"Southern Belle" is a song recorded by American country music singer Scotty McCreery. It was released on August 17, 2015, to digital retailers and released to radio on August 31, 2015, by Mercury Nashville.[1] The song only charted at 45 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, resulting in Mercury Nashville dropping McCreery from the label.[2]

"Southern Belle"
Single by Scotty McCreery
ReleasedAugust 17, 2015 (2015-08-17)
Recorded2015
GenreCountry
Length3:20
LabelMercury Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Frank Rogers
Scotty McCreery singles chronology
"Feelin' It"
(2014)
"Southern Belle"
(2015)
"Five More Minutes"
(2017)

Content edit

The song was written by Sean McConnell and Jason Saenz. It moves McCreery away from traditional country and more towards pop.[3] In an interview with Rolling Stone Country, McCreery said "This is probably about as far left as we'll go."[4] "Southern Belle" contains more mature themes than McCreery's previous releases.[5] McCreery acknowledges that it shows a different side of him than his public image.

Critical reception edit

Taste of Country said that McCreery breaks expectations. McCreery's performance evolves throughout the song.[6] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock says the song will appeal to a wide range of audiences and blends traditional and contemporary country well.[7]

Commercial performance edit

In its first week, it sold 7,000 copies and debuted at number 36 on the Country Digital Songs charts.[8] It also debuted at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of October 3, 2015. It reached a peak of number 45, becoming his lowest-charting single and first to miss the top 40.

Live performances edit

McCreery debuted the song on Fox & Friends on July 31, 2015.[9]

Music video edit

The music video was directed by Roman White and premiered in November 2015.[10]

Chart performance edit

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 45

References edit

  1. ^ "Roughstock". August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Scotty McCreery and Record Label Part Ways". February 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "Scotty McCreery, 'Southern Belle' [Listen]". Taste of Country. August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  4. ^ "Scotty McCreery on 'Southern Belle': 'This Is as Far Left as We'll Go'". Rolling Stone Country. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "Sterling Whitaker". Taste of Country. August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Scotty McCreery, 'Southern Belle' [Listen]". Taste of Country. August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  7. ^ Bjorke, Matt (August 18, 2015). "Scotty McCreery - "Southern Belle"". Roughstock. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "Top 30 Digital Country Singles chart for August 24, 2015". August 24, 2015.
  9. ^ Laura Hostelley (July 31, 2015). "Scotty McCreery Debuts New Single 'Southern Belle' on 'Fox and Friends'". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  10. ^ "Southern Belle - Scotty McCreery | Music Video | VEVO". VEVO. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "Scotty McCreery Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.