Kerosene (song)
| "Kerosene" | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| Single by Miranda Lambert | |||||||
| from the album Kerosene | |||||||
| Released | September 27, 2005 | ||||||
| Format | CD Single | ||||||
| Recorded | 2004 | ||||||
| Genre | Country, country rock | ||||||
| Length | 3:05 | ||||||
| Label | Epic | ||||||
| Writer(s) |
Miranda Lambert Steve Earle | ||||||
| Producer(s) |
Frank Liddell Mike Wrucke | ||||||
| Miranda Lambert singles chronology | |||||||
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For the song with the same title by Big Black, see Atomizer (album)
"Kerosene" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Miranda Lambert. It was released in September 2005 as the third single and title-track to her debut album Kerosene. It reached number 15 on the Hot Country Songs charts, becoming Lambert's first Top 20 country hit. It also peaked at number 61 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The working title of the song was "Kerosene (Loves Givin' Up on Me)."
The song was Lambert's first to be certified Gold by the RIAA on March 6, 2006.
Content
"Kerosene" is an up-tempo song in the key of D major that is backed with electric guitar and harmonica. The narrator, who is being cheated on by her boyfriend, expresses her being through with love; "I'm giving up on love / 'Cause love's giving up on me". Instead of letting him off easy, she takes revenge by burning down his house after soaking it in kerosene to ease the pain.
Although Lambert wrote the song, she gave co-writer's credit to alt-country singer Steve Earle after others noted the similarity to his "I Feel Alright". She said in an interview that she had unconsciously copied the melody and structure, saying "I didn't purposefully plagiarize his song -- but unconsciously I copied it almost exactly. I guess I'd listened to it so much that I just kind of had it in there." [1]
Music video
A music video was released for the song, directed by Trey Fanjoy. In the video, Lambert carries a tin of kerosene, letting it spill out leaving a trail as she walks through the countryside. After she finds her boyfriend cheating on her in a bed in the middle of a road, she lights a match and lets fire to the kerosene. The flame burns all the way back to her boyfriend's house and sets fire to it.
The music video reached the top spot of CMT's Top Twenty Countdown for the week of March 2, 2006. It was also featured on CMT's 100 Greatest Videos, where it was ranked at number 78.
Chart performance
"Kerosene" debuted at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 15, 2005. After twenty-two weeks on the chart, it peaked at number 15 on March 11, 2006.
| Chart (2005-2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[ 1] | 61 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[ 1] | 15 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[2] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
| *sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- ↑ Chet Flippo. "CMT News, Nashville Skyline: Miranda Lambert Hits Stride With New CD". Retrieved 2008-05-21.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Miranda Lambert – Kerosene". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 10, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
External links
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