Meiko, ‘Leave the Lights On’ – Song Review

Meiko, the Georgia-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter whose songs have been featured extensively in television shows like 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'One Tree Hill' and 'Kyle XY,' is about to release her second album. 'The Bright Side,' her first for Concord Records, will be available on May 15. The first single, 'Leave The Lights On,' has already been released to radio.

Anybody originally thinking this is a cover of Belinda Carlisle's 1989 hit will be sadly mistaken. That song was called, 'Leave a Light On,' a slight difference. But Meiko's mixture of acoustic guitar and electronic beats is undeniably catchy. The sexy vibe continues throughout the song. Synths fly in and out of the mix, and the beats intensify on the chorus.

The songs on Meiko's 2007 self-titled debut emphasized her guitar and had sparser arrangements than this synth-driven track. It's possible that Meiko is going for the same audience that made Robyn's 'Call Your Girlfriend' a huge hit last summer. While 'Leave the Lights On' falls short of that masterpiece, it's undoubtedly effective. The track embedded below is the radio mix, but there is also an album version and an acoustic version that will soon be available.

Listen to Meiko's 'Leave the Lights On (Radio Mix)'