Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 1, 2026

Saw Lightning

"Saw Lightning" is a song by the American musician Beck. It was released in 2019 as the first single from his fourteenth studio album Hyperspace. It was co-written by Beck and Pharrell Williams. Aside from vocals, Williams also plays drums and keyboards in the song.

Last revised
Aug 1, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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"Saw Lightning"
Single by Beck
from the album Hyperspace
ReleasedApril 15, 20191
GenreAlternative rock, synth-pop, folk pop2
Length4:01
LabelCapitol
Songwriters
Producers
  • Beck
  • Pharrell Williams
Beck singles chronology
"Colors"
(2018) 		"Saw Lightning"
(2019) 		"Uneventful Days"
(2019)

"Saw Lightning" is a song by the American musician Beck. It was released in 2019 as the first single3 from his fourteenth studio album Hyperspace.4 It was co-written by Beck and Pharrell Williams. Aside from vocals, Williams also plays drums and keyboards in the song.56

Background

Beck said: "I was making a record called Midnite Vultures and while we were making it… I remember the Neptunes [Pharrell's production duo] had just come out, and I said I'm gonna do the next record with the Neptunes, and here we are 20 years later".7

Reception

Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone wrote that the song "melds the jangly acoustic guitar of Beck's folksier work with the dancefloor-ready programmed beats prominent in his 2017 LP Colors".4

UDiscoverMusic wrote of the song: "A classic slice of cross-genre boundary-breaking, 'Saw Lightning' sees Beck taking an about-turn from the euphoric pop of Colors to assemble a junkyard-blues-hip-hop confection featuring rapped vocals" and "some One Foot in the Grave- style blues harmonica".7

Personnel

According to Jaxsta:8

  • Beck – vocals, slide guitar, piano, harmonica
  • Pharrell Williams – drums, keyboards, additional vocals

Charts

References

References

  1. Aswad, Jem (April 15, 2019). "Beck Drops New Song, the Pharrell Collaboration 'Saw Lightning'".
  2. "Beck announces new album, Hyperspace, shares "Saw Lightning": Stream". April 15, 2019 – via consequence.net.
  3. "Beck Announces New Album Hyperspace, Shares Song With Pharrell: Listen". Pitchfork.
  4. Kreps, Daniel (April 15, 2019). "Hear Beck's New Single 'Saw Lightning,' Co-Written By Pharrell Williams". Rolling Stone.
  5. "Beck - "Saw Lightning"". April 15, 2019.
  6. "Listen to Beck's surprise new floor-filler 'Saw Lightning'". NME. April 15, 2019.
  7. Draper, Jason (April 15, 2019). "Beck Shares New Song, 'Saw Lightning', Reveals New Album Title, 'Hyperspace'".
  8. "Jaxsta". jaxsta.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  9. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  10. "Beck Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  11. "Beck Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  12. "Beck Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. "Beck Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  14. "Adult Alternative Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2019.