When I See This Bar

"When I See This Bar" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in June 2013 as the second single from his 2013 album Life on a Rock. The song was written by Chesney and Keith Gattis.

"When I See This Bar"
Single by Kenny Chesney
from the album Life on a Rock
ReleasedJune 10, 2013 (2013-06-10)
Recorded2013
GenreCountry
Length6:03 (album version)
4:16 (radio edit)
LabelBlue Chair/Columbia Nashville
Songwriter(s)Kenny Chesney
Keith Gattis
Producer(s)Kenny Chesney
Buddy Cannon
Kenny Chesney singles chronology
"Pirate Flag"
(2013)		 "When I See This Bar"
(2013)		 "American Kids"
(2014)

Content

The song is a mid-tempo in which the narrator reflects on what he sees in a bar.

When asked by Country Music Television if the song referred to any particular bar, Chesney said that "There is, and I think we all have that place. You had your group of friends, you fell in love at that place, you fell out of love at that place, you met a lot of really interesting people and, over time, you don't realize that it's becoming a really important spot in your life. And then life has a way of taking each one of you and moving you along, and you don't really notice at the time, but all of a sudden, you're just not there anymore. And that's the root of this song. I think when we see that bar or we see that place, we don't see four walls. We see the laughter, we see the faces, we hear the music."[1]

Critical reception

Glenn Gamboa of Newsday said that the song was "John Mellencamp-influenced" and an example of Chesney's "country-rock wheelhouse".[2] Gary Graff of The Oakland Press said that the song's "warm nostalgia" showed some of "the album's heart".[3] Giving it 4.5 stars out of 5, Billy Dukes of Taste of Country also compared it favorably to Mellencamp, saying, "the lyrics feel as genuine and honest as the rocker’s best-known hits." He also called it "Smartly-written, but not pretentious. Wild, but not careless. Familiar, but not tired".[4] Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave the song 5 stars for the album version, saying that it has "evocative lyrics that set the mood" and that it "stands out for its detail and depth alone." He gave the song's radio edit a 4.5 star rating, saying that the verse missing from the radio edit "adds as much as the others do".[5]

Music video

The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and premiered on the USA Today website on July 18, 2013.[6]

Chart performance

Following the release of Life on a Rock, "When I See This Bar" charted at number 57 on Country Airplay from unsolicited airplay that predated its release as a single. It was one of four tracks to do so that week.[7] The song re-entered at number 39 on the chart dated for the week ending June 22, 2013.[8] It also debuted at number 97 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of August 10, 2013.

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Canada Country (Billboard)[9] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 84
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 14
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 25

Year-end charts
Chart (2013) Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[13] 62
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 76

References
  1. "Kenny Chesney: CMT Hot 20 Countdown Interview (Part One)". CMT. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. Gamboa, Glenn (April 26, 2013). "Kenny Chesney's 'Life on a Rock' review: Too laid-back". Newsday. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  3. Graff, Gary (April 27, 2013). "Listening Room: Kenny Chesney runs deep, reflective with "Life On a Rock"". The Oakland Press. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. Dukes, Billy (3 June 2013). "Kenny Chesney, 'When I See This Bar' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. Peacock, Bobby (24 June 2013). "Single Review: Kenny Chesney - When I See This Bar". Roughstock. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. Conaway, Alanna (July 11, 2013). "Kenny Chesney Will Debut New Video for "When I See This Bar" on July 18". Roughstock. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  7. Morris, Edward (11 May 2013). "Kenny Chesney Crowns Album Charts, Debuts Four New Songs Florida Georgia Line's "Get Your Shine On" Tops Airplay List". CMT. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. "Kenny Chesney's 'When I See This Bar' is Most-Added at Country Radio". Country Music Is Love. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  10. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  12. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  13. "Billboard Country Update for December 16, 2013" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 16, 2013. p. 21. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  14. "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
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