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Body Like a Back Road

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"Body Like a Back Road"
Single by Sam Hunt
from the album Southside
ReleasedFebruary 2, 2017 (2017-02-02)[citation needed]
Recorded2017
GenreCountry pop[1]
Length2:40
LabelMCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Zach Crowell
Sam Hunt singles chronology
"Make You Miss Me"
(2016) 		"Body Like a Back Road"
(2017) 		"Downtown's Dead"
(2018)
Music video
"Body Like a Back Road" (Lyric video) on YouTube

"Body Like a Back Road" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released to country radio, by MCA Nashville on February 2, 2017, as the lead single from his second studio album Southside. The song is written by Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.[2][3] It was released to American hot adult contemporary radio on April 3, 2017, becoming his second crossover single promoted to a pop music format.[4]

The song is Hunt's most successful song to date. It broke two records within a month of one another; in early June 2017, the song was the longest running number one since Leroy Van Dyke's "Walk On By" 55 years earlier. With 20 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart – this made Hunt the solo country artist with the second longest run at the top of the 59-year old Hot Country Songs chart. (Hank Snow's, "I'm Moving On" spent 21 weeks).[5] The song broke records again in late July 2017, becoming the only song in the history of the Hot Country Songs chart to stay at number one for more than 24 weeks, a record previously held since 2012 by Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise".[6] The song spent a total of 34 weeks on top of the Hot Country Songs chart. Additionally, the song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Hunt's highest-charting single, and his first top 10 single overall, on that chart. With this peak, the song became the highest-charting country song on the US Billboard Hot 100 since "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line, which reached number four in 2013.

Background

The song was written by Hunt with his producer Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. According to Hunt, the song was written after his engagement to Hannah Lee Fowler. Hunt described it as "a lighthearted song" as he wanted to release something lighter than the "heavy direction" that his new album was taking. Hunt said: "I connect music to the emotions that come from relationships, so most of the songs that I write are inspired by those circumstances, emotions, feelings, all that kind of stuff."[7] He had previously broken up with Fowler, and wrote "Drinkin' Too Much" as an apology (the break-up also inspired a few other songs in Montevallo).[8] The couple got back together, and a few days after "Drinkin' Too Much" was released in January 2017, he announced their engagement.[9]

Composition

The song is composed in the key of F major with a tempo of 96–100 beats per minute.[10]

Commercial performance

In the US, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and remained there for 34 consecutive weeks until it was knocked off by "What Ifs" performed by Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina,[11] breaking the record set by "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line for the most weeks atop the chart (24 weeks).[12] The record was later broken by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line's collaboration "Meant to Be" which stayed atop the chart for 50 consecutive weeks. It is Hunt's longest chart-topping single, overtaking "Take Your Time", which stayed on top of the Hot Country Songs chart for 11 weeks.[13]

"Body Like a Back Road" also reached number one on the Country Airplay chart and stayed at that spot for three consecutive weeks. On the week after Hunt's performance at the ACM Awards, the song sold 70,000 copies and jumped up six places from number 12 to number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Hunt's highest-charting single, and his first top 10 single overall, on that chart. With this peak, the song became the highest-charting country song on the US Billboard Hot 100 since "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line, which reached number four in 2013.[14] The song also crossed over to pop radio.[15]

The song was certified Diamond on July 28, 2023.[16] It was the third best-selling song in the US in 2017, and the best-selling country song, with 1,818,000 copies (3,723,000 units including streams) sold in the year.[17][18] It has sold 1,951,000 copies in the United States as of June 2018.[19]

Criticism and critical reception

The song has however been in the midst of controversy and being called out by some reporters and neo-traditional country artists for lack of similarity to country music's "roots."[20][21][22] Many also took issue with the comparison between a woman's body and a back road. The song has received generally negative reviews. Multiple critics have cited "Body Like a Back Road" as one of the worst songs of 2017.[23][24][25]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[52] 6× Platinum 420,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[53] 9× Platinum 720,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] Platinum 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] 11× Platinum 11,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

References

  1. ^ Yahr, Emily (August 7, 2017). "How Sam Hunt's 'Body Like a Back Road' became a top contender for song of the summer". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Dukes, Billy (January 25, 2017). "Sam Hunt's New Song 'Body Like a Back Road' Written After Engagement [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  3. ^ Casey, Jim (January 25, 2017). "Sam Hunt Announces New "Body Like a Back Road" Single [Listen], New "15 in a 30 Tour" & Talks "Spiritual" Engagement Details". Nash Country Weekly. American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  4. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  5. ^ Angela Stefano (June 29, 2017). "Sam Hunt's 'Body Like a Back Road' Breaks 55-Year Hot Country Songs Chart Record". The Boot.
  6. ^ Hall, Kristin M. (July 31, 2017). "Sam Hunt Makes Chart History With 'Body Like a Back Road'". U.S. News & World Report.
  7. ^ Casey, Jim (January 25, 2017). "Sam Hunt Announces New "Body Like a Back Road" Single [Listen], New "15 in a 30 Tour" & Talks "Spiritual" Engagement Details". Nash Country Daily. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Stefano, Angela (January 1, 2017). "Sam Hunt Drops Brand-New Song, 'Drinkin' Too Much' [LISTEN]". The Boot. Townsquare Media.
  9. ^ McKenna, Brittney (February 1, 2017). "Hear Sam Hunt's Breezy New Song 'Body Like a Back Road'". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ "Body Like a Back Road" sheet music at musicnotes.com
  11. ^ Asker, Jim (October 10, 2017). "Kane Brown's 'What Ifs' Featuring Lauren Alaina Tops Hot Country Songs, Stopping Sam Hunt's Record Run". Billboard.
  12. ^ Asker, Jim (August 1, 2017). "Sam Hunt's 'Body Like a Back Road' Breaks Record for Most Weeks Atop Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  13. ^ Asker, Jim (May 2, 2017). "Brad Paisley's 'War' Breaks Out at No. 1; John Mayer Makes Country Chart Debut". Billboard.
  14. ^ Trust, Gary (April 10, 2017). "Ed Sheeran Stays No. 1 on Hot 100, Kendrick Lamar Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  15. ^ Trust, Gary (April 7, 2017). "Sam Hunt's Country Hit 'Body Like a Back Road' Speeds to Pop Radio".
  16. ^ a b "American single certifications – Sam Hunt – Body Like a Back Road". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  17. ^ Rau, Nate (January 4, 2018). "Revealed: Country music's most listened to artists in 2017". The Tennessean.
  18. ^ Keith Caulfield (3 January 2018). "Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' Is Nielsen Music's Top Album of 2017 in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  19. ^ Bjorke, Matt (June 5, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: June 6, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  20. ^ Waldron, Travis (November 30, 2017). "The Most Upsetting Grammy Nominee Is Sam Hunt's 'Body Like A Back Road'". Huff Post. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  21. ^ "Sam Hunt Is the Future of Country Music". The Ringer. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  22. ^ "Aaron Lewis Says Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt Are 'Choking' Country Music". Rolling Stone. 14 September 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  23. ^ "Ranking The 11 Worst Songs Of 2017". 19 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  24. ^ Knight, Matt. "7 Worst Songs of 2017". beat.media. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017.
  25. ^ "The Top 10 Worst Songs of 2017". Time. December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  26. ^ "Sam Hunt – Body Like a Back Road". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  27. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  28. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  29. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  30. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  31. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 09. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  34. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201709 into search. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  35. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  36. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  37. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  38. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  39. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  40. ^ "Sam Hunt Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  41. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  42. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  43. ^ "Billboard Canada Year-End Country Airplay of 2017". Billboard. 22 December 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  44. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  46. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  47. ^ "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  48. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  49. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  50. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  51. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  52. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  53. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Sam Hunt – Body Like a Back Road". Music Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  54. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Hunt – Body Like a Back Road". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  55. ^ "British single certifications – Sam Hunt – Body Like a Back Road". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
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