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The song was recorded to honor the 50th annual [[Country Music Association]] (CMA) awards. Its recording was produced by [[Shane McAnally]], and it is a medley of three existing songs: "[[I Will Always Love You]]" by [[Dolly Parton]], "[[Take Me Home, Country Roads]]" by [[John Denver]], and "[[On the Road Again (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]" by [[Willie Nelson]] with most artists singing just one or two lines. Along with Nelson and Parton singing portions of their own songs, the song features [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]], [[Jason Aldean]], [[Dierks Bentley]], [[Brooks & Dunn]], [[Luke Bryan]], [[Eric Church]], [[Brett Eldredge]], [[Vince Gill]], [[Faith Hill]], [[Alan Jackson]], [[Miranda Lambert]], [[Lady Antebellum]], [[Little Big Town]], [[Martina McBride]], [[Reba McEntire]], [[Tim McGraw]], [[Ronnie Milsap]], [[Kacey Musgraves]], [[Brad Paisley]], [[Charley Pride]], [[Rascal Flatts]], [[Darius Rucker]], [[Blake Shelton]], [[George Strait]], [[Carrie Underwood]], [[Keith Urban]], and [[Trisha Yearwood]]; [[Randy Travis]], who was incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, makes a silent [[cameo appearance]] in the [[music video]] and is credited as an artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7511205/cma-forever-country-song-dolly-parton-willie-nelson-stream|title=CMA's 'Forever Country' Song Features Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson & 28 More Country Superstars: Listen|last=Stutz|first=Colin|date=September 16, 2016|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref>
The song was recorded to honor the 50th annual [[Country Music Association]] (CMA) awards. Its recording was produced by [[Shane McAnally]], and it is a medley of three existing songs: "[[I Will Always Love You]]" by [[Dolly Parton]], "[[Take Me Home, Country Roads]]" by [[John Denver]], and "[[On the Road Again (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]" by [[Willie Nelson]] with most artists singing just one or two lines. Along with Nelson and Parton singing portions of their own songs, the song features [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]], [[Jason Aldean]], [[Dierks Bentley]], [[Brooks & Dunn]], [[Luke Bryan]], [[Eric Church]], [[Brett Eldredge]], [[Vince Gill]], [[Faith Hill]], [[Alan Jackson]], [[Miranda Lambert]], [[Lady Antebellum]], [[Little Big Town]], [[Martina McBride]], [[Reba McEntire]], [[Tim McGraw]], [[Ronnie Milsap]], [[Kacey Musgraves]], [[Brad Paisley]], [[Charley Pride]], [[Rascal Flatts]], [[Darius Rucker]], [[Blake Shelton]], [[George Strait]], [[Carrie Underwood]], [[Keith Urban]], and [[Trisha Yearwood]]; [[Randy Travis]], who was incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, makes a silent [[cameo appearance]] in the [[music video]] and is credited as an artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7511205/cma-forever-country-song-dolly-parton-willie-nelson-stream|title=CMA's 'Forever Country' Song Features Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson & 28 More Country Superstars: Listen|last=Stutz|first=Colin|date=September 16, 2016|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref>


The idea for the song and its accompanying video was born at a CMA board meeting as a way to celebrate the milestone of 50 years of the CMA Awards.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanyhodak/2016/09/21/30-superstar-artists-join-forces-for-star-studded-music-video/#28a1c1d35a66|title=Is This The Most Epic Country Music Video Of All Time?|author=Brittany Hodak|work=[[Forbes]]|date=September 21, 2016|accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref> [[Joseph Kahn]] originally came up with the concept of blending the three songs together into one song. He told ''[[CNN]]'', "I didn't think one song could encapsulate all of country music, so I pitched the idea of doing a mashup of a couple songs and blending them together." Kahn was told that this would never work so he took the idea to Shane and he went on to produce the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/21/entertainment/forever-country-music-video/|title=Country Music's biggest names team up for 'Forever Country' music video|author=Chloe Melas|work=[[CNN]]|date=September 21, 2016|accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref>
The idea for the song and its accompanying video was born at a CMA board meeting as a way to celebrate the milestone of 50 years of the CMA Awards.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanyhodak/2016/09/21/30-superstar-artists-join-forces-for-star-studded-music-video/#28a1c1d35a66|title=Is This The Most Epic Country Music Video Of All Time?|author=Brittany Hodak|work=[[Forbes]]|date=September 21, 2016|accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref> The CMAs called [[Joseph Kahn]] one day and solicited his opinion about whether there were any country songs that he would like to do a video for, for the 50th anniversary. Kahn began to think about it but felt that the choices were too limited in terms of trying to get the entire history of country music into one song. So he pitched the CMA board the idea of doing a mash-up, of three different songs, so that one will get more of a breadth of the history.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7517971/forever-country-cma-awards-all-star-video|title='Forever Country': Inside Story of How Epic Mash-Up Song & Video Developed|author=Chris Willman|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 21, 2016|accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref>

Kahn originally came up with the concept of blending the three songs together into one song. He told ''[[CNN]]'', "I didn't think one song could encapsulate all of country music, so I pitched the idea of doing a mashup of a couple songs and blending them together." Kahn was told that this would never work so he took the idea to Shane and he went on to produce the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/21/entertainment/forever-country-music-video/|title=Country Music's biggest names team up for 'Forever Country' music video|author=Chloe Melas|work=[[CNN]]|date=September 21, 2016|accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref>


McAnally says that he was initially hesitant to make a medley of the songs because "Maybe in pop music you can just take a piece of a song, but we tell stories. And we can't just cut into them and take a piece." He also was initially worried about approaching Parton to sing on the recording, as he thought that she might see including "I Will Always Love You" in a medley might compromise the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/forever-country-story-behind-the-song|title=The Story Behind Country Music's Epic Mash-Up! Plus: Hear Blake, Carrie, Miranda and 36 Other Stars Sing 'Forever Country'|last=Finan|first=Eileen|date=September 16, 2016|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref> McAnally said that he wanted Paisley, a native of [[West Virginia]], to open the song with Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" since Denver was also a West Virginia native and he wanted [[Carrie Underwood]] specifically to open [[Dolly Parton]]'s "I Will Always Love You".<ref name="ToC"/> While most of the artists who sang the same line together were pre-planned, Lambert's and Bryan's duet happened accidently.<ref name="ToC"/> Underwood was skeptic when she first heard the idea of the mashup and questioned how it would work since they're three very different songs by three very different artists. She later said she felt honored to be a part of it, and to be singing parts on "I Will Always Love You," which she actually performs on her tours recurrently.<ref name="Forbes"/>
McAnally says that he was initially hesitant to make a medley of the songs because "Maybe in pop music you can just take a piece of a song, but we tell stories. And we can't just cut into them and take a piece." He also was initially worried about approaching Parton to sing on the recording, as he thought that she might see including "I Will Always Love You" in a medley might compromise the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/forever-country-story-behind-the-song|title=The Story Behind Country Music's Epic Mash-Up! Plus: Hear Blake, Carrie, Miranda and 36 Other Stars Sing 'Forever Country'|last=Finan|first=Eileen|date=September 16, 2016|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|accessdate=21 September 2016}}</ref> McAnally said that he wanted Paisley, a native of [[West Virginia]], to open the song with Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" since Denver was also a West Virginia native and he wanted [[Carrie Underwood]] specifically to open [[Dolly Parton]]'s "I Will Always Love You".<ref name="ToC"/> While most of the artists who sang the same line together were pre-planned, Lambert's and Bryan's duet happened accidently.<ref name="ToC"/> Underwood was skeptic when she first heard the idea of the mashup and questioned how it would work since they're three very different songs by three very different artists. She later said she felt honored to be a part of it, and to be singing parts on "I Will Always Love You," which she actually performs on her tours recurrently.<ref name="Forbes"/>

Revision as of 09:56, 24 September 2016

"Forever Country"
Song

"Forever Country" is a medley performed by the Artists of Then, Now & Forever, a one-time gathering of thirty country music artists. The song, which was recorded to honor the 50th annual Country Music Association awards, is a medley of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads", Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again", and Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".

Background and development

Shane McAnally (pictured) produced the song.

The song was recorded to honor the 50th annual Country Music Association (CMA) awards. Its recording was produced by Shane McAnally, and it is a medley of three existing songs: "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver, and "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson with most artists singing just one or two lines. Along with Nelson and Parton singing portions of their own songs, the song features Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Trisha Yearwood; Randy Travis, who was incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, makes a silent cameo appearance in the music video and is credited as an artist.[1]

The idea for the song and its accompanying video was born at a CMA board meeting as a way to celebrate the milestone of 50 years of the CMA Awards.[2] The CMAs called Joseph Kahn one day and solicited his opinion about whether there were any country songs that he would like to do a video for, for the 50th anniversary. Kahn began to think about it but felt that the choices were too limited in terms of trying to get the entire history of country music into one song. So he pitched the CMA board the idea of doing a mash-up, of three different songs, so that one will get more of a breadth of the history.[3]

Kahn originally came up with the concept of blending the three songs together into one song. He told CNN, "I didn't think one song could encapsulate all of country music, so I pitched the idea of doing a mashup of a couple songs and blending them together." Kahn was told that this would never work so he took the idea to Shane and he went on to produce the song.[4]

McAnally says that he was initially hesitant to make a medley of the songs because "Maybe in pop music you can just take a piece of a song, but we tell stories. And we can't just cut into them and take a piece." He also was initially worried about approaching Parton to sing on the recording, as he thought that she might see including "I Will Always Love You" in a medley might compromise the song.[5] McAnally said that he wanted Paisley, a native of West Virginia, to open the song with Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" since Denver was also a West Virginia native and he wanted Carrie Underwood specifically to open Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".[6] While most of the artists who sang the same line together were pre-planned, Lambert's and Bryan's duet happened accidently.[6] Underwood was skeptic when she first heard the idea of the mashup and questioned how it would work since they're three very different songs by three very different artists. She later said she felt honored to be a part of it, and to be singing parts on "I Will Always Love You," which she actually performs on her tours recurrently.[2]

Music video

Joseph Kahn directed the song's music video, which features all thirty artists involved performing in front of a green screen on which "graphics of railroad tracks transform into major cities and back again".[7] The video premiered during Dancing With the Stars on September 20, 2016.[8][9]

Filming took place in Nashville, Tennessee for three days in June 2016 during the CMA Music Festival.[6] The video is filled with numerous landscapes like fields, farms, backroads, raidroads tracks, and iconic locales like Nashville's Lower Broadway and the Eiffel Tower.[6]

Chart performance

The song was released to country radio on September 16, 2016 via Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA Nashville branch. The single is projected to have a huge debut on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Industry forecasters suggest the song could sell around 90,000 downloads in the week ending September 22. Combined with streaming figures (due to the release of the accompanying music video) and airplay, the song is aiming for a possible No. 1 bow.[10]

On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song is aiming for a top 40 start.[10]

The song debuted at No. 39 on the Country Airplay chart dated for the week ending October 1, 2016, from less than three full days of airplay (September 16–18).[11]

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 43
Scotland (OCC)[13] 34
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 39

References

  1. ^ Stutz, Colin (September 16, 2016). "CMA's 'Forever Country' Song Features Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson & 28 More Country Superstars: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b Brittany Hodak (September 21, 2016). "Is This The Most Epic Country Music Video Of All Time?". Forbes. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Chris Willman (September 21, 2016). "'Forever Country': Inside Story of How Epic Mash-Up Song & Video Developed". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Chloe Melas (September 21, 2016). "Country Music's biggest names team up for 'Forever Country' music video". CNN. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  5. ^ Finan, Eileen (September 16, 2016). "The Story Behind Country Music's Epic Mash-Up! Plus: Hear Blake, Carrie, Miranda and 36 Other Stars Sing 'Forever Country'". People. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d Anna Reuter (September 20, 2016). "Country All-Stars Unite for Epic 'Forever Country' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  7. ^ Dukes, Billy (September 20, 2016). "Go Behind the Scenes of the Stunning 'Forever Country' Music Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  8. ^ Dunkerley, Beville (September 16, 2016). "'Forever Country': Hear 30 Stars Sing Epic Willie, Dolly, Denver Medley". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  9. ^ Billboard Staff (September 20, 2016). "Watch 'Forever Country' Gather Country's Best & Brightest for All-Star Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Keith Caulfield (September 23, 2016). "All-Star 'Forever Country' Single Aiming for Big Debut on Billboard Charts". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). September 19, 2016. pp. 4, 7. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  12. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 26, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
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