Easy (Sheryl Crow song)

"Easy"
Single by Sheryl Crow
from the album Feels Like Home
Released March 12, 2013 (US digital download)
August 26, 2013 (CD single)[1]
January 26, 2014 (UK digital download)[2]
Format Digital download, CD single
Recorded 2012
Genre Country rock
Length 3:42 (radio edit)
4:10 (album version)
Label Warner Music Nashville
Writer(s) Sheryl Crow
Chris DuBois
Jeff Trott
Producer(s) Sheryl Crow
Justin Niebank
Sheryl Crow singles chronology
"Sign Your Name"
(2010)		 "Easy"
(2013)		 "Callin' Me When I'm Lonely"
(2013)

"Easy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow recorded for her ninth studio album, Feels Like Home (2013).[3] The song, announced as the lead single, made its airplay debut on February 21, 2013 and was released on March 12. The song combines elements of rock and roll and country music and also is her first release through Warner Music Nashville.[4]

Background and composition

In an interview, Crow described the single as her "staycation (staying home) song" and stated it was about "making your home feel like you're getting away" as opposed to vacationing in exotic places.[4]

Critical reception

The song has received positive reviews from most critics. Jim Beviglia from American Songwriter gave the song a positive review describing Crow's performance as "inviting", but at the same time stated the song was in her "comfort zone".[5] Billy Dukes from Taste of Country gave the track 3 and a half stars out of 5, commenting: "It’s easy to be seduced by Crow’s carefree warmth and laid-back style. It’s easy to overlook the effective songwriting, and it’s easy to fall into her story again and again."[6] Ben Foster gave the song a "B" rating and wrote for Country Universe that "Crow’s delivery of the chorus conveys a subtle sense of excitement that quietly pulls the listener in, lending an organic feel to the track as a whole".[7] Bobby Peacock from Roughstock.com praised the song's lyrics and wrote: "The song is a smooth listen, but executed strongly enough to be more than just ear candy.", giving the song 3 and a half stars out of 5.[8] A less favorable review came from Bob Paxman of Country Weekly, who gave the song a "C+" and said that "Sheryl delivers it with joy and a bit of playful, sexual overtone, but there's nothing extraordinary about the song."[9]

Track listing

Digital download
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Easy"  Sheryl Crow, Chris DuBois, Jeff Trot 4:10

Music video

The music video was directed by Trey Fanjoy and made its worldwide premiere on CMT.com on May 4, 2013.[10]

Promotion

The track made its debut on January 24, 2013, when Crow performed it on the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[11] She also performed the single on Good Morning America, The Late Show with David Letterman and the reality show The Voice, along with contestants Holly Tucker, Danielle Bradberry and The Swon Brothers.[12][13] Crow performed the song at the 2013 Country Music Association Festival.[14] While promoting the album in the United Kingdom, Crow performed the track on The Graham Norton Show, BBC Breakfast and Sunday Brunch.[15]

Chart performance

"Easy" debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of February 25, 2013.[16] The song opened at number 43 on the Hot Country Songs chart and also debuted at number 37 on Country Digital Songs, peaking at number 9 and racking up over 360,000 downloads in the United States as of October 2013.[17][18] On the Hot 100, "Easy" debuted at number 99 for the week of July 20, 2013, making it Crow's first appearance on the chart since 2010. In the UK, the song was A-listed on BBC Radio 2 for the week commencing January 4, 2014 and debuted at number 80 on the Official Singles Chart.[19]

Chart (2013/2014) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[20] 55
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[21] 45
Canada Country (Billboard)[22] 49
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 80
UK Airplay (Official Charts Company)[24] 39
Ukraine (FDR Charts)[25] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 72
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[27] 17
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[28] 21

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[29] 59
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[30] 67

References

  1. ↑ "Sheryl Crow - Easy". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Easy - Single by Sheryl Crow". Apple Inc. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (May 28, 2013). "Sheryl Crow To Release ‘Feels Like Home’ in September". MusicRow. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sheryl Crow Moves Closer to Country". CMT. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  5. ↑ Beviglia, Jim. "Sheryl Crow Embraces Country Music With "Easy"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  6. ↑ Dukes, Billy. "Sheryl Crow, ‘Easy’ – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  7. ↑ Foster, Ben. "Single Review: Sheryl Crow, "Easy"". Country Universe. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  8. ↑ Peacock, Bobby. "Single Review: Sheryl Crow - "Easy"". Roughstock. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  9. ↑ Paxman, Bob (25 March 2013). "Reviews: Sheryl Crow — 'Easy'". Country Weekly 20 (12): 51. ISSN 1074-3235.
  10. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Sheryl Crow : Easy". Country Music Television. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Debuts 'Easy' on 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  12. ↑ "‘The Voice’ Recap: Top 6 Revealed, Sheryl Crow Performs ‘Easy’". PopCrush. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Begins Media Blitz for "Feels Like Home" Album Launch, Due out September 10". Marketwire. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  14. ↑ "CMA Fest, Night 2: Crow Joins Little Big Town; Hayes Hunts Jason Mraz". Yahoo. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Sheryl Crow confirms new album Feels Like Home UK release". Digital Spy. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  16. ↑ Trust, Gary. "Chart Highlights: Phoenix Returns, Brings 'Entertainment' To Rock Radio". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  17. ↑ Matt Bjorke (October 9, 2013). "Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - October 9, 2013: Cassadee Pope, David Nail, Eli Young Band, Blake Shelton Lead". Roughstock.
  18. ↑ Jessen, Wade. "The Band Perry Gets It 'Done' On Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  19. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/playlist
  20. ↑ "ultratop.be - Sheryl Crow - Easy". ULTRATOP & Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-09-20.
  21. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Album & Song Chart History" Japan Hot 100 for Sheryl Crow.
  22. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada Country for Sheryl Crow.
  23. ↑ "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 - 8th February 2014". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Chart Pack > UK Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  25. ↑ "Ukrainian Chart - Sheryl Crow". FDR Charts. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Sheryl Crow.
  27. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Country Airplay for Sheryl Crow.
  28. ↑ "Sheryl Crow Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Sheryl Crow.
  29. ↑ "Best of 2013: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.