As She's Walking Away Explained

As She's Walking Away
Cover:assheswalkingaway.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
Album:You Get What You Give and 34 Number Ones
Recorded:2010
Genre:Country
Label:Atlantic
Southern Ground
Producer:Zac Brown
Keith Stegall[1]
Chronology:Zac Brown Band
Prev Title:This Song's for You
Prev Year:2010
Next Title:Colder Weather
Next Year:2010

"As She's Walking Away" is a song by American country music group Zac Brown Band. Written by lead singer Zac Brown, along with Wyatt Durrette, it features guest vocals from veteran country singer Alan Jackson. The song is the sixth single release by the band, and the first from the album You Get What You Give. It won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals at the 53rd Grammy Awards, and is the second Grammy for both the band and Jackson overall.

Release history

The song is the first release from the band's album You Get What You Give, which was released on September 21.[2] John Driskell Hopkins, who plays bass guitar in the band, suggested that Jackson be included as a duet partner on it, because he thought that "it would get a great, different kind of fan base for us."[2] Both Zac Brown Band and Jackson are produced by Keith Stegall.[2] On August 24, 2010, an exclusive CD single was released at Target featuring "As She's Walking Away" along with the studio version of "Colder Weather" for the first time.

Background and writing

Co-writer Wyatt Durrette told The Boot that the idea came when he and Brown went to a bar in Orlando, Florida to watch a UFC fight. Durrette said that while they were watching the fight a guy and a girl walked in and all night she stared at him. Durrette said that she was "a beautiful girl, but she had her boyfriend with her, so I obviously wasn't going to say or do anything. We kind of spoke all night from across the room, but didn't say anything to each other." Durrette said that Brown had the idea of bringing the wise man into it and turning it into the older man at the bar who's a much wiser man, giving you advice.[3]

Personnel

Adapted from the liner notes for Jackson’s greatest hits album 34 Number Ones.[4]

Critical reception

The song received critical acclaim. C.M. Wilcox of The 9513 gave the song a thumbs-up, praising the song's "driving, organic arrangement" as well as the interplay between Brown and Jackson.[5] On the AOL Radio Blog, Amar Toor also described Brown's and Jackson's vocals favorably.[6] A positive review also came from Michael Menachem of Billboard, who said that the song had a "heartwarming" sound.[7]

Music video

Darren Doane directed the song's music video.[8] The inside scenes of the bar were filmed in Dixie Tavern in Marietta, Georgia. The outside scenes of the bar were filmed at The Trap located at 2822 East Avenue I, Lancaster, California.

Chart performance

In the week of its release, "As She's Walking Away" debuted at number 32 on the Hot Country Songs charts,[9] as well as number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. It later debuted at 81 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of October 9, 2010.[10] On the country chart dated November 20, 2010, "As She's Walking Away" reached Number One, becoming the Zac Brown Band's fourth consecutive Number One single (and their fifth overall), and Jackson's twenty-sixth and final number one hit to date.

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. You Get What You Give . Zac Brown Band . 2010 . CD booklet . Southern Ground Records/Atlantic Records . 524722-2.
  2. Web site: With Zac Brown Band 'You Get' Alan Jackson . Tom Roland . August 12, 2010 . . August 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100819023327/http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2010/08/12/with-zac-brown-band-%E2%80%9Cyou-get%E2%80%9D-alan-jackson/. August 19, 2010 . live.
  3. Web site: Zac Brown Band, 'AS She's Walking Away' – Story Behind the Lyrics. Conaway. Alanna. September 28, 2010. The Boot. October 11, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101005035157/http://www.theboot.com/2010/09/28/zac-brown-band-as-shes-walking-away-lyrics/. October 5, 2010 . live.
  4. 34 Number Ones . Alan Jackson . 2010 . CD booklet . Arista Records Nashville . 88697-78681-2.
  5. Web site: Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson — "As She's Walking Away" . C.M. Wilcox . August 17, 2010 . The 9513 . August 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100821095429/http://www.the9513.com/zac-brown-band-featuring-alan-jackson-as-shes-walking-away/. August 21, 2010 . live.
  6. Web site: Zac Brown Band, 'As She's Walking Away' Feat. Alan Jackson – New Song . Amar Toor . August 10, 2010 . AOL Radio . August 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100818090501/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/08/10/zac-brown-band-as-shes-walking-away-alan-jackson/. August 18, 2010 . live.
  7. Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away". Menachem. Michael. September 10, 2010. Billboard. October 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101023054505/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/953275/lil-waynes-human-being-leaps-16-1-on-billboard-200. October 23, 2010 . live.
  8. Web site: "As She's Walking Away" video. CMT. September 10, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100913024040/http://www.cmt.com/videos/zac-brown-band/559839/as-shes-walking-away.jhtml. September 13, 2010 . dead.
  9. Chart Highlights: Country, Dance/Club Play Songs & More . August 16, 2010 . Billboard . August 20, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100819233729/http://www.billboard.com/column/chartbeat/chart-highlights-country-dance-club-play-1004109540.story . August 19, 2010 . live .
  10. Eminem, Rihanna Top Hot 100 For Fifth Week . Gary Trust . August 19, 2010 . Billboard . August 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100822144556/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956793/eminem-rihanna-top-hot-100-for-fifth-week. August 22, 2010 . live.
  11. Best of 2010: Country Songs . . . 2010 . December 13, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101211104551/http://www.billboard.com/. December 11, 2010 . live.
  12. Best of 2011: Country Songs . . . 2011 . December 10, 2011.