Pain Killer (Little Big Town song)

Last updated
"Pain Killer"
Little Big Town - Pain Killer single cover.jpg
Single by Little Big Town
from the album Pain Killer
ReleasedAugust 24, 2015 (2015-08-24)
Genre
Length3:11
Label Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jay Joyce
Little Big Town singles chronology
"Smokin' and Drinkin'"
(2015)
"Pain Killer"
(2015)
"Take Me Down"
(2016)
Music video
"Pain Killer" on YouTube

"Pain Killer" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town for their sixth studio album of the same name (2014). It was written by group members Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook along with Blair Daly and Hillary Lindsey, with Fairchild being featured on lead vocals. The song was serviced to American country radio on August 24, 2015 as the album's third official single. [1]

Contents

Content

"Pain Killer" is a mid-tempo reggae-influenced [2] [3] country song about using loved ones, rather than drugs or alcohol, to get through difficult times. Group member Karen Fairchild performs lead vocals on the song, as on previous Pain Killer singles "Day Drinking" and "Girl Crush". [4]

Critical reception

An uncredited review for Taste of Country praised the song as "a credit to strong songwriting and a strong bond between the four bandmates." [4]

Music video

The official music video for "Pain Killer" was filmed on location Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, including the Soggy Dollar Bar, which is the birthplace of the Painkiller drink that shares its name with the song and its parent album. [2] [5] Directed by Roger Pistole, the video premiered August 23, 2015. [6] The video features the band members letting loose at beach bars (including the Soggy Dollar) in formal wear and also features shots of the quartet performing underwater. [5]

Chart performance

Chart (2015–2016)Peak
position
Canada Country (Billboard) [7] 35
US Country Airplay ( Billboard ) [8] 38
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 49

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Big Town</span> American country band

Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group from Homewood, Alabama. Founded in 1998, the group has had the same four members since its founding: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook. Their musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all four members alternating as lead vocalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boondocks (song)</span> Song co-written and recorded by American country music group Little Big Town

"Boondocks" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released in May 2005 as the first single from their second studio album The Road to Here. It became their first Top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. It was written by Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook and Wayne Kirkpatrick. The song is one of the band's most enduring and popular hits and they often perform it at the end of their concerts.

<i>A Place to Land</i> (Little Big Town album) 2007 studio album by Little Big Town

A Place to Land is the third studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. Released on November 6, 2007, as their second album on the independent Equity Music Group label, it features the single "I'm with the Band", which peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in late 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Big Town discography</span>

American country music group Little Big Town has released ten studio albums and 27 singles.

<i>Tornado</i> (Little Big Town album) 2012 studio album by Little Big Town

Tornado is the fifth studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on September 11, 2012 via Capitol Nashville. "Pontoon," which was released in April 2012 as the album's lead-off single, has since become their first number one song on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and Little Big Town's fastest-rising single to date. The album's second single, "Tornado," was released on October 1, 2012. It became their first album since 2005's The Road to Here to produce two top 10 singles and to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little White Church</span> 2010 single by Little Big Town

"Little White Church" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music band Little Big Town, written by the band along with Wayne Kirkpatrick. It was released in March 2010 as the lead-off single from their album The Reason Why, released on August 24, 2010.

<i>The Reason Why</i> 2010 studio album by Little Big Town

The Reason Why is the fourth studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on August 24, 2010, through Capitol Records Nashville. "Little White Church," which was released in March 2010 as the album's lead-off single, has since become a Top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontoon (song)</span> 2012 single by Little Big Town

"Pontoon" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released in April 2012 as the first single from their fifth studio album, Tornado. The song, written by Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird and Barry Dean, became the group's first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of September 15, 2012. The song won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado (song)</span> 2012 single by Little Big Town

"Tornado" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released in October 2012 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Tornado. The song was written by Natalie Hemby and Delta Maid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Side of the Bed</span> 2013 single by Little Big Town

"Your Side of the Bed" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released April 8, 2013, as the third single from their fifth studio album, Tornado. The song was written by the group alongside Lori McKenna. They debuted the song at the 2013 ACM Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day Drinking</span> 2014 single by Little Big Town

"Day Drinking" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released in June 2014 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Pain Killer. Little Big Town debuted the song on the CMT Music Awards on June 4, 2014.

<i>Pain Killer</i> (Little Big Town album) 2014 studio album by Little Big Town

Pain Killer is the sixth studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on October 21, 2014, through Capitol Nashville. Little Big Town co-wrote eight of the album's thirteen tracks. Pain Killer was produced by Jay Joyce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pain Killer Tour</span> 2014–15 concert tour by Little Big Town

The Pain Killer Tour was the third headlining tour by American country music band Little Big Town. The tour was in support of their sixth studio album Painkiller (2014), and began on November 8, 2014, in Youngstown, Ohio. It concluded on November 21, 2015, in Spokane, Washington. Little Big Town consists of Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schalpman and Philip Sweet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl Crush</span> 2014 single by Little Big Town

"Girl Crush" is a song written by Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose, and performed by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on December 15, 2014 as the second single from their sixth studio album, Pain Killer. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics, won five music awards, including two Grammys, reaching number 3 on the Country Airplay charts and number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, ended up being the second-most played song of 2015 on the format, and is certified Quintuple Platinum in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home Alone Tonight</span> 2015 single by Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild

"Home Alone Tonight" is a song recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan as a duet with Karen Fairchild of American country music group Little Big Town for his fifth studio album, Kill the Lights (2015). Upon the release of the album, the song entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 33 on the strength of digital downloads. It was serviced to American country radio on November 23, 2015 as the album's third official single. The song was written by Jody Stevens, Cole Taylor, Jaida Dreyer and Tommy Cecil.

<i>Wanderlust</i> (Little Big Town album) 2016 studio album by Little Big Town

Wanderlust is the seventh studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on June 10, 2016, through Capitol Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better Man (Little Big Town song)</span> 2016 single by Little Big Town

"Better Man" is a song by American country group Little Big Town. It was released on October 20, 2016, as the lead single from the group's eighth studio album, The Breaker (2017). American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift wrote the song, intending to include it on her fourth studio album, Red (2012), but the song did not make the final track list. She passed the song to Little Big Town in 2016, believing the group's vocal harmonies suited it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy People (Little Big Town song)</span> 2017 single by Little Big Town

"Happy People" is a song recorded by American country group Little Big Town from their eighth studio album, The Breaker (2017). The song was released digitally February 3, 2017 as the album's first promotional single and was released to country radio as the album's second official single on April 3, 2017. "Happy People" was written by Lori McKenna and Hailey Whitters. McKenna later included her own rendition of the song on her 2018 album The Tree and Whitters recorded a version for her 2020 album The Dream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wine, Beer, Whiskey</span> 2020 single by Little Big Town

"Wine, Beer, Whiskey" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town from their ninth studio album, Nightfall (2020). It was released to country radio as the album's third single on June 1, 2020. The music video premiered on November 7, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartfirst</span> 2022 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Heartfirst" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country music radio on April 8, 2022, as the first single from Ballerini's fourth studio album, Subject to Change. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Alysa Vanderheym and Little Big Town member Karen Fairchild.

References

  1. "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio & Records . Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Nash Country Weekly Staff (August 25, 2015). "Little Big Town Heads to Paradise for "Pain Killer" Video". Country Weekly . Cumulus Media . Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  3. Liz (August 27, 2015). "Little Big Town 'Pain Killer' – Single Review". For The Country Record. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 Taste of Country Staff (August 26, 2015). "Little Big Town, 'Pain Killer' [Listen]". Taste of Country . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 Betts, Stephen L. (August 24, 2015). "See Little Big Town's Underwater 'Pain Killer' Video". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media . Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. LittleBigTownVEVO (August 23, 2015). "Little Big Town - Pain Killer". YouTube . Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  7. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada Country for Little Big Town. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  8. "Little Big Town Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. "Little Big Town Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2016.