Put Your Lights On
Encyclopedia
"Put Your Lights On" is a single performed by Santana
and Everlast
for Santana's album, Supernatural. It barely charted on the US pop chart, reaching #18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart, but did considerably better on rock radio, peaking at #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart.
"Put Your Lights On" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
at the 2000 Grammy Awards
.
Everlast wrote the song while recovering from a major heart attack that he had suffered in February 1998 (directly after completing recording his first solo album, Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
). He has referred to it as "one of the most personal songs I ever wrote", stating that the song was "kind of all about hope, but it’s coming from a really dark place you know, so... and really questioning a lot of your beliefs, and affirming, you know, stuff in your soul."
Everlast converted to Islam
in 1996, and the end of the song contains the words "La ilaha illa Allah", ("there is no god but The God" in Arabic), the first part of the Shahada
, the Islamic profession of faith.
Santana called Everlast in 1998, asking him if he could contribute a song for Supernatural, and Everlast suggested "Put Your Lights On". According to Everlast, Santana loved the song, and "from then on everything went very fast." Everlast has stated that he was unsure whether to include the Arabic-language portion in the recorded song, because "I did not want to sell Allah's words", but that Santana insisted that they be included.
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
and Everlast
Everlast (musician)
Erik Francis Schrody , better known by his stage name Everlast, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper and songwriter, known for his solo hit "What It's Like" and as the front-man for rap group House of Pain. He is also part of the hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra, which consists of members of...
for Santana's album, Supernatural. It barely charted on the US pop chart, reaching #18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart, but did considerably better on rock radio, peaking at #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart.
"Put Your Lights On" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1980 and 2011.The award was discontinued after the 2011 award season in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
at the 2000 Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards of 2000
The 42nd Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2000. During the show, Santana won 8 Grammys, tying Michael Jackson's record for most awards won in a single night. Santana's album Supernatural was awarded a total of nine awards....
.
Everlast wrote the song while recovering from a major heart attack that he had suffered in February 1998 (directly after completing recording his first solo album, Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
Whitey Ford Sings the Blues is the second solo album by singer-songwriter-emcee Everlast, and the first one following his departure from House of Pain...
). He has referred to it as "one of the most personal songs I ever wrote", stating that the song was "kind of all about hope, but it’s coming from a really dark place you know, so... and really questioning a lot of your beliefs, and affirming, you know, stuff in your soul."
Everlast converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in 1996, and the end of the song contains the words "La ilaha illa Allah", ("there is no god but The God" in Arabic), the first part of the Shahada
Shahada
The Shahada , means "to know and believe without suspicion, as if witnessed"/testification; it is the name of the Islamic creed. The shahada is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet...
, the Islamic profession of faith.
Santana called Everlast in 1998, asking him if he could contribute a song for Supernatural, and Everlast suggested "Put Your Lights On". According to Everlast, Santana loved the song, and "from then on everything went very fast." Everlast has stated that he was unsure whether to include the Arabic-language portion in the recorded song, because "I did not want to sell Allah's words", but that Santana insisted that they be included.
Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... |
18 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
8 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 32 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 87 |