How Was I to Know (John Michael Montgomery song)
Encyclopedia
"How Was I to Know" is a song recorded by country music
artist John Michael Montgomery
. It was the fourth and final single released from his 1996 album What I Do the Best
. It peaked at #2 in the United States, and #8 in Canada. Reba McEntire
recorded an unrelated song with the same title earlier in the year, which went to number-one.
magazine reviewed the song favorably calling it a "less traditional, rather summery feel than many of his previous outings." He goes on to say that Montgomery's vocals have a "more intimate and conversational quality that's extremely effective on this lilting number."
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 John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
. It was the fourth and final single released from his 1996 album What I Do the Best
What I Do the Best
What I Do the Best is the fourth studio album released by American country music artist John Michael Montgomery. The tracks "Ain't Got Nothin' on Us", "Friends", "How Was I to Know" and "I Miss You a Little" were all released as singles, peaking at #15, #2, #2, and #6, respectively on the Hot...
. It peaked at #2 in the United States, and #8 in Canada. Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
recorded an unrelated song with the same title earlier in the year, which went to number-one.
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor, 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 "less traditional, rather summery feel than many of his previous outings." He goes on to say that Montgomery's vocals have a "more intimate and conversational quality that's extremely effective on this lilting number."
Music video
Like his previous video "I Miss You a Little", this music video was directed by Lou Chanatry.Chart positions
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 8 |