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"Red Light" is a song by rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It is the ninth track from their 1980 album Kaleidoscope. It was co-produced with Nigel Gray.

Writing and recording

The song was demoed by Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin at Warner Chappell studios. It was then recorded as a trio, with Severin on synthesisers, Siouxsie on vocals and Budgie on drums. The song featured the beat of "the Roland compu rhythm and a camera shutter motor rewind". Budgie related: "I wanted the drums to fade in over the electronica beat and evoke a smoky club atmosphere".

Although it was not released as the third single of Kaleidoscope, a promo video for the song was shot by Clive Richardson on the same day as the video for the single "Christine".

Legacy

Santigold recorded an interpolation of the song on her track "My Superman" on her debut album Santogold. She stated: "I remember one of the first times I heard "Red Light" it was at a party, and I remember going up to the DJ and being like, "Who's this?". It was that good. I kind of stopped and was like ... wow".

References

1. Johns, Brian (1989). Entranced: The Siouxsie and the Banshees Story. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-1773-6.
2. "Red Light - The beat of the Roland". Official Budgie. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
3. "I was influenced by". Official Budgie. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
4. Paytress, Mark (2003). Siouxsie & the Banshees: The Authorised Biography. Sanctuary. ISBN 1-86074-375-7.
5. "Icon: Siouxsie", The Fader Magazine, The Icon Issue 67, April/May 2010. Page 73

• 1980 songs
• Siouxsie and the Banshees songs
• Songs written by Siouxsie Sioux
• Songs written by Steven Severin
• Song recordings produced by Nigel Gray