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"Moonlight" is a song by American singer-songwriter Grace Vanderwaal. The song was written by Grace VanderWaal and Ido Zmishlany, and produced by the latter. The song was released on June 21, 2017, through Syco Music and Columbia Records, and is the lead single from VanderWaal's debut studio album Just The Beginning. VanderWaal introduced the song live at VidCon 2017, and she released a music video of "Moonlight" on her YouTube Vevo channel on July 20, 2017.

Background[]

In a statement announcing the new song, VanderWaal explained the inspiration behind it, saying: "'Moonlight' is about somebody you know very well changing unnaturally over time right in front of you and pushing you away, so you want to help bring them back to their original self."[1][2][3]

Critical reception[]

Gil Kaufman of Billboard described the song as "summery". He opined that the song "displays a fun tropical beat making it the perfect summer song", and that it "digs a little deeper" and "displays maturity". Raisa Bruner of Time regarded the song as "a summery, breathy and upbeat summer song", and wrote that it "maintains [VanderWaal's] acoustic flair while layering in a lightly tropical touch". Jon Caramanica of The New York Times felt that the song "sounds like steroidal bluegrass-inflected space-pop", and VanderWaal's vocal "sounds emotionally exhausted, like a singer twice her age, or more." Gabriella Ginsberg of Hollywood Life called the single "infectious" and "amazing", and felt that it has an "awesome beat". She wrote that VanderWaal's "classic ukelele sound shines through". Cayla Bamberger of J-14 wrote: "The track delivers all that we love about VanderWaal: her raspy vocals, a heavy beat, her signature ukulele, and an acoustic sound. ... The track shows VanderWaal's increasing maturity and sophistication as both a wise teenage girl and a singer-songwriter." Maeve McDermott of USA Today referred the song as "an upbeat, wistful pop song".

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
She always has a smile
From morning to the night
The perfect poster child
That was once in my life

[Pre-Chorus]
A doll made out of glass
All her friends think that she's great
But I can see through it all
And she's about to break

[Chorus]
Remember last year when you told me
To always stay here and never leave me
The light from your eyes made it feel like
We-e-e were dancing in the moonlight
Remember last year when you told me
That these will be lifelong stories
The light from your eyes made it feel like
We-e-e, we're dancing in the moonlight

[Post-Chorus]
You-ou-ou were dancing in the moonlight
And I, I, I was dancing in the moonlight

[Verse 2]
Now she lost her way
And she forgets to smile
Never gets a break
From this life in denial

[Pre-Chorus]
A doll made out of glass
All her friends think that she's great
But I can see through it all
And she's about to break, oh!

[Chorus]
Remember last year when you told me
To always stay here and never leave me
The light from your eyes made it feel like
We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight
Remember last year when you told me
That these will be lifelong stories
The light from your eyes made it feel like
We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight

[Post-Chorus]
You-ou-ou were dancing in the moonlight
And I, I, I was dancing in the moonlight

[Bridge]
I, I, I, miss those me-mo-ries
We used to share
Just you and me

[Chorus]
Remember last year when you told me
To always stay here and never leave me
The light from your eyes made it feel like
We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight
Remember last year when you told me
That these will be lifelong stories
The light from your eyes made it feel like
We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight

[Outro]
The light from your eyes made it feel like
Dancing In the moonlight

Music Video[]

Music Video Information
Grace_VanderWaal_-_Moonlight_(Video) Released July 21, 2017
Length 3:06
Director Blythe Thomas
Producer Larissa May
Filmed 2017
Location Unknown
VEVO views 20+ Million views

The music video was released on July 21, 2017, and was directed by Blythe Thomas. It is VanderWaal's first official music video. It features VanderWaal wandering along deserted city streets and arriving on a deserted rooftop, intercut with scenes of her singing and playing the ukelele and scenes of an imagined dance party, where she plays the banjo among friends. VanderWaal said of the inspiration for the music video: "The story is about someone going through depression, and seeing the way they're changing, and that fake alter-personality ... a lot of people go through depression and if you know someone who is, please talk to them and try to reach out. It's [also] about walking down memory lane and remembering just last year, feeling magical, like you were dancing in the moonlight."

Videos[]

References[]

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