Sun Goes Down (Lil Nas X song)

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"Sun Goes Down"
Single by Lil Nas X
from the album Montero
ReleasedMay 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)
RecordedJune 19, 2020
Length2:48
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lil Nas X singles chronology
"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"
(2021) 		"Sun Goes Down"
(2021) 		"Industry Baby"
(2021)
Music video
"Sun Goes Down" on YouTube

"Sun Goes Down" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper Lil Nas X. It was released as a single through Columbia on May 21, 2021, as the second single from his first studio album Montero.[1][2]

In the song, Lil Nas X addresses his younger closeted self, reflecting on his struggles with bullying and coming to terms with his homosexuality growing up. In contrast to his past music videos carrying surrealistic and futuristic elements, this one is more grounded in reality to reflect the more contemplative nature of the song.

Background and release[edit]

On May 3, 2021, Lil Nas X announced that he would perform "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" and a new song on Saturday Night Live on May 22.[3][4] On May 13, he revealed the song title, release date and cover art of the song on his social media.[5] The cover depicts him sitting in the sky in a suit controlling water with his fingers,[1][5] drawing comparisons to Avatar: The Last Airbender.[6] He wrote on Twitter on May 16 that the music video will depict him going back in time to uplift his younger closeted self, and that it is "really special" to him.[7] He elaborates that it is his most "vulnerable" song, noting the song's exploration of his troubled upbringing.[8]

Prior to the song's release, Lil Nas X posted the following message for his younger self on Twitter on February 2, 2021, "Dear 14 year old Montero, I wrote a song with our name in it. It's about a guy I met last summer. I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised never to be 'that' type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist. You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I'm pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am. The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people's lives and stop dictating who they should be. Sending you love from the future."[9]

The song was released on May 21, 2021, with a music video premiering on YouTube alongside it.[10] Shortly after the song's release, he commented on people's negative reaction to a line about Nicki Minaj. He notes that the song was about his life, of which 6 years were "dedicated" to her, addressing his past as a former Barb, a term for someone who is part of the fandom surrounding Minaj.[11]

Composition[edit]

"Sun Goes Down" follows in the footsteps of his previous single "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)", containing prominent homosexual themes. Throughout the song, Lil Nas X describes his feeling of not fitting in with his peers while growing up, noting that the Nicki Minaj fandom community on social media was the only place where he felt he belonged. He further depicts his struggles with bullying and coming to terms with his sexuality, and in the song's chorus, he sings about contemplating suicide.[12]

Music video[edit]

The video starts with Lil Nas X depicted meditating above a lake of water with a galactic backdrop dressed in white, manipulating water with his hands.[13][14] The video continues with him skimming through memories, including music videos for previous songs. He then enters a memory of himself in high school, first at his work at Taco Bell, and later being depicted praying in his bedroom to God to take away his gay thoughts.[14] The video later cuts to a prom dance, where his teenage self struggles to fit in, before leaving to hide in the bathroom to cry.[15] After composing himself in front of the mirror, his older self appears behind him, lending him a supporting hand, leading him back to the prom, where he is now far more comfortable, being depicted dancing with his friends.[15]

Like past music videos of Lil Nas X, this video uses elements of surrealism and futurism, but tones it down to keep it grounded in reality, as he wanted it to feel "very real".[16] The concept for the video was largely the brainchild of Lil Nas X himself, though the visuals were co-directed by the L.A.-based Psycho Films.[14]

Track listing[edit]

Digital download / streaming[17]

  1. "Sun Goes Down" – 2:48

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[18]

  • Lil Nas X – vocals, songwriting
  • Omer Fedi – songwriting, production
  • Roy Lenzo – songwriting, production
  • Take a Daytrip – production
    • David Biral – songwriting
    • Denzel Baptiste – songwriting
  • Popnick – miscellaneous producer
  • Nick Seeley – drums
  • Michael Olmo – songwriting
  • Keegan Bach – songwriting
  • Blake Slatkin – songwriting
  • Andrew Luce – songwriting
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • Drew Sliger – engineering assistant
  • Jelli Dorman – engineering assistant
  • Kuk Harrell – recording engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Sun Goes Down"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 74
Belgium Urban (Ultratop)[20] 30
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 41
France (SNEP)[22] 150
Global 200 (Billboard)[23] 47
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 35
Lithuania (AGATA)[25] 91
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[26] 6
Portugal (AFP)[27] 69
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 88
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 85
UK Singles (OCC)[30] 42
US Billboard Hot 100[31] 66

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Sun Goes Down"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[32] Platinum 40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[33] Gold 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for "Sun Goes Down"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various May 21, 2021
Columbia [17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Andriyashchuk, Yuriy (May 13, 2021). "Lil Nas X Announces New "Sun Goes Down" Single, Releasing Next Week". Hip-Hopvibe. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (May 14, 2021). "Lil Nas X announces new single "Sun Goes Down"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Shaffer, Claire (May 3, 2021). "Lil Nas X Will Perform a New Song on 'Saturday Night Live'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Strauss, Matthew (May 3, 2021). "Lil Nas X and Olivia Rodrigo Announced as SNL Musical Guests". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Droke, Carolyn (May 14, 2021). "Lil Nas X's New Single 'Sun Goes Down' Will Debut Ahead Of His 'SNL' Performance". Uproxx. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Milton, Josh (May 14, 2021). "Lil Nas X ditches Satan and flies straight up to the heavens in first teaser for new single". Pinknews. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Penn, Marianne (May 16, 2021). "Lil Nas X Reveals The 'Sun Comes Down' Music Video Is About Uplifting His Closeted Younger Self". TheThings. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Garner, Glenn (May 20, 2021). "Lil Nas X Says 'It's Rare' That Online Hate Gets to Him After Coming Out: 'The Love Outweighs the Hate'". People. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "MONTERO LYRICS - LIL NAS X - CALL ME BY YOUR NAME". Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Legaspi, Althea (May 21, 2021). "Lil Nas X Helps Struggling Younger Version of Self in 'Sun Goes Down' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "Lil Nas X Says He Won't Bring Up Nicki Minaj Again After Backlash". Rap-Up. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Mench, Chris (May 21, 2021). "Lil Nas X Addresses Suicidal Thoughts, Coming Out, & His History As A Barb On "Sun Goes Down"". Genius. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Lil Nas X Goes Right Back To Teenhood In "SUN GOES DOWN"". Wonderland. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Lash, Jolie (May 21, 2021). "Lil Nas X goes back to high school in 'Sun Goes Down' video, tells younger self things get better". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Banim, Julia (May 21, 2021). "Lil Nas X Dropped A New Track Last Night And People Can't Get Over How Sad It Is". UNILAD. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Anderson, Sage (May 20, 2021). "Lil Nas X on Queer Style, Gaga's Inspiration and His Pride-Themed Collection With UGG". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Sun Goes Down - Single by Lil Nas X". Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  18. ^ "Credits / SUN GOES DOWN / Lil Nas X – TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 27 September 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1647. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 27, 2021. p. 4.
  20. ^ "Belgium R&B/Hip-hop". Ultratop. May 29, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  21. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  22. ^ "Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  24. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "2021 21-os SAVAITĖS (gegužės 21-27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 28, 2021. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  27. ^ "Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  28. ^ "Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  31. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  32. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  33. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down". Music Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  34. ^ "American single certifications – Lil Nas X – Sun Goes Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
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