The Bones (song)

"The Bones" is a song by American country music singer Maren Morris from her second studio album, Girl (2019). Morris co-wrote the song with Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz, and it was produced by Greg Kurstin. "The Bones" was released digitally as a promotional single on February 22, 2019, and was later serviced to hot adult contemporary radio on May 20, 2019, as the album's second single.[2][3] The song became a sleeper hit, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2020. The song ended up being the second-biggest country song of 2020 in the US.[4] It is certified four-times platinum in the US.[5]

"The Bones"
Single by Maren Morris
from the album Girl
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)
Genre
Length3:17
LabelColumbia Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Greg Kurstin
Maren Morris singles chronology
"Girl"
(2019)		 "The Bones"
(2019)		 "To Hell & Back"
(2020)
Hozier singles chronology
"Dinner & Diatribes"
(2019)		 "The Bones"
(2019)		 "Jackboot Jump"
(2019)
Alternate cover
Original cover artwork
Music video
"The Bones" on YouTube

The song was nominated at the 63rd Grammy Awards for Best Country Song, earning Morris her twelfth nomination.[6] The single won two Country Music Association awards (one for single of the year 2020 and one for song of the year 2020) and one Academy of Country Music award (for song of the year 2021).

Critical reception

Jason Fontelieu praised the songwriting behind "The Bones" and in a review of its parent album wrote that "despite a clumsy midsection, Girl finishes strong with "The Bones" near the end of the album."[7] Mike Wass of Idolator wrote that the harmonies in the Hozier remix "elevates [the song] to a rawer, more emotional place."[8] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country called the song "a soulful pop anthem with a hint of country thrown in for good measure."[9]

Commercial performance

"The Bones" debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated March 9, 2019, and later debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated August 31, 2019 after its release to country radio. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart dated February 15, 2020, becoming Morris's fourth number one single on the chart and the first solo song by a female country artist to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Radio Songs chart since Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me".[10] It spent a second week at the top, not only giving Morris her first multi-week number one single, but also making her the first solo female artist to chart a multi-week number one since Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" spent two weeks at the top in late 2012.[11][12] It reached number one in its 53rd week on the Hot Country Songs chart dated March 14, 2020, becoming the singer's first song to top that chart, as well as making for the second slowest climb to number one on that chart.[13] Furthermore, it made Morris the first solo female artist to top that chart since Kelsea Ballerini's "Peter Pan" in October 2016.[14] On the chart dated May 23, 2020, it charted its 11th week at number one, passing Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", which spent 10 weeks at number one in October 2012, as the longest-lasting number one by a solo female on that chart.[15] It ultimately spent 19 weeks at number one before being replaced by Gabby Barrett's "I Hope", making it the first time since 2011 that two back-to-back solo women topped the Hot Country Songs chart.[16] The song has crossed over to pop and rock radio, becoming Morris's first single to appear on the Adult Alternative Songs chart, where it has peaked at number 17. It has become Morris's highest charting solo song on the Billboard Hot 100 so far, peaking at number 12.

Despite not reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, "The Bones" placed at number 9 on the year-end list for 2020. This is the first time that a song had not reached the top 10 of the Hot 100 but instead reached the top 10 of the year-end list since "I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole in 1998.[17]

"The Bones" was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 17, 2019, for 500,000 units in combined sales and streams.[5] The song has sold 195,000 copies in the United States as of March 2020.[18] The song has also been certified 7× Platinum by Music Canada as of July 2022.[19] "The Bones" charted for 52 weeks on Billboard Hot 100 as of the issue dated September 26, 2020, becoming the 74th song to spend at least 52 weeks on the chart.

Music video

The music video for "The Bones" premiered on August 15, 2019. It was directed by Alex Ferrari and shows footage of Morris while on vacation in Maui, Hawaii with her husband, Ryan Hurd, all shot on vintage Super 8 film.[20][21]

A video for the remix premiered on October 23 and features a time lapse of artist Sydney Clawson drawing both artists on canvas.[22]

Awards and nominations
Year Organization Category Result
2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards Best Lyrics Nominated
Best Remix Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Single of the Year Won
Song of the Year Won
Musical Event of the Year (with Hozier) Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Song Nominated
British Country Music Association Awards International Song of the Year Nominated
American Music Awards Favorite Song – Country Nominated
2021 Grammy Awards Best Country Song Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards Single of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Won

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[48] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[19] 7× Platinum 560,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[5] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various February 22, 2019
Original Sony Music [2]
United States May 20, 2019 Hot adult contemporary Columbia Records [3]
August 26, 2019 Country radio Columbia Nashville [1]
Various September 20, 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Dave Audé remix Sony Music [50]
October 4, 2019 Hozier remix [51]
United Kingdom June 26, 2020 Hot adult contemporary Sony Music [52]

See also

References
  1. "Maren Morris - The Bones". Daily Play MPE. 12 August 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  2. Freeman, Jon (February 22, 2019). "Hear Maren Morris' Optimistic New Song 'The Bones'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  3. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Media. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  4. "Hot Country Songs - Year End". billboard.com.
  5. "American single certifications – Maren Morris – The Bones". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. "Here are the 2021 Grammy Awards nominees". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  7. Fontelieu, Jason (March 13, 2019). "Review: Maren Morris has most of the pieces on new, radio-friendly album". The Diamondback. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  8. Wass, Mike (October 23, 2019). "Maren Morris Calls On Hozier For A New Version Of "The Bones"". Idolator. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  9. Dukes, Billy (August 12, 2019). "Maren Morris' 'The Bones' Could Be Your Love Story [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 12, 2020. The song is a soulful pop anthem with a hint of country thrown in for good measure.
  10. "'The Fans Have Spoken': Maren Morris' 'The Bones' Hits No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  11. "Billboard Country Update - February 18, 2020" (PDF). Billboard. February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  12. Houghton, Cillea (February 17, 2020). "Maren Morris Becomes First Woman with Multi-Week No. 1 Hit Since 2012". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  13. Asker, Jim (March 10, 2020). "Maren Morris Scores First No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart, Kane Brown Crowns Country Airplay". Billboard.
  14. Asker, Jim (March 10, 2020). "Maren Morris Scores First No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart, Kane Brown Crowns Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  15. Dresdale, Andrea (May 20, 2020). "Maren Morris beats Taylor Swift's Hot Country Songs chart record". ABC News. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  16. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Bulletins.billboard.com. 20 July 2020. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  17. Trust, Gary (3 December 2020). "The Year in Charts 2020: The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' Is the No. 1 Hot 100 Song of the Year". Billboard.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  18. Bjorke, Matt (March 4, 2020). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Sales Chart: March 2, 2020". Rough Stock. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  19. "Canadian single certifications – Maren Morris – The Bones". Music Canada. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  20. Gayle Thompson (August 15, 2019). "Maren Morris Enlists Help of Husband Ryan Hurd for the Official Video for 'The Bones'". Pop Culture. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  21. Nelson, Jeff (August 15, 2019). "Maren Morris Shares Footage from Hawaiian Vacation with Husband Ryan Hurd in 'The Bones' Video". People.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  22. Reuter, Annie. "Maren Morris, Hozier Are Brought to Life in Artistic 'The Bones' Time Lapse Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  23. "Maren Morris Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  24. "Maren Morris Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  25. "Maren Morris Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  26. "Maren Morris Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  27. "Maren Morris Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  28. "TÓNLISTINN – Vika 45 – 2019; Plötutíðindi". Archived from the original on 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
  29. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Maren Morris". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  30. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 12, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  31. "Maren Morris Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  32. "Maren Morris Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  33. "Maren Morris Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  34. "Maren Morris Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  35. "Maren Morris Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  36. "Maren Morris Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  37. "Maren Morris Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  38. "Top 100 Songs, June 26, 2020 - July 2, 2020". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  39. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  40. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  41. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  42. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  43. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  44. "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  45. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  46. "Pop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  47. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  48. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  49. "British single certifications – Maren Morris – The Bones". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  50. "The Bones (Dave Audé Remix) by Maren Morris on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  51. Stemler, Emily (October 4, 2019). "Hear Hozier Join Maren Morris on New Version of 'The Bones'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  52. "BBC Radio 2 Playlist". Retrieved June 26, 2020.
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