A Broken Wing

Last updated
"A Broken Wing"
McBride - Broken Wing Valentine single.jpg
Single by Martina McBride
from the album Evolution
B-side Valentine" [1]
ReleasedSeptember 8, 1997
Genre
Length3:35
Label RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s) Phil Barnhart, Sam Hogin, James House
Producer(s) Paul Worley, Ed Seay
Martina McBride singles chronology
"Still Holding On"
(1997)
"A Broken Wing"
(1997)
"Valentine"
(1997)
Music video
"A Broken Wing" at CMT.com

"A Broken Wing" is a song written by James House, Sam Hogin and Phil Barnhart, and recorded by American country music singer Martina McBride. It was released in September 1997 as the second single from McBride's album Evolution . In January 1998, "A Broken Wing" became McBride's second Number One single.

Contents

Background

The sheet music for the song is in the key of C major, though McBride sings in the key of B major in the studio recording and live performances. It has a 12
8
time signature. [2] The verses use a chord progression of I–ii–IV–I three times, followed by I–ii7–IV–V–I; the refrain uses vi–iii7–ii7–I followed by I–ii7–IV–V–I. [2] Instrumentally, McBride's 1998 version features acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, piano, bass guitar and drums.

Content

In the song, the narrator recounts a young woman escaping from an emotionally abusive relationship. [3] Regarding the second verse, wherein the husband finds "a note by the window / and the curtains blowin' in the breeze," the authors of the book My Country Roots wrote the song's conclusion could be interpreted to indicate the woman either escaped or committed suicide. [4]

Producer Paul Worley told Billboard magazine in 1998 the track, except for the backing vocals, was recorded in one day, while other tracks on the album were recorded in pieces over time. [5]

Music video

The music video was directed by Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV, also collectively known as Deaton-Flanigen Productions. The video features McBride singing the song at the Croft House in the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Interspersed throughout the clip is a woman locked in an abusive relationship with her husband. While making dinner, the husband complains about the salad she made for him. Later, when the woman is on the phone, her husband interrupts the call. Eventually, the wife gets up out of the bed and the husband goes upstairs, only to find a note left by the disappeared wife.

It was nominated for Music Video of the Year at the 1998 Country Music Association awards. [6]

Personnel

Other versions

Jordin Sparks covered the song on her 2007 EP Jordin Sparks . Her version of the song made number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart positions

"A Broken Wing" debuted on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts dated for September 13, 1997. The song spent twenty-five weeks on that chart, [1] peaking at number one on the charts dated for January 10, 1998.

Chart (1997–1998)Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [7] 17
US Billboard Hot 100 [8] 61
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [10] 60

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [11] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Way That I Am</i> 1993 studio album by Martina McBride

The Way That I Am is the second studio album by American country music singer Martina McBride, released on September 14, 1993, through RCA Nashville. It was certified Platinum on May 15, 1995, by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This was her breakthrough album, producing her first Top 5 hit in "My Baby Loves Me", which was previously released as a single by Canadian singer Patricia Conroy from her 1992 album Bad Day for Trains. McBride's version was a number 2 hit on the Hot Country Songs. Also released as singles from this album were "Life #9" at number 6, "Independence Day" at number 12, "Heart Trouble" at number 21, and "Where I Used to Have a Heart" at number 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Day (Martina McBride song)</span> 1994 single by Martina McBride

"Independence Day" is a song by the American country music recording artist Martina McBride. The song was written by songwriter Gretchen Peters, who had first written the song around 1992. It was originally offered first to musician Reba McEntire, who turned it down; Peters has come out since and stated that she had never heard of the song being offered to McEntire. She spent over a year and a half writing the track. It would be recorded by McBride for her second studio album The Way That I Am (1993). It was released on May 2, 1994, as the third single from the album. Peters would record the song herself and included it on her debut studio album The Secret of Life (1996).

<i>Born to Fly</i> 2000 studio album by Sara Evans

Born to Fly is the third studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in October 2000 via RCA Records Nashville. The album produced four singles with its title track, "I Could Not Ask for More", "Saints & Angels", and "I Keep Looking", all of which reached within the Top 20 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The title track reached number one, "I Could Not Ask for More" and "I Keep Looking" both broke the Top 5 at numbers 2 and 5 respectively, and "Saints & Angels" peaked at number 16. Born to Fly has been Evans' highest-selling album to date, having been certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for U.S. sales of two million copies. The album was also one of the most successful of the year. Evans was nominated for five CMA Awards: Album of the Year; song, single, and music video ; and Female Vocalist of the Year. She won her first CMA award for music video of the year. The international version of the album includes a bonus track, "You", which was later released in North America as a bonus track on her 2005 album Real Fine Place. Born to Fly was a defining album for Evans. Her earlier albums had more of a neotraditional country sound, while all of her later albums had a more crossover-friendly country pop sound, similar to Martina McBride and Faith Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concrete Angel</span> 2002 single by Martina McBride

"Concrete Angel" is a song written by Stephanie Bentley and Rob Crosby, and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in November 2002 as the fourth and last single from McBride's Greatest Hits compilation album. The song reached number 5 on the country music charts. "Concrete Angel" was ranked No. 1 by Rolling Stone on its list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time in 2019.

<i>Martina</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Martina McBride

Martina is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in September 2003 by RCA Nashville. It was a number one on the country album charts and number seven on the US album charts. The album produced four singles on the country charts: "This One's for the Girls" at #3, "In My Daughter's Eyes" at #4, "How Far" at #12 and "God's Will" at #16. "This One's for the Girls", which featured backing vocals from Faith Hill, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and McBride's two daughters, was also McBride's first and only Number One hit on the Adult Contemporary charts. The album was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Martina McBride album) 2001 greatest hits album by Martina McBride

Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American country music singer Martina McBride, released on September 18, 2001, by RCA Nashville. The compilation includes hit singles and other songs.

<i>Wild Angels</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Martina McBride

Wild Angels is the third studio album by the American country music artist Martina McBride. The album produced the singles "Safe in the Arms of Love", the title track, "Swingin' Doors", "Phones Are Ringin' All Over Town" and "Cry on the Shoulder of the Road". The title track was McBride's first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Waking Up Laughing</i> 2007 studio album by Martina McBride

Waking Up Laughing is the ninth studio album by American country music singer Martina McBride. It was released on April 3, 2007, through RCA Nashville. This album is the first in McBride's career in which she has both co-written songs and been involved in the production single-handedly. This album produced three chart singles for McBride on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with "Anyway" at #5, "How I Feel" at #15, and "For These Times" at #35. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>Evolution</i> (Martina McBride album) 1997 studio album by Martina McBride

Evolution is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in August 1997 by RCA Nashville. The album produced six singles, all of which have charted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The first single, "Still Holding On", is a duet with Clint Black and was originally recorded by Black on his 1997 album Nothin' but the Taillights. "Still Holding On" peaked at number 11. The second and fifth singles, "A Broken Wing" and "Wrong Again", both reached number one. "A Broken Wing" was also McBride's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and was her first major crossover hit. The album's third single, "Valentine", a duet with Jim Brickman", is a re-recording of a song which Brickman and McBride previously released from his 1997 album Picture This. The original Picture This version charted at #3 on the AC charts and #68 on the country charts, while the re-recording featured on the Evolution album was a Top 10 country hit, with a peak at number 9. The fourth and six singles, "Happy Girl" and "Whatever You Say", both peaked at number 2. The album was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Emotion</i> (Martina McBride album) 1999 studio album by Martina McBride

Emotion is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in September 1999 by RCA Nashville. The album produced four singles with "I Love You", "Love's the Only House", "There You Are" and "It's My Time" on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song "I Love You" became McBride's biggest hit single to date after it reached number one on the country charts and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album ends with two covers, "Goodbye" by Patty Griffin and Gretchen Peters' "This Uncivil War" from Peters' 1996 debut album The Secret of Life. The album was certified Platinum on by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anyway (Martina McBride song)</span> 2006 single by Martina McBride

"Anyway" is a song by American country music artist Martina McBride, recorded for her eighth studio album Waking Up Laughing (2007). It was the first single of her career that she had a writing credit on, co-writing it with the Warren Brothers, a duo consisting of brothers Brad and Brett Warren. McBride also solely produced the track. "Anyway" is a song about how even though bad things can happen, the narrator sings that she'll do it anyway. RCA Nashville released the song on November 6, 2006 as the lead single from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God's Will</span> 2004 single by Martina McBride

"God's Will" is a song recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride for her seventh studio album Martina (2003). The song was written by Barry Dean and Tom Douglas and produced by McBride and Paul Worley. McBride's label, RCA Nashville, began pushing the song to country radio in late November 2004 as the fourth and final single from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This One's for the Girls</span> 2003 single by Martina McBride

"This One's for the Girls" is a song written by Chris Lindsey, Hillary Lindsey, and Aimee Mayo and recorded by American country music singer Martina McBride. It was released in June 2003 as the first single from McBride's album Martina. The song peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also a number 1 single on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessed (Martina McBride song)</span> 2001 single by Martina McBride

"Blessed" is a song by American country music artist Martina McBride, recorded specifically for her Greatest Hits (2001) compilation album. The single was written by Brett James, Troy Verges, and Hillary Lindsey and was also produced by McBride and Paul Worley. Canadian country singer-songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson is featured as a background vocalist. "Blessed" began receiving airplay in late October 2001 as the second single from the compilation by RCA Nashville.

"My Baby Loves Me (Just the Way That I Am)" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters and was first recorded by Canadian country music singer Patricia Conroy on her second studio album, Bad Day for Trains (1992). Her version was released in May 1992 as the first single from her album and peaked at number eight on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wild Angels (Martina McBride song)</span> 1995 single by Martina McBride

"Wild Angels" is a song written by Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison and Harry Stinson and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in November 1995 as the second single and title track from McBride's album of the same name. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, giving McBride her first number one single on that chart.

<i>Shine</i> (Martina McBride album) 2009 studio album by Martina McBride

Shine is the tenth studio album from American country music singer Martina McBride, released on March 24, 2009 by RCA Nashville. The album spun three Top 20 hits on the Billboard country chart: "Ride" and "Wrong Baby Wrong" both reached #11, and "I Just Call You Mine" peaked at #18. McBride co-produced the album with Dann Huff and co-wrote the track "Sunny Side Up." It is her last studio album released through RCA Records before switching to Republic Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues</span> 2001 single by Martina McBride

"When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues" is a song by American country music artist Martina McBride, recorded for her Greatest Hits (2001) compilation album. The song was written by Leslie Satcher and produced by McBride and her frequent collaborator Paul Worley. The song was chosen as the lead single from the compilation by RCA Records Nashville on June 25, 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life No. 9</span> 1994 single by Martina McBride

"Life #9" is a song written by Kostas and Tony Perez, and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in January 1994 as the second single from her album The Way That I Am. The song was her fifth single release overall, and peaked at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and at number 8 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

Deaton-Flanigen Productions is an American film company based in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., headed by Robert Deaton. The company has between 10 and 50 employees.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 262. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. 1 2 Contemporary Country (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 1999. pp. 26–30. ISBN   0-634-01594-X.
  3. Fillingim, David (2003). Redneck liberation: country music as theology. Mercer University Press. p. 129. ISBN   0-86554-841-2.
  4. Randall, Alice; Carter Little; Courtney Little (2006). My Country Roots: The Ultimate MP3 Guide to America's Original Outsider Music . Thomas Nelson, Inc. pp.  92. ISBN   1-59555-860-8.
  5. Cromer, Ben (18 April 1998). "Of His Many Hats, Producer/Exec Paul Worley Prefers His Guitarist Cap". Billboard.
  6. Hurst, Jack (21 September 1998). "COUNTRY PICKS PREDICTING THE OUTCOME OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S CMA AWARD". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  7. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3400." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. November 24, 1997. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  8. "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. "Best of 1998: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  11. "American single certifications – Martina McBride – A Broken Wing". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 12, 2021.