How Not To

"How Not To"
Single by Dan + Shay
from the album Obsessed
Released September 26, 2016 (2016-09-26)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2015, Ocean Waves Studios
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre Country pop
Length 3:13
Label Warner Bros. Nashville
Writer(s)
  • Adam Hambrick
  • Paul DiGiovanni
  • Kevin Bard
Producer(s)
Dan + Shay singles chronology
"From the Ground Up"
(2016)		 "How Not To"
(2016)
Music video
"How Not To" (Instant Grat Video) on YouTube

"How Not To" is a song recorded by American country music duo Dan + Shay for their second studio album, Obsessed (2016). The song was written by Adam Hambrick, Paul DiGiovanni, and Kevin Bard and is one of only two tracks on the album not co-written by Dan and Shay.[1] It was released to country radio September 26, 2016 through Warner Bros. Nashville as the second official single.[2]

Composition

"How Not To" is a country pop song written by Adam Hambrick, Paul DiGiovanni, and Kevin Bard and produced by Dan Smyers and Scott Hendricks. It is a midtempo ballad with melodic verses that build into a bigger chorus and is instrumented by piano and electric guitar.[3][4] The song's hook is accentuated by a "melodic lift."[3] The lyrics describe the difficulty of moving on after a breakup when your emotions keep drawing you back to that person.[5]

Reception

Critical

In a review of Obsessed, Annie Reuter of Sounds Like Nashville wrote that "their ability to translate the emotion in a song they didn’t write like 'How Not To' is the sign of a true artist," and described the song as "poignant."[4] The staff of country music blog Taste of Country praised the vocal performances on the song and called it a likely hit. "Dan + Shay aren't really breaking any new musical ground here," they write, "but wow, do they sound sweet not doing it."[3]

Commercial

"How Not To" was the most-added new single on country radio the week of its impact.[6] It debuted at number 59 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated October 15, 2016.[7]

Music video

An "instant grat" video accompanying the song was uploaded to the duo's official YouTube channel on May 20, 2016 in promotion of the song's then-upcoming parent album.[8] It features a couple engaged in an interpretive dance that is meant to symbolize the break-up story told in the lyrics.[9]

Live performances

The duo appeared on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live on September 29, 2016 and performed the song.[10]

Chart performance

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[7] 36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 44

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Obsessed - Dan + Shay | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Future Release for Country Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Taste of Country Staff (September 7, 2016). "Dan + Shay, 'How Not To' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 Reuter, Annie (May 30, 2016). "Album Review: Dan + Shay's 'Obsessed'". Sounds Like Nashville. Spin Media. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Carr, Courtney (September 8, 2016). "Dan + Shay Drop 'How Not To' as Their Next Single [LISTEN]". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (September 28, 2016). "Dan + Shay Drop Gauntlet With New Single "How Not To"". Roughstock. Cheri Media. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Dan + Shay – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Dan + Shay. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ DanAndShay (May 20, 2016). "Dan + Shay - How Not To (Instant Grat Video)" (video). YouTube. Google. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  9. ↑ Cerny, Summer (May 25, 2016). "Dan + Shay Release A Powerful Video For "How Not To" - Watch Here". Whiskey Riff. Momentum Media. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Moss, Marissa R. (September 29, 2016). "See Dan and Shay's Dynamic 'How Not To' on 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Dan + Shay – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Dan + Shay. Retrieved November 15, 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/29/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.