Invisible (Hunter Hayes song)

"Invisible" is a song recorded by American country music artist Hunter Hayes. It was the lead single from his second studio album Storyline (2014). Hayes co-wrote the song in a collaboration with Bonnie Baker and Katrina Elam, while the production was handled by Hayes and Dann Huff.[1] The song was debuted at the 2014 Grammy Awards on January 26, 2014, and was released to digital retailers the same day.[2][3]

"Invisible"
Single by Hunter Hayes
from the album Storyline
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2014 (2014-01-26)
GenreCountry pop
Length4:32
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Hunter Hayes singles chronology
"Everybody's Got Somebody but Me"
(2013)		 "Invisible"
(2014)		 "Tattoo"
(2014)

Background

Hayes wrote this song about the bullying that he experienced while growing up. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Hayes said, "To me it's also just about being misunderstood. Just me being in high school, just the smallest scale I know compared to a lot of stories that I've heard, a lot of people that I've met ... yes, I was a total geek, I was a total nerd, and you know, I still am, and I'm proud of that. But it took me a while to realize that it's OK to be proud of that, right? Because in that time and period of my life, if you didn't fit in, what else was there? Fortunately for me I had incredible parents, I had an incredible support system, musicians around me, and that showed me that there was hope -- that there was maybe something else I could look forward to."[4]

Music video

The music video was directed by Ray Kay and premiered on March 13, 2014.[5]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country called the song a "complex and satisfying expression" of vulnerability, and praised Hayes for choosing a song with a personal message for his big Grammy moment.[6] Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal was complimentary of both the "emotional, powerful and inspirational" lyrics as well as Hayes' conviction, noting that the song indicates growth and maturity over Hayes' debut.[7]

Brian Braiker of The Guardian was less favorable, saying that "the song is anodyne, safe and bland. It’ll do fine."[8] Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly was also unfavorable, giving the song a "C+" and saying that "His anti-bullying ballad is overbearing, preachy, and perhaps worst of all, boring. If you're gonna write popular music's 457th song about self-esteem, at least don't make it pander to every last cliché."[9]

Live performances

Hayes performed the song live at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Entertainment Weekly also graded this performance "C+", with Nick Catucci writing that Hayes "provided the first down moment of the night with a saccharine new song" and that his performance was "most notable for the inspirational quotes from the likes of John Lennon and, uh, Steve Jobs, Lady Gaga, and Johnny Depp projected behind him".[10]

Track listing
Digital download[3]
  1. "Invisible" – 4:32
CD single[11]
  1. "Invisible" – 4:32
  2. "Invisible (Instrumental)" - 4:32

Chart performance

"Invisible" sold 35,000 downloads in the few hours after its premiered on the Grammy, and on the strength on the few hours of sales, the song debuted on the Hot Country Songs at No. 23, and Country Digital Songs charts at No. 7. This represents Hunter Hayes' highest ever debut thus far.[12] It also debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 88.[13] In the following week it reached No. 1 on the Country Digital Songs chart with 92,000 copies sold for the week,[14] and reaching No. 4 on Hot Country Songs and No. 44 on Billboard Hot 100.[15]

The song has sold 419,000 copies in the U.S. as of June 2014.[16]

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Result
2015 57th Grammy Awards Best Country Solo Performance Nominated

Charts and certifications

Release history
Country Date Format Label
Canada[3] January 26, 2014 Digital download Atlantic
United States[26]

References
  1. "Hunter Hayes Announces "We're Not Invisible Tour" Which Kicks Off March 20". Yahoo! Finance. January 26, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  2. Vinson, Christina. "Hunter Hayes Debuts 'Invisible' at 2014 Grammy Awards". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. "Invisible - Single by Hunter Hayes". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  4. "Hunter Hayes Reveals His Bullying Past". et online. CBS Television Distribution. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  5. "CMT : Videos : Hunter Hayes : Invisible". Country Music Television. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  6. Dukes, Billy. "Hunter Hayes, 'Invisible' – ToC Critic's Pick [Listen] Read More: Hunter Hayes, 'Invisible' - ToC Critic's Pick [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  7. Papadatos, Markos. "Review: Hunter Hayes pours heart and soul into 'Invisible' Grammy song". Digital Journal. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  8. Braiker, Brian; Holpuch, Amanda (January 27, 2014). "2014 Grammy awards – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  9. Smith, Grady (14 February 2014). "Also available: Hunter Hayes — 'Invisible'". Entertainment Weekly. p. 66.
  10. Catucci, Nick (27 January 2014). "Grammys '14: Grading 20 Performances". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  11. "Invisible (Walmart Exclusive)".
  12. Wade Jessen (January 30, 2014). "Hunter Hayes, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift Ride GRAMMY Wave On Country Charts". Billboard.
  13. Paul Grein (February 5, 2014). "Chart Watch: Two Oscar Song Nominees Soar". Yahoo Music.
  14. Bjorke, Matt (2013-02-05). "Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - Feb 5, 2014: Hunter Hayes #1, Tim McGraw, Eric Church Debut Top 10, Scotty & Cassadee News". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21.
  15. Paul Grein (February 5, 2014). "Chart Watch: "Radioactive" Just Won't Quit". Yahoo Music.
  16. Bjorke, Matt (June 19, 2014). "Country Chart News: The Top 30 Digital Singles For June 19, 2014". Roughstock. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  17. "Hunter Hayes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. "Hunter Hayes Dupe 1 Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  19. "Japan Hot 100 - 2014/05/19 付け". Billboard Japan. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  20. "Hunter Hayes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  21. "Hunter Hayes Dupe 1 Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  22. "Hunter Hayes Dupe 1 Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  23. "Billboard Country Update for December 15, 2014" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 15, 2014. p. 17. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  24. "Best of 2014: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  25. "American single certifications – Hunter Hayes – Invisible". Recording Industry Association of America.
  26. "Invisible - Single by Hunter Hayes". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
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