"Cost of Livin'" | ||||
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Single by Ronnie Dunn | ||||
from the album Ronnie Dunn | ||||
Released | June 27, 2011 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 4:10 | |||
Label | Arista Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ronnie Dunn Phillip Coleman | |||
Producer(s) | Ronnie Dunn | |||
Ronnie Dunn singles chronology | ||||
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"Cost of Livin'" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Dunn. It was released in June 2011 as the second single from his self-titled album, and his second release following the split of the duo Brooks & Dunn. Dunn wrote this song with Phillip Coleman.
Dunn had first had the song on hold in 2008, during the economic recession, but decided against recording it because he thought that the economy would improve. Dunn was also told that by label executives that he was "too wealthy" for the song, a comment which Dunn said made him "furious." [1] Phillip Coleman wrote most of the song, but Dunn changed the original chorus and hook. [2]
In "Cost of Livin'", Dunn sings as a man presenting his skills and positive qualities as an employment candidate to an interviewer. The man makes reference to his military background and how he faithfully worked for his former employer before an economic downturn forced it to cease business operations. The tone of the lyrics [3] indicate that he and his family are struggling financially, and that new employment will help their situation. The end of the song is somewhat vague as to whether the man is successful in gaining a new job or just interviewing for another position, though it is clear that the urgency of his situation is mounting.
Giving it four-and-a-half stars out of five, Billy Dukes of Taste of Country said that it "tells a chillingly familiar story that one can’t help but stop and notice." He praised the "bare-bones production" and Dunn's "big voice". [4] Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, calling it "a masterpiece that is as timely as it is well written and performed." [5] Dunn's performance of the song earned him two Grammy Award nominations, one for Best Country Song for co-writing "Cost of Livin'" and one for Best Country Solo Performance.
The music video was directed by Thien Phan.
The parts with Dunn in it was shot at a closed-down gas station in Lowery, Oklahoma. Otherwise, it tells the story of the Goodyear tire manufacturer in Union City, Tennessee which was ceasing operations, and features interviews with several former workers of the plant that talk about how hard it will be now that they are unemployed.
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
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US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [6] | 19 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] | 86 |
Chart (2011) | Position |
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US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] | 65 |
Ronald Gene Dunn is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive. Starting in 2011, Dunn has worked as a solo artist following the temporary dissolution of Brooks & Dunn. He released his self-titled debut album for Arista Nashville on June 7, 2011, reaching the Top 10 with its lead-off single "Bleed Red". In 2013, after leaving Arista Nashville in 2012, Dunn founded Little Will-E Records. On April 8, 2014, Ronnie Dunn released his second solo album, Peace, Love, and Country Music through his Little Will-E Records. On November 11, 2016, he released his third album Tattooed Heart on NASH Icon label. His fourth album Re-Dunn was released on January 10, 2020.
"Proud of the House We Built" is a song written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride and Marv Green and recorded by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in June 2007 as the first single from their album Cowboy Town. The song reached a peak of number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
"Put a Girl in It" is a song co-written by singer Rhett Akins along with Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, who are collectively known as The Peach Pickers, and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in May 2008 as the third single from their album Cowboy Town. It reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
"Dancin' Away with My Heart" is a song recorded by American country music trio Lady Antebellum. It was released in December 2011 as the third single from their album Own the Night. The song was written by Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Josh Kear. It became a top 5 hit, and it features lead vocals from both Scott and Kelley.
"I Got Nothin'" is a song recorded by American country music artist Darius Rucker and co-written by Rucker with Clay Mills. It was released in May 2011 as the seventh solo single of Rucker's career, and the third single from his album Charleston, SC 1966.
"Bait a Hook" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Justin Moore. It was released in August 2011 as the second single from his 2011 album Outlaws Like Me. The song became Moore's fifth top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with a peak at number 17. It also reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over 500,000 units in the United States. Reviews for the track were generally mixed, with critics divided over the premise and its lyrical content.
"Reality" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in October 2011 as the fifth and final single from his 2010 album Hemingway's Whiskey. The song became Chesney's twenty-first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2012. Chesney wrote this song with Brett James.
"Better Than I Used to Be" is a song written by Ashley Gorley and Bryan Simpson. The song was originally recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw in 2010 for the album of the same name, released August 31, 2010, on Big Hit Records. The version released by Sammy Kershaw was released as a single, but did not enter the charts.
"Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kip Moore. It was released in September 2011 as the first single from his debut album Up All Night. Moore wrote this song with and Dan Couch. It garnered positive reviews from critics who praised Moore's delivery for being able to elevate generic lyrics. "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the only single in Moore's career to reach that peak to date. It also gave him his first and only top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 29. The song was certified 2x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over two million units in the country. It also charted in Canada, peaking at number 33 on the Canadian Hot 100. Two accompanying music videos were made for the single, the official version by Roger Pistole and an acoustic version by Stephen Shepherd.
"Time Is Love" is a song written by Tony Martin, Mark Nesler and Tom Shapiro and recorded by American country music artist Josh Turner. It was released in January 2012 as the lead-off single from Turner's album Punching Bag. It was covered by Mark Kozelek on his 2013 covers album Like Rats.
"Drunk on You" is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, and Josh Kear and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It was released in February 2012 as the third single from his album Tailgates & Tanlines. It was also the first single that Bryan did not have a hand in writing.
"Beers Ago" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in March 2012 as the third and final single from his 2011 album Clancy's Tavern. Keith co-wrote the song with Bobby Pinson. A remixed version by DJ Jason Nevins also appears on the deluxe edition of Keith's sixteenth studio album Hope on the Rocks, released the following year. To date, this is Keith's last Top 10 hit.
"Drinkin' Man" is a song co-written and recorded by the American country music singer George Strait. The song was written by Strait with his son, Bubba and Dean Dillon. It was released on 30 April 2012, as the third single from his album Here for a Good Time.
"Over" is a song written by Paul Jenkins and David Elliott Johnson and recorded by American country music artist Blake Shelton. It was released in May 2012 as the fourth and final single from Shelton's 2011 album Red River Blue. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2012. It was originally released in 2007 as a track on Burn Out Bright, the debut and only album released by Jenkins's band, The Royce.
"Come Wake Me Up" is a song recorded by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It was released in May 2012 as the second single from their eighth studio album, Changed. The song was written by Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren and Sean McConnell. On November 7, a duet version with Swedish country/pop female singer, Jill Johnson was released on Johnson's album, A Woman Can Change Her Mind. The duet version was also released as a digital download internationally on November 16, 2012.
"Tip It on Back" is a song written by Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, and Tully Kennedy and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in August 2012 as the fourth and final single from Bentley's 2012 album Home. This song is also Bentley's first single that he did not co-write.
"I Like Girls That Drink Beer" is a song recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith and co-written with Bobby Pinson. It was released in July 2012 and is the first single from his album Hope on the Rocks, released on October 30, 2012.
"Beer with Jesus" is a song recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett. It was released in September 2012 as the second single from his debut album, It Goes Like This. Rhett wrote the song with Rick Huckaby and Lance Miller.
"Trailer Hitch" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kristian Bush, one half of the duo Sugarland. It was released on July 28, 2014 as Bush's first solo single and the lead single from his debut solo album, Southern Gravity. Bush co-wrote the song with his brother, Brandon Bush, and Tim Owens.
"Like a Wrecking Ball" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released on March 9, 2015 as the fifth and final single from his 2014 album The Outsiders. Church wrote this song with Casey Beathard.