Let's Go (Ashton Stone Single)

*Wild Things (Ashton Stone Single)*  (2008)

"**Let's Go**" is a song by American singer Ashton Stone. It served as the fifth single from his debut studio album, *Starlight* (2008). Written by Ashton Stone, Cirkut and Benny Blanco and Production handled by Blanco and Cirkut, the song was released by A1 Records on May 4, 2009. The up-tempo power pop track features a prominent guitar-based chorus and riff.

"Let's Go" was a commercial success, reaching number one in several countries. It has been certified 8x Platinum in the US with sales of 8 million copies as of June 2014. The single peaked at number one on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, and was generally complimented by contemporary music critics, who highlighted the appeal to the teenage audience and the pop sensibility. It debuted at number 43 on the US Hot 100, before rising up the chart and spending four weeks at number one. The single also reached number one in France, New Zealand, and numerous European countries.

## Background and Composition

"Let's Go" was originally written by Stone in 2007, as a song for a talent show contest at his school. The song was an acoustic mid-tempo rendition, with lyrics that didn't follow a traditional pop structure. In 2008, Stone presented the song to Blanco and Cirkut, and the three of them reworked the song into an up-tempo power pop song along with the lyrics restructured, and a catchy chorus and a "Oh Oh Oh" hook. The production of the song features handclaps, and reworked guitar riffs.

## Release and Critical Reception

"Let's Go" was released on May 4, 2009. Stone confirmed that "Let's Go" would be the fifth single from his debut studio album *Starlight,* The track was released digitally internationally. Critics praised the single for its soaring pop chorus, and production. Lewis Corner from *Digital Spy* awarded the song four out five stars, complimented the song's guitar riff, its "forceful" chorus, and the melody as memorable, and summarized it as an "arena-ready hit".

## Commercial Performance

In the United States the single debuted at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, before rising to and spending four weeks at number one, becoming Stone's fourth number one in the US. The single would go on to become certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA. In Canada the single would debut and peak at number two, becoming certified platinum by Music Canada. "Let's Go" would go on to top numerous charts across Europe, including Germany, France and Spain, selling over 2.5 million copies across Europe according to the *International Federation of the Phonographic Industry* (IFPI). In the UK "Let's Go" would reach number two on the UK Singles Chart, and become certified platinum by the *British Phonographic Industry* (BPI). Eventually the single would sell over 11 million copies worldwide as of June 2014.

## Music Video

The music video for "Let's Go" was directed by Bruce Gowers. Filmed over two days in April 2009, it premiered on May 17, 2009. On each of the five days preceding the video's premiere, Stone posted a teaser trailer of the video in his "Ashton Adventure's" video series. Each teaser showed footage from the video and behind the scenes, and Stone announcing how many days were left until the video premiere. The video opens with Stone and friends spending time on a Malibu, California beach intercut with scenes of him driving an orange campervan. During the second verse, a group of girls joins Stone and his friends at the beach, he intimately sings to one girl, individually. During the final choruses the group are shown sitting around a fire, lighting sparklers and taking photographs. The video won a MTV Video Music Award, and earned Stone the award for Video of the Year at the Much Music Video Awards. As of 2014, the music video has received 1.8 billion Vevo and YouTube views.

## Track listings

**Australia CD Single**

1. "Let's Go" - 3:50
2. "Let's Go (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)" - 4:23
3. "Let's Go (Benny Benassi Remix)" - 5:42

**European CD Single**

1. "Let's Go" - 3:50
2. "Let's Go (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)" - 4:23
3. "Let's Go (Original Version)" - 5:33

**Remix EP**

1. "Let's Go" - 3:50
2. "Let's Go (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)" - 4:23
3. "Let's Go (Frankmusik Remix)" - 5:45
4. "Let's Go (Original Version)" - 5:33
5. "Let's Go (Benny Benassi Remix)" - 5:42

**US iTunes Remix**

1. "Let's Go (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)" - 4:23
2. "Let's Go (CALVO Remix)" - 5:11
3. "Let's Go (Original Version)" - 5:33
4. "Let's Go (Benny Benassi Remix)" - 5:42
5. "Let's Go" - 3:50

## Credits and Personnel

* Ashton Stone - Lead vocals, songwriting, background vocals, guitar, handclaps
* Cirkut - Songwriting, production, instrumentation, music programming, engineering
* Benny Blanco - Songwriting, production, instrumentation
* Noah Fulton - mixing, mastering
* Arthur Collins - mastering, engineering