"Let the Sun Shine" is the debut single from English singer, Labrinth

Labrinth

Timothy McKenzie , better known by his stage name Labrinth, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. McKenzie is signed to Simon Cowell's record label Syco, becoming the first non-talent show signing in six years...

. It was produced and written by Labrinth and Da Diggler released on 27 September 2010 on Simco Ltd/Sony Records. The single is available on iTunes as an extended-play, which has 4 remixes of the song.

In a special Live Lounge

Live Lounge

The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...

 Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis

Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....

 performed an acoustic cover of the song at the Hackney Empire

Hackney Empire

The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...

.

Background

Labrinth told the story behind this song to The Sun on September 24, 2010: "It was influenced by the sun coming up. I was working in my little studio in my bedroom. My brother was sleeping in the bunk bed behind me and kept waking up saying, 'Keep it down, you're making too much noise.' At that time, I felt I was learning so much musically and it felt like the most perfect moment writing that track with the first rays of sun shining into the room. People listen to it and they say it sounds like a 'eureka!' moment and it was."

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy

Digital Spy

Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....

Blog gave the song a positive review:

...for starters Labbers has something no amount of studio trickery can create: soul. While the track's trance-pop beat is reminiscent of many a Taio/Derulo/Ne-Yo number, his passionate performance and heartfelt lyrics about letting go of negativity set him strides apart from the current crop of robopop vocalists - and with a chorus that fuses gospel, funk and R&B, it certainly feels worthy of a eureka moment. Oh, and as if we couldn't be any more impressed, apparently there’s even a "Cyndi Lauper-esque track" waiting on his album. Bring. It. On.
.

Track listing

• Digital download

1. "Sunshine" – 2:59
2. "Sunshine" (Joey Negro Radio Remix) – 3:13
3. "Sunshine" (Dave Spoon Remix) – 5:50
4. "Sunshine" (Roller Express Remix) – 4:38
5. "Sunshine" (A Star Remix featuring Mac. 1 & Wretch 32) – 4:12

Chart performance

Having been predicted to debut at number 2 behind Tinie Tempah

Tinie Tempah

Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...

's "Written in the Stars

Written in the Stars (Tinie Tempah song)

"Written in the Stars" is the third single by English rapper Tinie Tempah, featuring American singer Eric Turner. Unlike his two prior breakthrough singles which were produced by Labrinth, the track instead features production by iSHi. It was released in September 2010 through Parlophone records,...

", "Let the Sun Shine" debuted at number 3 on 3 October 2010 behind Tempah and Bruno Mars with "Just the Way You Are

Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars song)

"Just the Way You Are" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, and is the lead single from his debut studio album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans. It was released in the United States on July 20, 2010. It has also received airplay from AOL Radio's New Pop First station. The song was written by...

"; marking Labrinth's third Top 5 hit (including the two collaborations with Tempah). The single also debuted on the Irish Singles Chart

Irish Singles Chart

The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...

 at number 32 on 7 October 2010.
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Chart (2010)	Peak position
European Hot 100 Singles	13

Release history

Region	Date	Format
United Kingdom	September 26, 2010	Digital download
	September 27, 2010	CD single