"I Could Use a Love Song"
An image of a long brown-haired woman in a green dress sitting on a purple loveseat.
Single by Maren Morris
from the album Hero
ReleasedMarch 27, 2017 (2017-03-27)
GenreCountry
Length3:15
LabelColumbia Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Maren Morris singles chronology
"80s Mercedes"
(2016) 		"I Could Use a Love Song"
(2017) 		"Craving You"
(2017)

"I Could Use a Love Song" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Maren Morris for her debut studio album, Hero (2016). Morris wrote the song with Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz, and co-produced the track with busbee. It was released to North American country radio on March 27, 2017 through Columbia Nashville as the album's third single. A song about heartbreak and finding redemption through love, it garnered positive reviews from critics. "I Could Use a Love Song" reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, giving Morris her second number-one single, and her first as a solo artist. It also peaked at numbers seven and 56 on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. The song was certified Platinum, and has sold 206,000 copies as of December 2017. It achieved similar chart success in Canada, reaching number 14 on the Country chart and garnering a Platinum certification from Music Canada, denoting sales of over 80,000 units in that country.


Content

"I Could Use a Love Song" is a "no frills heartbreak song" that finds the narrator becoming jaded towards love.[1][2] Despite having been burned by previous relationships, Morris remains optimistic and believes that a love song can restore her faith in finding love.[2][3]


Background and release

"I Could Use a Love Song" was announced as the album's third single on February 24, 2017.[3] The song was made available to country radio on March 13,[4][5] but did not officially impact the format until March 27, 2017.[5]

Critical reception

Mike Wass of Idolator expressed surprise over the choice of single, but wrote that the song "harks back to a time in country music when songs examined matters of the heart over simple arrangements," which works in the track's favor.[6] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country reviewed the song favorably. He wrote that "I Could Use a Love Song" is "more immediately accessible than her previous two radio hits," and praised Morris for expressing a new side to her artistry.[1]

Music video

The music video of the song was released on May 6, 2017, and starred Shelley Hennig and Garrett Hines as the couple.

Accolades
Year Association Category Result
2018 Grammy Awards[7] Best Country Solo Performance Nominated

Commercial performance

"I Could Use a Love Song" debuted at number 56 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated April 1, 2017 and was the week's highest-debuting single.[8] On the week dated September 2, the song debuted at number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100[9] before dropping to number 100 the week of September 9,[10] and left the week after. The track reappeared on the chart dated September 23 at number 92[11] and reached number 56 the week of January 20, 2018[12] before leaving the chart completely, remaining there for twenty-one weeks.[13] It has sold 206,000 copies in the United States as of December 2017.[14] It peaked at number one on the Country Airplay chart dated January 20, giving Morris her second number one single and her first as a solo artist.

Charts and certifications

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Canada March 27, 2017 Country radio Sony Music Canada [26]
United States Columbia Nashville [27]

References

  1. ^ a b Dukes, Billy (March 3, 2017). "Maren Morris, 'I Could Use a Love Song' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Reuter, Annie (May 31, 2016). "Album Review: Maren Morris' 'Hero'". Sounds Like Nashville. SpinMedia. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Stefano, Angela (February 28, 2017). "Hear Maren Morris' Next Single, 'I Could Use a Love Song'". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Konicki, Lisa (March 1, 2017). "Listen to Maren Morris' Next Single, "I Could Use A Love Song"". Nash Country Weekly. American Media, Inc. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Maren Morris - I Could Use a Love Song". United States: Daily Play MPE. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  6. ^ Wass, Mike (February 28, 2017). "Maren Morris' Next Single Is "I Could Use A Love Song"". Idolator. Hive Media. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "60th Annual Grammy Awards". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "Country Airplay: April 1, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Hot 100: September 2, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Hot 100: September 9, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  11. ^ "The Hot 100: September 23, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  12. ^ "The Hot 100: January 20, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "I Could Use A Love Song by Maren Morris". aCharts.co. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  14. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 19, 2017). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: December 26, 2017". Roughstock. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  15. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  16. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  17. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  18. ^ "Maren Morris Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "Billboard Canada Year-End Country Airplay of 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  20. ^ "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  21. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  22. ^ "Country Airplay – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  23. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  24. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Maren Morris – I Could Use a Love Song". Music Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  25. ^ "American single certifications – Maren Morris – I Could Use a Love Song". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "Maren Morris - I Could Use a Love Song". Canada: Daily Play MPE. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  27. ^ "Future Release for Country Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
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