Joey (Sugarland song)

Last updated
"Joey"
Single by Sugarland
from the album Love on the Inside
ReleasedJuly 6, 2009
Genre Country
Length4:02
Label Mercury Nashville
Songwriter(s) Bill Anderson, Kristian Bush, Jennifer Nettles
Producer(s) Byron Gallimore, Sugarland
Sugarland singles chronology
"It Happens"
(2009)		"Joey"
(2009)		"Stuck Like Glue"
(2010)

"Joey" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. The duo's two members, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, wrote it along with Bill Anderson. It was released in July 2009 as the fourth single from the duo's album Love on the Inside . Sugarland's twelfth single release, it debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in July 2009.

Contents

Content

"Joey" was written by Sugarland's two members, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, along with country singer Bill Anderson. [1] The song is a mid-tempo ballad, backed primarily by acoustic guitar and organ. In it, the narrator blames herself when her love, a teenager named Joey, [2] is killed in a car accident. [3] The lyrics are a series of "what if"s, with the narrator asking what would have happened if she had taken the keys and driven him home. In the chorus, she speaks to Joey, apologizing and hoping he can hear her message. In the second verse, she asks what would have happened had she never fallen in love with him at all. Nettles said that when she, Bush, and Anderson were writing the song, Anderson compared it to the teenage tragedy songs of the 1950s and 1960s. [2]

On the CD-DVD package Live on the Inside , Sugarland opens the song with a cover version of R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming". [4] A performance of "Nightswimming/Joey" received rotation on CMT as a music video for the song.

Critical reception

The song received mostly positive feedback from critics. Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly cited the song as a standout track in his review of the album, saying that it showed that the duo is "on surer footing when they get down to emotional specifics." [3] AllMusic critic Thom Jurek described it favorably in his review of the album as well, saying, "The emotion in Nettles' voice — especially as it is buoyed by Bush's in the refrain and the wide-open ringing guitars and mandolins — is devastating." [5] Bobby Peacock of Roughstock reviewed the song positively, saying that its lyrics were "just vague enough to be mysterious" and that it was a "risky" single release because it was a ballad being released in the summertime. [6] Melinda Newman of HitFix also gave a favorable review, describing the song as a "country gothic mid-tempo about loss and regret," saying that it had an alternative music sound similar to R.E.M. [1]

Dan Milliken of Country Universe gave a B− review. He said that the song's chorus "delivers practically nothing" compared to the verses, whose "what if" structure he considered unique. [7] Jim Malec of The 9513 gave a thumbs-down rating, calling the song "a thematically schizophrenic lyric that suffers from a debilitating lack of focus." He also said that Nettles' vocals were not as "raw" as other similar songs by the duo. [8]

Personnel

The following musicians perform on this track: [9]

Chart performance

"Joey" debuted at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 4, 2009. It reached a peak of number 17 in September 2009, becoming their first single to miss the Top 10 since "Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good)" also reached number 17 in 2006. The song also debuted at number 98 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in late August 2009, and peaked at number 89.

Chart (2009)Peak
position
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [10] 6
US Billboard Hot 100 [11] 89
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [12] 17

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugarland</span> American country music duo

Sugarland is an American country music duo founded in Atlanta, Georgia. The duo consists of singer-songwriters Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. They were founded in 2002, at which point Kristen Hall was also a member. All three had experience in folk rock: Nettles had recorded in the groups Soul Miner's Daughter and Jennifer Nettles Band, Bush had recorded two albums as one-half of the duo Billy Pilgrim, and Hall had recorded two solo albums. After Hall left in 2006, Nettles and Bush continued as a duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Nettles</span> American singer, record producer and actress

Jennifer Odessa Nettles is an American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Want To</span> 2006 single by Sugarland

"Want To" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in August 2006 as the first single from the album Enjoy the Ride. It was their first single not to feature former member Kristen Hall. Although Jennifer Nettles had previously been featured on Bon Jovi's Number One country hit, "Who Says You Can't Go Home", the song was the first regular Number One hit of Sugarland's career in the U.S., spending two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in late 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Settlin'</span> 2007 single by Sugarland

"Settlin'" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in January 2007 as the second single from their album Enjoy the Ride, and their second consecutive number one hit. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was written by Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush and Tim Owens. It was the theme song for the 2007 ACC tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday America</span> 2007 single by Sugarland

"Everyday America" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released on May 21, 2007 as the third single from their second album Enjoy the Ride). It peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The song was also played on the ABC television series Good Morning America from May to September 2007. It was written by Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush and Lisa Carver.

"Stay" is a song recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in September 2007 as the fourth and final single from their album Enjoy the Ride. Overall, the song is the group's eighth single to enter the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, where it reached a peak position of #2 for four weeks, stuck behind Taylor Swift's "Our Song", and has become their signature song. The music video for "Stay" was ranked #10 on CMT's 100 Greatest Videos.

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

The American country music duo Sugarland has released six studio albums for Mercury Nashville and 18 singles, including one as a featured artist. Founded in 2002 as a trio composed of Kristian Bush, Kristen Hall, and Jennifer Nettles, they have recorded as a duo since Hall's departure in December 2005.

<i>Love on the Inside</i> 2008 studio album by Sugarland

Love on the Inside is the third studio album by American country music duo Sugarland, first released on July 22, 2008, as a Deluxe Fan Edition, including five bonus tracks, with the standard edition one week later, on July 29, on Mercury Nashville Records. The album has produced three chart singles in "All I Want to Do", "Already Gone" and "It Happens", all number one hits on the Billboard country singles charts. The fourth single, "Joey", reached Top 20. The release of the fifth single "Keep You" was cancelled. It is also the first album of the duo's career to reach Number One on Top Country Albums and The Billboard Top 200. The album has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA with sales of over 2 million copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Want to Do</span> 2008 single by Sugarland

"All I Want to Do" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in May 2008 as the first single from their album Love on the Inside, which was released on July 22, 2008. The duo's two members, lead vocalist Jennifer Nettles and mandolinist/background vocalist Kristian Bush, wrote the song with singer Bobby Pinson, with whom the duo also co-wrote their late-2006 single "Want To". On the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated for August 16, 2008, "All I Want to Do" became Sugarland's third Number One hit. It was also a pop hit, peaking at No. 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, their highest peaking single on the Hot 100 until "Stuck Like Glue" debuted at number 17 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Already Gone (Sugarland song)</span> 2008 single by Sugarland

"Already Gone" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in September 2008 as the second single from their album Love on the Inside, which was released on July 29, 2008. Sugarland's members, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, wrote the song with Bobby Pinson, with whom the duo also co-wrote two of their previous singles, "Want To" and "All I Want to Do".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Love Her</span> 2008 single by Toby Keith

"God Love Her" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in November 2008 as the second single from his 2008 album That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy. On the chart week of March 7, 2009, the song became Keith's 18th number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Keith wrote this song with Vicky McGehee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Happens</span> 2009 single by Sugarland

"It Happens" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in February 2009 as the third single from their album Love on the Inside. The duo's members, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, wrote the song along with Bobby Pinson, with whom the duo also co-wrote the album's first two singles, "All I Want to Do" and "Already Gone".

<i>Live on the Inside</i> 2009 live album by Sugarland

Live on the Inside is a live DVD/CD set from country music duo Sugarland. It is their first live CD/DVD set and their fourth album overall. It was released on August 4, 2009, exclusively at Wal-Mart stores, and debuted at number one on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and Country Albums chart.

<i>Gold and Green</i> 2009 studio album (Christmas) by Sugarland

Gold and Green is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album from American country music duo Sugarland. The album was released on October 13, 2009, through Mercury Records Nashville. It features five original songs penned by group members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush and five traditional holiday songs that were also previously included as part of a Wal-Mart-exclusive re-release of the duo's 2006 album Enjoy the Ride.

<i>The Incredible Machine</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Sugarland

The Incredible Machine is the fifth studio album by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released on October 19, 2010, through Mercury Nashville Records. Byron Gallimore along with both members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush teamed up for production of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight (Sugarland song)</span> 2011 single by Sugarland

"Tonight" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released in April 2011 as the third single from their album The Incredible Machine. The song was written by Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush and Kevin Griffin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run (Matt Nathanson and Sugarland song)</span> 2011 single by Matt Nathanson featuring Sugarland

"Run" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson with Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of country duo Sugarland, and recorded for Nathanson's seventh studio album, Modern Love (2011). The song is performed as a duet between Nathanson and Nettles, with Bush contributing backing vocals as well as the acoustic and electric guitar accompaniments. It made its debut at the 2010 CMA Awards on November 9, 2011. A remastered country version was released to digital retailers via Vanguard Records the same day as the third single from Modern Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trailer Hitch</span> 2014 single by Kristian Bush

"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.

<i>Bigger</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Sugarland

Bigger is the sixth studio album by American country music duo Sugarland. It was released on June 8, 2018, through Big Machine Records. This is their first album in eight years since 2010's The Incredible Machine, and first on Big Machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babe (Sugarland song)</span> 2018 single by Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift

"Babe" is a song recorded by American country music duo Sugarland, featuring guest vocals from American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released by Big Machine Records on April 20, 2018, as the second single from Sugarland's sixth studio album, Bigger (2018). "Babe" is a midtempo country pop ballad and breakup song. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, and at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.

References

  1. 1 2 Newman, Melinda (June 29, 2009). "Sugarland's new single, "Joey"". HitFix. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Darden, Beville (May 13, 2009). "Story Behind the Song: "Joey", Sugarland". The Boot. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Willman, Chris (July 25, 2008). "Love on the Inside review". Entertainment Weekly . Time Inc. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  4. ↑ Neal, Chris (August 31, 2009). "Reviews". Country Weekly. 16 (29): 50.
  5. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "Love on the Inside - Sugarland". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  6. ↑ Peacock, Bobby (July 1, 2009). "Sugarland — "Joey"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  7. ↑ Milliken, Dan (July 7, 2009). "Sugarland — "Joey"". Country Universe. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  8. ↑ Malec, Jim (July 7, 2009). "Sugarland — "Joey"". The 9513. Archived from the original on July 11, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  9. ↑ Love on the Inside (Deluxe Fan Edition) (CD booklet). Sugarland. Mercury Nashville. 2008. 11476.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ "Sugarland Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Sugarland Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Sugarland Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
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.