Kill a Word
| "Kill a Word" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens | ||||
| from the album Mr. Misunderstood | ||||
| Released | August 29, 2016 | |||
| Format | Digital download | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:20 | |||
| Label | EMI Nasvhille | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Jay Joyce | |||
| Eric Church singles chronology | ||||
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| Rhiannon Giddens singles chronology | ||||
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"Kill a Word" is a song by American country music artist Eric Church, with American musician Rhiannon Giddens. It was released to radio on August 29, 2016 as the third single from his fifth studio album, Mr. Misunderstood. It was written by Church, Luke Dick, and Jeff Hyde.
Content
The song is about the power and importance of words, and wanting to "kill" words with negative meanings, such as "hate."[1][2] The album version features Andrea Davidson and Rhiannon Giddens, the latter a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, on backing vocals. For the single edit, Giddens sings some lines of the song by herself.
Church told Rolling Stone that the 2016 presidential election was influential in picking "Kill a Word" as a single: "I would have regretted not putting out 'Kill a Word,' and let this season pass, not knowing if I would get a chance again where it was this relevant, this timely."[3]
Music video
The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and premiered on CMT, GAC, & VEVO in 2016.
Critical reception
Billy Dukes of Taste of Country wrote that "Soulful production and the addition of Rhiannon Giddens gives [sic] a more casual listener something to enjoy if he or she chooses not to dive into Church’s statement."[2] Giving it an "A", Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe wrote that "Songs that aim for utopia usually stumble along the way because they are either too preachy or too woefully naive. Church avoids this trap by zeroing in on the obstacles rather than the goal, and personalizes the proceedings by tackling what gets in the way of individual pursuit of happiness."[4]
Commercial performance
The song debuted on the Country Airplay chart at No. 58 for the chart dated September 10, 2016, and entered the Hot Country Songs chart three weeks later at No. 41.[5][6] The song has sold 194,000 copies in the United States as of March 2017.[7]
Chart performance
| Chart (2016–17) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] | 71 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[9] | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 71 |
| US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] | 6 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] | 9 |
References
- ↑ Horton, Carrie (September 1, 2016). "Hear Eric Church’s ‘Relevant’, ‘Timely’ New Single, ‘Kill a Word’". The Boot. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- 1 2 Dukes, Billy (September 1, 2016). "Eric Church (Feat. Rhiannon Giddens), ‘Kill a Word’ [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ↑ Hudak, Joseph (August 23, 2016). "See Eric Church's Thought-Provoking 'Kill a Word' From Amazing Solo Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ↑ Coyne, Kevin John (September 28, 2016). "Single Review: Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens, “Kill a Word”". Country Universe. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ↑ "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. October 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Country Airplay". Billboard. September 10, 2016.
- ↑ Bjorke, Matt (March 22, 2017). "Top 30 Digital Single Sales Chart: March 22, 2017". Roughstock.
- ↑ "Eric Church – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Eric Church. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ↑ "Eric Church – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Eric Church. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Eric Church – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Eric Church. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ↑ "Eric Church – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Eric Church. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ↑ "Eric Church – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Eric Church. Retrieved February 28, 2017.