"Gold" is the debut solo single by American actress and singer Victoria Justice, released on June 18, 2013, by Columbia Records. The song was written by Tove Lo, Jason Weiss, Sam Shrieve, Ben Camp, Jakob Jerlström, Ludvig Söderberg, and Peter Thomas.
It was released as the originally-intended lead single for Justice's debut studio album but was later scrapped after her split with Columbia Records due to creative differences.[1][2]
Background and release[]
On June 3, 2013, three years after Victoria Justice first spoke about her desire to release her first album, she tweeted she would be doing a photo shoot for her first solo single.[3] Four days later, Billboard revealed Justice and Columbia Records were deciding if she would release a new single during her Summer Break Tour.[4] Soon after, the singer revealed on social media that her single would be titled "Gold" and released on June 18.[5] The single cover artwork was uploaded on Instagram a week before the single's planned release date.[6] On June 15, Justice tweeted she had left a few signed copies of some lyrics around Universal CityWalk in Hollywood.[7]
In a 2010 interview with the Associated Press, she stated that she was recording an album but would take her time with the process, rather than rush it. In October 2012, she revealed she would release her debut album in 2013, stating "It's going to be pop".[8][9]
On June 6, 2013, Justice described material from her album:
“ | When you hear these songs...the people that know me are like, 'This is so Vic!' It's 100 percent my personality, messages I want to get across. Some of the songs are really fun, upbeat stuff you can dance to, and then I have some songs that are a little more introspective, a little more mellow. It's just all me, basically, so it's very cool. | ” |
– Victoria Justice to Billboard[10] |
The track was released exclusively on the website of the radio program On Air with Ryan Seacrest, the day before it was officially released as a single.[11] The single release features "Shake" as the B-side. In addition to the B-side edition, Spotify also later released the "Gold" only version, on July 12. It's Justice's first single she released as a lead artist and isn't related to Victorious, the musical teen sitcom she starred in from 2010 to 2013.
Composition[]
Justice said "Gold" is a "really fun, sassy, upbeat song" during its debut on On Air with Ryan Seacrest.[12] In an interview with Young Hollywood, she described the song as definitely pop with a little bit of mature radio sound and revealed the message is about a boy who knows she's interested in him, so she tells him to just cut to the chase.
MTV described the track as a "peppier sound that meshes flawlessly with the flirtatious, confident lyrics".[13] Popdust compared the whole song to Bridgit Mendler's "Ready or Not" and the part of "faux-rapping over a bass drop on the bridge" to the work of Cher Lloyd. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote the track "aims at the oeuvre of pop-rock icons like Kelly Clarkson and P!nk, with Justice keeping things light with some PG-rated 'we're more than friends!' exclamations and tossed-off rapping in the bridge".[14] In a later published article, Lipshutz wrote "'Gold' is a completely safe, forcefully pleasant pop-rock come-on that wouldn't sound out of place on a Natasha Bedingfield album. There are snare rolls, guitar strums, high-school-notebook lines like 'Hey! Boy! Whatcha gonna do / If you want me like I want you?', and a rap interlude short enough to be forgiven."
Reception[]
MTV called the track a "perfect summer jam". Robbie Daw from Idolator gave a favorable review for the song, writing it "ticks all the right boxes in that it's got an instantly memorable chorus and the song plays like a perfectly non-offensive love jam that is primed to soundtrack many a summer fling".[15] Popdust stated that it's not a "Mariah [Carey]-sized smash" like "The Way", a song by Victoria Justice's Victorious co-star Ariana Grande, though still "it's not bad. Not bad at all." Billboard's Jaston Lipshutz stated that while the song didn't sound like a "death knell", it was a poor choice for a debut single, failed to "capture Justice's likable personality", and didn't reveal as many musical abilities as "Beggin' on Your Knees", "Best Friend's Brother", and "Freak the Freak Out".
Promotion[]
Victoria Justice revealed on Instagram she was filming a music video for "Gold" and uploaded a photo with Colton Haynes on June 16, 2013.[16] On July 6, she announced the video would premiere on Vevo six days later.[17] The singer also shared some other pictures of the video set prior to its release.[18][19][20][21] It was directed by Chandler Lass. It's the only video uploaded on Justice's Vevo channel. In the video, the singer sings against the background of pink or gold, or the graffiti of the song's title, and flirts with Haynes. It also shows other various objects covered with gold.
The song was a part of the setlist of Justice's 2013 second concert tour, Summer Break Tour.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I've been trying to let it go
But these butterflies I can't ignore
'Cause every time that I look at you
Know we're in a catch 22
We've been friends for so long but I
Need to tell you what's on my mind
I'm sick and tired of playing games
'Cause I know that you feel the same
[Pre-Chorus]
I know you inside out, so I'm asking now
Take a chance on me
How much clearer can I be?
[Chorus]
Hey, boy, what you gon' do?
If you want me like I want you, then man up and make your move
I'm gold, gold
You, me, good as can be, wanna be more than your company
So bet your money on me
I'm gold, gold
[Verse 2]
Do I really need to spell it out?
My heart skips when you're around
I got everything that you need
So come on baby get close to me
So confused that I'm not surprised
From greater bells, and you rolled the dice
Know all your moves, don't know why I fall
Should put me out, but I want it all
[Pre-Chorus]
I know you inside out, so I'm asking now
Take a chance on me
How much clearer can I be?
[Chorus]
Hey, boy, what you gon' do
If you want me like I want you, then man up and make your move
I'm gold, gold
You, me, good as can be, wanna be more than your company
So bet your money on me
I'm gold, gold
[Post-Chorus]
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
I'm gold, gold
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
I'm gold, gold
[Bridge]
Been too cool just to tell you straight out
But by now I wish you figured it out
I wish you figured it out, I wish you figured it out
I wish ya
You're not a fool, you see what I'm about, so by now I think you figured it out
I think you figured it out, I think you figured it out
I think ya, Yeah!
[Chorus]
Hey, boy, what you gon' do
If you want me like I want you, then man up and make your move
I'm gold, gold
You, me, good as can be, wanna be more than your company
So bet your money on me
I'm gold, gold
[Post-Chorus]
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
I'm gold, gold
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-da-da-doo
La-ra-da-la-ra-da-da-doo
I'm gold, gold
Trivia[]
- "#VictoriaGoldJune18th", "#11DaysTillGOLD", "#9DaysTilGold", "#8DaysTilGold", "#6DaysTilGold", "#BuyGoldOniTunesOnTuesday", "#VJGoldVideoTomorrow", and "#1YearOfGold" were trending topics on Twitter.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]
- "Gold" appears on the Nickelodeon Superstars playlist on Spotify, along with "Take a Hint", "Leave It All to Shine", "Freak the Freak Out", "Make It in America", "Make It Shine", and "Song 2 You".[30]
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Images and GIFs[]
References[]
- ↑ Victoria Justice Says 'Victorious' Was 'Great Practice For Debut Album
- ↑ Victoria Justice's Music Career: Why Ariana Grande's Co-Star Is Still Worth Watching | Billboard
- ↑ Victoria Justice via Twitter - Guess who's doing a photo shoot today for her 1st single?! New music coming soon guys :). Much love! Xo
- ↑ Victoria Justice On Debut Album: ‘It’s Time For Me To Reintroduce Myself’
- ↑ Victoria Justice via Twitter - As promised...I want you all to be the very 1st to know...that I am releasing my 1st single, Gold, on June 18th!! #VictoriaGoldJune18th RT!
- ↑ Victoria Justice via Instagram - I can't wait anymore! Too excited. Here is the single artwork for Gold! Hope u guys like it!! :D #GoldSingleArt RT!
- ↑ Victoria Justice via Twitter - It's time, LA-ers! I've left a few signed copies of some Gold lyrics around @CityWalkLA for u to find...#GoldLyrics
- ↑ Rising Teen Star Gets 'Victorious' New Gig
- ↑ Victoria Justice to release first album in 2013: 'It's going to be pop'
- ↑ Victoria Justice On Debut Album: 'It's Time For Me To Reintroduce Myself
- ↑ Victoria Justice via Twitter - Guess what?! @RyanSeacrest will premiere a clip of Gold on his radio show tomorrow morning & the whole song later tonight on his site. RT!
- ↑ WORLD PREMIERE: Listen to Victoria Justice’s New Single ‘Gold’
- ↑ MTV | New Song: Victoria Justice, 'Gold'
- ↑ Victoria Justice’s ‘Gold’ Single Hits Digital Retailers: Listen
- ↑ Victoria Justice’s “Gold”: Hear The Breezy Summer Pop Song
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/aoXqkknIML/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/bb8eZDnIAP/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/ardS3WnIFD/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/arLf7JnIKg/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/bha557HIHd/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/bmdyllHIP_/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/342804649780334593
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/343134385274503168
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/343834739469320192
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/344185284721790978
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/344959960037347329
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/346059144408727552
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/355412545189851136
- ↑ https://twitter.com/VictoriaJustice/status/479393840311177217
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX2Zbv3JDcc4J