"American Kids" | ||||
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Single by Kenny Chesney | ||||
from the album The Big Revival | ||||
Released | June 20, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2014 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:02 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Kenny Chesney singles chronology | ||||
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"American Kids" is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally [2] and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in June 2014 as the first single from Chesney's 2014 album The Big Revival . [3] After its official release, the song became available for sale on June 21 that year. [4]
Chesney heard the tune during a writers' retreat with McAnally, and according to Chesney: "It was unlike anything I'd ever heard... it just grabs you and holds on, but even more importantly, it feels really good." [5] He also said that "there is so much more to being alive than partying, tailgates and bonfires," and that "American kids are so much more complicated, more fun, more real". [6]
The song received mostly good reviews by critics with some mixed reactions. Matt Bjorke of Roughstock described the song as "groove-filled" with "perfect" delivery by Chesney, that the "flair for nostalgia" by the songwriters brought the song to life, and also that "the final production of the track easily makes it something radio and fans are certain to eat up". [7] The song was described as "catchy" and "highly relatable", [8] and Melinda Newman of Billboard thought that the song "captures the zeitgeist of American youth in a way that John Mellencamp once owned." [9] For the Country Record called the song "refreshingly original" by not following the "current country clichés" about tailgates, beers and girls, [10] Country Perspective called the song "a feel good song that is fun and light-hearted" that is hard to hate, but nevertheless did not love the song. [11]
The song received 117 radio adds on its first week of release, [12] and debuted at No. 27 on the Country Airplay chart, which is Chesney's 10th top-30 debut and this total is the most of any artist since the chart was launched in 1990. [13] [14] It also debuted at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the Hot Country Songs chart with 40,000 downloads sold in less than three full days of sales. [13] In the following week, it reached No. 1 on the Country Digital Songs chart and No. 6 on the Hot Country Songs chart with 74,000 copies sold after a full week of sale. [15] The song peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, [16] and No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart. [17] The song reached its millionth sales mark in October 2014. [18] As of April 2015, the song has sold 1,266,000 copies in the US. [19]
The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and was released on June 30, 2014. It shows Chesney partying and making music with a group of young men and women in a brightly colored school bus. [20] [21] Some have suggested the bus in the video is a nod to Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and their bus Further . [22] According to Chesney, "[t]he spirit of this thing — the song, the bus, the idea of the kids riding around, having fun, playing music and just celebrating life — makes you want to get involved," and that "[f]un is where and how you make it." [23]
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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American country music singer and songwriter Kenny Chesney has released nineteen studio albums, two live albums, two greatest hits albums, and 70 singles. Ten of his albums consecutively reached number one on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Fourteen of them have been certified gold or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His highest-certified albums are No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems (2002), When the Sun Goes Down (2004), and his first Greatest Hits compilation, each certified 4× Platinum for shipping four million copies in the US. Excluding his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams on Capricorn Records, all of his albums have been issued by BNA Records.
"Out Last Night" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released on April 6, 2009 as the first single and only new track on his compilation album Greatest Hits II. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming his thirty-eighth Top 40 hit in the United States. Chesney wrote this song with Brett James.
"Ain't Back Yet" is a song written by Craig Wiseman and Chris Tompkins and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. The song is included on a re-issue of Chesney's 2009 compilation album Greatest Hits II, and was released as the album's third and final single in February 2010. The song is also played during the end credits to Chesney's 2010 film Summer in 3D. The song peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Frank Robert Ballard IV is an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has released two albums each for Reprise Records and Warner Bros. Records, and has charted eight singles on the Hot Country Songs charts.
"The Boys of Fall" is a song written by Casey Beathard and Dave Turnbull, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in July 2010 as the first single from Chesney's album Hemingway's Whiskey.
"Come Over" is a song written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne and recorded by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released in May 2012 as the second single from Chesney's 2012 album Welcome to the Fishbowl.
American country music singer and songwriter Luke Bryan has released seven studio albums, four compilation albums, seven extended plays, and 31 singles.
"Give It All We Got Tonight" is a song recorded by American country music singer George Strait. The song was written by Tim James, Phil O’Donnell and Mark Bright. It was released on October 29, 2012 as the first single from his album Love Is Everything.
"Pirate Flag" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in February 2013, as the first single from his fifteenth studio album Life on a Rock (2013). The song was written by Ross Copperman and David Lee Murphy.
"Til It's Gone" is a song written by Rodney Clawson, David Lee Murphy, and Jimmy Yeary and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in October 2014 as the second single from Chesney’s 2014 album The Big Revival.
"This Is How We Roll" is a song recorded by American country music duo Florida Georgia Line with fellow country music singer Luke Bryan. It is the fifth and final single from Florida Georgia Line's debut studio album, Here's to the Good Times, although it is only included on the 2013 This Is How We Roll re-release. Cole Swindell assisted the artists in writing the song. A remix, featuring Jason Derulo and Bryan was released on June 7, 2014.
"Shotgun Rider" is a song recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released on September 8, 2014 as the third single from his second studio album for Big Machine Records, Sundown Heaven Town. The song was written by Marv Green, Hillary Lindsey, and Troy Verges.
"Wild Child" is a song by recording artists Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter. The song was co-written by Chesney, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne. It was released in February 2015 as the third single from the Chesney's album The Big Revival (2014). Potter had previously collaborated with Chesney for his singles "You and Tequila" and "El Cerrito Place".
"House Party" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released to country radio, by MCA Nashville on June 1, 2015 as the third single from his debut studio album Montevallo (2014). The song was written by Hunt, Zach Crowell and Jerry Flowers.
"That Don't Sound Like You" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Lee Brice. It was released in May 2015 as the third single from his third studio album I Don't Dance. The song was written by Brice, Rhett Akins and Ashley Gorley.
"Save It for a Rainy Day" is a song written by Andrew Dorff, Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in June 2015 as the fourth and final single from Chesney’s 2014 album The Big Revival.
"Die a Happy Man" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett. It was released on September 28, 2015 by Valory Music Group as the second single from his second studio album, Tangled Up. Rhett wrote the song with Sean Douglas and Joe Spargur. American singer Tori Kelly is featured on a pop remix included on the deluxe edition. The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his highest-charting single on that chart.
"Noise" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in March 2016 as the first single from his 2016 album Cosmic Hallelujah. Chesney wrote this song with Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, and Jon Nite.
"Setting the World on Fire" is a song written by Ross Copperman, Matt Jenkins, and Josh Osborne and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney as a duet with American singer Pink. It was released to country radio on July 28, 2016 and to digital retailers the following day as the second single from Chesney's 2016 album Cosmic Hallelujah. The song was also promoted to adult and pop radio on September 12, 2016. The song was nominated for the Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
American country pop duo Dan + Shay have released four studio albums and fourteen singles. The duo has achieved nine top ten hits on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, including seven number ones. Since the release of "Tequila" in 2018, the duo has experienced crossover success with their music, placing three singles including "Tequila" in the top ten of the Adult Pop Songs chart in addition to their success in the country genre.