More Than a Memory
Encyclopedia
"More Than a Memory" is a song written by Lee Brice
, Billy Montana
and Kyle Jacobs
. It was recorded by country music singer Garth Brooks
and released in 2007 as his 51st single. It is the first single from his 2007 compilation The Ultimate Hits
. On the U.S. Billboard
Hot Country Songs
chart dated for September 15, 2007, it became the first song (and only song to date) to debut at Number One in the entire history of that chart. The song was also Brooks' first number-one hit since "To Make You Feel My Love
" in 1998.
, pedal steel guitar
and a string section
. In it, the male narrator describes his attempts to forget about a lover who has left him, by destroying her possessions and drinking heavily, among other attempts. Despite his attempts to forget her, he still finds himself attempting to call her on the telephone, and tries to stay awake so as not to dream of her. He states that since he still thinks of her, she is "more than a memory," even though he has been told by others that he will forget about her.
's "Don't Blink
", which debuted at #16. Brooks' chart debut was described by Billboard as "almost impossible", since most Number One debuts on other singles charts (such as the Billboard Hot 100
) are tabulated by sales, and not on radio airplay alone. Since airplay usually builds at a more gradual rate than record sales do, very high debuts are less likely to occur on airplay-only charts such as Hot Country Songs.
In addition to its chart debut, this song was Brooks' first Number One hit single on Billboard since "To Make You Feel My Love
" in 1998 (see 1998 in country music
). After its debut week, "More Than a Memory" fell to #8, and after slipping to #10 it began to climb again, eventually rebounding at #2 for the chart weeks of December 8 and 15 before falling out of the Top 10. The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the country singles charts. "More Than a Memory" also debuted at number 73 on the Hot 100 for the chart week of September 15, 2007, peaking at number 54.
Lee Brice
Lee Brice is an American country music artist. Signed to Curb Records' Asylum-Curb division since 2007, Brice has released four singles to country radio, all four of which have charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The fourth of these, "Love Like Crazy," holds the record for the...
, Billy Montana
Billy Montana
Billy Montana is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1987 and 1995, Montana released one studio album and charted six singles on Billboards Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
and Kyle Jacobs
Kyle Jacobs
Kyle Jacobs is an American country music songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, pianist as well as a staff writer for Curb Music since 2003. Jacobs writes music on piano and guitar....
. It was recorded by country music singer Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
and released in 2007 as his 51st single. It is the first single from his 2007 compilation The Ultimate Hits
The Ultimate Hits
The Ultimate Hits is an album from country music artist Garth Brooks, released on November 6, 2007, comprising 34 songs over two compact discs, as well as a DVD containing his music videos....
. On the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (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...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart dated for September 15, 2007, it became the first song (and only song to date) to debut at Number One in the entire history of that chart. The song was also Brooks' first number-one hit since "To Make You Feel My Love
To Make You Feel My Love
"Make You Feel My Love", also known as "To Make You Feel My Love" or "Just to Make You Feel My Love", is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan. It appeared on his 1997 album Time Out of Mind...
" in 1998.
Content
"More Than a Memory" is a mid-tempo ballad, featuring accompaniment primarily from pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
and a string section
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
. In it, the male narrator describes his attempts to forget about a lover who has left him, by destroying her possessions and drinking heavily, among other attempts. Despite his attempts to forget her, he still finds himself attempting to call her on the telephone, and tries to stay awake so as not to dream of her. He states that since he still thinks of her, she is "more than a memory," even though he has been told by others that he will forget about her.
Reception
The song was given a "thumbs up" rating by Jim Malec, a reviewer of The 9513. Although he criticized the lyrics for being "tired", he considered Brooks' vocals "a gritty and powerful performance" and called the melody "swelling" and "catchy.(:"Chart history
By debuting at Number One on the Hot Country Songs chart, "More Than a Memory" set a new record for the highest debut on that chart, beating the previous record set only one week earlier by Kenny ChesneyKenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
's "Don't Blink
Don't Blink
"Don't Blink" is a # 1 Billboard country, top 40 hot 100 single by country music artist Kenny Chesney. It is the second single from his 2007 album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, and Chesney's thirteenth Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.The song debuted at #16 on the...
", which debuted at #16. Brooks' chart debut was described by Billboard as "almost impossible", since most Number One debuts on other singles charts (such as the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
) are tabulated by sales, and not on radio airplay alone. Since airplay usually builds at a more gradual rate than record sales do, very high debuts are less likely to occur on airplay-only charts such as Hot Country Songs.
In addition to its chart debut, this song was Brooks' first Number One hit single on Billboard since "To Make You Feel My Love
To Make You Feel My Love
"Make You Feel My Love", also known as "To Make You Feel My Love" or "Just to Make You Feel My Love", is a song written and recorded by Bob Dylan. It appeared on his 1997 album Time Out of Mind...
" in 1998 (see 1998 in country music
1998 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 10 — "Retro Country USA," a weekly two-hour syndicated radio program spotlighting major country hits of the 1980s , premieres...
). After its debut week, "More Than a Memory" fell to #8, and after slipping to #10 it began to climb again, eventually rebounding at #2 for the chart weeks of December 8 and 15 before falling out of the Top 10. The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the country singles charts. "More Than a Memory" also debuted at number 73 on the Hot 100 for the chart week of September 15, 2007, peaking at number 54.
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 54 |
| Canadian Billboard Hot 100 | 62 |