Released May 13, 2016 Recorded 2016 Length 2:45 | Format Digital download Genre Country Label Warner Bros. Nashville | |
"Straight Outta Cold Beer" is a song recorded by American singer Blake Shelton for his tenth studio album, If I'm Honest (2016). It was released as its third promotional single for digital download on May 13, 2016. The track was written by Marv Green, Ben Hayslip, and Justin Wilson, while production was solely handled by Shelton's longtime producer Scott Hendricks. A country song, Shelton sings of about partying until one has no beer left.
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"Straight Outta Cold Beer" was generally well received by music critics, with the majority enjoying the "party" nature of the recording. One reviewer appreciated Shelton staying true to his "country roots". In the United States, it debuted and peaked at number 23 on the Country Digital Songs component chart, while also managing to reach the top 40 of the Hot Country Songs chart.
Background and composition
Warner Bros. Nashville issued "Straight Outta Cold Beer" as the parent album's third promotional single on May 13, 2016, following "Friends" on April 8 and "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" on May 9. The track serves as the opener to the singer's tenth studio album, If I'm Honest (2016).
"Straight Outta Cold Beer" was written and composed by Marv Green, Ben Hayslip, and Justin Wilson, while production was solely handled by Shelton's longtime producer Scott Hendricks. Shelton sings "about lacking suds" from partying in the lyrics, which Entertainment Weekly's Jim Farber described as "an ode to getting soused".
Reception
"Straight Outta Cold Beer" was positively received by music critics. Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times singled it out for being a "sly party tune" among the other tracks on If I'm Honest. Similarly, Keith Harris from Rolling Stone called it a "rowdy party-starter" and appreciated its word play reference to the 1988 N.W.A album Straight Outta Compton in the title. Entertainment Tonight's Sophie Schillaci declared it a "fun track" that stayed true to the singer's "classic country roots". A staff member from WUSN enjoyed the recording, and claimed it would make anyone more excited for If I'm Honest, which was then unreleased. And regarding the subject matter of "Straight Outta Cold Beer", Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic found Shelton to be "rais[ing] a little hell".
For the week ending April 30, 2016, "Straight Outta Cold Beer" debuted at the number 36 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Additionally, the single was the week's twenty-third best selling digital country song, selling approximately 14,000 copies in its first week available. In its second week available as a digital download, an additional 3,000 copies were purchased, increasing its total sales to over 17,000.