Moonlight

## Gallery

"**Moonlight**" is a song by American singer-songwriter Grace Vanderwaal. The song was written by Grace VanderWaal and Ido Zmishlany, and produced by the latter. The song was released on June 21, 2017, through Syco Music and Columbia Records, and is the lead single from VanderWaal's debut studio album *Just The Beginning.* VanderWaal introduced the song live at VidCon 2017, and she released a music video of "Moonlight" on her YouTube Vevo channel on July 20, 2017.

## Background

In a statement announcing the new song, VanderWaal explained the inspiration behind it, saying: "'Moonlight' is about somebody you know very well changing unnaturally over time right in front of you and pushing you away, so you want to help bring them back to their original self."

## Critical reception

Gil Kaufman of *Billboard* described the song as "summery". He opined that the song "displays a fun tropical beat making it the perfect summer song", and that it "digs a little deeper" and "displays maturity". Raisa Bruner of *Time* regarded the song as "a summery, breathy and upbeat summer song", and wrote that it "maintains [VanderWaal's] acoustic flair while layering in a lightly tropical touch". Jon Caramanica of *The New York Times* felt that the song "sounds like steroidal bluegrass-inflected space-pop", and VanderWaal's vocal "sounds emotionally exhausted, like a singer twice her age, or more." Gabriella Ginsberg of *Hollywood Life* called the single "infectious" and "amazing", and felt that it has an "awesome beat". She wrote that VanderWaal's "classic ukelele sound shines through". Cayla Bamberger of *J-14* wrote: "The track delivers all that we love about VanderWaal: her raspy vocals, a heavy beat, her signature ukulele, and an acoustic sound. ... The track shows VanderWaal's increasing maturity and sophistication as both a wise teenage girl and a singer-songwriter." Maeve McDermott of *USA Today* referred the song as "an upbeat, wistful pop song".

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

She always has a smile

From morning to the night

The perfect poster child

That was once in my life

[Pre-Chorus]

A doll made out of glass

All her friends think that she's great

But I can see through it all

And she's about to break

[Chorus]

Remember last year when you told me

To always stay here and never leave me

The light from your eyes made it feel like

We-e-e were dancing in the moonlight

Remember last year when you told me

That these will be lifelong stories

The light from your eyes made it feel like

We-e-e, we're dancing in the moonlight

[Post-Chorus]

You-ou-ou were dancing in the moonlight

And I, I, I was dancing in the moonlight

[Verse 2]

Now she lost her way

And she forgets to smile

Never gets a break

From this life in denial

[Pre-Chorus]

A doll made out of glass

All her friends think that she's great

But I can see through it all

And she's about to break, oh!

[Chorus]

Remember last year when you told me

To always stay here and never leave me

The light from your eyes made it feel like

We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight

Remember last year when you told me

That these will be lifelong stories

The light from your eyes made it feel like

We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight

[Post-Chorus]

You-ou-ou were dancing in the moonlight

And I, I, I was dancing in the moonlight

[Bridge]

I, I, I, miss those me-mo-ries

We used to share

Just you and me

[Chorus]

Remember last year when you told me

To always stay here and never leave me

The light from your eyes made it feel like

We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight

Remember last year when you told me

That these will be lifelong stories

The light from your eyes made it feel like

We-e-e, were dancing in the moonlight

[Outro]

The light from your eyes made it feel like

Dancing In the moonlight

## Music Video

 **VEVO views** | 20+ Million views

The music video was released on July 21, 2017, and was directed by Blythe Thomas. It is VanderWaal's first official music video. It features VanderWaal wandering along deserted city streets and arriving on a deserted rooftop, intercut with scenes of her singing and playing the ukelele and scenes of an imagined dance party, where she plays the banjo among friends. VanderWaal said of the inspiration for the music video: "The story is about someone going through depression, and seeing the way they're changing, and that fake alter-personality ... a lot of people go through depression and if you know someone who is, please talk to them and try to reach out. It's [also] about walking down memory lane and remembering just last year, feeling magical, like you were dancing in the moonlight."

## Videos

Grace VanderWaal - Moonlight (Audio)Grace VanderWaal - Moonlight (Behind the Scenes)
## References

1. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7841029/grace-vanderwaal-new-song-moonlight-listen
2. ↑ http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/06/21/grace-vanderwaal-moonlight-new-song-listen/
3. ↑ http://www.j-14.com/posts/grace-vanderwaal-moonlight-song-meaning-135313