Written in the Sand (song)

"Written in the Sand" is a song recorded by American country music group Old Dominion. It was released in September 2017 as the second single from their second major-label album Happy Endings. Group members Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, and Brad Tursi wrote the song with Shane McAnally, who also produced it. The track is about a relationship being questioned about its future. "Written in the Sand" gave the group their fourth number one hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and reached number 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It also peaked outside the top 50 on the Hot 100 chart. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 246,000 copies in the United States as of April 2018. It achieved similar chart success in Canada, garnering the group their second number one hit on the Canada Country chart and peaking at number 83 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song received a gold certification from Music Canada, denoting sales of over 40,000 copies in that country.

"Written in the Sand"
Single by Old Dominion
from the album Happy Endings
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2017 (2017-09-18)
GenreCountry
Length3:06
LabelRCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Shane McAnally
Old Dominion singles chronology
"No Such Thing as a Broken Heart"
(2017)		 "Written in the Sand"
(2017)		 "Hotel Key"
(2018)

Content

Liv Stecker of The Boot wrote that the song is "a mellow, reflective tune that questions the future of a relationship", in which the narrator asks "Are we written in the stars, baby, or are we written in the sand?"[1] The song features "snaps and gentle, fingerpicked acoustic guitar". Lead vocalist Matthew Ramsey wrote the song with group members Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi, along with Shane McAnally, who produced it.[2]

Sounds Like Nashville writer Cillea Houghton cited the song as an example of the band's use of wordplay in their material.[3]

Commercial performance

On the Billboard Hot 100, the track debuted at number 99 on the week of December 9, 2017.[4] Eleven weeks later, it peaked at number 51 the week of February 17, 2018[5] and stayed on the chart for twenty weeks.[6] The song has sold 246,000 copies in the United States as of April 2018.[7] It was certified Platinum on August 22, 2018.[8]

In Canada, "Written in the Sand" debuted at number 97 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart dated January 13, 2018,[9] peaked at number 83 the week of February 17,[10] and remained on the chart for eight weeks.[6]

Charts and certifications

References
  1. Stecker, Liv (September 5, 2017). "Hear Old Dominion's New Single, 'Written in the Sand'". The Boot. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  2. Freeman, Jon (July 7, 2017). "Hear Old Dominion's Smooth New Song 'Written in the Sand'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  3. Hougton, Cillea (22 August 2017). "Album Review: Old Dominion's 'Happy Endings'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  4. "The Hot 100: December 9, 2017". Billboard. December 9, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  5. "The Hot 100: February 17, 2018". Billboard. February 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  6. "Written In The Sand by Old Dominion". aCharts.co. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  7. Bjorke, Matt (April 9, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: April 10, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. "American single certifications – Old Dominion – Written in the Sand". Recording Industry Association of America.
  9. "Canadian Hot 100: January 13, 2018". Billboard. January 13, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  10. "Canadian Hot 100: February 17, 2018". Billboard. February 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  11. "Old Dominion Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  12. "Old Dominion Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. "Old Dominion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  14. "Old Dominion Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  15. "Old Dominion Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  17. "Canadian single certifications – Old Dominion – Written in the Sand". Music Canada.
  18. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  19. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  20. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
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