“Chasing the Sun” is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff for her upcoming fifth studio album (2014). It was written by Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves, and Toby Gad, the latter of whom also produced the track. It is the singer’s first release since departing former label Hollywood Records, under her recording contract with RCA Records.
Sound
In a press release from RCA Records, Duff says,“‘Chasing the Sun’ is a light and fun summer song that I hope helps people to feel a little more carefree.” In an interview with Pop Justice, Hilary says, “It’s a really carefree, summer song and I guess I didn’t really know what people were expecting from me. This song is definitely a top-down, carefree, super catchy singalong song…”
Critical reception
Jason Scott at PopDust praised the song for “show[ing] a more mature side to the singer, without completely abandoning her roots.” Michelle McGahan of PopCrush likewise appreciated the song’s sonic references to the era that made Duff a star: “We love the retro feel of the tune, which totally takes us back to the late ’90s/early 2000s with its bubblegum sound.” Jeff Benjamin of the music network Fuse gave the single a more mixed review, in which he praised the arrangement and “feel-good” vibe but was less impressed with Duff’s singing. “It’s not the vocal performance of a lifetime,” writes Benjamin, “but it is that same peppy singer so many kids fell in love with hearing on TV everyday in the early ’00s.”
Vulture writer Lindsey Weber was more critical in her brief review. Describing the song as sounding “like Paris Hilton doing Sheryl Crow karaoke,” Weber found “Chasing the Sun” to be an unsatisfying comeback and wrote that she “hope[s] there’s more to come.” Carolyn Menyes at Music Times was complimentary of the song musically but also questioned the song’s viability as a vehicle for Duff’s return to pop stardom saying “[If] Duff is expecting to move forward in her career, she’s going to have to stop looking back and make music with a little more edge.” VH1 writer Christopher Rosa said “ ‘Chasing Sun’ swaps the bubblegum kitsch of ‘Metamorphpsis’ (2003) and nightclub naughtiness of 2007’s ‘Dignity’ for a softer acoustic sound,” but the song “still honors Duff’s knack for summery pop froth.”
Music video
The official music video debuted on Vevo on July 29, 2014. It shows Duff as a frustrated office worker who dreams of being on the beach with a beautiful guy. Eventually, she begins to re-enact her dreams in real life, causing havoc between the other office workers. After a freak accident almost leads to her throwing a hamster ball with the hamster in it, she ends up being fired and taking her stuff back home. Lucas Villa of AXS complimented the video’s theme, writing, “[k]nowing that most of her demographic has moved on from classrooms to entry level jobs, [Duff] smartly plays with an office daydreaming scenario.”
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