Format Digital download Genre Country pop Label Black River | Recorded 2015–16 Length 3:20 | |
Released March 21, 2016 (2016-03-21) | ||
"Peter Pan" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop artist Kelsea Ballerini for her debut studio album, The First Time (2015). Ballerini co-wrote the song with Forest Glen Whitehead and Jesse Lee. It was released to American country radio on March 21, 2016 as the album's third single. The song is a country pop ballad about a lost love being compared to the song's namesake as a metaphor for being immature and having a tendency to run off to his own fantasy.
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"Peter Pan" peaked at number one on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, becoming Ballerini's first to hit the top of the former, and her third consecutive on the latter chart. It makes her the first female country music artist to top both country music charts at the same time. It also made her the first female country artist since Wynonna Judd in 1992 to send their first three singles to number one. It also charted at number 35 on the Hot 100 chart. The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 672,000 copies in the United States as of March 2017. The song also charted in Canada, peaking at number 4 on the Canada Country chart and number 75 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. It garnered a Gold certification from Music Canada, denoting sales of 40,000 units in that country.
An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Kristin Barlowe, features Ballerini watching in terror as her boyfriend does thrill-seeking stunts in cars, motorcycles, and planes out in the Las Vegas desert. Ballerini first performed the song live with Nick Jonas at the Academy of Country Music Awards and would make later appearances at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards with Daya, Live with Kelly and Michael, the Grand Ole Opry, and the 59th Grammy Awards with Lukas Graham.
Composition
"Peter Pan" is a country pop song about a lost love, who is compared to the song's namesake as a metaphor for his immaturity and tendency to run away. The ballad has been noted by critics for showcasing a greater emotional depth than Ballerini's previous releases in terms of both lyrical complexity and performance.
Critical
The staff of country music blog Taste of Country praised Ballerini's emotive performance of the song, writing that "the singer either performs the ballad with someone in mind, or she's country music's best actress," and also noted that the song confirms Ballerini's talent as a songwriter.
Commercial
"Peter Pan" ranked as the most-added song on country radio for the week of March 26, 2016 with 50 Mediabase-monitored stations picking up the song. It resultantly debuted at number 54 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of April 2, 2016 and has since peaked at number one, making it her third consecutive number one on that chart.
It also debuted at number 47 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of April 9, 2016 and peaked at number one, making it her first number one on that chart. The achievement made Kelsea Ballerini the first solo female artist to top both country music charts.
It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it has reached a peak position of number 35. It was certified Gold by RIAA on August 4, 2016. The song has sold 672,000 copies in the United States as of March 2017.
In Canada, the song debuted at number 46 on Canada Country chart for the week of June 11, 2016 and has since reached number four. It also debuted at number 92 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart and has since reached number 75. It was certified Gold by Music Canada on September 12, 2016.
Music video
A lyric video premiered on Ballerini's Vevo account on May 18, 2015. The official music video premiered on Ballerini's Vevo account on April 1, 2016. Directed by Kristin Barlowe, the video takes place in the Las Vegas desert with Ballerini looking on in terror as her boyfriend does thrill-seeking stunts in cars, motorcycles and planes. The on-screen boyfriend is played by American model Nick Davis.
Live performances
On April 3, 2016, Ballerini first performed the song live at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards with Nick Jonas on guitar as part of a medley with "Love Me Like You Mean It". Midway through the performance, Jonas botched a guitar solo that he later admitted he screwed up two days later. On May 1, it was performed at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards with Daya as a mashup with her song "Hide Away". On May 13, she performed the song on Live with Kelly and Michael. On August 10, it was performed again at the Grand Old Opry, and after the performance she was given a plaque to celebrate the song being certified Gold. On February 12, 2017, Ballerini performed the song at the 59th Grammy Awards with Lukas Graham as a mashup to their song "7 Years".