Here in the Real World (song)
| "Here in the Real World" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Alan Jackson | ||||
| from the album Here in the Real World | ||||
| B-side | "Blue Blooded Woman" | |||
| Released | January 15, 1990 | |||
| Format |
Promo-only CD single Cassette single 7" 45 RPM | |||
| Recorded | June 27, 1989[1] | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:38 | |||
| Label | Arista Nashville 9922 | |||
| Writer(s) |
Mark Irwin Alan Jackson | |||
| Producer(s) |
Scott Hendricks Keith Stegall | |||
| Alan Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Here in the Real World" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in January 1990 as the second single and title track from his debut album Here in the Real World,[2] and in early 1990 it became his first Top 40 country hit. The song reached a peak of number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and number 1 on the Canadian RPM Top Country Tracks charts. Jackson wrote the song with Mark Irwin.
Content
The song is a mid-tempo backed by fiddle and steel-string acoustic guitar, in which the narrator observes the difference between an idealized movie situation and the real world, saying "If life were like the movies, I'd never be blue". In the chorus, he observes that "here in the real world, it's not that easy at all / 'Cause when hearts get broken, it's real tears that fall."
Critical reception
Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade," calling the conceit "bloody well brilliant, what with the juxtaposition of reality and fiction, but none of its intelligence would matter without the heartbroke sincerity that gives it its simplicity." [3]
Music video
The music video was directed by Jim May and premiered in early 1990.
Chart positions
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] | 1 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 3 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] | 7 |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 10 |
References
- ↑ The Greatest Hits Collection (CD). Alan Jackson. Arista Records. 1995. 07822 18801.
- ↑ Huey, Steve. "Alan Jackson biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ CountryUniverse.net Review by Kevin John Coyne
- ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9144." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 12, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Alan Jackson – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Alan Jackson.
- ↑ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1990". RPM. December 22, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Best of 1990: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
External links
| Preceded by "Stranger Things Have Happened" by Ronnie Milsap |
RPM Country Tracks number-one single May 12, 1990 |
Succeeded by "Help Me Hold On" by Travis Tritt |