Released September 27, 2010 Recorded 2010 Label RCA Nashville | Format Music download Genre Country | |
Length 4:18 (radio edit)
5:04 (album version) | ||
"A Little Bit Stronger" is a song written by Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey and Hillary Scott, and recorded by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in September 2010 and as the lead-off single from her album Stronger, which was released on March 8, 2011. The song was also included on the soundtrack for the 2010 movie Country Strong and released as the second single from the film's soundtrack album. It became Evans first single to be certified Platinum by the RIAA in June 2011.
Contents
Sara Evans performed the song on April 3, 2011 during the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards, and received a standing ovation for her performance. She also performed the song on May 24, 2011, during the finale of the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Content
"A Little Bit Stronger" is a mid-tempo country ballad, backed by mandolin, steel guitar, piano, and percussion. The song's female narrator describes going through her daily routine and being constantly reminded of her former love interest ("I turned on the radio / Stupid song made me think of you"). However, she copes with the pain ("I listened to it for a minute / But then I changed it"), assuring herself that each time she pushes his memory away, she gets "a little bit stronger."
Evans debuted the new single during her 2010 fanclub party on June 10, 2010. The song was co-written by Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum, who also performed harmony vocals on the record.
Reception
Blake Boldt of Engine 145 gave the song a thumbs up, complimenting the song's "flourishes of steel and piano" and the "authentic, organic vocal." Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song 4 stars out of 5, complimenting the song's lighter production and Evans' vocals, which he felt "wring every bit of emotion out of the lyrics that chronicle a woman's ability to move on after a long relationship ends." Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe awarded the song a C rating, stating that the song could've been better "with a stronger melody and a more refined concept." He also compared it unfavorably to her previous singles, "Fool, I'm a Woman," "Cheatin'," and "Shame About That."
Other versions
The song was also recorded by Leighton Meester for the film Country Strong and is included on the soundtrack album Country Strong: More Music From the Motion Picture. Danielle Bradbery, the eventual winner of season four of The Voice, covered the song during the quarter-finals. Her version reached #31 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Music video
The music video, directed by Peter Zavadil, was shot on August 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee, and premiered on CMT's Big New Music Weekend on October 1, 2010. In the video, Evans is shown in various locations within her spacious apartment and sitting behind the wheel of a car in the rain, appearing distraught while she performs the song. Throughout the video, scenes of her recording a video blog are included. As the video progresses, Evans makes note in her video blog that she's been getting stronger with each passing day.
The video was nominated in Female Video of the Year category at the 2011 CMT Music Awards.
Chart performance
"A Little Bit Stronger" debuted at #56 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 2, 2010. It also debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at #98 for the week of January 15, 2011. It became her fifth number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week dated May 14, 2011, and her first number one hit since "A Real Fine Place to Start" in October 2005.