Daylight (David Kushner song)

"Daylight"
A man in a black top, trousers, and leather jacket standing afront trees in a forest. The lowercase text "daylight" stands on his left.
Single by David Kushner
from the album The Dichotomy
ReleasedApril 14, 2023
Recorded2023
GenreGothic pop
Length3:32
LabelMiserable
Songwriter(s)
  • David Kushner
  • Hayden Robert Hubers
  • Jeremy Fedryk
  • Josh Bruce Williams
  • Edison Boon Eason
  • Drake Jon Livingston Jr
Producer(s)Rob Kirwan
David Kushner singles chronology
"Elk Grove"
(2023) 		"Daylight"
(2023) 		"Dead Man"
(2023)
Music video
"Daylight" on YouTube

"Daylight" is a song by American singer-songwriter David Kushner. Kushner wrote it with Hayden Robert Hubers, Jeremy Fedryk, and Josh Bruce Williams, and Rob Kirwan produced it. Miserable Music Group released it as the lead single from his debut studio album, The Dichotomy (2024), on April 14, 2023. An orchestral gothic pop ballad, it is inspired by Paul the Apostle's teachings and biblical allusions Kushner found inspirational as a child.

The song went viral on video-sharing service TikTok in 2023. In the United Kingdom, it debuted and peaked at number two on the Official Singles Chart, becoming Kushner's first top-10 single. The song reached number one in Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and Switzerland, and number four in Australia. Luke Shaw and Landon Juern directed the music video, which was released alongside it. The streaming service Spotify has recorded 1.3 billion streams of the song as of Oct. 30, 2024.

Background and release

After realizing he could sing after finishing 12th grade, David Kushner began writing songs with a close friend while living in Florida. He played the guitar and taught music to himself. Eventually, Kushner worked with a vocal coach and started writing songs he believed "will speak to people". He released the singles "Miserable Man" and "Mr. Forgettable", which preceded his debut extended play Footprints I Found.[1][2]

Kushner wrote the song "Daylight" with Hayden Robert Hubers, Jeremy Fedryk, and Josh Bruce Williams.[3] He described his inspiration for the song: "With my song 'Daylight,' I aim to convey the paradoxical desire for something that is simultaneously harmful to oneself, using elements of light and darkness, the lyrics 'Oh I love it and I hate it at the same time you and I drink the poison from the same vine' encapsulate this concept."[2] One of the fastest songs Kushner ever wrote, its story is based on biblical allusions he found inspirational as a child.[1] He created "Daylight" stimulated by Paul the Apostle's teachings about overcoming "evil forces" in the world, perceiving "darkness" as a ubiquitous concept that represents the "worst version of ourselves".[4]

"Daylight" went viral on video-sharing service TikTok, after Kushner posted demo snippets and created a trend called "You look happier; what happened" leading up to its release.[5][6] The snippet was used in more than 230,000 clips, and among other promotional efforts, he asked fans to send different options for its official single artwork.[7] Miserable Music Group released the song as a single on April 14, 2023.[2][8] It was serviced for radio airplay in Italy on April 28, 2023.[9] "Daylight" was sent to adult album alternative radio stations in the United States on May 1, 2023.[10] Daylight was used during a promo for Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar III as its 2nd theme song for WWE's SummerSlam, reportedly because Cody had just recently joined TikTok.

Composition

A man in a shirt and glasses playing with a thread tied around his neck afront sunlight
Kushner (pictured in 2023) delivers deep baritone vocals on "Daylight".

"Daylight" is three minutes and 32 seconds long.[8] Rob Kirwan produced and programmed the song. He plays drums and synthesizer, Hubers plays piano, and Rick Hornby plays guitar. Jacob Morris mastered and mixed it.[3]

"Daylight" is an eerie orchestral gothic pop[11] ballad, on which Kushner projects deep baritone vocals. The Official Charts Company's George Griffiths described the song as reminiscent of the work of Bon Iver and Hozier and thought its meaning "helps it transcend to a wider audience, with the specifics of the song somewhat unclear".[6] Robin Murray of Clash commented: "'Daylight' leans on that dulcet lyric, his word play shows a complex aspect to his personality. Playing with light and shade, the song utilises emotional depth, with Kushner's vivid vocal brooding with feeling."[12]

Words and music for "Daylight" were written by Jeremy Fedryk, David Kushner, Hayden Hubers and Josh Bruce Williams. The song was originally published in the key of A Minor and starts with F, Dm, Am, F, Dm, C, F, Dm, C, F, Dm, C chord progression with lyrics "Telling myself I won't go there. Oh, but I know that I won't care. Try'n' to wash away all the blood I've spilt". The song has the tempo of a piano ballad.[13]

Commercial performance

"Daylight" peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.[14][15] In Canada, the song debuted at number six on the Canadian Hot 100 and received a 6× Platinum certification from Music Canada.[16][17] It entered at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Kushner's first top-10 single, and reached number two the following week.[18][19] "Daylight" was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.[20] In Australia, the song charted at number four and earned a 2× Platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association.[21][22]

"Daylight" peaked at number one in New Zealand and received a 2× Platinum certification from Recorded Music NZ.[23][24] The song reached the top five of national record charts, at number one in Latvia,[25] the Netherlands,[26] Poland,[27] and Switzerland,[28] number two in Austria,[29] Belgium,[30] the Czech Republic,[31] Ireland,[32] Lithuania,[33] and Norway,[34] number three in Lebanon and Slovakia,[35][36] and number four in Germany.[37] It earned a Diamond certification in Poland.[38]

The song was used in the fourth episode of the Netflix docuseries NASCAR: Full Speed.

Music video

Luke Shaw and Landon Juern directed the music video for "Daylight", which was released alongside it and features the elements fire, water, air, and ash.[2]

The video starts with Kushner chopping wood in the forest. He is then shown walking with a boy down a church aisle, whose face (along with other people in the pews) has been blurred. Reaching the altar, Kushner pulls out a knife. Next, Kushner is shown outside, reaching out to a giant ink drop-like darkness in the sky. Afterwards, he is dragged into a dark room where people (also with blurred faces) throw stones at him. A brief shot shows Kushner in a room as rain falls inside. Finally, he is shown shaking hands with a burning man, setting his arm and the room they are in on fire. Throughout the video, scenes are intercut with Kushner in the forest, the church, and the dark room singing to the camera.

Credits and personnel

  • Rob Kirwan – producer, programming, drums, synthesizer
  • David Kushner – songwriter
  • Hayden Robert Hubers – songwriter, piano
  • Josh Bruce Williams – songwriter
  • Jeremy Fedryk – songwriter
  • Rick Hornby – guitar
  • Jacob Morris – mastering, mixing[3]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Daylight"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[87] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[88] Diamond 160,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[17] 6× Platinum 480,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[89] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[90] Diamond 333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[91] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[92] Platinum 100,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[93] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[38] Diamond 250,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[94] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[95] Platinum 60,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[96] Platinum 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[15] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[97] Platinum 2,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and format(s) for "Daylight"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various April 14, 2023
Miserable [8]
Italy April 28, 2023 Radio airplay Universal [9]
United States May 1, 2023 Adult album alternative Virgin [10]

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