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What's Your Country Song

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"What's Your Country Song"
Photo of a dirt road surrounded by fields and the words "Thomas Rhett" and "What's Your Country Song" written in all caps.
Single by Thomas Rhett
from the album Country Again: Side A
Written2019
ReleasedNovember 11, 2020 (2020-11-11)
Genre
Length2:51
LabelValory
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Thomas Rhett singles chronology
"Be a Light"
(2020) 		"What's Your Country Song"
(2020) 		"God Who Listens"
(2021)
Music video
"What's Your Country Song" on YouTube

"What's Your Country Song" is a song recorded by American country pop singer Thomas Rhett for his fifth studio album, Country Again: Side A (2021). The song was written by Rhett, Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Parker Welling, and Rhett Akins, while produced by Frasure and Dann Huff. The song was inspired by Rhett's road travels across the United States. It was released by Valory on November 11, 2020, as the lead single from the album. The lyrics include a series of questions and directly reference the titles of 16 other country songs, including Akins' "That Ain't My Truck". The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, particularly for its nostalgic quality and referential lyrics.

The song reached number one on the US Billboard Country Airplay, Billboard Hot Country Songs, and Canada Billboard Country charts, becoming Rhett's 16th number one single on the first chart. It also peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100. The music video for "What's Your Country Song", which was directed by TK McKamy, intersperses clips of Rhett singing and playing guitar, people living in the countryside, and a high school homecoming football game. Rhett performed the song on television for the first time at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2021, and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show the following month.

Background and production

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Rhett wrote "What's Your Country Song" in mid-2019 with his father Rhett Akins, along with Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, and Parker Welling. The song was written in a hotel room during a stop of Rhett's Very Hot Summer Tour in Dallas, Texas, for promotion of his fourth studio album Center Point Road (2019).[1][2] It was the first of several songs written on the trip.[3] In an interview with Kelleigh Bannen, Rhett described the tracks from Country Again: Side A as venturing towards making the type of music that he wanted to, as part of a shift that had "been happening since the beginning of 2019".[4] In a statement, he explained that the inspiration of the song came from his experiences of "traveling on the road and getting to meet people from the country, from California to New York".[2]

According to Rhett, the song was difficult to write because the chorus was written before the verses, a deviation from his typical songwriting process.[5] It originated as a piano vocal, and production was later added to Rhett's satisfaction.[3] Like the other tracks from Country Again: Side A, the song was produced by Frasure and Dann Huff.[6] It was programmed by Frasure, David Huff, and Justin Niebank.[7]

Music and lyrics

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"What's Your Country Song"
A 17-second sample of the second verse of "What's Your Country Song", which includes lyrics referencing the titles of more than a dozen country songs.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Musically, "What's Your Country Song" is a country and country rock track,[8][9] and has a length of two minutes and 51 seconds.[10] It features an electric guitar solo by Huff and additional instrumentals, including acoustic, steel, and bass guitars, Dobro, ganjo, piano, and drums.[7] The lyrics include a series of questions about one's life and memories, culminating in the title question about one's favorite country song.[1][11] Explaining the intent, Rhett stated that the song "really is just about, what is your country song?", and it was written to evoke a feeling of nostalgia in the listener.[2] Rhett references the titles of many other country songs, including both classic hits and newer songs.[12] The writers experimented with various combinations of song titles and produced multiple versions of "What's Your Country Song" before finalizing the list.[5] The 16 country songs referenced in the released version are:[12]

The song's lyrical style has been compared to "90's Country", a song by Walker Hayes with lyrics that reference the titles of 22 country songs from the 1990s.[12][13] According to Rhett, each of the songs referenced in "What's Your Country Song" was influential to his artistic development.[12]

Release and promotion

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Photo of Rhett playing the guitar
Rhett (pictured) released "What's Your Country Song" as the lead single from Country Again: Side A.

Rhett posted a slow-tempo acoustic clip of "What's Your Country Song" on his Instagram account in April 2020, shortly after he began quarantining at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The video received favorable comments from fellow country singers, including Jake Owen and Jimmie Allen, and was viewed over one million times.[2][14] Rhett teased the song's cover art via his Twitter account on November 6, 2020.[15] The song was released as the lead single from Country Again: Side A on November 11, 2020, the same day as the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards, where Rhett received two nominations.[2]

In April 2021, Rhett performed "Country Again" and "What's Your Country Song" at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards, where he won Male Artist of the Year. After a seated acoustic performance of one verse and the chorus of "Country Again", he rose from his chair and transitioned into "What's Your Country Song", accompanied by a backing band. This marked the first performance of either song and was praised by Andrew Unterberger of Billboard, who called it a "rocking performance".[16][17] He performed the song as a musical guest for The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 5, 2021.[18]

Critical reception

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James Daykin of Lyric Magazine named "What's Your Country Song" as the best song on Country Again: Side A, calling it a "glorious, slick, smooth nod to the great country songs of the past" and favorably making a comparison to Old Dominion's "Song for Another Time", which similarly references the titles of classic songs.[19] Madeline Christy, writing for Off the Record, praised the song's "nostalgic lyrics",[20] and Madeline Crone of American Songwriter described it as a celebration of the country music community following a divisive year.[21] Providing a mixed review for MusicRow, Robert K. Oermann characterized the song as an "anthem with an uplifting mood", but criticized the production and audio quality.[22] In a less favorable review, a reviewer for the Shenzhen Daily called the song "nothing brand-new or earth shattering" compared to Rhett's previous work, but conceded that it is "simple, relatable, and enjoyable".[23]

The song reached number one on the US Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts dated March 27, 2021,[24][25] becoming Rhett's 16th number one single on the Country Airplay chart.[26] The song was his second number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, following "Die a Happy Man" in 2015.[25] It also peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100, Rhett's highest position on the chart since "Die a Happy Man" reached number 21 in 2016.[27] In April 2021, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the song gold for track-equivalent sales of 500,000 units in the United States.[28] In Canada, "What's Your Country Song" reached number one on the Billboard Country chart dated March 6, 2021,[29] and peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.[30] It was certified gold in the country by Music Canada (MC).[31] In Australia, the song charted at number three on the Australian Country Hot 50, published by The Music Network.[32]

Music video

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Rhett posted a brief clip of the music video for "What's Your Country Song" via social media on November 11, 2020, the day of the song's release. The full music video was released on Rhett's YouTube channel two days later.[33] It was directed by TK McKamy,[34] who directed many of Rhett's previous music videos, including "Crash and Burn",[35] "Die a Happy Man",[36] and "Marry Me".[37] Rhett said that he wanted the music video to remind viewers of a familiar moment in their life and capture the feeling of listening to a nostalgic song.[34]

The music video is composed of interspersed clips of a family living in the countryside, performing various activities including chasing chickens on a farm, attending a bonfire, and singing with friends.[38][39] Part of the video was filmed during the homecoming football game at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, featuring the school's football team and cheerleaders.[40] The clips are intercut with shots of Rhett walking through a cornfield and playing guitar.[38][41] The music video was produced with film grain quality video and an autumn color palette.[39][34] The visual was nominated for Male Video of the Year at the 2021 CMT Music Awards.[42]

Credits and personnel

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Country Again: Side A.[7]

  • Tyler Chiarelli – Dobro
  • Paul Franklin – steel guitar
  • Jesse Frasure – acoustic guitar, programming, synth bass
  • Dann Huff – electric guitar, electric guitar solo, ganjo
  • David Huff – programming
  • Charlie Judge – keyboards, piano
  • Chris Kimmerer – drums
  • Justin Niebank – programming
  • Josh Reedy – background vocals
  • Thomas Rhett – lead vocals, background vocals
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar
  • Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar
  • Derek Wells – electric guitar

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "What's Your Country Song"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[31] Gold 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[28] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stefano, Angela (November 17, 2020). "Story Behind the Song: Thomas Rhett, 'What's Your Country Song'". The Boot. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sexton, Paul (November 11, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Previews Fifth Album With 'What's Your Country Song'". uDiscoverMusic. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Cingrana, Joe (November 10, 2020). "World Premiere: Thomas Rhett asks 'What's Your Country Song'". Audacy. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (March 23, 2021). "Thomas Rhett Earns 17th No. 1 Hit With 'What's Your Country Song'". CMT News. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Willman, Chris (April 30, 2021). "Thomas Rhett on What It Means for a Nashville Artist to Be 'Country Again' on His New Album, 'Side A'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Freeman, Jon (April 13, 2021). "Thomas Rhett Sings About Finding His Way Home in New Song 'Country Again'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Thomas Rhett (2021). Country Again: Side A (CD booklet). The Valory Music Co. VMCTR5001A.
  8. ^ Barnes, Hannah (March 23, 2021). "Thomas Rhett Earns 17th No. 1 With 'What's Your Country Song'". Popculture. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  9. ^ Parton, Chris (November 12, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Sings for the Common Good in 'What's Your Country Song'". Sounds Like Nashville. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
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  11. ^ Barnes, Hannah (November 11, 2020). "Listen to Thomas Rhett's New Single 'What's Your Country Song'". Popculture. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Liptak, Carena (November 19, 2020). "These Are the 16 Songs Thomas Rhett Name-Checks in 'What's Your Country Song'". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  13. ^ Bonaguro, Alison (August 30, 2018). "The 22 Songs Walker Hayes Wove Into '90's Country'". CMT News. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
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  19. ^ Daykin, James (April 30, 2021). "Review & Interview: 'Country Again (Side A)' From Thomas Rhett Finds Him Thankful & Focusing on the Meaningful Things in Life". Lyric Magazine. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  20. ^ Christy, Madeline (November 15, 2020). "Single Review: Thomas Rhett – What's Your Country Song". Off the Record. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  21. ^ Crone, Madeline (March 5, 2021). "Thomas Rhett Returns to His Roots with Upcoming 'Country Again: Side A'". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Oermann, Robert K (November 12, 2020). "DISClaimer Single Reviews: Billy Ray Cyrus, Thomas Rhett, Shy Carter, Kameron Marlowe, Brittney Spencer". MusicRow. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  23. ^ "Song of the Week". Shenzhen Daily. April 7, 2021. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
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  27. ^ a b "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "American single certifications – Thomas Rhett – What's Your Country Song". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Thomas Rhett – What's Your Country Song". Music Canada. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Country Hot 50: Issue 1334". The Music Network. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  33. ^ Blount, Quentin (November 13, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Explains New Single 'What's Your Country Song' in Pandora Video". Outsider. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  34. ^ a b c Shelburne, Craig (November 16, 2020). "In a New Video, Thomas Rhett Asks, 'What's Your Country Song'?". CMT News. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  35. ^ Hudak, Joseph (June 8, 2015). "Watch Thomas Rhett Evoke 'Say Anything' in 'Crash and Burn' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  36. ^ Anderson, Danielle (September 17, 2015). "Thomas Rhett Shows His Romantic Side in Brand New Video for 'Die a Happy Man'". People. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  37. ^ Gage, Jeff (December 18, 2017). "See Thomas Rhett's Poignant 'Marry Me' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  38. ^ a b Craighill, Charles (November 14, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Releases New Music Video 'What's Your Country Song'". Outsider. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  39. ^ a b "Thomas Rhett shares video for 'What's Your Country Song'". Lab.fm. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  40. ^ Goins, Brenlee (March 15, 2021). "Cheer goes country". The Blackman Voice. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  41. ^ Wilson, Matthew (November 11, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Debuts 'What's Your Country Song' Single, Fans Go Wild". Outsider. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  42. ^ Freeman, Jon (June 9, 2021). "2021 CMT Music Awards: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
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  46. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
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