Take a Back Road (song)
| "Take a Back Road" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Rodney Atkins | ||||
| from the album Take a Back Road | ||||
| Released | April 25, 2011 | |||
| Format | Music download | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Curb | |||
| Writer(s) |
Rhett Akins Luke Laird | |||
| Producer(s) | Ted Hewitt | |||
| Rodney Atkins singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Take a Back Road" is a song written by Rhett Akins and Luke Laird, and recorded by American country music singer Rodney Atkins. It was released in April 2011 as the 17th single of his career, and the first single and title track from his album Take a Back Road.
Background and writing
Rhett Akins and Luke Laird wrote the song. Akins came up with the song's title after hearing a friend say that listening to a Hank Williams, Jr. album made him "want to ride a dirt road right now." Laird had come up with a drum loop to which he could not think of any lyrics, and Akins recommended the hook. The two of them changed the line to "take a back road" and decided to give it a rhythmic phrasing.[1]
Content
The song is about a man who is stuck on a freeway in a traffic jam. He then hears a George Strait song from 1982 and it makes him want to drive down a country road.[2]
Critical reception
Giving it four stars out of five, Matt Bjorke of Roughstock called it "the perfect song to listen to when feeling like ‘escaping’ the pressures of the world for a few minutes".[3] Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a C+ rating. Coyne states that everyone already knew what the song was going to be about and that he gave it a "bonus + for rhyming gravel with travel." [4] Steve Leggett of Allmusic called it "one of the summer’s most memorable singles (complete with a George Strait name check)."[5]
Music video
The music video was directed by Andy Tennant and premiered in September 2011. It was filmed on Interstate 65 near Nashville, Tennessee and in Carthage, Tennessee.
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 23 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] | 48 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2011) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 3 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 90 |
| Preceded by "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" by Jake Owen |
Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one single October 1-8, 2011 |
Succeeded by "Made in America" by Toby Keith |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- ↑ Conaway, Alanna (April 11, 2011). "Rodney Atkins, 'Take a Back Road' – Lyrics Uncovered". Taste of Country. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ Hensel, Amanda (April 8, 2011). "Rodney Atkins, 'Take a Back Road' – Song Spotlight". Taste of Country. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ Bjorke, Matt (May 13, 2011). "Rodney Atkins - "Take A Back Road"". Roughstock. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ Coyne, Kevin John (May 30, 2011). "5 Five-Second Single Reviews: Laura Alaina, Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler". Country Universe. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ Jurek, Thom. "Takea Back Road - Rodney Atkins". Allmusic. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Rodney Atkins – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Rodney Atkins.
- ↑ "Rodney Atkins – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Rodney Atkins.
- ↑ "Rodney Atkins – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Rodney Atkins.
- ↑ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Best of 2011: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Rodney Atkins – Take a Back Road". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 27, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH