Heads Carolina, Tails California
Encyclopedia
"Heads Carolina, Tails California" is the title of a song written by Tim Nichols
and Mark D. Sanders
and recorded by American country
artist Jo Dee Messina
. The song was released in January 1996 as her debut single and served as the lead-off single for her self-titled debut album
. The song reached the Top 10 on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts.
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "rollicking country ode to flipping a coin and hitting the road in search of a better life 'somewhere greener, somewhere warmer.'" She goes on to say that "passion and energy permeate Messina's strong vocal attacks on this infectious tune."
was released for the song directed by Roger Pistole. Messina is shown performing with an old-fashioned microphone
in a run-down wooden shack in the countryside and leaning against the counter of a diner, dressed as a waitress. Throughout the video are scenes of men traveling on an old dirt road pushing tires with them. They are seen sitting in the diner that Messina is seen in, and outside of a rural gas station in which the diner is located.
Tim Nichols
Tim Nichols Tim Nichols Tim Nichols (born in Portsmouth, Virginia is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since the late 1980s, Nichols has written for several country music singers, including Keith Whitley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, and Alan Jackson...
and Mark D. Sanders
Mark D. Sanders
Mark Daniel Sanders is an American Country Music songwriter. He has written 14 No. 1 hits, 50 singles, and over 200 cuts, including the famous Lee Ann Womack single “I Hope You Dance,” co-written with Tia Sillers.-Early life:...
and recorded by American country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Marie Messina , known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two...
. The song was released in January 1996 as her debut single and served as the lead-off single for her self-titled debut album
Jo Dee Messina (album)
Jo Dee Messina is the self-titled debut album of American country music singer Jo Dee Messina, released in 1996.It was co-produced by country music artist Tim McGraw and McGraw's frequent co-producer Byron Gallimore...
. The song reached the Top 10 on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts.
Content
"Heads Carolina, Tails California" is an up-tempo song about a narrator who wants to just take her love and run off together somewhere, but anywhere will do as long as he comes with her.Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "rollicking country ode to flipping a coin and hitting the road in search of a better life 'somewhere greener, somewhere warmer.'" She goes on to say that "passion and energy permeate Messina's strong vocal attacks on this infectious tune."
Music video
A music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was released for the song directed by Roger Pistole. Messina is shown performing with an old-fashioned microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
in a run-down wooden shack in the countryside and leaning against the counter of a diner, dressed as a waitress. Throughout the video are scenes of men traveling on an old dirt road pushing tires with them. They are seen sitting in the diner that Messina is seen in, and outside of a rural gas station in which the diner is located.
Chart performance
"Heads Carolina, Tails California" debuted at number 73 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of January 27, 1996.| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 11 |
| Canadian RPM Country Singles | 3 |