Life in a Beautiful Light
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Life in a Beautiful Light
| type = studio
| artist = Amy Macdonald
| cover = Amy_Macdonald_-_Life_in_a_Beautiful_Light.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2012|6|11|df=y}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Mayfield Studios (United Kingdom)
State of the Ark (Surrey, England)
| length = 45:31
| label = Melodramatic, Mercury, Vertigo
| producer = Pete Wilkinson
| prev_title = Love Love UK & European Arena Tour LIVE 2010
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = Under Stars
| next_year = 2017
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| type = studio
| artist = Amy Macdonald studio album
| prev_title = A Curious Thing
| prev_year = 2010
| title = Life in a Beautiful Light
| year = 2012
| next_title = Under Stars
| next_year = 2017
}}
{{Singles
| name = Life in a Beautiful Light
| type = studio
| single1 = Slow It Down
| single1date = 20 April 2012
| single2 = Pride
| single2date = 13 August 2012
| single3 = 4th of July
| single3date = 22 October 2012
}}
}}
Life in a Beautiful Light is the third album by Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald, released on 11 June 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/gb/news/2012-04-13/amy_is_back/ |title=Life in a Beautiful Light |date=13 April 2012 |accessdate=14 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419190346/http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/gb/news/2012-04-13/amy_is_back/ |archivedate=19 April 2012 }} The lead single, "Slow It Down" was released on 20 April 2012. Macdonald's official website confirmed the album for release on 13 April 2012. The track listing was confirmed on Universal Music's store on the same day.{{cite web|url=http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/artists/amy-macdonald/icat/amymacdonald/ |title=Life in a Beautiful Light Track listing |date=13 April 2012 |accessdate=15 April 2012}} Released to favourable reviews, it was a commercial success in Europe, debuting at number one in Austria and Germany, number two in her native Scotland and the United Kingdom, as well as the top five in Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The album was produced by Pete Wilkinson, and released via Melodramatic, Mercury and Vertigo. It spawned a total of three singles – the commercially successful "Slow It Down", and subsequent singles "Pride" and "4th of July".
Background
Macdonald began to write Life in a Beautiful Light after having a "lovely year off" following touring in support of A Curious Thing. Macdonald had no time to write songs on her second album as she was touring with This Is the Life. However, Macdonald said she felt that the creation of Life in a Beautiful Light was a more natural process.[http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/gb/biography/ Biography — Amy Macdonald] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221005047/http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/gb/biography/ |date=21 February 2010 }} Two songs from Life in a Beautiful Light were begun before Macdonald's break. "In the End" was written with Macdonald questioning herself whether being a musician was a worthwhile occupation.
Macdonald wrote "Human Spirit" inspired by the Chilean miners' rescue. The song "Left That Body Long Ago" described her grandmother's decline into Alzheimer's disease whilst "Across the Nile" is a response to the conflict of the Arab Spring.{{cite news|last1=Sincair|first1=David|title=Amy Macdonald: Songs in the key of life – from Glasgow|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/amy-macdonald-songs-in-the-key-of-life-from-glasgow-7827657.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/amy-macdonald-songs-in-the-key-of-life-from-glasgow-7827657.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=17 May 2018|work=The Independent|date=9 June 2012}}
Chart performance
On 14 June 2012 Life in a Beautiful Light entered the Irish Albums Chart at number 5, making it her highest-charting album in Ireland. On 17 June 2012 the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 2, making it the second highest-charting album that week, only beaten by Gary Barlow's album Sing. Only 1,000 copies separated the top three albums.[http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/gary-barlow-pips-amy-macdonald-and-usher-to-number-1-in-albums-chart-race-1449/ Gary Barlow pips Amy MacDonald and Usher to Number 1 in albums chart race]. Official Charts Company The album fared better in Scotland, where it debuted at number one.
It was awarded Platinum status in both Germany and Switzerland, indicating sales in excess of 200,000 and 30,000 copies respectively,{{cite web |title=Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Life_in_a_Beautiful_Light |website=www.swisscharts.com |access-date=4 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Datenbank: BVMI |url=https://www.musikindustrie.de/wie-musik-zur-karriere-werden-kann/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Life+in+a+Beautiful+Light&strInterpret=Amy+Macdonald&strTtArt=2&strAwards=checked |website=www.musikindustrie.de |access-date=4 May 2025}} and in the United Kingdom was awarded Gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), indicating sales in excess of 100,000.{{cite web |title=Life in a Beautiful Light Album Certification by Amy Macdonald |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/12084-3722-2 |website=BPI |access-date=4 May 2025 |language=en}} Additionally, in Poland, it was also certified Gold, indicating sales of over 10,000 copies.{{cite web |title=ZPAV :: Bestsellery i wyróżnienia - Wyróżnienia - Złote płyty CD - Archiwum |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202234831/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/wyroznienia/zloteplyty/cd/archiwum.php?year=2012 |website=web.archive.org |access-date=4 May 2025 |date=2 December 2024}}
Singles
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Christopher Monger|first=James|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/life-in-a-beautiful-light-mw0002359024|title=Life in a Beautiful Light - Amy Macdonald|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=21 February 2014}}
| rev2 = Daily Express
| rev2Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Gaga|first=Simon|date=8 June 2012|url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/325172/CD-Review-Amy-Macdonald-Life-In-A-Beautiful-Light|title=CD Review - Amy Macdonald, Life In A Beautiful Light|work=Daily Express|accessdate=21 February 2014}}
| rev3 = Hot Press
| rev3Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=O. Hare|first=Colm|date=29 May 2012|url=http://www.hotpress.com/Amy-MacDonald/music/reviews/albums/Life-In-A-Beautiful-Light/8926347.html|title=Life In A Beautiful Light|work=Hot Press|accessdate=21 February 2014}}
| rev4 = musicOMH
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/amy-macdonald-3_0612.htm |website=MusicOMH |accessdate=23 June 2012 |title=Amy Macdonald - Life In A Beautiful Light |author=John Murphy |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630234527/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/amy-macdonald-3_0612.htm |archivedate=30 June 2012 }}
| rev5 = Sputnikmusic
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web | url = http://sputnikmusic.com/review/50242/Amy-Macdonald-Life-In-A-Beautiful-Light/ | website= Sputnikmusic | accessdate = 23 June 2012 | title = Amy Macdonald Life In A Beautiful Light | date = 12 June 2012 | author = Davey Boy}}
| rev6 = The Scotsman
| rev6Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{Cite web | url = http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/scotland/album-review-amy-macdonald-life-in-a-beautiful-light-1-2348838 | work = The Scotsman | accessdate = 23 June 2012 | title = Album review: Amy MacDonald: Life in a Beautiful Light | author = Fiona Shepherd | date = 11 June 2012}}
| rev7 = The Tech
| rev7Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Dere|first=Kathryn|date=11 July 2012|url=http://tech.mit.edu/V132/N29/amymacdonald.html|title=ALBUM REVIEW: Sunny summer soundtrack|work=The Tech|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|accessdate=21 February 2014|archive-date=2 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302001321/http://tech.mit.edu/V132/N29/amymacdonald.html|url-status=dead}}
}}
"Slow It Down" was released as the albums lead single on 20 April 2012. It achieved considerable commercial success across Europe, particularly in the continent, where it reached the top five in Poland,{{cite web |title=Poland Singles Charts - Slow it Down |url=http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/airplays/top/archiwum.php?year=2012&idlisty=781#title |website=Poland Charts |access-date=4 May 2025}} top twenty in Belgium and Scotland,{{cite web |title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 17/6/2012 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20120617/41/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=4 May 2025 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Amy Macdonald - Slow It Down - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/f8351/Amy-Macdonald-Slow-It-Down |website=www.ultratop.be |access-date=4 May 2025}} and also the top forty in both Germany and Switzerland. It was eventually certified Gold in Germany, indicating sales in excess of 150,000 copies.{{cite web |title=Datenbank: BVMI |url=https://www.musikindustrie.de/wie-musik-zur-karriere-werden-kann/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Slow+It+Down&strInterpret=Amy+Macdonald&strTtArt=1&strAwards=checked |website=www.musikindustrie.de |access-date=4 May 2025}} In the United Kingdom, it missed the official UK Top 40 by five places, debuting and peaking at number forty five on the official UK Singles Charts, before falling to number forty eight in its second week. In its third week on the UK Singles Chart, it stood at number eighty four, before falling out of the UK Top 100 entirely.{{cite web |title=Official Singles Charts on 17/6/2012 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20120617/7501/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=20 March 2024}} Moderate success was achieved in Ireland, where it reached number fifty seven on the Irish Singles Chart.{{cite web |title=IRMA – Irish Recorded Music Association |url=https://www.irma.ie |website=www.irma.ie |access-date=20 March 2024}}
"Pride" was released as the second single from the album on 13 August 2012. In an interview with BBC Breakfast Macdonald said that the song was inspired from signing the national anthem of Scotland at Hampden Park, saying "it is an honor and it is something that she always gets nervous about, but it is such a buzz afterwards that she loves to do it".{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-18391872|title=Amy MacDonald on football and fast cars|work=BBC News |access-date=25 March 2022}} It reached the top 100 of the Scottish Singles Charts, peaking at number eighty-seven,{{cite web |title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 19/8/2012 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20120819/41/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=4 May 2025 |language=en}} and thirty-nine on the Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders Charts in Belgium.{{cite web |title=Amy Macdonald - Pride - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/fa671/Amy-Macdonald-Pride |website=www.ultratop.be |access-date=4 May 2025}} "4th of July" was released as the third and final single from the album on 22 October 2012.
Critical reception
The album up to now has gathered mixed reviews, earning a collective score of 5.1 out of 10 at AnyDecentMusic?.{{Cite web | url = http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4644/Amy-MacDonald-Life-In-A-Beautiful-Light.aspx | website= AnyDecentMusic? | accessdate = 23 June 2012 | title = Amy MacDonald - Life in a Beautiful Light}} The Upcoming described the album as a "strong return from Macdonald, interweaving her distinctive voice with splashing cymbals and burbling electronica, but still intermittently flirting with folky affectations".[http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/06/07/album-review-amy-macdonald-life-in-a-beautiful-light/ Album review: Amy Macdonald — Life In A Beautiful Light | The Upcoming] The album received 60/100 on Metacritic, a review aggregator website, signifying "mixed or average reviews".[http://www.metacritic.com/music/life-in-a-beautiful-light Life in a Beautiful Light Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More - Metacritic]
Track listings
All songs written by Amy Macdonald
=Standard edition=
{{Track listing
| title1 = 4th of July
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Pride
| length2 = 3:22
| title3 = Slow It Down
| length3 = 3:52
| title4 = The Furthest Star
| length4 = 3:29
| title5 = The Game
| length5 = 4:24
| title6 = Across the Nile
| length6 = 3:19
| title7 = The Days of Being Young and Free
| length7 = 4:09
| title8 = Left That Body Long Ago
| length8 = 4:49
| title9 = Life in a Beautiful Light
| length9 = 4:35
| title10 = Human Spirit
| length10 = 2:06
| title11 = The Green and the Blue
| length11 = 3:53
| title12 = In the End / Two Worlds
| note12 = hidden track
| length12 = 8:05
}}
=Deluxe edition=
{{Track listing
| title1 = 4th of July
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Pride
| length2 = 3:22
| title3 = Slow It Down
| length3 = 3:52
| title4 = The Furthest Star
| length4 = 3:29
| title5 = The Game
| length5 = 4:24
| title6 = Across the Nile
| length6 = 3:19
| title7 = The Days of Being Young and Free
| length7 = 4:09
| title8 = Left That Body Long Ago
| length8 = 4:49
| title9 = Life in a Beautiful Light
| length9 = 4:35
| title10 = Human Spirit
| length10 = 2:06
| title11 = The Green and the Blue
| length11 = 3:53
| title12 = In the End
| length12 = 3:52
| title13 = Slow It Down
| note13 = acoustic version
| length13 = 3:46
| title14 = The Furthest Star
| note14 = acoustic version
| length14 = 3:07
| title15 = The Green and the Blue
| note15 = acoustic version
| length15 = 2:50
| title16 = Across the Nile
| note16 = acoustic version; iTunes exclusive
| length16 = 3:10
| title17 = 4th of July
| note17 = acoustic version
| length17 = 3:03
| title18 = Slow It Down
| note18 = singalong instrumental version
| length18 = 3:56
| title19 = 4th of July
| note19 = singalong instrumental version
| length19 = 3:48
| title20 = Pride
| note20 = singalong instrumental version
| length20 = 3:24
| title21 = Two Worlds
| note21 = hidden track
| length21 = 3:52
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = iTunes bonus track
| title21 = Pride
| note21 = acoustic version
| length21 = 3:18
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Saturn bonus tracks{{Cite web |url=http://mp3.saturn.de/servlets/2452685121527Dispatch/34/jspforward?file=.%2Findex.jsp&page=album&id=109643377&crit=amy+macdonald+life+in+a+beautiful+light |title=Saturn - Musik-Download |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205024924/http://mp3.saturn.de/servlets/2452685121527Dispatch/34/jspforward?file=.%2Findex.jsp&page=album&id=109643377&crit=amy+macdonald+life+in+a+beautiful+light |archive-date=5 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}
| title21 = Born to Run
| note21 = acoustic version
| length21 = 3:32
| title22 = Life in a Beautiful Light
| note22 = acoustic version
| length22 = 3:16
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Spotify bonus tracks[http://open.spotify.com/album/3DqWbQmwmj2xbtvUS2njnq Life In A Beautiful Light by Amy Macdonald on Spotify]
| title13 = Slow It Down
| note13 = Spotify version; acoustic live
| length13 = 3:35
| title14 = Pride
| note14 = Spotify version; acoustic live
| length14 = 3:24
}}
=Super deluxe box set=
Charts and certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2012)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|1|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|4|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|6|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|9|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|5|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|France|42|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|1|id=195804|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|5|artist=Amy Macdonald|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|15|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| scope="row"| Polish Albums Chart{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=742&lang=en|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart - sales for the period 11.06.2012 - 17.06.2012|publisher=OLiS | accessdate = 22 June 2012}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 11 |
| {{album chart|Scotland|1|date=20120617|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|36|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|34|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Amy Macdonald|album=Life in a Beautiful Light|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|2|date=20120617|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 April 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|relyear=2012|award=Platinum|type=album|artist=Amy Macdonald|title=Life in a Beautiful Light|access-date=12 July 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|relyear=2012|award=Gold|type=album|artist=Amy Macdonald|title=Life in a Beautiful Light|certyear=2012|accessdate=19 April 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|relyear=2012|award=Platinum|type=album|artist=Amy Macdonald|title=Life in a Beautiful Light|access-date=12 July 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|artist=Amy MacDonald|title=Life in a Beautiful Light|access-date=13 August 2012|award=Gold|id=12084-3722-2}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120415204922/http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/gb/home/ Life in a Beautiful Light on the official homepage]
{{Amy Macdonald}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Life in a Beautiful Life}}