"American Child" | ||||
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Single by Phil Vassar | ||||
from the album American Child | ||||
Released | April 29, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2002 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | Arista Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) | Phil Vassar Craig Wiseman | |||
Producer(s) | Byron Gallimore Phil Vassar | |||
Phil Vassar singles chronology | ||||
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"American Child" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released in April 2002 as the lead-off single and title track from the album of the same name. It peaked at number 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was written by Vassar and Craig Wiseman.
The song is a personal saga of one American man's rise from "Nowhere, Virginia" to a life in the spotlight and satisfaction as a father. "Nowhere, Virginia" is a reference to his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the track kicks off with a "beautiful trill of mandolin, then continues to build and swell." She goes on to say that by the time the song hits the chorus, the production has "escalated into a grand, sweeping backdrop that nicely complements the upbeat lyric." She concludes her review by saying that the song will "kindle pride in the hearts of all who are appreciative of the freedom Americans have to pursue our dreams." [1]
The music video was directed by Shaun Silva. It features Phil Vassar playing a piano and singing the song in the middle of a wheatfield. Scenes also show him and a girl (as mentioned below) with a camera filming and taking pictures. A squad of World War II U.S. Army infantry, carrying a flag, appear from time to time, symbolizing the sacrifice of earlier generations, as does his then 3-year-old daughter Haley, who partially inspired the song. The video reached #1 on CMT's Top 20 Countdown.
"American Child" debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of May 4, 2002. It peaked at number 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart on October 26, 2002 and number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 19, 2002.
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
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US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [2] | 5 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] | 48 |
Chart (2002) | Position |
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US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] | 32 |
Phillip George Vassar Jr. is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Collin Raye, and Alan Jackson. In 1999, he was named by American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) as Country Songwriter of the Year.
"God Bless the Child" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country music artist Shania Twain. It was released on October 26, 1996 as the eighth and final single from her sophomore studio album The Woman in Me (1995). The album version was solely written by Twain and the single version was co-written by Mutt Lange. The album version is more a poem than a song, completely done a cappella. A country version and an alternate version without the banjo were later released for airplay. "God Bless the Child" is one of Twain's few songs to have a major gospel music influence.
American Child is the second studio album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. Released in 2002, the album initially contained twelve tracks, with the title track serving as the lead-off single, reaching top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.
"Drive (For Daddy Gene)" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Alan Jackson. It was released in January 2002 as the second single from his album, Drive. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks in May 2002 and also peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Love & Gravity is the third studio album released by American country music group Blackhawk. It features the singles "Hole in My Heart" and "Postmarked Birmingham", which peaked at #31 and #37, respectively, on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1997.
"Just Another Day in Paradise" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Phil Vassar that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, becoming Vassar's first Number One as an artist. It was released in June 2000 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. It also peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it a minor crossover hit and is Vassar's highest peaking song on the chart. The song was written by Vassar and Craig Wiseman.
"Carlene" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released in October 1999 as Vassar's debut single, from his self-titled debut album (2000). "Carlene" reached a peak of number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts and number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and it reached number 1 in Canada. The song was written by Vassar, Charlie Black and Rory Bourke.
"Little Bitty" is a song recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in October 1996 as the lead-off single to Jackson's fifth studio album Everything I Love. The song reached the top of the U.S. Billboard country music charts in December of that year, becoming his fourteenth Number One on that chart. It also reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and peaked at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it a minor crossover hit.
"For A Little While" is a song written by Steve Mandile, Jerry Vandiver and Phil Vassar, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in November 1998 as the sixth and final single from his album Everywhere. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart but reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
"Bye Bye" is a song written by Rory Bourke and Phil Vassar and recorded by American country music singer Jo Dee Messina. It was released in January 1998 as the first single from Messina's album I'm Alright, and her first number-one single on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts, spending two weeks at number one on the former. "Bye, Bye" was certified gold by the RIAA on September 4, 1998, alongside "I'm Alright."
The discography of American country music singer-songwriter Phil Vassar consists of seven studio albums, three compilation albums, one live album and twenty-two singles. Before his signing with Arista Nashville in 1999, Vassar was a prominent songwriter, having co-written number one hits for Jo Dee Messina and Alan Jackson, and Top 5 singles for Tim McGraw and Collin Raye. As a singer, Vassar has reached number one on the country music charts three times.
"I'm Alright" is a song written by Phil Vassar, and recorded by American country music singer Jo Dee Messina. It was released in May 1998 as the second single and title track from her album of the same name. It became her second consecutive Number One hit on the Billboard country charts, spending three weeks at Number One. "I'm Alright" was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA on September 4, 1998 alongside "Bye, Bye."
"My Next Thirty Years" is a song written by Phil Vassar and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in July 2000 as the fifth and final single from McGraw's album A Place in the Sun. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and it peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Some Things Never Change" is a song written by Walt Aldridge and Brad Crisler and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in April 2000 as the fourth single from McGraw's album A Place in the Sun. While it went to number 1 in Canada, it peaked only at number 7 in the US, and was the only single from the album not to reach number 1 in the US. It also peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"That's When I Love You" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released in October 2001 as the fifth and final single from his debut album Phil Vassar. It peaked at number 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Vassar co-wrote this song along with his former wife Julie Wood. They both also wrote one of his other singles "The Woman in My Life", which was a top 20 hit in 2006.
"Six-Pack Summer" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released in June 2001 as the fourth single from his album Phil Vassar. It peaked at number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks and at number 56 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Vassar, Tommy Rocco and Charlie Black.
"She Was" is a song written by Jimmy Melton and Neal Coty, and recorded by American country music singer Mark Chesnutt. It was released in February 2002 as the lead-off single from his self-titled album. It peaked at number 11 on the United States country music charts, and number 62 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"Temporary Home" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood. It was released in December 2009 as the second official single from her third studio album, Play On. Before being released as a single, the song was made available to iTunes on October 20, 2009. A promotional music video for the song was released in November 2009, and an official music video followed in February 2010. In December 2010, the song was ranked at number 25 on Billboard's Top Country Songs of 2010.
"She Only Smokes When She Drinks" is a song written by Connie Harrington, Tim Nichols, and Tony Martin and recorded by American country music singer Joe Nichols. It was released in April 2003 as the third single from his 2002 album Man with a Memory. The song peaked at number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and also reached number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"This Is God" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released in January 2003 as the second single to the album, American Child. It peaked at number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.