Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves debut at #1 with “I Remember Everything”

I Remember Everything Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves

Writer(s): Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves (see lyrics here) Released: September 8, 2023 First Charted: September 9, 2023 Peak: 11 BB, 14 ST, 22 A40, 18 AA, 117 CW, 19 UK, 2 CN, 19 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.6 UK, 3.13 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 86.04 video, 838.58 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Country singer/songwriter Zach Bryan was born in 1996 in Okinawa, Japan while his family was with the Navy overseas and then he grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma. He started writing songs at 14 years old and began uploading his music to YouTube in 2017. He released his first album, DeAnn, in 2019 and followed up the next year with Elisabeth. After signing a deal with Warner Records, he released his first major label debut, American Heartbreak, in 2022. It reached #5 on the Billboard album chart, #1 on the country album chart, and was certified platinum. The album was supported by six singles, including the #1 country song “Something in the Orange.” In 2023, Bryan released a self-titled follow-up album. It debuted atop the Billboard album chart, preceded by the single “I Remember Everything,” which had debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song understandably topped the country charts as well but, strangely, also managed to reach #1 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The song paired him with country singer Kacey Musgraves, best known for winning the Grammy for Album of the Year for her 2018 Golden Hour album. The song is a stripped-bare ballad which jumps back and forth between the perspective of a man and a woman who used to be in a relationship. Songfacts.com described it as a “love story unfolded beneath the intoxicating haze of spirits, a dreamy tangle of emotions.” SF The male leans toward positive reminiscing while the female remembers some of the pain, including his problems with alcohol. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Zach Bryan DMDB encyclopedia entry for Kacey Musgraves SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 1/4/2024; last updated 10/16/2024.

Morgan Wallen “Last Night” spends 1st of 25 weeks atop country chart

Last Night Morgan Wallen

Writer(s): John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ryan Vojtesak (see lyrics here) Released: January 31, 2023 First Charted: February 11, 2023 Peak: 116 BB, 11 DG, 119 ST, 13 AC, 5 A40, 1256 CN, 18 AU, 17 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 0.6 UK, 8.93 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 215.74 video, 1075.17 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Country singer/songwriter was born in 1993 in Sneedville, Tennessee. He gained attention competing on the TV talent show The Voice in 2014. He signed a deal with Panacea Records and released his debut EP, Stand Alone, the following year. His debut album, If I Know Me, came out in 2018 and produced three songs which topped the country airplay chart. His next album, 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album, topped the country and Billboard 200 album charts and went six times platinum. It also gave him two top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Anticipation was high for his third album, 2023’s One Thing at a Time. Two singles from 2022 preceded the album, both reaching #1 on the country chart and the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even so, it would have been hard to predict just how successful Wallen would be with his next single. “Last Night” was the third single from One Thing at a Time. It vaulted itself into history with 25 weeks atop the country chart and 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. It was the 20th time a song topped both charts. SF In the history of the latter chart, only one song – Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” – spent more weeks on top (19). Two other songs – Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” and Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” – also logged 16 weeks at #1. The last time a solo male country artist had topped the Billboard Hot 100 was all the way back in 1981 – when Eddie Rabbitt did it with “I Love a Rainy Night.” WK “Last Night” also became the first song in history to be #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during six consecutive months. WK It was also the first song to land one billion on-demand streams in the United States in a single year. WK Lyrically, the song explores a relationship plagued by ongoing issues. The protagonist sings about “a difficult conversation with his romantic partner, fueled by alcohol, from the previous night…[but] he still desires her love and strives to keep their union going.” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Morgan Wallen SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 1/2/2024; last updated 10/14/2024.

Clint Black “Killin’ Time” hit #1 on country chart

Killin’ Time Clint Black

Writer(s): Clint Black, Hayden Nicholas (see lyrics here) First Charted: July 15, 1989 Peak: 11 CW, 12 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 43.98 video, 60.4 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Country singer Clint Black was born in New Jersey in 1962. He signed to RCA Nashville and released his debut album, Killin’ Time, in 1989. The album produced four country chart-topping songs, including the title cut and “A Better Time,” which ranked #2 and #1 respectively on the Billboard year-end country chart. The Country Music Association awarded Black with the Horizon award for new and/or developing acts the same week that “Killin’ Time” hit #1 on the country chart. The song might be the album’s “most enduring and recognizable song, but it was also one of the last to be added to the record.” TB Black and guitarist Hayden Nicholas were driving around in the car and Black was expressing his frustration with the waiting time involved in album production. He said, “’This killin’ time is killin’ me.’ We looked at each other, our eyes got real big, and we knew we had a hook.” TR Nicholas ended up co-writing “Killin’ Time” with Black. Black said it took them about a month to finish the song. The first part came quickly, but then they got stuck on an ending to the chorus. Black finally came up with, “Just might find I’ll be killing time for eternity.” TB Black said “the record company was just over the moon about it” TB and it ended up the title of the album. Nicholas met Black before signing his record deal. Black had a gig in 1987 and wasn’t overly excited with the backup band he was playing with. However, the original guitarist ended up replaced by Nicholas Hayden and Black was blown away by his playing. TR They decided to record an eight-track demo together at the in-home studio at Hayden’s house and it was the resulting demo tape that got Black signed. TR Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Clint BLack TB TheBoot.com (7/11/2019). “Story Behind the Song: Clit Black, ‘Killin’ Time’” by Carena Liptak TR Tom Roland (1991). The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Pages 565-6. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/18/2023.