Format Music download | Recorded 2012 Length 5:20 (album version) | |
Released September 27, 2012 (2012-09-27) | ||
"Southern Comfort Zone" is a song by country music singer Brad Paisley. Co-written by Paisley, Kelley Lovelace, and Chris DuBois, it was released in September 2012 as the first single from Paisley's album Wheelhouse, released on April 9, 2013. The song is a celebration of the Southern United States lifestyle while giving recognition to other parts of the world.
Contents
The song received positive reviews from critics who commended Paisley's delivery of powerful lyrics over a grand melody. "Southern Comfort Zone" peaked at numbers 2 and 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts respectively. It also charted at number 54 on the Hot 100. It received similar chart success in Canada, peaking at number 2 on the Country chart and number 58 on the Canadian Hot 100.
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Jim Shea.
Content
The song praises the lifestyle of the Southern United States while also praising other parts of the world. Paisley said of its lyrical content, "I'm encouraging people to take a look around. There's some great places around the world that will expand your mind and also make you love this Southern comfort zone." Included on the song are snippets of Jeff Foxworthy, The Andy Griffith Show, Eddie Stubbs, a NASCAR race, and bars of the traditional song "Dixie" sung by the Brentwood Baptist Church choir, which lends the song an anthem quality.
Critical reception
Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song 4 stars out of 5, saying that "Paisley’s understated delivery (combined with a lovable personality) allows him to pack the punch he’s been working toward." Giving it a full 5 stars, Matt Bjorke of Roughstock said that "The melody is epic and grand" while also praising the lyrics. Ben Foster of Country Universe gave the song a D- grade, calling it "tasteless" and "a misguided, watery mess."
Music video
The music video was directed by Jim Shea and premiered on Ustream on December 10, 2012.
Chart performance
"Southern Comfort Zone" debuted at number 25 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated October 6, 2012. It also debuted at number 73 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of October 20, 2012. It also debuted at number 58 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of October 20, 2012. It reached number 2 on the Country Airplay chart dated February 23, 2013 and fell off the chart the following week, making it the first song to fall off the chart from the number 2 position since Rodney Atkins' "These Are My People" in September 2007.