"Just Say Yes" | ||||
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Single by Snow Patrol | ||||
from the album Up to Now | ||||
B-side | "Just Say Yes" (Thin White Duke Mix) | |||
Released | 23 October 2009 | |||
Format | CD, Digital download | |||
Genre | Synthpop,electronica | |||
Length | 4:42 | |||
Label | Fiction/Interscope | |||
Writer(s) | Gary Lightbody (lyrics), Snow Patrol (music) | |||
Producer(s) | Jacknife Lee | |||
Snow Patrol singles chronology | ||||
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"Just Say Yes" is a song by British alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released as the single to follow "The Planets Bend Between Us" in October–November 2009, depending on the region. The song, produced by Jacknife Lee, is one of the three new songs, and the lead single from the compilation Up to Now. The lyrics were written by Gary Lightbody and the music was composed by Snow Patrol. "Just Say Yes" has its origins as a song written for pop singer Gwen Stefani, who rejected it. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls was then given permission by Lightbody to record it for her solo debut album, which was later shelved.
Snow Patrol later took the song back and recorded it for their compilation album Up to Now. The song, having an electronic, synthpop sound, marks a distinct change in the Snow Patrol's sound. Writer Gary Lightbody has called it their most adventurous single to date. The video, directed by Blue Leach, features light effects and projection to bring a trippy, dreamy feel. The song was used in a music campaign for Nokia in the Netherlands. It was also used in the trailer for the 2010 film Leap Year. The city of Derry, Northern Ireland was given permission to use the song in their successful bid to be crowned UK City of Culture 2013.
It performed well commercially, reaching the top 10 on the singles chart in countries like Belgium, Denmark and Ireland and topped the charts in the Netherlands. However, the critical reaction was mixed. Reviews generally praised the song for encompassing the band's past and new sound. The negative reviews criticized the song for being too linear, and for not having any "spark".
The song was written by Gary Lightbody in Los Angeles with producer Jacknife Lee. He wrote it at the request of the band's label in the United States for pop singer Gwen Stefani's then upcoming album. However, Stefani rejected it. Later, Lightbody allowed Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger to record it. Scherzinger had loved the song, and felt grateful and "blessed" upon being given permission to record it, even calling it an "honour" to sing something written by Lightbody. Scherzinger felt influenced by the Northern Irish Lightbody's accent, and attempted to record the song with an accent herself, with Lightbody acting as the producer. Though she was nervous about doing justice to the song, she was relieved when Lightbody told her that her singing had made his mother cry. The song was due to feature on Scherzinger's solo debut album Her Name is Nicole, but the album was ultimately scrapped in favor of her eventual debut Killer Love. When Snow Patrol's label in the United Kingdom heard the song, they were shocked to learn that Lightbody had given away the song in the first place. Lightbody then reclaimed the song for the band.