Remember That (Jessica Simpson song)

Last updated
"Remember That"
RememberThatSingleCover.jpeg
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album Do You Know
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2008 (2008-09-29)
Genre Country pop
Length3:44
Label Columbia Nashville
Songwriter(s) Rachel Proctor
Victoria Banks
Producer(s) Brett James
John Shanks
Jessica Simpson singles chronology
"Come On Over"
(2008)		"Remember That"
(2008)
Music video
"Remember That" on Youtube.com

"Remember That" is a song by American singer Jessica Simpson from her sixth studio album, Do You Know (2008).It was released on September 29, 2008, as the second single from the album. The single was written by Rachel Proctor and Victoria Banks and produced by Brett James and John Shanks. The song is about domestic violence. The song did not make much impact in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, but failing to reach the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song did manage to peak at number forty-two on Billboard Country Songs, and at number eighty-eight in Canada.

Contents

Background and recording

"Remember That" was written by Rachel Proctor and Victoria Banks, and produced by Brett James and John Shanks. [1] Proctor wrote the single with Banks a year after her divorce. She developed its concept and "felt compelled" to share it with Banks even though they were not close friends. During the writing session, they shared their domestic violence experiences and completed the lyrics in an hour. Banks said they "wrote it from the heart to try and help other abused women to have the same realization we had". She felt a man would be unable to create a similar song, feeling he would lack “the same personal investment that motivated the lyrics to be written". Ethnomusicologist Chris Wilson described "Remember That" as a "rare exception among cowritten Nashville songs" as its message took precedence over its chances of becoming a "money-making hit". [2] The song was mixed by Luke Wooton, recorded by Jeff Rothschild, and mastered by Andrew Mendelson. [1]

RCA Records pitched the "Remember That" demo to Jessica Simpson as part of her preparation to record a country music album. [2] Simpson chose the genre to reconnect with her roots in Texas and her childhood listening to the style of music. She referenced Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Martina McBride as her inspirations. [3] Simpson cried on first hearing "Remember That", [4] and related to its lyrics due to her past experience with abuse. [5] She said that she had a personal connection with the song. She was quoted as saying, "I sing it with experience.". [5] "Remember That" inspired Simpson to be involved with the songwriting process for the album; [2] she contacted Proctor and Banks for a second collaboration, the album's lead single "Come On Over" (2008). [2] [6]

Composition and lyrics

"Remember That" is about a domestic violence survivor's advice for a woman in a similar situation. Despite its focus on an intimate subject matter, the song is performed from a "removed stance". [2] Lyrics include “With his hands or with his words / you don’t deserve it". [7] Simpson reminds the listener to remember the "whiskey in his whispers and the lies that felt so easy from his lips". [8] Jon Caramanica, writing for The New York Times , interpreted the singer's delivery of the line ("remember how he told you you were stupid") as aimed at critics of her personality on the reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica . Caramanica described the single as "an angry rumination on domestic violence". [9] "Remember That" ends with a coda delivered in the first-person perspective: "Take it from me, I've stood in your shoes." [4] [6]

Release and promotion

"Remember That" was the second single from Simpson's sixth studio album Do You Know (2008). [2] [10] Proctor and Banks wrote cards to North American country radio to promote the song, though the stations refused to play it. Banks questioned if this decision was reached due to the larger ratio of men responsible for music programming or country radio's resistance to Simpson's music. Chris Wilson cited the songwriters' involvement in the promotional process as unusual in the music industry. Despite the lack of airplay, "Remember That" was one of the most downloaded songs in the iTunes Store following the album's release. [2] The single was later included on Simpson's 2010 greatest hits album Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson .

Simpson performed "Remember That" as part of her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, introducing it as "a very personal song for a lot of women". [4] She sang it during a 2009 concert with Rascal Flatts. Erik Ernst of the Wisconsin State Journal criticized the performance as "herky-jerky and shaky". [11]

Critical reception

Critics had a primarily positive response for "Remember That". Simpson was praised by Rolling Stone 's Caryn Ganz Simp as having "tender voice [that] exudes the realism of a gal who’s taken a few knocks in her day", [12] and Caramanica for "f[inding] a backbone" through the single's message and lyrics. [9] Sputnikmusic's Willie noted that Simpson's "passionate vocals" separated "Remember That" from similar songs on abuse. [13] The song's placement on the album also received praise. [8] [9] Caramanica wrote "Remember That" was where Do You Know "finds its groove", [9] and Jennifer Webb of About.com praised how it was paired with "Pray Out Loud" to ease listeners from its focus on abuse. [8] Alternatively, Slant Magazine's Jonathan Keefe dismissed it as "a knockoff of Martina McBride’s shrill domestic violence empowerment anthems". [6]

Commercial performance

The song did not make much impact in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, but failing to reach the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song did manage to peak at number forty-two on the Billboard Country Songs chart, and at number eighty-eight in Canada. To date, "Remember That" has sold 207,000 digital downloads according to Nielsen SoundScan. [14]

Track listing

Digital download
  1. "Remember That" – 3:40

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [15] 88
Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Singles) [16] 68
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [17] 1
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 42
US Hot Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [19] 67

Related Research Articles

<i>In This Skin</i> Album by Jessica Simpson

In This Skin is the third studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. It was reissued on March 2, 2004, with three new songs. Simpson began taking more creative control of her music with the album, both musically and lyrically, co-writing 10 out of 14 tracks on the album, thus moving away from the teen pop styles of her previous two albums, Sweet Kisses (1999) and Irresistible (2001), as well as including elements of Middle Eastern music, dance, acoustic, and pop rock, while also lyrically talking about more mature subject matters. The album was a huge success in North America, reaching number two on the US Billboard 200 and being certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, In This Skin went on to become the thirty-fifth best selling album of 2004. It was ranked number 153 on the list of the top-selling albums of the 2000s by Billboard magazine. As of 2020, In This Skin has sold 7 million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashlee Simpson</span> American singer and actress (born 1984)

Ashlee Ross-Næss, known professionally as Ashlee Simpson, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. The younger sister of singer and actress Jessica Simpson, she began her career as a back-up dancer for her sister and appeared in television commercials at the age of 15. She later pursued a career as an actress and had a main role on the family drama 7th Heaven. She appeared on the reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, broadcast on MTV between 2003 and 2005, which focused on Ashlee's older sister Jessica and Jessica's then-husband Nick Lachey. While working on her debut studio album, Simpson became the star of a spin-off reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show, which was broadcast on MTV between 2004 and 2005. Like her sister before her, Simpson became the center of considerable media attention.

<i>Sweet Kisses</i> 1999 studio album by Jessica Simpson

Sweet Kisses is the debut studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson, released in the United States on November 23, 1999, by Columbia Records. Its lyrical and visual representations carry the common theme of virginal innocence, a continuation of 1999's teen-pop revival. It was produced to capitalize on the success of teen artists Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, who both debuted earlier that year. Sweet Kisses was a hit in the US, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over two million copies. As of February 2009, it has sold 1.9 million copies in the US.

Ke'Tara Shavon "KeKe" Wyatt is an American singer-songwriter and television personality. After performing in a number of girl bands and working as a songwriter during her teenage years, in 2000 she garnered national attention after her successful collaboration with fellow R&B singer Avant, In 2001 her rendition of "Nothing in This World" led to a nomination for the Best New R&B/Soul/Rap Artist award at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. After a number of charting collaborations and solo releases, in 2012 she starred as a cast member in TV One's R&B Divas: Atlanta, which featured the lives of five 1990s chart-topping R&B singers. She was featured in all 3 seasons of the show. She also performed with the group at events such as Essence Music Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Love You Forever</span> 1999 single by Jessica Simpson

"I Wanna Love You Forever" is the debut single of American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The song was released on August 30, 1999, by Columbia Records as the lead single from Simpson's debut studio album, Sweet Kisses (1999). Written and produced by Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters, "I Wanna Love You Forever" is a pop power ballad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where You Are (Jessica Simpson song)</span> 2000 single by Jessica Simpson

"Where You Are" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson from her debut studio album Sweet Kisses. The single was released after strong commercial interest in her first single "I Wanna Love You Forever". Written by Louis Biancaniello, Sam Watters, A. Stamatopoulou, Nick Lachey and produced by Louis Biancaniello, Sam Watters, the song was released as Simpson's second single on February 21, 2000, by Columbia. The song reached number 62 on the US Billboard, becoming Simpson's second Hot 100 chart entry. The single is most known for being the first single that Simpson professionally recorded with Lachey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irresistible (Jessica Simpson song)</span> 2001 single by Jessica Simpson

"Irresistible" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson that Columbia Records released in 2001, as the lead single from her second studio album of the same name. Its title and concept were proposed by singer-songwriter Pamela Sheyne, while Arnthor Birgisson, an acquaintance of Sony chief executive officer Tommy Mottola, and his partner Anders Bagge developed the melody and co-wrote the verses with Sheyne. It is more sexually suggestive than Simpson's previous songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With You (Jessica Simpson song)</span> 2003 single by Jessica Simpson

"With You" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson from her third studio album, In This Skin. "With You" was released by Columbia Records as the second single from In This Skin on November 3, 2003. Overall, "With You" was Simpson's seventh single in the United States and her fourth single in the United Kingdom. Billy Mann and Andy Marvel produced the song and co-wrote it with Simpson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Day (Martina McBride song)</span> 1994 single by Martina McBride

"Independence Day" is a song by the American country music recording artist Martina McBride. The song was written by songwriter Gretchen Peters, who had first written the song around 1992. It was originally offered to musician Reba McEntire, who turned it down; Peters has since stated that she never heard of the song being offered to McEntire. She spent over a year and a half writing the track. It would be recorded by McBride for her second studio album The Way That I Am (1993). It was released on May 2, 1994, as the third single from the album. Peters would record the song herself and included it on her debut studio album The Secret of Life (1996).

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

American singer Jessica Simpson has released seven studio albums, four compilation albums, three video albums, nineteen singles, and fifteen music videos. Her debut album, Sweet Kisses (1999), was released through Columbia Records, reached number 25 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album sold 1.9 million copies in the US and produced three singles. Simpson's debut single, "I Wanna Love You Forever", reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2001, Simpson released her second studio effort, titled Irresistible, which failed to match the success of Sweet Kisses. Irresistible peaked at number 6 in the United States and has sold 755,000 copies. Her third studio album, In This Skin, was released in August 2003. Guided by the publicity of her reality TV show, Newlyweds, that album became the best-selling effort of her career, achieving a peak position of number 2 and triple platinum certification in the US. By 2009, In This Skin had sold 2.9 million copies in the US and produced four singles. In 2004, Simpson released her fourth studio and her first Christmas album, Rejoyce: The Christmas Album. It reached number 14 in the US and was certified gold by the RIAA. As of February 2009, Rejoyce has sold 669,000 copies in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Simpson</span> American singer (born 1980)

Jessica Ann Simpson is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, Sweet Kisses (1999), sold two million copies in the United States and was led by the Billboard Hot 100-top three single "I Wanna Love You Forever". Simpson adopted a more mature image for her second studio album, Irresistible (2001), and its namesake lead single track peaked within the top 20 of the chart. The album received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Simpson's third studio album, In This Skin (2003), sold three million copies in the United States.

Rachel Christine Proctor is an American country music artist. Before signing to a record deal, she co-wrote Martina McBride's 2002 single "Where Would You Be". By 2003, Proctor had signed to BNA Records, releasing her debut single "Days Like This" that year. This song, which peaked at number 24 on the country charts, was the first of four singles from her 2004 debut album Where I Belong. Proctor's only album for the label, it also produced her highest-charting single in the number 18 "Me and Emily". Although she has not charted a single since 2004, she has written singles for Jessica Simpson and Jesse Lee. Proctor has also had songs recorded by Blake Shelton, Gary Allan, Jana Kramer, Lauren Alaina, and Kenny Loggins. In March 2013 Rachel signed an exclusive songwriting agreement with Big Tractor Music Publishing. Big Tractor is owned by producer Scott Hendricks.

<i>A Public Affair</i> 2006 studio album by Jessica Simpson

A Public Affair is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first studio album following her divorce from Nick Lachey and her first release under Epic Records, following her departure from Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Earl</span> 2000 single by Dixie Chicks

"Goodbye Earl", written by Dennis Linde, is a country murder ballad. Initially recorded by the band Sons of the Desert for an unreleased album in the late 1990s, the song gained fame when it was recorded by Dixie Chicks on their fifth studio album, Fly. After charting from unsolicited airplay in late 1999, the song was released as that album's third single in 2000, peaking at #13 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The CD single includes a 'B-Side' cover of "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette. In 2021, it was listed at No. 469 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Belong to Me</span> 2006 single by Jessica Simpson

"I Belong to Me" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson from her fifth studio album, A Public Affair. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by Stargate. It was released on September 26, 2006 by Epic Records, as the second single from the album. Originally the song was not included in the standard version of the album, but was released in a version of Walmart as a bonus track. The lyrics of "I Belong to Me" is constructed in verse-chorus format and focuses on the dissatisfaction of love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Banks</span> Canadian singer and songwriter

Victoria Wenonah Banks is a Nashville-based Canadian singer and songwriter who has penned songs for a variety of artists including Reba McEntire, Sara Evans, Jessica Simpson, Lauren Alaina, Carly Pearce and Mickey Guyton. Her songs have earned 2 ASCAP Country Music Awards, a SOCAN International Achievement Award, a Covenant Award, and a Grammy nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come On Over (Jessica Simpson song)</span> 2008 single by Jessica Simpson

"Come on Over" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson from her sixth studio album, Do You Know (2008). The song was penned by country musician Rachel Proctor, Victoria Banks, and Simpson herself, marking her third single she had a writer's credit on following "With You" (2003) and "A Public Affair" (2006). It was released on June 16, 2008 via Columbia Nashville to country radio, becoming Simpson's first single released to the format.

<i>Do You Know</i> (Jessica Simpson album) 2008 album by Jessica Simpson

Do You Know is the sixth studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson. The album was first released digitally on September 5, 2008 for the US iTunes Store and physically on September 9, 2008 in the United States, Canada and Russia through a joint-venture between Columbia Nashville and Epic Records. The album was her first effort in an attempt to cross over with country music. Songwriter Brett James produced the album along with John Shanks. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard Country Albums and at number four on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 65,000. It received mixed reviews from music critics.

<i>Irresistible</i> (Jessica Simpson album) 2001 studio album by Jessica Simpson

Irresistible is the second studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson, released on May 25, 2001, through Columbia Records. Simpson, who began working on the project in July 2000, contacted already established writers and producers to collaborate on the project, including Cory Rooney, Rodney Jerkins, and Walter Afanasieff. In contrast to her debut album Sweet Kisses (1999), which included more ballads, Irresistible explored hip hop and R&B genres of music. Simpson described the material as "Mariah Carey meets Britney Spears", indicating the soulfulness of the songs as well as their contemporary appeal. Lyrical themes addressed in the album include love and heartbreak, sexuality, and self-respect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Violence (song)</span> 2019 single by Theory of a Deadman

"History of Violence" is a song performed by Canadian rock band Theory of a Deadman, a single from their seventh studio album, Say Nothing (2020). It was produced by Martin Terefe and recorded at Kensaltown Recording Studios in London. The band's transition into the pop rock genre is still evident in "History of Violence", and has been associated with lead singer Tyler Connolly's piano-playing ability, which forced a change in songwriting style and was acquired prior to the recording of their sixth record, Wake Up Call (2017). "History of Violence" marked the group's fourth single to top the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in the United States, and appeared on the Billboard Canada Rock, Rock Airplay, and Hot Rock Songs charts as well.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Do You Know (inlay cover). Jessica Simpson. Epic Records and Columbia Nashville. September 9, 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wilson (2016): pp. 109-112
  3. ↑ "Jessica Simpson's Country Record Due in 2008". CMT. December 28, 2007. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jessica Simpson sings at Tenn.'s Grand Ole Opry". New York Daily News . September 7, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Blythe, Will (August 5, 2008). "Goin' Country". Elle . Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Keefe, Jonathan (September 7, 2008). "Jessica Simpson: Do You Know". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on January 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Claims She Was Abused In A Relationship". Access . July 31, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 Webb, Jennifer. "Jessica Simpson - 'Do You Know'". About.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Caramanica, Jon (September 7, 2008). "New CDs". The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ Amos, Joel (October 2, 2008). "Getting to know Jessica Simpson". SheKnows Media. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ Ernst, Erik (February 8, 2009). "Showmanship Trumps Vocals Concert Review: Rascal Flats and Jessica Simpson". Wisconsin State Journal . Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.(subscription required)
  12. ↑ Ganz, Caryn (September 18, 2008). "Do You Know". Rolling Stone . Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  13. ↑ Willie (2008). "Jessica Simpson: Do You Know". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Billboard.com - Ask Billboard". Billboard. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-04-25.[ dead link ]
  15. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  16. ↑ "Artist Search for "jessica simpson"". AllMusic .
  17. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 816. ISBN   978-0-89820-188-8.
  18. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  19. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - Chart history". Billboard . Archived from the original on 2014-08-11.

Book sources

  • Wilson, Chris (2016). "Gender and the Nashville Songwriter: Three Songs by Victoria Banks". In Pecknold, Diane (ed.). Country Boys and Redneck Women: New Essays in Gender and Country Music. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. pp. 102–125. ISBN   978-1-4968-0491-4.
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.