S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)

Reviews for the song were generally positive with critics praising Sparks' attempt at dance-pop. Nick Levine of Digital Spy said "Two excursions into dance-pop territory, the stomping, Shannon-sampling 'SOS (Let The Music Play)' and the boyfriend-baiting 'Emergency (911)', also do the business".[8] The New York Times said "intriguingly, the music on that song ('Emergency 911'), and another club track, 'S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)', evokes the brazen dance-pop of Lady Gaga."[9] A critic from Rolling Stone criticized the album and said that Sparks' album "falls flat on 'S.O.S. (Let The Music Play),' a piece of bland disco that wishes it were 'Just Dance.'"[10] The Guardian appeared to praise Sparks for attempting a song that was more urban, stating that the "squelchy electronics and a relatively earthy lyric ('Look in her eyes, she's mentally undressing him') give 'SOS' an urban hue." [11]

Entertainment Weekly commented that "second single 'S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)', with its refrain copped from Shannon's 1983 dance classic, may not be thrillingly original, but resistance is futile when Sparks, showing heretofore unseen vocal dexterity, takes to the dance floor to ward off a vixen who's barking up the wrong boyfriend."[12] In the New York Post's review of the album it was said that "there are a lot of vocal and tonal departures on this disc, nowhere more so than with the thumpin' 'S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)'. This straight-outta-the-80s track (which will be her next single) is my fave on the whole album -- it's techno-summer perfection. And the hook is divine, despite its unexpected ancestry."[3]

On August 25, 2009 it was announced that Sparks would be taking part in the 2009 VH1 Divas special on September 17, 2009 on VH1, where she performed the song.[13] On October 13, 2009, it was also performed on The Paul O'Grady Show, a UK chat show,[14] and the following day on the National Lottery Show in the UK.[15]

Sparks flaunting one of the looks in the video for "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)"

The video was shot[5] in Los Angeles, California on August 10, 2009, with Chris Robinson serving as the director. He previously worked with Sparks on the music video for "No Air". The video shows Sparks dancing while wearing a gold dress and long gold nails. In interluding scenes in the video she can be seen dancing in a club wearing a black dress and hoodie. Her friend is seen unhappily watching her boyfriend flirt around other girls and texts Sparks. Eventually her boyfriend sees her and Sparks blows a kiss to the camera.

• Australian single
• "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" – 3:32
• "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" (Buzz Junkies Remix) (Club Mix) – 5:21

• Album/Single Version
• Video Edit
• Buzz Junkies Club Mix
• Buzz Junkies Radio Edit
• Jason Nevin's Club Mix/Extended Mix
• Jason Nevin's Radio Edit

• Chris Barbosa – music, lyrics
• Ed Chisolm – music, lyrics
• Cutfather (Mich Hedin Hansen) – additional music and lyrics, production, percussion
• Pilfinger (Lasse Kramhøft) – additional music and lyrics, production, keyboard, programming
• David Kopatz – additional music and lyrics, production
• Keely Hawkes – additional music and lyrics, backing vocals
• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• John Hanes – mix engineering
• Tim Roberts – mix engineering assistant

Source:[16]

The song entered the UK singles chart 3 weeks previous to its release at 39, the following week rising to 18. It then peaked at number 15, a week before its physical release. On October 18, it rose to number 13.[17] It is also her highest peaking record in Sweden, where it peaked at number 7. Her previous highest peaking record in Sweden was "No Air" in 2008, which peaked at number 10.[18] The song sold 12,000 downloads on the week of the album's release.[19] The song's sales stands at 111,000 in the US as of February 18, 2010.[20] It is Sparks' first single to ever be number 1 on a US Chart (the Billboard Dance/Club play).

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics