Somebody Said a Prayer

Last updated
"Somebody Said a Prayer"
Single by Billy Ray Cyrus
from the album Back to Tennessee
ReleasedAugust 16, 2008 (2008-08-16)
Genre Country
Length4:08
Label Lyric Street
Songwriter(s) Craig Wiseman, Neil Thrasher
Producer(s) Mark Bright
Billy Ray Cyrus singles chronology
"Ready, Set, Don't Go"
(2007)
"Somebody Said a Prayer"
(2008)
"Back to Tennessee"
(2009)
Music video
"Somebody Said a Prayer" at CMT.com

"Somebody Said a Prayer" is a song written by Neil Thrasher and Craig Wiseman, and recorded by American country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. It was released in August 2008 as the first single from the album Back to Tennessee . The song first charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 53 for the chart week of August 16, 2008. "Somebody Said a Prayer" was also made into a music video with a cameo from Cyrus' son, Trace Cyrus.

Contents

Content

The song is a mid-tempo detailing two people — a mother in the first verse, and a teenager in the second verse — both of whom are dealing with stress in their lives. The mother in the first verse "almost let her job, her kids, her mind, her life go up in smoke" and the teen-ager attempted suicide by taking a bottle of pills. Both characters, however, find their lives improved (the mother is now "laughin' and lovin' and content", and the teenager is now seen every week by the narrator). According to the chorus, the two characters' lives were improved because of prayer.

The song features backing from a piano and a string section.

Critical reception

Roughstock.com described the song favorably, saying "'Somebody Said a Prayer' finds Cyrus soaring vocally while the layered production backs him up. Fans of softer country production may not like the 'bombastic' elements of this song all that much because it seems as if it is overshadowing or [competing with] Billy Ray but it's a technique that's been used in pop/ Christian markets for ages… The lyrics are heartfelt and are right on par… If Billy Ray Cyrus was looking at sustaining his music career with 'Somebody Said A Prayer', Billy Ray has certainly delivered a song that will do just that." [1]

Music video

The music video for "Somebody Said a Prayer" first premiered in September 2008. The video was directed by award-winning director, Roman White. It also has a cameo from Cyrus' son, Metro Station lead-singer, Trace Cyrus. [2] The video focuses around a grieving widow, her teenaged son, and her little girl, who are crushed by the death of her husband. Her little boy walks through the house to his room, after seeing his mother and siblings distraught, and kneels beside his bed to say a prayer. The prayer lifts the spirits of his family, and they join him in his room.

In September 2009, the video was nominated for the Gospel Music Channel's Music Video Awards. [3] [4]

Chart performance

"Somebody Said a Prayer" debuted at number 53 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In September 2008, the song become Cyrus' fifteenth Top 40 single on the country charts. It reached a peak of number 33 on the week of November 15, 2008, giving Cyrus his first solo Top 40 single since "You Won't Be Lonely" reached number 17 in 2000.

Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 33

Related Research Articles

Billy Ray Cyrus American singer-songwriter, actor and film producer

Billy Ray Cyrus is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He has released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992, and is known for his hit single "Achy Breaky Heart", which topped the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart and became the first single ever to achieve triple platinum status in Australia. It was also the best-selling single in the same country in 1992. Due to the song's music video, the line dance rose in popularity.

Achy Breaky Heart Single by Billy Ray Cyrus

"Achy Breaky Heart" is a song written in 1990 by Don Von Tress. Originally published in a recording by The Marcy Brothers under the title "Don't Tell My Heart" in 1991, it was later recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus and released on his debut album Some Gave All in 1992. The song is Cyrus' debut single and signature song. It became the first single ever to achieve triple Platinum status in Australia and also 1992's best-selling single in the same country. In the United States, it became a crossover hit on pop and country radio, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming the first country single to be certified Platinum since "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 1983. The single topped in several countries, and after being featured on Top of the Pops in the United Kingdom, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It was Cyrus' biggest hit single in the U.S. until he was featured on "Old Town Road" by rapper Lil Nas X, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 27 years.

<i>Wanna Be Your Joe</i> 2006 studio album by Billy Ray Cyrus

Wanna Be Your Joe is the ninth studio album released from country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Released on July 17, 2006 on New Door Records and UMe, it was Cyrus' first country album since 2000's Southern Rain. It is also his first album of non-gospel music in three years. From Billy Ray's exposure on Hannah Montana, the album debuted and peaked at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart, number 113 on the Billboard 200 and number 118 on the Billboard Top Comprehensive Albums. The album sold well, but no hit single was released. The title track and "I Want My Mullet Back" were released as singles, but both failed to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Billy Ray Cyrus discography

Billy Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist. He has released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992, and is best known for his debut single "Achy Breaky Heart". 32 of his singles have charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart between 1992 and 2011.

<i>It Wont Be the Last</i> 1993 studio album by Billy Ray Cyrus

It Won't Be the Last is the second studio album released by country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Certified Platinum in just under a year after release by the RIAA, the album has sold over 1 million copies in the US and over 3 million copies worldwide. This album produced four singles for Cyrus on the Hot Country Songs charts: "In the Heart of a Woman", "Somebody New", "Words by Heart" and "Talk Some", which reached number #3, number #9, number #12, and number #63, respectively, on the charts. The first, third and fourth singles, plus two album tracks had accompanying music videos. "Somebody New" was covered in 2008 by Jill King, whose version was released as a single, however, it did not chart.

Ready, Set, Dont Go 2007 single by Billy Ray Cyrus featuring Miley Cyrus

"Ready, Set, Don't Go" is a country song performed by American singers Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus. It was released as the lead single from Home at Last, Billy Ray Cyrus' tenth studio album on October 10, 2007. The song has received different interpretations, although, in actuality, Cyrus wrote the song several years before its release when his middle daughter, Miley, moved to Los Angeles in order to pursue an acting career with an audition for the Disney Channel Original Series Hannah Montana. "Ready, Set, Don't Go" received critical praise, with reviewers complimenting its lyrical content. It also reached positive commercial responses for Cyrus, compared to his downfall in previous years. Peaking at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, it became Cyrus' first entry on the chart since "You Won't Be Lonely Now" (2000).

Austin (song) 2001 single by Blake Shelton

"Austin" is a song written by David Kent and Kirsti Manna and recorded by American country music artist Blake Shelton. It was released in April 2001 as Shelton's debut single and the first from his self-titled debut album.

Busy Man 1998 single by Billy Ray Cyrus

"Busy Man" is a song written by Bob Regan and George Teren, and recorded by American country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. It was released in August 1998 as the second single from his album Shot Full of Love. The song reached a peak of number 3 on the U.S. country singles charts in early 1999, becoming his first Top 10 hit since "Somebody New" in 1993 and his last until "Ready, Set, Don't Go" in 2008.

<i>Love Songs</i> (Billy Ray Cyrus album) 2008 compilation album by Billy Ray Cyrus

Love Songs is the first love songs compilation released on January 29, 2008 by country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus. The album was released on Mercury Nashville, Cyrus' first album with the label since leaving in 1998.

Gotta Be Somebody 2008 single by Nickelback

"Gotta Be Somebody" is the first official single released from Nickelback's sixth studio album, Dark Horse.

It Wont Be Like This for Long 2008 single by Darius Rucker

"It Won't Be Like This for Long" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Darius Rucker, lead vocalist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. It was released in November 2008 as the second from his first country music album Learn to Live. Rucker co-wrote the song with Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley.

<i>Back to Tennessee</i> 2009 studio album by Billy Ray Cyrus

Back to Tennessee is the eleventh studio album released from country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus. The album was released on April 7, 2009, on Lyric Street Records. It is also the follow-up album to 2007s Home at Last. Originally planned to be released in July 2008, the album was pushed to new release dates five times. "Somebody Said a Prayer" was released as the album's lead-off single, and was a top 40 hit on the country charts in late 2008. The title track and "A Good Day" followed it as the second and third singles, reaching number 47 and number #59, respectively. Also on the album is "Butterfly Fly Away", a duet with daughter Miley Cyrus. The song is also on the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack. Cyrus and Lyric Street Records parted ways shortly after the chart debut of "A Good Day".

The Climb (song) 2009 single by Miley Cyrus

"The Climb" is a song performed by American singer Miley Cyrus, for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie. The song was written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe, and produced by John Shanks. It was released on March 5, 2009, as the lead single of the film's soundtrack by Walt Disney Records, and is also included as a bonus track on the international release of The Time of Our Lives. The song is a power ballad with lyrics that describe life as a difficult but rewarding journey. It is styled as a country pop ballad, and was Cyrus' first solo song to be released to country radio. The instrumentation includes piano, guitar, and violins. The song is considered both a modern classic and a signature-song for Cyrus.

"Back to Tennessee" is a country rock song by American singer-songwriter and actor Billy Ray Cyrus. It released as the second single from Cyrus' eleventh studio album of the same name on February 2, 2009 by Lyric Street Records. Cyrus drafted the song after learning that Hannah Montana: The Movie, a film he would star in, would be set in Tennessee. The song, developed with the aid of co-songwriters Tamara Dunn and Matthew Wilder, includes country rock elements while describing Cyrus' longing to return to the South, where he grew up, after spending several years in Los Angeles. "Back to Tennessee" was featured in both Hannah Montana: The Movie and its soundtrack.

People Are Crazy 2009 single by Billy Currington

"People Are Crazy" is a song written by Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones and recorded by American country music singer Billy Currington. It was released in March 2009 as the second single from Currington’s 2008 album Little Bit of Everything. The song became Currington's third number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. On December 2, 2009, the song was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song. The song was also nominated for "Song of the Year" at the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Words by Heart 1994 single by Billy Ray Cyrus

"Words by Heart" is a song written by Reed Nielsen and Monty Powell, and recorded by American country music singer, Billy Ray Cyrus. It was released in January 1994 as the third single from his platinum-selling second album, It Won't Be the Last. The song was the follow-up to "Somebody New". "Words by Heart" reached a peak of number 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks, and number 19 on the U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. It also gained play in Canada, where it reached number 14.

Somebodys Heartbreak 2012 single by Hunter Hayes

"Somebody's Heartbreak" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hunter Hayes. It was released in October 2012 as the third single from his debut studio album, Hunter Hayes. Hayes co-wrote the song with Andrew Dorff and Luke Laird. "Somebody's Heartbreak" is about an aspiring lover being invited to break this person's heart.

Everybodys Got Somebody But Me 2013 single by Hunter Hayes featuring Jason Mraz

"Everybody's Got Somebody But Me" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hunter Hayes for his eponymous debut album, Hunter Hayes (2011). While recording new material for (Encore), the expanded re-issue of his debut, Hayes also re-recorded three of the tracks, including a new duet version of "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me" featuring guest vocals by singer Jason Mraz. Atlantic Nashville released the Encore version of the song as the fifth single from the album, and second from the (Encore) edition, on September 3, 2013.

Leave the Night On 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.

Mr. Misunderstood (song) 2015 single by Eric Church

"Mr. Misunderstood" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church. was released in November 2015 as the first single and title track from his 2015 album Mr. Misunderstood. The song peaked at number 15 on both the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts respectively. It also charted at number 84 on the Hot 100. The song has sold 197,000 copies in the United States as of February 2016. It received similar chart success in Canada, peaking at number 7 on the Canadian Country chart and at number 70 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song, written by Church and Casey Beathard, has also received some positive reviews from music critics.

References

  1. Matt Bjorke (2008-07-18). "Billy Ray Cyrus - "Somebody Said a Prayer"". Roughstock. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  2. Administrator (2008-08-29). "Billy Ray Cyrus shoots video for "Somebody Said a Prayer"". NewFutur Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  3. Williams, Lindsay (2009-09-09). "GMC Announces 2009 Video Awards Voting" . Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  4. "GMCVA: Country Nominees". Gospel Music Channel. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  5. "Billy Ray Cyrus Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2011.