Closer

Album: Year of the Gentleman (2008)
Charted: 1 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ne-Yo told Artist Direct about this Euro-disco sounding track: "I spent a lot of time in Europe last year, and the first single on the album is definitely inspired by that. It's called 'Closer,' and it has a dance, trance-type feel to it. Pretty much all the music over in Europe is like that. They'll put that four-on-the-floor beat over 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' if you let them [laughs]. You feel it. It's energy, and it's sexy. It's kind of dark, and I dig it. So I gave it a try. It's a little different for me, but not too much."
  • The Norwegian production team Stargate produced this.
  • This topped the UK chart after an eight week climb. It was the first single to reach #1 on the UK single chart as late as eight weeks into its chart career since "Heartbeat/Tragedy" by Steps hit the top in January 1999 on its eighth week on sale.
  • Ne-Yo explained the inspiration behind this track to The Boston Globe September 18, 2008: "I knew I wanted to do something that was very much U.K.-inspired, very much along the lines of house, trance, techno, but I knew I couldn't do a straight-up house record or a straight-up techno record. I had to do something that had elements of it but still had elements of R&B, which is my base, and that's exactly what that track was. (Stargate) played the track, and it was exactly where I wanted to go, anyway. I think that's why we work. We're getting to the point where we finish each other's sentences musically."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.