Carlene

"Carlene" is the debut single of country music artist Phil Vassar. The first single from his self-titled debut album, "Carlene" reached a peak of #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and #45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and it reached #1 in Canada.

Content

"Carlene" is a moderate up-tempo backed mainly by piano, played by Vassar. In the lyric, the narrator recalls a girl named Carlene with whom he went to high school. He recalls being an athlete who struggled with his academics, while she was the valedictorian. Now an adult, he visits the school yard, where he meets Carlene again. He tells her that she is "lookin' good". In the second verse, the two go out for a ride together and begin conversing. She reveals that she now has a Ph.D. and is modeling for Vogue, while he is a songwriter who "finally got a couple [songs] out on country radio". The single edit omits one repetition of the chorus at the end.

Music video

The music video was directed by Gerry Wenner. It features Phil Vassar singing the song while playing the piano on a rooftop.

Critical reception

Country Standard Time critic George Hauenstein cited "Carlene" as a standout track on Vassar's debut album. He said that although the song did not have a traditionally country music sound, it was a "fun, up-tempo song", and that it was more lyrically substantial than most other songs on country radio at the time.^[1] Vince Ripol, reviewing the album for Allmusic, also described "Carlene" favorably, calling it "boisterous" and an "immediate hit", also saying that Vassar's songwriting style recalled Tom T. Hall's story songs.^[2]

Chart positions

"Carlene" debuted at #74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of October 30, 1999. Although Vassar had written several singles for other singers since the mid-1990s, "Carlene" is his first release as a singer.

References