Format Digital download Length 4:02 | Genre Country Label Curb | |
Released September 21, 2009 (2009-09-21) Writer(s) Bob DiPiero
Tom Douglas | ||
"Southern Voice" is a song written by Bob DiPiero and Tom Douglas, and recorded by American country artist Tim McGraw. It is included as the title track to his tenth studio album of the same name and the second single release from it, having been released to country radio in September 2009. For the week dated January 30, 2010, the song reached Number One on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming his 23rd number one hit but his first since "Last Dollar (Fly Away) in April 2007.
Contents
Content
This song is an up-tempo listing various influential natives of the Southern United States who embody a "southern voice."
Regarding the song, McGraw told Great American Country, "I hope it’s a record that you can put on and just sort of melt into. And that’s what the purpose was for it. We wanted a sort of earthiness that when you put this thing on, it just sort of kicks out all over you."
As for the lyrics, Jack Daniel (one of the people mentioned in this song) is incorrectly referred to as "Jack Daniels".
Music video
The video was directed by Sherman Halsey, McGraw's usual director of choice. It premiered on CMT on October 2, 2009 and was ranked No. 33 on GAC's Top 50 Videos of the Year 2009. It was filmed on East Main St. in Watertown, Tn.
Critical reception
Matt Bjorke of Roughstock also criticized the song's lyrics, saying, "one can’t help but think of the song as but another laundry list of things that quantify why something is or isn’t great," but adding that McGraw's vocal and the "catchy chorus" "save 'Southern Voice' from the scrap-heap." Country Universe reviewer Kevin J. Coyne gave the song a B rating, saying, "collectively, the people he mentions do indeed rule, making this a reasonable exercise in regional pride."
In Popular Culture
"Southern Voice" is one of the songs played over the end credits of the film The Blind Side, which co-stars McGraw.
Notable Performances
McGraw performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 12.
Chart performance
On the week ending November 7, 2009, "Southern Voice" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 61 and at No. 49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2009. Later on Hot Country Songs, for the week of January 30, 2010, the song became McGraw's 23rd number one hit and his first since "Last Dollar (Fly Away)", which topped the chart dated April 14, 2007.