He Didn't Have to Be

Last updated
"He Didn't Have to Be"
He Didn't Have to Be.jpg
Single by Brad Paisley
from the album Who Needs Pictures
B-side "I've Been Better" [1]
ReleasedAugust 30, 1999
Genre Country
Length4:42
Label Arista Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Frank Rogers
Brad Paisley singles chronology
"Who Needs Pictures"
(1999)
"He Didn't Have to Be"
(1999)
"Me Neither"
(2000)

"He Didn't Have to Be" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in August 1999 as the second single from his debut album, Who Needs Pictures . In December 1999, it became his first number one single, holding the top spot for one week.

Contents

Background

The song was based on Paisley's frequent co-writer and best friend, Kelley Lovelace's stepson McCain Merren, who attended the 2000 ACM Awards as Paisley's guest. [2] According to Lovelace, Paisley said to him, "Let's make a song about you two that will make your wife cry." [3]

Content

This song is written from the perspective of a son of a single mother. The single mother begins dating a new man who almost immediately includes the child in things like going to the movies. In the final verse, the son now is about ready to become a father himself, standing in the hospital next to his stepfather and hoping that he can be "at least half the dad" that his stepfather "didn't have to be." This song is set in the key of A major in common time, and has a vocal range from A3 to D5. [4]

Music video

The music video was directed by Deaton Flanigen and premiered on August 17, 1999 on CMT.

Chart performance

"He Didn't Have to Be" debuted at number 72 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of September 4, 1999. "He Didn't Have to Be" spent 30 weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, peaking at number one in December 1999 and holding that position for one week. [1]

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [5] 5
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 30
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)Position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [8] 51
Chart (2000)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 33

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Paisley</span> American country musician (born 1972)

Bradley Douglas Paisley is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Starting with his 1999 debut album Who Needs Pictures, he has released twelve studio albums and a Christmas compilation on the Arista Nashville label, with all of his albums certified Gold or higher by the RIAA. He has scored 35 Top 10 singles on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart, 20 of which have reached number one. He set a new record in 2009 for the most consecutive singles (10) reaching the top spot on that chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The World (Brad Paisley song)</span> 2006 single by Brad Paisley

"The World" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released on March 13, 2006, as the third single from Paisley's 2005 album Time Well Wasted. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and also peaked at number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Needs Pictures (song)</span> 1999 single by Brad Paisley

"Who Needs Pictures" is a debut song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in February 1999 as his debut single, as well as the first single and title track from his album Who Needs Pictures. It reached number 12 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Paisley wrote this song with Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Paisley discography</span>

The discography of Brad Paisley, an American country music singer, consists of 12 studio albums, three compilation albums, and 46 singles. All but two of Paisley's singles have hit the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, with all but six reaching the Top Ten. He has 21 Number Ones, including a streak of ten consecutive, starting with the 2005–06 Dolly Parton duet "When I Get Where I'm Going". When "Waitin' on a Woman", reached number 1 in late 2008, Paisley set a new record for the most consecutive Number Ones (10) by any country artist since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan in 1990. This streak lasted until mid-2009's number 2 single "Welcome to the Future".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Still a Guy</span> 2008 single by Brad Paisley

"I'm Still a Guy" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released in March 2008 as the fourth single from his album 5th Gear. As with the other three singles from that album, "I'm Still a Guy" reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Danced</span> 2000 single by Brad Paisley

"We Danced" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in June 2000 as the fourth and final single from his debut album Who Needs Pictures. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Paisley wrote this song with Chris DuBois. It was also Paisley's first single not to have an accompanying music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)</span> 2002 single by Brad Paisley

"I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in February 2002 as the third single from his album Part II. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (then known as the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart) that year, becoming the third number-one hit of Paisley's career. Paisley wrote this song with Frank Rogers, who also produced it.

The Marcy Brothers were an American country music trio formed in Oroville, California, in 1983 and disbanded in 1999. The trio consisted of three brothers: Kevin, Kris, and Kendal Marcy. They released two albums for divisions of Warner Music Group and charted six singles on the Billboard country charts. Their highest hit was "Cotton Pickin' Time" at No. 34.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrapped Around</span> 2001 single by Brad Paisley

"Wrapped Around" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in August 2001 as the second single released from Paisley's album Part II and reached a peak of number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in February 2002. It also peaked at number 35 on the Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit. Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two People Fell in Love</span> 2001 single by Brad Paisley

"Two People Fell in Love" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley written about Richard Harper and Kayleigh Harper. It was released in March 2001 as the first single from Paisley's album Part II and reached a peak of number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in mid-2001. The song was written by Paisley, Kelley Lovelace and Tim Owens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me Neither</span> 2000 single by Brad Paisley

"Me Neither" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in February 2000 as the third single from Paisley's album Who Needs Pictures and reached a peak of number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in mid-2000. The song was previously included on the soundtrack of the 1999 film Happy, Texas. Paisley wrote this song with Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Start a Band</span> 2008 single by Brad Paisley and Keith Urban

"Start a Band" is a song written by Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley and Kelley Lovelace. It was recorded as a duet by American country music artist Brad Paisley and Australian country music artist Keith Urban for Paisley's sixth studio album Play. Released in September 2008 as the only single from that album, it is also one of only four non-instrumental tracks on the album. It is Paisley's 22nd entry on the Billboard country charts, and Urban's 18th and ranked number one on the US Hot Country Songs charts in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Saturday Night (song)</span> 2009 single by Brad Paisley

"American Saturday Night" is a song written by Ashley Gorley and Kelley Lovelace, and co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. The song originally charted as an album cut based on unsolicited airplay, charting at number 59 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and number 21 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. It was then released as the third single from his sixth studio album, also titled American Saturday Night, in November 2009. Following its official release as a single, it re-entered the country charts at number 41.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water (Brad Paisley song)</span> 2010 single by Brad Paisley

"Water" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released in March 2010 as the fourth single from his album American Saturday Night. The song first charted in 2009 as an album cut before its release to radio. Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remind Me (Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood song)</span> 2011 single by Brad Paisley with Carrie Underwood

"Remind Me" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley, performed as a duet with Carrie Underwood. It was released in May 2011 as the third single from Paisley's album This Is Country Music (2011). The music video for the song premiered on CMT on July 26, 2011. The song was also named Taste of Country's Song of The Year for 2011. Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camouflage (Brad Paisley song)</span> 2011 single by Brad Paisley

"Camouflage" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in October 2011 as the fourth and final single from his 2011 album This Is Country Music. Paisley co-wrote this song with Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Comfort Zone</span> 2012 single by Brad Paisley

"Southern Comfort Zone" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released on September 27, 2012, as the lead single from his 2013 album Wheelhouse. Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Change the World</span> 2013 single by Brad Paisley

"I Can't Change the World" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released in August 2013 as the third single from his ninth studio album, Wheelhouse. Paisley co-wrote the song with Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace. In August 2013, Paisley announced plans to film a movie based on the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crushin' It</span> 2015 single by Brad Paisley

"Crushin' It" is a song recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released on January 26, 2015, by Arista Nashville as the third single from his tenth studio album, Moonshine in the Trunk. He co-wrote the song with Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller, and co-produced it with Luke Wooten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Country Nation</span> 2015 single by Brad Paisley

"Country Nation" is a song recorded by the American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released on September 14, 2015, by Arista Nashville as the fourth and final single from his tenth studio album, Moonshine in the Trunk. He co-wrote the song with Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace, and co-produced it with Luke Wooten.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 313. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. Anon (2001). ""Biography: Part II"". Archived from the original on June 10, 2001. Retrieved 2001-06-10. aristanashville.com. Retrieved September 17, 2009
  3. USA WEEKEND Magazine | [ permanent dead link ]
  4. Contemporary Country (1st ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 1999. pp. 67–73. ISBN   0-634-01594-X.
  5. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9713." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. January 31, 2000. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  6. "Brad Paisley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  7. "Brad Paisley Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1999". RPM . December 13, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  9. "Best of 2000: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2012.