I Wonder
Encyclopedia
"I Wonder" is the title of a song written by Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo
, Karyn Rochelle
, and co-written and recorded by American
country
artist Kellie Pickler
. It was released as the second single from her debut album, Small Town Girl, on February 5, 2007.
Pickler, who co-wrote the song about her childhood, was notably emotional when performing the song live, especially on the 2007 CMA Awards
, where her performance received a standing ovation.
In early 2007, after hearing one of Pickler's songs, her mother, Cynthia Morton, wrote her a letter. The letter arrived after "I Wonder" was written, and was not the inspiration for the song.
A short paragraph from Pickler describing the song's sentimental value to her was included on the back cover of the single.
reviewed the song favorably. "In the lyric, Pickler reflects on missed moments (braiding hair, getting ready for prom) and wonders if her mother ever thinks about her. The most powerful music is that which draws from real life, and this is heartbreakingly honest and vulnerable. Yet among the hurt and confusion, Pickler emerges as a survivor. Country music at its finest from one of the format's most impressive new talents."
In 2008, "I Wonder" won three CMT Music Awards
for Breakthrough Video of the Year, Tearjerker Video of the Year, and Performance of the Year (at the 2007 CMA Awards). Pickler also won a songwriter award for the song from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
.
On January 18, 2007, Pickler performed "I Wonder" for the first time on The View. At one point during the song, she briefly stopped and she could be seen trying to compose herself. Pickler's album subsequently climbed from #83 to #51 on the Billboard Top 200. Pickler performed "I Wonder" again on March 1, 2007 on American Idol
. The week following the performance, her album jumped from #100 to #66 on The Billboard 200. Pickler performed the song at 2007 CMA Awards
, where she received a standing ovation after she broke down crying at the end of the song. It won "Performance of the Year" in the 2008 CMT Music Awards
.
I Wonder's music video was shot on March 15, 2007 at the Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville, Tennessee
. The music video was released on March 31, 2007, on AOL. It starts off with Pickler getting off her tour bus and talking with fans as she enters at the famed showplace. After this, we see Pickler singing on a simple stage and, after, shows her walking to her dressing room, where she sees a little girl standing against the wall. She then walks out into the stage and sings. The song finishes and the video ends with Pickler seeing the little girl and smiling at her. The CMA Awards Show performance of "I Wonder" was used as a video by CMT.
Aimee Mayo
Aimee Mayo is an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo owns her own publishing company, Little Blue Typewriter Music.-Biography:Aimee Mayo grew up in Gadsden, Alabama...
, Karyn Rochelle
Karyn Rochelle
Karyn Rochelle is an American country music songwriter. Her credits include several hit singles by country music artists, including "I Wonder", "Red High Heels", and "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" for Kellie Pickler, as well as "Georgia Rain" and "This Is Me You're Talking To" for Trisha Yearwood...
, and co-written and recorded by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Kellie Pickler
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Dawn Pickler is an American country music artist and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, eventually finishing in sixth place. In 2006, she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records as a recording artist, releasing...
. It was released as the second single from her debut album, Small Town Girl, on February 5, 2007.
Pickler, who co-wrote the song about her childhood, was notably emotional when performing the song live, especially on the 2007 CMA Awards
Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967...
, where her performance received a standing ovation.
Content
"I Wonder" is a piano ballad with steel guitar fills, that describes the personal experiences of Pickler's childhood, in which her mother was absent.In early 2007, after hearing one of Pickler's songs, her mother, Cynthia Morton, wrote her a letter. The letter arrived after "I Wonder" was written, and was not the inspiration for the song.
A short paragraph from Pickler describing the song's sentimental value to her was included on the back cover of the single.
Reception
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...
reviewed the song favorably. "In the lyric, Pickler reflects on missed moments (braiding hair, getting ready for prom) and wonders if her mother ever thinks about her. The most powerful music is that which draws from real life, and this is heartbreakingly honest and vulnerable. Yet among the hurt and confusion, Pickler emerges as a survivor. Country music at its finest from one of the format's most impressive new talents."
In 2008, "I Wonder" won three CMT Music Awards
CMT Music Awards
The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast live on CMT. Voting takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.-History:...
for Breakthrough Video of the Year, Tearjerker Video of the Year, and Performance of the Year (at the 2007 CMA Awards). Pickler also won a songwriter award for the song from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them...
.
Live performances
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. The week following the performance, her album jumped from #100 to #66 on The Billboard 200. Pickler performed the song at 2007 CMA Awards
Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967...
, where she received a standing ovation after she broke down crying at the end of the song. It won "Performance of the Year" in the 2008 CMT Music Awards
CMT Music Awards
The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast live on CMT. Voting takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.-History:...
.
Music video
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. The music video was released on March 31, 2007, on AOL. It starts off with Pickler getting off her tour bus and talking with fans as she enters at the famed showplace. After this, we see Pickler singing on a simple stage and, after, shows her walking to her dressing room, where she sees a little girl standing against the wall. She then walks out into the stage and sings. The song finishes and the video ends with Pickler seeing the little girl and smiling at her. The CMA Awards Show performance of "I Wonder" was used as a video by CMT.
Chart performance
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|