The Radiant Glow of a Fading Summer: Remembering Shaun Cassidy’s “Midnight Sun”
A haunting reflection on a love that provided light in the darkest hours, only to vanish into the pursuit of material dreams.
There is a specific kind of magic found in the crackle of a vinyl record from the late 1970s—a sound that, for many of us, represents the peak of our youth. In 1978, Shaun Cassidy was more than just a singer; he was the face pinned to every bedroom wall, the voice echoing through portable transistor radios, and the undisputed king of the teen-pop era. While the world remembers the bubblegum infectiousness of his earlier hits, there is a particular, more somber beauty found in his 1978 single, “Midnight Sun.”
Released as part of his third studio album, Under Wraps, “Midnight Sun” arrived at a pivotal moment in Shaun Cassidy’s career. By late 1978, the initial “Shaun-mania” that had propelled songs like “Da Doo Ron Ron” to the top of the charts was beginning to settle into a more mature, reflective phase. While the album Under Wraps itself peaked at #33 on the US Billboard 200, “Midnight Sun” found its most dedicated audience on the Adult Contemporary charts, notably reaching #32 on the RPM Adult Oriented Playlist in Canada. It wasn’t the screaming, stadium-shaking anthem of his debut; it was something far more intimate—a song for the quiet hours after the sun went down.
Produced by the legendary Michael Lloyd, the song’s story is one of bittersweet realization. The lyrics, penned by Peter McCann, tell the tale of a “lady love” with eyes “black and cold” who once spun the narrator’s life into gold. For those of us who grew up during this era, the metaphor of the “Midnight Sun” carries a heavy weight. It represents that person who illuminates your world when everything else feels dark, the one constant in the chaos of growing up. However, the song’s narrative takes a sharp, realistic turn as the woman moves on to “harder things”—money, fame, and diamond rings—leaving the narrator “out of sight and out of mind.”
There is a deep sense of nostalgia woven into the very arrangement of the track. The lush orchestration, guided by John D’Andrea, features those unmistakable late-70s string sections and a soft, rhythmic pulse that feels like a heartbeat. It’s a departure from the rock-and-roll bravado of his earlier work, showcasing a vulnerability in Shaun Cassidy’s voice that many older listeners found deeply relatable. It spoke to the universal experience of a first love that outgrows the simplicity of youth, drifting away toward the lure of a more sophisticated, perhaps colder, world.
Today, looking back at Under Wraps, we see an artist trying to bridge the gap between teen idol and serious musician. “Midnight Sun” remains a hidden gem for the “Shaun Squad,” a reminder of a time when pop music wasn’t just about the beat, but about the story it left behind in our hearts. It evokes memories of long summer nights, the smell of old paper from Tiger Beat magazines, and the soft glow of a record player light in a darkened room.