"In the Dark" | ||||
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Single by Dev | ||||
from the album The Night the Sun Came Up | ||||
Released | April 25, 2011 | |||
Recorded | January 2011 | |||
Studio | The Indie-Pop Sweat Shop | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | Universal Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | The Cataracs | |||
Dev singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"In the Dark" on YouTube |
"In the Dark" is a song performed by American singer Dev. It was written by Dev alongside the Cataracs, who produced it for Dev's debut studio album, The Night the Sun Came Up (2011). The song was released as the album's second single on April 25, 2011, through Universal Motown. "In the Dark" came about when Dev wanted to make a sexy song to show that she is a grown woman. She collaborated with American rapper Flo Rida on an official remix as she believed she would enjoy the remix when hearing it on the radio. "In the Dark" is a dance-pop song with a saxophone hook and influences of Eurodance, Latin and jazz music. The lyrics emphasize sex drives and letting the sensation of touch fully take over from sight.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who highlighted its production and the saxophone line. However, critics were divided regarding the song's lyrical content; some referred it to as sexy, while others dismissed its metaphors. "In the Dark" enjoyed commercial success in the United States, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the summit of Hot Dance Club Songs. The song achieved its highest national peak in Russia and Slovakia, where it reached number one. Elsewhere, the song peaked in the top forty in Canada, Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom. The song's music video features shots of black-painted hands that touch Dev while she is standing naked. According to Dev, the inspiration behind the video was to reflect the "dark" themes of the song, by creating a Tim Burton-inspired feel.