I'm Alive (Willie Nelson song)

Last updated
"I'm Alive"
Kenny Chesney - Im Alive single.png
Single by Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
from the album Greatest Hits II
ReleasedAugust 17, 2009 (2009-08-17) [1]
Recorded2008
Genre Country
Length3:17
Label BNA
Songwriter(s) Kenny Chesney
Dean Dillon
Mark Tamburino [1]
Producer(s) Buddy Cannon
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney singles chronology
"Out Last Night"
(2009)		"I'm Alive"
(2009)		"Ain't Back Yet"
(2010)
Dave Matthews singles chronology
"Eh Hee"
(2007)		"I'm Alive"
(2009)

"I'm Alive" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. He wrote the song with Dean Dillon and Mark Tamburino. The song was originally recorded by Willie Nelson on his album Moment of Forever , which Chesney also produced. Chesney himself later recorded it (as a duet with Dave Matthews) on his 2008 album Lucky Old Sun . This version later appeared on his 2009 compilation album Greatest Hits II , from which it was released to radio as the album's second single in August 2009.

Contents

Song information

Willie Nelson first recorded the song on his 2008 album Moment of Forever , [2] which Chesney co-produced. [1] Chesney later recorded the song as a duet with Dave Matthews on Lucky Old Sun (also released in 2008), [3] but did not release it as a single from that album. Chesney told Country Standard Time , "It was never meant to be some kind of a message — except to maybe myself[…]It's one thing when Willie Nelson at 70 sings it, and something totally different when Dave and I do. One is from a place of really knowing; for us, it was more just the fact that we realize it." [2] He also said that he was inspired to write the song after his divorce from actress Renée Zellweger: "Writing that song was a release. It was the best I'd felt in a long time after I wrote that song." [4]

Chesney's version of the song is set in the key of E♭ major, with a vocal range from B♭3 to F5 and a main chord progression of E♭-E♭+/G-A♭-A♭m. [5] It is primarily accompanied by acoustic guitar, organ, and light percussion.

Critical reception

CM Wilcox of The 9513 gave the song a “thumbs-down” review. He said that the song had "somewhat ambitious" lyrics, and made note of Matthews' vocal performance, but said that Chesney sounded like a "workaday singer" and that the duet did not have a sense of interplay between the two vocalists. [6] In his review of Lucky Old Sun , J. Freedom Du Lac of the Washington Post said, "The song is supposed to be an anthem about strength and survival and soldiering on[…]Yet it sounds more like a weary wish than a declaration," [7] and an uncredited review in the Hartford Courant said that it "may be the plainest thing Matthews has ever done." [8] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave a favorable review, describing the song as "a genuine reflection[…]about the way they choose to live their lives." [9]

Chart performance

As an album cut from Lucky Old Sun, "I'm Alive" spent one week at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song later appeared on Chesney's Greatest Hits II compilation a year afterward, and was released in August as that album's second single. It re-entered at number 41 on the same chart dated for the week of August 15, 2009, [10] ahead of the song's announced release date of August 17. [1]

Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [11] 55
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 [12] 18
Chart (2009)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [11] 6
US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 32
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [14] 6
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [15] 73

Year-end charts

Chart (2009)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [16] 44

Related Research Articles

Kenny Chesney American country musician

Kenneth Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, 32 of which have reached number one. Many of these have also charted within the Top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100, making him one of the most successful crossover country artists. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

Mac McAnally American singer-songwriter

Lyman Corbitt McAnally Jr., known professionally as Mac McAnally, is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician, and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Kenny Chesney discography Discography

American country music singer 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. Chesney has recorded for four labels: Capricorn Records, BNA Records, Columbia Records Nashville, and Warner Records Nashville.

<i>Moment of Forever</i> 2008 studio album by Willie Nelson

Moment of Forever is the fifty-sixth studio album by American country music artist Willie Nelson., released on January 29, 2008 on the Lost Highway Records label. A video has been made for the album's first single "Gravedigger", and another video has been made for the track "You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore", featuring Jessica Simpson, Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Luke Wilson, and Dan Rather. The latter video premiered on the weekend of February 23–24 on MTV.

"Every Other Weekend" is a duet by American country music artists Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney, recorded on the former's 2007 album Reba: Duets. The song, written by Skip Ewing and Connie Harrington, is the third and final single from the album. When shipped to radio, Chesney's vocals were replaced with Ewing's, although for most of its chart run the song was not credited to either duet partner. It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard country singles charts in 2008, and number 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.

David Nail American singer-songwriter

David Brent Nail is an American country music artist, and frontman of the band David Nail & The Well Ravens. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis" from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years later, he signed with MCA Nashville, for which he has released four studio albums: I'm About to Come Alive, The Sound of a Million Dreams, I'm a Fire, and Fighter plus two extended plays, 1979 and Uncovered. The albums have produced seven chart entries on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including two that have reached No. 1: "Let It Rain" and "Whatever She's Got", plus the top 10 hit "Red Light".

<i>Lucky Old Sun</i> 2008 studio album by Kenny Chesney

Lucky Old Sun is the twelfth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on October 14, 2008 as the first release for Blue Chair Records, Chesney's personal division of the BNA Records record label. The album produced two singles in "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" and "Down the Road", which were both number ones on the country charts. Chesney's versions of those two songs are duets with The Wailers and Mac McAnally respectively. This was Kenny's first album since 1997's I Will Stand to not have a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Down the Road (Mac McAnally song)

"Down the Road" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mac McAnally. McAnally has charted with the song on two separate occasions. The first of these two versions was released as the second single from his 1990 album Simple Life, and was a minor chart single for him that year. Eighteen years later, McAnally re-recorded the song as a duet with Kenny Chesney on Chesney's 2008 album Lucky Old Sun. This rendition is also McAnally's highest charting country hit, having reached Number One in February 2009.

<i>Greatest Hits II</i> (Kenny Chesney album) 2009 greatest hits album by Kenny Chesney

Greatest Hits II is a compilation album by country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on May 19, 2009, and it is his second greatest hits album since Greatest Hits in 2000. The album includes twelve singles from 2002 to 2009, as well as two non-singles from previous albums. Also included is the new song "Out Last Night", which was issued as a single in April 2009, followed by "I'm Alive" in August 2009.

Out Last Night 2009 single by Kenny Chesney

"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.

Aint Back Yet 2010 single by Kenny Chesney

"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.

The Boys of Fall 2010 single by Kenny Chesney

"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.

<i>Hemingways Whiskey</i> 2010 studio album by Kenny Chesney

Hemingway's Whiskey is the thirteenth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on September 28, 2010 as his last studio album for BNA Records. This is Kenny Chesney's last studio album since signing contracts with BNA Records in 1995, with the release of All I Need to Know. This album received generally positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling approximately 183,000 copies during its first week. It has also been certified platinum by the RIAA. The album produced five singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart between 2010 and 2011. Four of those singles "The Boys of Fall", "Somewhere with You", "Live a Little", and "Reality" all reached number one, while "You and Tequila" went to number three.

Come Over (Kenny Chesney song) 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.

Pirate Flag (song) 2013 single by Kenny Chesney

"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.

American Kids 2014 single by Kenny Chesney

"American Kids" is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally 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. After its official release, the song became available for sale on June 21 that year.

Wild Child (Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter song) 2015 single by Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter

"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".

Setting the World on Fire 2016 single by Kenny Chesney featuring Pink

"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.

<i>Live in No Shoes Nation</i> 2017 live album by Kenny Chesney

Live in No Shoes Nation is the second live album by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released on October 27, 2017 via Columbia Records.

<i>Songs for the Saints</i> 2018 studio album by Kenny Chesney

Songs for the Saints is the eighteenth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released on July 27, 2018 via Warner Bros. Nashville and Blue Chair Records. The album's content was inspired by Hurricane Irma.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Kenny Chesney's Duet With Dave Matthews, "I'm Alive," Sent to Country Radio". CMT . July 28, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Chesney finds "I'm Alive" for singledom". Country Standard Time . 2009-07-28. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Lucky Old Sun - Kenny Chesney". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  4. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (October 12, 2008). "Kenny Chesney channels his pain on Sun". USA Today . Gannett Company . Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  5. ↑ ""I'm Alive" sheet music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  6. ↑ Wilcox, CM (August 7, 2009). "Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews — "I'm Alive"". The 9513. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  7. ↑ Du Lac, J. Freedom (October 21, 2008). "Kenny Chesney on heartbreak and Renee". The Washington Post . Nash Holdings LLC . Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  8. ↑ "CD reviews". Hartford Courant . Tribune Publishing. October 14, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  9. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (August 6, 2009). "Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews — "I'm Alive"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  10. ↑ Morris, Edward (August 8, 2009). "Darius Rucker Claims No. 1 Song Spot With "Alright"". CMT. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  12. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 168. ISBN   978-0-89820-188-8.
  13. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  15. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Best of 2009: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved December 13, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.