Should Have Been Bigger: Selena Gomez & The Scene’s “Hit The Lights”

Mike Wass | June 21, 2017 7:07 pm

In this franchise, we look back on songs that deserved a little more love and attention.

Selena Gomez & The Scene were on a roll in 2011/2012, landing mega-hits with “Who Says” and enduring karaoke classic “Love You Like A Love Song.” When it came to rolling out the third single from When The Sun Goes Down, “Hit The Lights” seemed like a safe bet. A bright and bubbly synth-pop anthem about seizing the moment, the track was destined for chart glory. Instead, it missed the Billboard Hot 100 entirely — the diva’s first and only single to suffer this fate — and was cruelly left off her greatest hits LP, For You.

Well, it’s time for justice to be served! “Hit The Lights” is uplifting teen-pop at its finest and most certainly didn’t deserve to flop. In fact, Selena’s underrated gem delivers important life lessons without skimping on a catchy chorus or perky synths. “It’s the plane you wanna catch to Vegas, things you swear you’ll do before you die,” the “Bad Liar” songstress warns dramatically. “It’s the city of love that waits for you, but you’re to damn scared to fly.” Her advice? “Hit the lights, let the music move you, lose yourself tonight.”

Despite the fact that it failed to dent the Billboard Hot 100, “Hit The Lights” still managed to sell platinum. The video clip, which featured Selena swimming in a sea of pink balloons and partying with friends in a pumpkin patch (the early ’10s were wild), was also something of a delight that has racked up 148 million YouTube views. Revisit the pop star’s lost bop below.

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