Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Then (Brad Paisley song)

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Genre
  
Country

Label
  
Arista Nashville

Released
  
March 23, 2009 (2009-03-23)

Format
  
CD single Music download

Length
  
4:16 (single edit) 5:21 (album version)

Writer(s)
  
Chris DuBois Ashley Gorley Brad Paisley

"Then" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It is his twenty-third entry on the Billboard country charts, debuting at number 26 on the chart week of April 4, 2009. The song is the lead-off single from his seventh studio album, American Saturday Night, which was released via Arista Nashville on June 30, 2009. It is one of Paisley's four songs certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, the others being "She's Everything", "Whiskey Lullaby", and "Remind Me". Paisley wrote this song with Ashley Gorley and Chris DuBois.

Contents

Content

"Then" is a mid-tempo ballad, backed primarily by piano and a string section. In it, the male narrator expresses his love for his female partner. In the verses, he recalls various events in their relationship, such as meeting for the first time, kissing on her porch, and then being taken back to where they first met. In the chorus, he says how much stronger his love has become since their first meeting.

Critical reception

The song has been given mixed critical reviews. Robert Christgau included it at number 12 in his ballot for Rolling Stone's list of the decades' best songs. Liz Jungers gave a favorable review on Roughstock, saying that the song was well written and produced, and that it showed a more serious side to Paisley, in contrast to his novelty songs such as "Ticks" and "Online". Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave it a B- rating, saying that it was largely cliché but adding that it was "an admirable enough sentiment with an inoffensive production, but it’s not at all impressive coming from an artist with so many years of songwriting experience behind him." Juli Thanki of Engine 145, however, gave the song a thumbs-down rating. Thanki's review criticized the song for lacking lyrical depth, and called it "a bland collection of memories and observations about an anonymous girl who is now Paisley’s whole life and world."

Music video

Directed by Alan Carter, the music video for "Then" is an excerpt from the 2009 CMT Music Awards. It debuted at number 12 on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown for the week of July 10, 2009. Its highest rank was number 2 the following week. However, no video was made for the studio version of the song, and therefore, there was no video for this song released to GAC.

Personnel

As listed in liner notes

  • Randle Currie - steel guitar
  • Eric Darken - percussion
  • Kevin "Swine" Grantt - bass guitar
  • Wes Hightower - background vocals
  • Gordon Mote - piano
  • Brad Paisley - lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
  • Ben Sesar - drums
  • Justin Williamson - fiddle
  • Gang Vocals (album version only)

  • Robert Arthur
  • Tracie Hamilton
  • Gary Hooker
  • Kendal Marcy
  • Tim Owens
  • Valerie Pringle
  • Ben Sesar
  • Emily Reeves
  • Missy Reeves
  • Scott Reeves
  • Chart performance

    "Then" debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of April 4, 2009. It became his tenth consecutive Number One hit for the week of June 6, 2009. In August of the same year, "Then" became Paisley's first entry on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts, debuting at number 30.

    References

    Then (Brad Paisley song) Wikipedia