23 (Sam Hunt song)
| "23" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sam Hunt | ||||
| Released | September 9, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Country pop | |||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | MCA Nashville | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Chris LaCorte | |||
| Sam Hunt singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "23" on YouTube | ||||
"23" is a song by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released on September 9, 2021, as the lead single from his upcoming third studio album. Hunt wrote the song with Shane McAnally, Chris LaCorte, and Josh Osborne, while it was produced by Chris LaCorte.[1]
Background
In July 2020, Hunt shared an acoustic performance video of the track on Instagram, which was later aired as part of the 2020 Highway Finds Fest the same month.[2] Lauren Jo Black of Country Now called the song "nostalgic" about a prior relationship Hunt was in, in which he "fondly reminisc[es] on all of the memories he shared with an ex lover. And although they've moved on from each other, he admits he still cherishes the times they shared together".[3]
Composition
Tom Roland of Billboard noted that the song uses "only two chords" in contrast to country music's three-chord norm, alternating "between a pair of major seventh chords, a four-note construct with one extra note that's only a half step below the root".[4]
Cover art
The photograph used is an early photo of Hunt's wife's aunt and uncle when they were a young couple.[5]
Music video
The music video was released on October 1, 2021, and directed by Tim Mattia. According to Chris Parton of Sounds Like Nashville, the video features three characters: "a single mom who dreams of carefree freedom, an old man who longs for a fast horse and the open range, or a woman still holding on to that 23-year-old summer". The video shows them each using a virtual reality headset to "relive their most treasured memories".[6]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[16] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ "Sam Hunt Releases New Song "23" Today". Universal Music Group Nashville. September 9, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Whitaker, Sterling (July 14, 2020). "Sam Hunt Debuts New Unreleased Song, '23,' Live on SiriusXM the Highway [Watch]". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Jo Black, Lauren (September 9, 2021). "LISTEN: Sam Hunt Returns with Nostalic New Track, '23'". Country Now. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Roland, Tom (October 18, 2021). "Makin' Tracks: Is '23' Sam Hunt's Lucky Number? It's Certainly a Nostalgic One". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (September 9, 2021). "Sam Hunt Reminisces About Past Love On Infectious New Single '23'". Udiscovermusic. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Parton, Chris (October 1, 2021). "Sam Hunt Recaptures the Prime of Life in Futuristic '23' Video". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "Country Hot 50: Issue 1366". The Music Network. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ "Country Airplay – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "Radio Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Sam Hunt – 23". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 6, 2023.