Recorded 2009 Label Capitol Nashville | Genre Country | |
Released 29 June 2009 (2009-06-29) Format CD single
Music download Length 4:07 (album version)
3:39 (single edit) | ||
"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is a song written by Steve McEwan and John Reid and recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban on his 2009 album Defying Gravity. The song was released to radio on 29 June 2009, as the third single from that album and the twenty-first solo single of his career. It also became his eleventh No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in October. The song is part of the track listing to Now That's What I Call Music! 32.
Contents
Content
"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is a mid-tempo ballad in which the male narrator states that he and his lover were meant for each other.
According to the Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) database, Rascal Flatts has also recorded the song.
Writing and inspiration
Steve McEwan and John Reid penned the song together in a studio at a songwriting camp in Nashville where they had just met for the first time. In an interview with HitQuarters McEwan said the demo of the song that was successfully pitched to Urban featured McEwan singing backed by an acoustic guitar and a "tiny drum machine". Reid had originally sung on the demo but it was later felt it would stand a better chance of being accepted by Urban if, rather than Reid's "sweet pop voice", it was sung in McEwan's deeper "more American" vocal.
Critical reception
The song has been met with favourable reviews. Jonathan Keefe, in his review for Slant Magazine, said that the song "recall[s] the drippiness of early-'90s Richard Marx and Bryan Adams". Tara Seetharam of Country Universe gave a B+ rating. Her review makes note of the "stripped-down" production and adds, "It’s a testament to Urban’s artistry that he’s able to breathe life and passion into such nondescript lyrics, turning them into what feels like a tailor-made ode to his wife". Michael Menachem gave a favourable review in Billboard, calling it "an affectionate ballad that could easily be a wedding song[…]Urban's genteel inflections are enhanced by light production and soft guitar strums." Bobby Peacock of Roughstock, despite saying that it was "below the standards" of other ballads in Urban's career, called it a "welcome change" after the up-tempos "Sweet Thing" and "Kiss a Girl." This review also made note of Urban's "warm, passionate tone" and the "stripped-down" production.
Music video
Directed by Chris Hicky, the video was shot at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa in late June 2009. It premiered in early August of that year. It starts with the sound of an audience cheering, while Urban walks on stage. He then performs to an empty theatre with an acoustic guitar. Later, he performs to various fans. The video ends with the sound and visual of him being applauded, and walking away.
Chart performance
"Only You Can Love Me This Way" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100 on the chart week of 11 April 2009, debuting at No. 84 and No. 72 respectively. Upon its release to country radio in June, the song debuted at No. 52 on Hot Country Songs, before climbing to No. 30 a week later, and re-entered both the U.S. and Canadian Hot 100 soon afterward.