"Southern Comfort Zone"
Single by Brad Paisley
from the album Wheelhouse
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2012 (2012-09-27)
Recorded2012
GenreCountry
Length
  • 5:20 (album version)
  • 4:34 (radio edit)
LabelArista Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Brad Paisley[1]
Brad Paisley singles chronology
"Camouflage"
(2011) 		"Southern Comfort Zone"
(2012) 		"Beat This Summer"
(2013)

"Southern Comfort Zone" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released on September 27, 2012, as the lead single from his 2013 album Wheelhouse.[2] Paisley wrote this song with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois.

The song received positive reviews from critics who commended Paisley's delivery of powerful lyrics over a grand melody. "Southern Comfort Zone" peaked at numbers 2 and 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts respectively. It also charted at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. It received similar chart success in Canada, peaking at number 2 on the Country chart and number 58 on the Canadian Hot 100.

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Jim Shea.

Content

The song is a celebration of the Southern United States lifestyle while giving recognition to other parts of the world. Paisley said of its lyrical content, "I'm encouraging people to take a look around. There's some great places around the world that will expand your mind and also make you love this Southern comfort zone." Included on the song are snippets of Jeff Foxworthy, The Andy Griffith Show, Eddie Stubbs, a NASCAR race, and bars of the traditional song "Dixie" sung by the Brentwood Baptist Church choir, which lends the song an anthem quality.[3][4]

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song 4 stars out of 5, saying that "Paisley’s understated delivery (combined with a lovable personality) allows him to pack the punch he’s been working toward."[5] Giving it a full 5 stars, Matt Bjorke of Roughstock said that "The melody is epic and grand" while also praising the lyrics.[6] Ben Foster of Country Universe gave the song a D− grade, calling it "tasteless" and "a misguided, watery mess."[7]

Music video

The music video was directed by Jim Shea and premiered on Ustream on December 10, 2012.[8]

Chart performance

"Southern Comfort Zone" debuted at number 25 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated October 6, 2012.[9] It also debuted at number 73 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of October 20, 2012. It also debuted at number 58 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of October 20, 2012. It reached number 2 on the Country Airplay chart dated February 23, 2013 and fell off the chart the following week, making it the first song to fall off the chart from the number 2 position since Rodney Atkins' "These Are My People" in September 2007.

Chart (2012–2013) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 58
Canada Country (Billboard)[11] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 54
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13] 10
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[14] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] 82
Chart (2013) Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[16] 52
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] 58

References

  1. ^ Hollabaugh, Lorie (October 16, 2012). "Brad Paisley's 'Southern Comfort Zone' Stays Down on the Farm". The Boot. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  2. ^ Duvall, Erin (January 10, 2013). "Brad Paisley, 'Wheelhouse' Album Title & Release Date Revealed on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'". The Boot. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Darden, Beville (September 21, 2012). "Brad Paisley 'Southern Comfort Zone' Is First, Experimental Taste of Upcoming Album". The Boot. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  4. ^ "Brad Paisley Is In His "Comfort Zone"". Nashville.com. September 21, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  5. ^ Dukes, Billy (September 21, 2012). "Brad Paisley, 'Southern Comfort Zone' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  6. ^ Bjorke, Matt (October 2, 2012). "Single Review: Brad Paisley - "Southern Comfort Zone"". Roughstock. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  7. ^ Foster, Ben (September 25, 2012). "Single Review: Brad Paisley, "Southern Comfort Zone"". Country Universe. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Wyland, Sarah (December 9, 2012). "Brad Paisley to Premiere "Southern Comfort Zone" Video on Ustream". Great American Country. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  9. ^ "Aldean moves to top of chart". Country Standard Time. September 27, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  10. ^ "Brad Paisley Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Brad Paisley Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Brad Paisley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Brad Paisley Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Brad Paisley Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Best of 2012: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  16. ^ "Best of 2013: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
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