Golden Hour

"Golden Hour" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Jvke. Released as a single on July 15, 2022, it went viral on TikTok later in the year and became an international hit. Chart performance and critical reception The song reached the top 10 in the United States, in addition to charting in Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the Global 200. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote, "'Golden Hour' has a winning formula: semi-rapped verses full of romantic observations and modern music references, boiling into an enormous, crooned-from-the-gut chorus. Jvke, to his credit, nails the push-pull at the heart of the song—nimble enough to sound nonchalant during the lead-up, then giving his absolute all on the hook — while the racing piano line beneath him is a memorable piece of production that simultaneously doesn't distract from the vocal take." Other Billboard writers called the song an "incredibly well-crafted, fresh-sounding, lush pop ballad by a prodigious singer-songwriter, with a frantic piano hook, soaring vocals, ornate production, majestic presentation and a sense of orchestral drama." Erica Campbell of NME called the song a "glittery ballad", and a "slow-burn love song, brimming with keys and strings".