Third Rock from the Sun (song)
| "Third Rock from the Sun" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Joe Diffie | ||||
| from the album Third Rock from the Sun | ||||
| Released | July 4, 1994 | |||
| Format | CD single | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:06 (album version) | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Sterling Whipple, Tony Martin, John Greenebaum | |||
| Producer(s) | Joe Diffie, Johnny Slate | |||
| Joe Diffie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Third Rock from the Sun" is a song written by Sterling Whipple, Tony Martin and John Greenebaum, and recorded by American country music artist Joe Diffie. It was released in July 1994 as the lead single and title track from his album Third Rock from the Sun. The song became Diffie's third Number One single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart. The song also became his first number one hit since "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)" in 1991.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song unfavorably, saying that the title is ripped off from Jimi Hendrix (Third Stone from the Sun) and the "twisted plot falls somewhere between "Smokey and the Bandit" and Back to the Future." She goes on to say that the song "somehow manages to obscure even Diffie's world-class voice in a confusing avalanche of lyrics."[1] Jim Ridley of New Country magazine described the song with favor, saying that the song was "the funniest and most jaw-dropping string of calamaties...since Bo Diddley bungled his way through 'Cops and Robbers'."[2]
Music video
The music video was directed by Roger Pistole and premiered in mid-1994.
Chart positions
"Third Rock from the Sun" debuted at number 53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of July 16, 1994.
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 84 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] | 23 |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 3 |
| Preceded by "XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" by Trisha Yearwood |
Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks number-one single September 24 – October 1, 1994 |
Succeeded by "Who's That Man" by Toby Keith |
| RPM Country Tracks number-one single October 3–10, 1994 |
Succeeded by "One Good Man" by Michelle Wright |
Parodies
- American country music parody artist Cledus T. Judd released a parody of "Third Rock From the Sun" titled "Third Rock From Her Thumb" on his 1998 album "Did I Shave My Back For This?".
References
- ↑ Billboard, July 2, 1994
- ↑ Ridley, Jim (September 1994). "Reviews: Third Rock from the Sun". New Country: 56–57.
- ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2611." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 3, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Joe Diffie – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Joe Diffie.
- ↑ "Joe Diffie – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Joe Diffie.
- ↑ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1994". RPM. December 12, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Best of 1994: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
