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chart performance

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Canada January 7, 2014 Digital download Wax Records [2]
United States July 29, 2014 [3]

References
  1. Contreras, Janie. "UM Single Review: Virginia To Vegas -"We Are Stars"". UMusicians. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  2. "We Are Stars - Virginia to Vegas | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  3. "Amazon.com: We Are Stars: Virginia to Vegas: MP3 Downloads". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  4. Srivastava, Suruchi. "Virginia To Vegas Goes Gold". Faze. Faze Media.
  5. "Canadian single certifications – Virginia to Vegas – We Are Stars". Music Canada.
  6. "Phoenix by Alyssa Reid". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  7. "We Are Stars - Alyssa Reid | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  8. "99.9 Virgin Radio Toronto :: Future Star - Virginia to Vegas". CKFM-FM. Virgin Radio. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  9. "Virginia To Vegas and Alyssa Reid - We Are Stars". aCharts.
  10. "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Chart" (Week Of: May 3, 2014). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  11. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada AC for Virginia to Vegas. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  12. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Virginia to Vegas. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  13. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada Hot AC for Virginia to Vegas. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  14. Wax Records (March 15, 2014). "Virginia To Vegas - We Are Stars ft Alyssa Reid (Official Video)". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  15. "Virginia to Vegas Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  16. "Virginia to Vegas Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  17. "Virginia to Vegas Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  18. "2014 Year End: Canadian Hot 100 Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
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