Somethin' 'Bout a Truck explained

Somethin' 'Bout a Truck
Cover:SBATKipMoore.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kip Moore
Album:Up All Night
Recorded:2011
Genre:Country, country rock
Label:MCA Nashville
Producer:Brett James
Prev Title:Mary Was the Marrying Kind
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:Beer Money
Next Year:2012

"Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kip Moore. It was released in September 2011 as the second single from his debut album Up All Night.[1] Moore wrote this song with and Dan Couch.[2] It garnered positive reviews from critics who praised Moore's delivery for being able to elevate generic lyrics. "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the only single in Moore's career to reach that peak to date. It also gave him his first and only top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 29. The song was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over two million units in the country. It also charted in Canada, peaking at number 33 on the Canadian Hot 100. Two accompanying music videos were made for the single, the official version by Roger Pistole and an acoustic version by Stephen Shepherd.

Content

Moore discussed the album in an interview with American Songwriter. He stated, "I made a conscious effort on this record to try to capture the youthful spirit that we all have inside of us. So often people as they get older they feel like things have to change inside their spirit. We all have to mature and take on different responsibilities. I tried to really capture...that you don’t have to let your soul die or spirit die. You can still keep that youthful way and still live that way."[3]

The song is in a moderate tempo in the key of B major. Its accompaniment is open fifths instead of chords, in a pattern of B5-E5-B5-F5-B5.[4]

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song three stars out of five, saying that "vocally, he's not a perfect match for this style, but he's able to overcome somewhat cliche lyrics to create a memorable single."[5] Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B+ grade, writing that Moore "sounds like he's reveling in the pleasures that await him at the end of the week after forty hours at the factory," calling it "a welcome change from those who sound like high schoolers who hit up that back country road on their way home from the mall."[6] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin put "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" at number three on his top 10 list of Moore's best songs.[7]

Music video

The music video was directed by Roger Pistole and premiered in October 2011.[8] An acoustic music video was directed by Stephen Shepherd and premiered in June 2012.[9]

Chart performance

"Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" debuted at number 51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 22, 2011.[10] It also debuted at number 89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of February 25, 2012. It also debuted at number 97 on Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of April 14, 2012.

Year-end charts

Chart (2012)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 96
US Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 12

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Duvall. Erin. Kip Moore, 'Up All Night' Album Coming in April. March 3, 2012. The Boot. March 2, 2012.
  2. News: Conaway. Alanna. Kip Moore, 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck' – Lyrics Uncovered. February 20, 2012. Taste of Country. September 18, 2011.
  3. Web site: Behind The Wheel: A Q&A With Kip Moore. Jewly. Jewly. American Songwriter. June 18, 2012.
  4. Web site: 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck' sheet music. MusicNotes.com. July 3, 2012.
  5. Web site: Dukes. Billy. Kip Moore, 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck' – Song Review. February 20, 2012. Taste of Country. September 13, 2011.
  6. Web site: Coyne. Kevin John. Single Review: Kip Moore, "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck". February 20, 2012. Roughstock. January 22, 2012.
  7. Kip Moore's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks. Dauphin. Chuck. Chuck Dauphin. Billboard. September 27, 2017. May 15, 2020.
  8. Web site: Dukes. Billy. Kip Moore Releases Simple and Sexy 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck' Video. February 20, 2012. Taste of Country. October 25, 2011.
  9. Web site: CMT : Videos : Kip Moore : Somethin' 'Bout A Truck (Acoustic). https://web.archive.org/web/20120929015251/http://www.cmt.com/videos/kip-moore/742541/somethin-bout-a-truck-acoustic.jhtml. dead. September 29, 2012. Country Music Television. August 21, 2015.
  10. Web site: Morris. Edward. Scotty McCreery, Keith Urban Top This Week's Album, Songs Charts. https://web.archive.org/web/20111018150045/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1672552/scotty-mccreery-keith-urban-top-this-weeks-album-songs-charts.jhtml. dead. October 18, 2011. February 20, 2012. Country Music Television. October 15, 2011.
  11. Web site: Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 14, 2012.
  12. Web site: Best of 2012: Country Songs . . . December 14, 2012.