Beautiful Mess (Diamond Rio song)

Last updated
"Beautiful Mess"
Diamond Rio - Beautiful Mess.jpg
Single by Diamond Rio
from the album Completely
ReleasedApril 1, 2002
Genre Country
Length3:48(album version)
3:38 (single version)
Label Arista Nashville
Songwriter(s) Sonny LeMaire, Clay Mills, Shane Minor
Producer(s) Diamond Rio, Mike Clute
Diamond Rio singles chronology
"That's Just That"
(2001)
"Beautiful Mess"
(2002)
"I Believe"
(2002)

"Beautiful Mess" is a song written by Shane Minor, Clay Mills and Exile bassist Sonny LeMaire, and recorded by American country music group Diamond Rio. [1] It was released in April 2002 as the first single from Diamond Rio's album Completely . [2] The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, a position that it held for two non-consecutive weeks. The song was also Diamond Rio's most successful crossover single, peaking at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

Content

The song is a mid-tempo in which the narrator describes how his life has changed since he fell in love. He describes himself as "going out of [his] mind" and unable to concentrate — for example, appearing tired at work, accidentally putting salt in his coffee, "walkin' 'round in a haze", and "put[ting] [his] shoes on the wrong feet". Ultimately, he calls his state of mind a "beautiful mess".

I think it is a different sounding song for us, even along the lines of Jimmy’s guitar, a type of guitar we have never had in a song (Gretsch Guitar). AND every woman we played it for thought it was a sexy song, and we for sure have never had one of those before...it made us like it even more. - Dana Williams, bassist

[3]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that "reverb-drenched guitar, a smoldering melody, and the barely contained pathos in the vocal highlight this next slice of excellence." Taylor said the "well-rendered backup vocals" and the good production give depth to the song. [4]

Music video

The music video was directed by Deaton Flanigen and premiered on CMT on May 31, 2002. The main female character was played by model Heather Green. It was filmed at the Nashville International Airport.

Charts

"Beautiful Mess" debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of April 13, 2002. "Beautiful Mess" reached its peak of number one on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on the chart week of September 28, 2002. One week later, it fell to the number two position with Tracy Byrd's "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo" overtaking it at the top. "Beautiful Mess" then returned to the number one spot on the chart dated for October 12, accounting for a second and final week in that peak.

Chart (2002)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 28

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] 8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Rio</span> American country and Christian music band

Diamond Rio is an American country music band. The band was founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, Tennessee, and was originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. It was founded by Matt Davenport, Danny Gregg, and Ty Herndon, the last of whom became a solo artist in the mid-1990s. After undergoing several membership changes in its initial years, the band consisted of the same six members from 1989 to 2022: Marty Roe, Gene Johnson, Jimmy Olander, Brian Prout (drums), Dan Truman (keyboards), and Dana Williams. After Prout and Johnson both departed in 2022, they were replaced by Micah Schweinsberg and Carson McKee respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radney Foster</span> American country music singer-songwriter, musician and music producer

Radney Muckleroy Foster is an American country music singer-songwriter, musician and music producer. Initially a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, Foster made his recording debut as part of the Foster & Lloyd duo, recording three studio albums and with nine singles on the country charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Turner</span> American singer-songwriter

Joshua Otis Turner is an American country and gospel singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to MCA Nashville Records. That same year, his debut album's title track, "Long Black Train", was his breakthrough single release. His second album, Your Man (2006) accounted for his first two No. 1 hits, "Your Man" and "Would You Go with Me", while 2007's Everything Is Fine included a No. 2 hit, "Firecracker". Haywire, released in 2010, produced his biggest hit, the four-week No. 1 hit "Why Don't We Just Dance" and another No. 1 song, "All Over Me". It was followed by Punching Bag (2012), whose lead-off single, "Time Is Love", was the biggest country hit of 2012 according to Billboard Year-End.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Kenny Chesney album) 2000 greatest hits album by Kenny Chesney

Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American country music artist Kenny Chesney, released on September 26, 2000, on BNA Records. It features hits from his previous albums, as well as newly recorded tracks. Two of the new tracks — "I Lost It" and "Don't Happen Twice" — were issued as singles. Also released from this album was a re-recording of his 1994 single "The Tin Man". Greatest Hits has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over four million copies in the United States.

<i>Completely</i> (Diamond Rio album) 2002 studio album by Diamond Rio

Completely is the seventh studio album by American country music group Diamond Rio, released on July 23, 2002. Two of the album's singles, "Beautiful Mess" and "I Believe", reached number one on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Also released from this album were "Wrinkles" and "We All Fall Down", which peaked at numbers 18 and 45, respectively, on the country charts. The album was certified gold by the RIAA and reached number 23 on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most successful album on the chart. "Make Sure You've Got It All" was originally recorded by Collin Raye on his 1998 album The Walls Came Down. "If You'd Like Some Lovin'" was written and originally recorded by David Ball for his album, Starlite Lounge in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Roy Parnell</span> American country music and blues artist, singer, songwriter, and guitarist

Lee Roy Parnell is an American country music and blues artist, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Active since 1990, he has recorded eight studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. His highest-charting hits are "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" (1992), "Tender Moment" (1993), and "A Little Bit of You" (1995), all of which peaked at No. 2. Four more of his singles have charted in the Top Ten as well. Parnell made a shift in the early 2000s back to the bluesier sounds of his early works, releasing two blues albums on Vanguard Records and Universal South. Besides his own work, Parnell has played slide guitar and National guitar on several other country and blues recordings.

"The Long Goodbye" is a song written by Irish singer-songwriters Paul Brady and Ronan Keating for Brady's 2000 album Oh What a World. In October 2001, it was released by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn as the third single from their album Steers & Stripes. Ronan Keating released his version in April 2003 as the last single from his album Destination (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry (Faith Hill song)</span> 2002 single by Faith Hill

"Cry" is a song by American country music singer Faith Hill. It was released as the first single from her fifth studio album of the same name (2002). The song was originally written and recorded by singer-songwriter Angie Aparo for his 1999 album, The American. In 2003, at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, Hill won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Cry", marking her second win in the category.

Burnin' Daylight was an American country music band composed of Marc Beeson, Kurt Howell, and Sonny LeMaire. Howell was formerly a member of Southern Pacific, and LeMaire a former member of Exile. Burnin' Daylight recorded one album on Curb Records in 1996, in addition to charting three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The highest of these, "Say Yes", reached No. 37.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Girl (Sugarland song)</span> 2004 single by Sugarland

"Baby Girl" is a debut song co-written and recorded by American country music group Sugarland. Originally released in 2003 as part of Premium Quality Tunes, it was re-released in July 2004 as the first single from the album Twice the Speed of Life. The single reached a peak position of number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in April 2005. The song spent a total of 46 weeks on the country music charts; setting a new record for the longest chart run since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan digital chart tabulation in 1990. In addition, "Baby Girl" became the highest-peaking debut single for a country music group in 14 years. It was written by group members Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush, and Kristen Hall, along with Troy Bieser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unbelievable (Diamond Rio song)</span> 1998 single by Diamond Rio

"Unbelievable" is a song written by Jeffrey Steele and Al Anderson, and recorded by American country music band Diamond Rio. It was released in October 1998 as the second single and title track from their album also titled Unbelievable.

<i>Cheap Seats</i> (album) 1993 album by the American band, Alabama

Cheap Seats is the fifteenth studio album by the American country music band Alabama, released in 1993 by RCA Records. It produced the singles "Reckless", "T.L.C. A.S.A.P." and the title track. Of these, "Reckless" was the band's final Number One hit on the Billboard country charts until 2011's "Old Alabama", and "The Cheap Seats" was the band's first single in fourteen years to miss Top Ten of the charts. Alabama produced the album along with Josh Leo and Larry Michael Lee, except for "Angels Among Us", which bassist Teddy Gentry produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Minor</span> American singer-songwriter

Shane Allen Minor is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Nashville Records in 1999, Minor released his self-titled album that year, and it produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Although he was dropped from Mercury's roster in 2000, he has continued to write songs for other artists, including the No. 1 singles "Beautiful Mess" by Diamond Rio, "Brand New Girlfriend" by Steve Holy, and "Live a Little" by Kenny Chesney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Day (Diamond Rio song)</span> 2000 single by Diamond Rio

"One More Day" is a song written by Bobby Tomberlin and Steven Dale Jones, and recorded by American country music group Diamond Rio. It was released in October 2000 as the second single and title track from their album One More Day, in addition to gaining popularity after the death of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit. After falling from the charts, it received heavy recurrent rotation as a tribute to the people who died in the September 11 attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)</span> 2002 single by Brad Paisley

"I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in February 2002 as the third single from his album Part II. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (then known as the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart) that year, becoming the third number-one hit of Paisley's career. Paisley wrote this song with Frank Rogers, who also produced it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wish You'd Stay</span> 2002 single by Brad Paisley

"I Wish You'd Stay" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released in August 2002 as the fourth and final single from Paisley's album Part II and reached a peak of number 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in early 2003. The song was originally released as the b-side to Paisley's previous single, "I'm Gonna Miss Her ." Paisley wrote this song with Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Rio discography</span>

Diamond Rio is an American country music band founded in 1982. Their discography consists of 10 studio albums, 36 singles, six compilation albums, one live album, and 20 music videos. Founded in 1984, Diamond Rio released their self-titled debut album in 1991. "Meet in the Middle", the lead-off single, reached number one on the Billboard country singles chart, making the band the first country group in history to have their debut single reach that position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prayin' for Daylight</span> 2000 single by Rascal Flatts

"Prayin' for Daylight" is a song written by Steve Bogard and Rick Giles and recorded by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It was released in February 2000 as the first single from the band's self-titled debut album and as their debut single. The song reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know How the River Feels</span> 1999 single by Diamond Rio

"I Know How the River Feels" is a song written by Steven Dale Jones and Amy Powers. First recorded by Ty Herndon, it has been released as a single by both Diamond Rio and McAlyster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Evans (singer)</span> Australian singer-songwriter (born 1985)

Morgan John Evans is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He released a self-titled debut studio album in March 2014, which peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Evans also had a crossover hit with "Kiss Somebody" in 2017. In 2019, he won the ARIA Award for Best Country Album for his second studio album, Things That We Drink To. In 2023 performed “long live the Newcastle Knights” live at the home NRL Finals game

References

  1. "A "Beautiful Mess" Made at BMI Nashville". Broadcast Music Incorporated . 2002-10-17. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  2. "Diamond Rio Biography". About.com . Archived from the original on 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  3. Anon (2004). "Diamond Rio:Song-by-Song" Arista Nashville.com. Retrieved September 18, 2009
  4. Billboard , April 6, 2002
  5. "Diamond Rio Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. "Diamond Rio Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. "Best of 2002: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2012.