Downtown's Dead

Last updated
"Downtown's Dead"
Sam Hunt - Downtown's Dead.png
Single by Sam Hunt
from the album Southside
ReleasedMay 16, 2018 (2018-05-16)
Genre Country
Length3:35
Label MCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Zach Crowell
  • Charlie Handsome [1]
Sam Hunt singles chronology
"Body Like a Back Road"
(2017)
"Downtown's Dead"
(2018)
"Kinfolks"
(2019)
Music video
"Downtown's Dead" on YouTube

"Downtown's Dead" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It is Hunt's eighth single release, and the follow-up to his 2017 hit "Body Like a Back Road" as well as the second single from his second studio album Southside . The song, which he wrote with Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, and Charlie Handsome, is about the loneliness felt after a break-up. The song is Hunt's lowest charting single of his career, with a peak at number 15 on the Country Airplay chart.

Contents

Content and history

Co-writer Zach Crowell told Taste of Country that "It was an idea that Sam brought and we chipped away at over the course of a handful of different writes." The two then presented the idea of "Downtown's Dead" to Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, who experimented with different sounds before deciding to make the lead instrument an acoustic guitar. The lyrics take inspiration from a breakup that Hunt had with his wife, Hannah, and it expresses the loneliness that the narrator feels when by himself in a public setting. [2] The song was described by Rolling Stone as featuring a "woozy Latin guitar riff" and a "hungover narrative about a city that no longer holds the same charm it once did." [3] Hunt announced the single's release via Instagram in May 2018. [4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [5] 67
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [6] 22
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 94
US Country Airplay ( Billboard ) [8] 15
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 14

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) [10] 72

Certifications

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

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Over (Kenny Chesney song)</span> 2012 single by Kenny Chesney

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leave the Night On</span> 2014 single by Sam Hunt

"Leave the Night On" 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 16, 2014 as the lead single from his debut studio album Montevallo (2014). The song was written by Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

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

Josh Osborne is an American songwriter with several number-one singles to his credit.

<i>Montevallo</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Sam Hunt

Montevallo is the debut studio album by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released on October 27, 2014, by MCA Nashville. Hunt co-wrote all 10 tracks on the album. The album was produced by Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally. "Cop Car" was previously recorded by Keith Urban on his eighth studio album Fuse, who released it as a single in January 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break Up in a Small Town</span> 2015 single by Sam Hunt

"Break Up in a Small Town" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released to country radio, by MCA Nashville on September 21, 2015, as the fourth single from his debut studio album Montevallo (2014). The song was written by Hunt, Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Your Time (Sam Hunt song)</span> 2014 single by Sam Hunt

"Take Your Time" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released to country radio, by MCA Nashville on November 24, 2014, as the second single from his debut studio album Montevallo (2014). Capitol Records headed the song's further promotion to pop and adult pop radio stations in the spring of 2015. The song became Hunt's second consecutive single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in February 2015. The song was written by Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Life (Jake Owen song)</span> 2015 single by Jake Owen

"Real Life" is a song written by Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley, and Ross Copperman, and recorded by American country music artist Jake Owen. It was originally released as the lead single to his upcoming fifth studio album American Love, but was scrapped in a restructuring of the album after it stalled at number 17 on Country Airplay for several weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbeat (Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2015 single by Carrie Underwood

"Heartbeat" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood from her fifth studio album, Storyteller. It was written by Underwood, Ashley Gorley, and the song's producer, Zach Crowell. Country singer Sam Hunt sings backing vocals on the track. The song was released to the radio by Arista Nashville on November 30, 2015, as the album's second single, after "Smoke Break". Musically, "Heartbeat" is a country pop and a R&B song with lyrics that relate to the feeling of intimacy experienced by being alone with one's lover. It appears to be inspired by Underwood's marriage to Mike Fisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body Like a Back Road</span> 2017 single by Sam Hunt

"Body Like a Back Road" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released to country radio, by MCA Nashville on February 2, 2017, as the lead single from his second studio album Southside. The song is written by Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. It was released to American hot adult contemporary radio on April 3, 2017, becoming his second crossover single promoted to a pop music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midland (band)</span> American country music band

Midland is an American country music group formed in 2014 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The band members are Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, and Cameron Duddy. Through Big Machine Records, the band has released two EPs, their self-titled EP and The Last Resort. They have released three studio albums, On the Rocks, Let It Roll and The Last Resort: Greetings From, which have accounted for seven charted singles on the Billboard country chart: "Drinkin' Problem", Burn Out", "Make a Little", "Mr. Lonely", "Cheatin' Songs", "Sunrise Tells the Story" and "Longneck Way to Go". Midland's musical style is known as neotraditional country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drinkin' Too Much</span> 2017 song by Sam Hunt

"Drinkin' Too Much" is a song recorded by American country singer Sam Hunt. He co-wrote the track with Shane McAnally, Stuart Hine, and producer Zach Crowell. It was included on his 2020 studio album Southside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Along (Kenny Chesney song)</span> 2018 single by Kenny Chesney

"Get Along" is a song written by Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, and Josh Osborne and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in April 2018 as the first single from Chesney's 2018 album Songs for the Saints. It was also Chesney's first single to be released from Warner Bros. Records, which he signed to following a 20-year affiliation with Sony Music Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Lonely (Midland song)</span> 2019 single by Midland

"Mr. Lonely" is a song performed by the American country music band Midland. It is the lead single to their second studio album Let It Roll. The band wrote the song with Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinfolks</span> 2019 single by Sam Hunt

"Kinfolks" is a song recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt, released as a single on October 11, 2019. It is the third single from Hunt's second studio album Southside. It is Hunt's ninth single release, and he co-wrote it with Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, and Josh Osborne. It debuted at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately peaked at number 34.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard to Forget</span> 2020 single by Sam Hunt

"Hard to Forget" is a song recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It is the fourth single from his second studio album Southside. Hunt wrote the song with Ashley Gorley, Josh Osborne, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally. The song contains a sample of Webb Pierce's 1953 hit "There Stands the Glass", whose writers Russ Hull, Audrey Grisham, and Mary Jean Shurtz are also credited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s</span> 2020 song by Sam Hunt

"Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s" is a song by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released on October 12, 2020 as the fifth single from his second studio album Southside. Hunt wrote the song with Zach Crowell, Chris LaCorte, Ernest Keith Smith and Josh Osborne, and produced by Zach Crowell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23 (Sam Hunt song)</span> 2021 single by Sam Hunt

"23" is a song by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released on September 9, 2021, as the lead single from his upcoming third studio album. Hunt wrote the song with Shane McAnally, Chris LaCorte, and Josh Osborne, while it was produced by Chris LaCorte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Wanted to Be That Girl</span> 2021 single by Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde

"Never Wanted to Be That Girl" is a song recorded by American country music singer-songwriters Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde. It was written by McBryde and Pearce, along with Shane McAnally. The track was released as the second single from Pearce's third studio album, 29: Written in Stone. The song has since reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and received critical attention from music critics. It received four nominations at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards, winning Musical Event of the Year, and won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 65th ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Until They Don't Love You</span> 2015 single by Reba

"Until They Don't Love You" is a song recorded by American country artist Reba. It was composed by Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna and Josh Osborne. The song was released as a single via Nash Icon Records in 2015 and was the second single spawned from Reba's 2015 album Love Somebody. "Until They Don't Love You" was generally met with favorable reviews and charted on the American country songs survey in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water Under the Bridge (Sam Hunt song)</span> 2022 single by Sam Hunt

"Water Under the Bridge" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Sam Hunt. It was released June 23, 2022 as the second single to Hunt's upcoming third album.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hunt finds "Downtown's Dead"". Country Standard Time . May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  2. Houghton, Cillea (May 30, 2018). "Lyrics Uncovered: Sam Hunt, 'Downtown's Dead'". Taste of Country . Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  3. Parton, Chris (May 16, 2018). "Hear Sam Hunt's Tense New Song 'Downtown's Dead'". Rolling Stone Country. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  4. Liptak, Carena (May 15, 2018). "Sam Hunt Readies New Single, 'Downtown's Dead,' For Release on May 16". The Boot. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  5. "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. "Sam Hunt Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  7. "Sam Hunt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. "Sam Hunt Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  9. "Sam Hunt Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  11. "American single certifications – Sam Hunt – Downtown's Dead". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 8, 2021.