Record Year Explained

Record Year
Cover:RecordYear.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Eric Church
Album:Mr. Misunderstood
Recorded:2015
Genre:Country
Label:EMI Nashville
Producer:Jay Joyce
Prev Title:Mr. Misunderstood
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Kill a Word
Next Year:2016

"Record Year" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released in February 2016 as the second single from his 2015 album Mr. Misunderstood. Church wrote this song with Jeff Hyde. [1] The song peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Country Airplay chart.

Content

The song is about a man who recovers from a broken heart by listening to a collection of vinyl record albums. Its lyrics include references to various musical artists to whom the narrator is listening.[2]

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country reviewed the single favorably, praising the songwriting and saying that "Eric Church has never sung heartbreak the same way twice — a streak that remains intact with Record Year. The second single from his Mr. Misunderstood album finds him hurting in a whole new way."[3]

Commercial performance

"Record Year" reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, which is Church's seventh No. 1 on the chart.[4] It also peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song has sold 447,000 copies in the US as of November 2016.[5] It was certified double Platinum by the RIAA on April 29, 2019 for two million units in sales and streams.

Music video

The music video was directed by Reid Long and John Peets and premiered in April 2016.[6]

Charts and certifications

Year end charts

Chart (2016)Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[7] 10
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 17

Certifications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eric Church Announces 'Record Year' as Next Single [LISTEN]. The Boot . 4 February 2016 .
  2. Eric Church Earns His Seventh No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart With 'Record Year'. Asker. Jim. August 2, 2016. Billboard. 27 November 2016.
  3. Web site: Eric Church, 'Record Year' [Listen]]. Dukes. Billy. February 4, 2016. Taste of Country. 18 February 2016.
  4. Eric Church Earns His Seventh No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart With 'Record Year' . August 2, 2016 . Jim . Asker. Billboard .
  5. News: Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: November 8, 2016. Matt . Bjorke . November 8, 2016 . Roughstock .
  6. News: Stefano. Angela. Eric Church Drops 'Record Year' Music Video. April 29, 2016. The Boot. April 29, 2016.
  7. Country Airplay: Year End 2016. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. January 5, 2017.
  8. Hot Country Songs: Year End 2016. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. January 5, 2017.