Wastin' Gas Explained

Wastin' Gas
Cover:WastinGasSingle-DallasSmith.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Dallas Smith
Album:Lifted
Genre:Country
Producer:Joey Moi
Prev Title:A Girl Like You
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:Lifted
Next Year:2015

"Wastin' Gas" is a song recorded by Canadian country rock artist Dallas Smith for his second studio album, Lifted (2014). It was released October 28, 2014 through 604 Records (in Canada) and Big Loud Mountain Records (in the US) as the lead single from the album, and fourth overall after the three released in support of Tippin' Point (2014).[1] [2] The song entered the Canadian Hot 100 at number 41 in November 2014, Smith's second highest peak.[3] On the chart issued January 22, 2015, "Wastin' Gas" rose to No. 1 on the Canada Country airplay chart, becoming Smith's first chart topper.[4] [5]

Critical reception

Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal rated the song 4.5/5 stars and praised the song's "energy" and Smith's "charisma", writing "'Wastin' Gas' is one of those songs that one wants to listen to while rolling their windows down and cruising on the highway [...] His vocals are refreshing and the song has clever and fun lyrics."[6] Mike Bell of The Calgary Herald was more critical of the song in his review of Lifted, describing it as "yet another entry in the drivin' with my best girl genre" and noting that it is "fairly catchy, relatively inoffensive, [and] remarkably familiar, but with zero risks taken."[7] In a complimentary review of Lifted, Shenieka Russell-Metcalf of Canadian country music blog Top Country praised "Wastin' Gas" as a "fun and catchy song that is sure to make you want to turn it up loud."[8] Robert K. Oermann of MusicRow magazine gave the song a glowing review. "The churning production is terrifically exciting," writes Oermann, "Luckily, [Smith's] got the vocal chops to keep up with it, and the driving song has hooks aplenty."[9] [10]

Commercial performance

In Canada, "Wastin' Gas" debuted and peaked at number forty-one on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 on the chart issued November 15, 2014.[3] It instantly became Smith's second highest-peaking single on that chart, behind only "Tippin' Point", which reached number thirty-six. On the Canada Country airplay chart, the song debuted at number forty-three on the chart issued November 15, 2014 before vaulting to number twenty-three in its second week.[11] It reached the top 10 on the chart issued December 13, 2014 — becoming his ninth consecutive top 10 hit — and has since topped the chart.[5] [11] The song was certified Platinum by Music Canada in April 2018.

In the United States, "Wastin' Gas" sold 6,300 units in its first week and debuted at number forty on the Billboard Country Digital Songs chart (the digital sales component of Hot Country Songs), marking his first entry on a singles chart in the US.[12] [13]

Live performances

Smith performed "Wastin' Gas" and "Tippin' Point" during the pre-game show for the 102nd Grey Cup on November 30, 2014.[14]

Music video

A lyric video for "Wastin' Gas" premiered on Smith's Vevo channel the day after the song's release on October 29, 2014.[15] The official music video was filmed in Tennessee under the direction of Nigel Dick and premiered November 24, 2014.[16] [17]

Charts

Chart (2014–15)Peak
position
US Country Digital Songs (Billboard)40
US Country Indicator (Billboard)[18] 51

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wastin' Gas - Single by Dallas Smith. iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. 30 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Wastin' Gas - Single by Dallas Smith. iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. 7 November 2014.
  3. Web site: Canada Singles Top 100 (November 15, 2014). Music Charts. αCharts.us. 23 December 2014.
  4. Web site: Dallas Smith - HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL MY FRIENDS AT CANADIAN.... Dallas Smith's Official Facebook. 21 January 2015.
  5. News: Tinson. Kayla. Dallas Smith's "Wastin' Gas" climbs to #1. 21 January 2015. Top Country. TC Inc. 19 January 2015.
  6. News: Papadatos. Markos. Review: Dallas Smith rocks on new country single 'Wastin' Gas'. Digital Journal. 23 December 2014.
  7. News: Bell. Mike. Album reviews: Dallas Smith continues as Canada's great country pretender. 23 December 2014. Calgary Herald. Postmedia Network. November 25, 2014.
  8. Web site: Tinson. Kayla. Russell-Metcalf. Shenieka. Reviewed: Dallas Smith's "Lifted". Top Country. TC Inc.. 23 December 2014.
  9. News: Stephenson. Troy. Dallas Smith Releases 'Lifted' EP With Big Loud Mountain. 23 December 2014. MusicRow. Music Row Enterprises. November 24, 2014.
  10. News: Oermann. Robert K.. DISClaimer: Daring Newcomers and One Shimmering Duet. 23 December 2014. MusicRow. Music Row Enterprises. November 13, 2014.
  11. Web site: Chart Search. Billboard Canada Country for Dallas Smith. 23 December 2014.
  12. News: Bjorke. Matt. Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: November 5, 2014. 23 December 2014. Roughstock. Cheri Media. November 5, 2014.
  13. Web site: Dallas Smith (Country Digital Song Sales). Billboard. April 19, 2018.
  14. News: Imagine Dragons rocks Grey Cup halftime show. 23 December 2014. CTV News. The Canadian Press. Bell Media. November 30, 2014.
  15. Web site: DallasSmithVEVO. Dallas Smith - Wastin' Gas (Lyric Video). YouTube. 25 November 2014.
  16. Web site: Dallas Smith Now Filming "Wastin' Gas" Music Video. Chief Music Management. 25 November 2014.
  17. Web site: CMT : Videos : Dallas Smith : Wastin' Gas. https://web.archive.org/web/20150504173234/http://www.cmt.com/videos/dallas-smith/1103275/wastin-gas.jhtml. dead. May 4, 2015. Country Music Television. November 24, 2014.
  18. Web site: Dallas Smith Chart History (Country Indicator). Billboard. May 20, 2020.