Why (Rascal Flatts song): Difference between revisions
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| Label = [[Lyric Street Records|Lyric Street]] |
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| Writer = Rob Mathes |
| Writer = Rob Mathes<br>[[Allen Shamblin]] |
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| Producer = [[Dann Huff]] |
| Producer = [[Dann Huff]]<br>Rascal Flatts |
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Revision as of 22:40, 7 December 2009
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"Why" is the title of a song recorded by American country band Rascal Flatts. It is the third single from their sixth studio album, Unstoppable. It was released to radio stations on September 29, 2009 and debuted at #44 on the U.S. Billboard US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 10, 2009. It was written by Rob Mathes and Allen Shamblin.
Content
The song is a slow-tempo song, sung from the perspective of a man whose close friend has committed suicide. All three members of Rascal Flatts said that they had difficulty recording the song, because they all knew someone close to them that committed suicide. [1] The song makes particular use of metaphors, comparing life to a song and the world as a stage, with the narrator singing, in the chorus:
- Oh why, that’s what I keep asking
- Was there anything I could have said or done
- Oh I had no clue you were masking
- A troubled soul, God only knows
- What went wrong
- And why you’d leave the stage in the middle of a song
Reception
Roughstock gave the song a favorable review. Bobby Peacock of the website says of the song, “The lyrics alone are beautiful, with the narrator asking just why a special person in his life had to commit suicide. Perhaps the best line is 'Why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song' — a very striking metaphor.” [2] The song also received special mention in Matt Bjorke original review of the Unstoppable album, where he wrote, “for this album, "Why" the trio has found what might be their best album-ending track since their self-titled debut's "I'm Moving On." Levox has NEVER sounded better vocally and sings the questioning lyrics that make up the Allen Shamblin and Rob Mathes song. The song finds a guy asking why a friend would choose to 'leave the stage in the middle of the song.’” [3] Chris Neal of Country Weekly gave it three stars out of five, saying that lead singer Gary LeVox "handles the lyric as delicately as its subject matter[…] calls for" but said that the "climactic arena rock guitar solo[…]rob[s] some of the song of its intimacy."[4]
CM Wilcox of The 9513 gave a thumbs-down, saying "Rascal Flatts, who have made a career of reveling in just such melodrama, have at long last discovered a song that actually seems to justify their usual overdone style" and describing LeVox' voccal performance favorably, but adding that the song's "biggest problem" was its length.[5]
Chart performance
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 18 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 2 |
| Canadian Radio & Records Country Singles | 21 |
References
- ^ Why Songfacts
- ^ Roughstock “Why” Review
- ^ Roughstock “Unstoppable” Review
- ^ Neal, Chris (2009-11-16). "Reviews: Singles". Country Weekly. 16 (40): 54. ISSN 1074-3235.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Wilcox, CM (2009-10-09). "Rascal Flatts — "Why"". The 9513. Retrieved 2009-10-09.