"Put Your Lights On" is a song by American rock band Santana and American musician Everlast from Santana's 18th studio album, Supernatural (1999). Serviced to US rock radio in August 1999, the song peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number eight on the Billboard 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 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Background Everlast wrote the song while recovering from a major heart attack that he had suffered in February 1998 (directly after he completed recording his second 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 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.2001 Everlast interview with the Association for New German Muslims
Track listings
Australian CD single "Put Your Lights On" (featuring Everlast) – 4:10 "Smooth" (remix featuring Rob Thomas) – 3:53 "Maria Maria" (radio mix featuring the Product G&B) – 4:25
UK CD single "Put Your Lights On" (radio edit featuring Everlast) – 4:03 "Maria Maria" (Spanish-English version featuring the Product G&B) – 4:15 "El farol" (album version) – 4:59
European CD single "Put Your Lights On" (radio edit featuring Everlast) – 4:03 "Maria Maria" (Spanish-English version featuring the Product G&B) – 4:15
German maxi-CD single "Put Your Lights On" (radio edit featuring Everlast) – 4:03 "Put Your Lights On" (album version featuring Everlast) – 4:47 "Maria Maria" (Spanish-English version featuring the Product G&B) – 4:15 "El farol" (album version) – 4:59
Credits and personnel Credits are taken from the German maxi-CD single liner notes and the Supernatural album booklet.
Studios Engineered at Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, California) and South Beach Studios (Miami Beach, Florida) Mixed at South Beach Studios (Miami Beach, Florida) Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Personnel
Everlast – writing (as Erik Schrody), lead vocals, rhythm guitar Carlos Santana – lead guitar, congas, percussion Benny Rietveld – bass Chester Thompson – keyboards Dante Ross – production, programming John Gamble – production, programming, engineering Tom Lord-Alge – mixing Femio Hernandez – mixing assistance Steve Fontano – engineering Steve Farrone – engineering Mike Anderson – engineering assistance
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000)PeakpositionHungary (Mahasz)5Poland (Music & Media)12Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)7
Year-end charts Chart (1999)PositionUS Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)75US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)97 Chart (2000)PositionUS Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)32US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)92US Triple-A (Billboard)16
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)LabelUnited StatesAugust 24, 1999AristaMay 23, 2000Contemporary hit radioSwedenOctober 30, 2000CDUnited KingdomNovember 6, 2000GermanyNovember 27, 2000
References
External links Santana fan site with info about the song at www.UltimateSantana.com