"Goodbye Town" is a song recorded by American country music group Lady Antebellum. It was released on May 13, 2013, as the second single from their fifth studio album Golden.[1] The song was written by band members Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood, along with Josh Kear, and it features lead vocals from Kelley, and a little bit from Scott.[2]
| "Goodbye Town" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Lady Antebellum | ||||
| from the album Golden | ||||
| Released | May 13, 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 4:48 | |||
| Label | Capitol Nashville | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Hillary Scott Charles Kelley Dave Haywood Josh Kear | |||
| Producer(s) | Paul Worley Lady Antebellum | |||
| Lady Antebellum singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Content
editThe song is about a breakup, seen mainly from the perspective of the male in the relationship, who sees the sights of his town and expresses desire to leave, because every aspect of the town reminds him of his lover. Co-writer Josh Kear brought the idea for the song to Lady Antebellum during a writing session, drawing experience from a girlfriend with whom he broke up during his last year of college. He and the three members of Lady Antebellum wrote the song during the group's Own The Night Tour.[3]
Critical reception
editBilly Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song four stars out of five, writing that "the growth of Lady Antebellum — already one of the top groups in country music — is as exciting as this new music." He praised the song's "fresh production" and called the vocals "pleasantly surprising."[4] Joseph Hudak of Country Weekly was less favorable, saying that the song has "an air of seriousness that doesn't exactly scream 'summer singalong.' Its pace feels overly deliberate, and the piano breakdown midway through calls to mind everything that weighed down portions of Need You Now and Own the Night." Hudak praised Kelley's "rough-hewn" voice and "whoa-oh-oh payoff" at the end, ultimately giving the song a C+.[5]
Music video
editThe music video was directed by Peter Zavadil and filmed in Nashville.[6] It premiered on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 13, 2013.[7]
Chart performance
edit"Goodbye Town" debuted at number 46 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week dated May 25, 2013,[8] and at number 36 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week dated June 1, 2013. It also debuted at number 98 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 95 on the Canadian Hot 100.
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] | 77 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[10] | 11 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 80 |
| US Country Airplay (Billboard)[12] | 11 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13] | 22 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2013) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 50 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] | 64 |
References
edit- ^ Vinson, Christina (May 15, 2013). "Lady Antebellum Say Hello to 'The Voice' Viewers With 'Goodbye Town'". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Wyland, Sarah (May 7, 2013). "Lady Antebellum Releases "Goodbye Town" as New Single". Great American Country. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Paxman, Bob (5 August 2012). "Behind the Song: Not-So-Fond Farewell". Country Weekly. 20 (31): 17. ISSN 1074-3235.
- ^ Dukes, Billy (May 6, 2013). "Lady Antebellum, 'Goodbye Town' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (June 24, 2013). "Reviews: Lady Antebellum — 'Goodbye Town'". Country Weekly. 20 (25): 50. ISSN 1074-3235.
- ^ Wyland, Sarah (May 15, 2013). "Watch Lady Antebellum's Take on Heartbreak in the "Goodbye Town" Video". Great American Country. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Lady A premieres "Goodbye Town" video today". Country Standard Time. May 13, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ Morris, Edward (May 18, 2013). "Lady Antebellum's Golden Cops Top Album Niche". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
- ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Best of 2013: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.