Only You Can Love Me This Way
Encyclopedia
"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is the title of a song written by Steve McEwan
and John Reid. It was recorded by Australian country music
singer Keith Urban
on his fifth studio album, 2009's Defying Gravity
. The song was released to radio on 29 June 2009, as the third single from that album and the twenty-first solo single of his career. It also became his eleventh #1 single on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts in October. The song is part of the track listing to Now That's What I Call Music! 32
.
According to the Broadcast Music Incorporated
(BMI) database, Rascal Flatts
has also recorded the song.
and John Reid penned the song together in a studio at a songwriting camp in Nashville where they had just met for the first time. In an interview with HitQuarters
McEwan said the demo of the song that was successfully pitched to Urban featured McEwan singing backed by an acoustic guitar and a "tiny drum machine". Reid had originally sung on the demo but it was later felt it would stand a better chance of being accepted by Urban if, rather than Reid's "sweet pop voice", it was sung in McEwan's deeper "more American" vocal.
, said that the song "recall[s] the drippiness of early-'90s Richard Marx
and Bryan Adams
". Tara Seetharam of Country Universe gave a B+ rating. Her review makes note of the "stripped-down" production and adds, "It’s a testament to Urban’s artistry that he’s able to breathe life and passion into such nondescript lyrics, turning them into what feels like a tailor-made ode to his wife". Michael Menachem gave a favorable review in Billboard
, calling it "an affectionate ballad that could easily be a wedding song[…]Urban's genteel inflections are enhanced by light production and soft guitar strums." Bobby Peacock of Roughstock, despite saying that it was "below the standards" of other ballads in Urban's career, called it a "welcome change" after the up-tempos "Sweet Thing
" and "Kiss a Girl
." This review also made note of Urban's "warm, passionate tone" and the "stripped-down" production.
and Canadian Hot 100
on the chart week of 11 April 2009, debuting at #84 and #72 respectively. Upon its release to country radio in June, the song debuted at #52 on Hot Country Songs
, before climbing to #30 a week later, and re-entered both the U.S. and Canadian Hot 100 soon afterward.
|-
! Country
! Certifications
(sales thresholds)
|-
|United States
|Gold
Steve McEwan
Steve McEwan is a British-born hit songwriter, artist, and musician. His songs have been recorded by country music artists including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Keith Urban...
and John Reid. It was recorded by Australian country music
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...
singer Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
on his fifth studio album, 2009's Defying Gravity
Defying Gravity (Keith Urban album)
Defying Gravity is the title of the fifth studio album by Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released on 31 March 2009 on Capitol Records. The album's lead-off single is "Sweet Thing", which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in March 2009. "Kiss a Girl" was released on...
. The song was released to radio on 29 June 2009, as the third single from that album and the twenty-first solo single of his career. It also became his eleventh #1 single on the 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...
charts in October. The song is part of the track listing to Now That's What I Call Music! 32
Now That's What I Call Music! 32 (U.S. series)
-Downloadable content:Until November 4, 2010, Now! 32 offers free downloadable MP3s for those purchasing the CD. Included in this volume are the following artists and songs:# The Cataracs – "Club Love"# Tyrone Wells – "More"...
.
Content
"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is a mid-tempo ballad in which the male narrator states that he and his lover were meant for each other.According to the Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
(BMI) database, Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
has also recorded the song.
Writing and inspiration
Steve McEwanSteve McEwan
Steve McEwan is a British-born hit songwriter, artist, and musician. His songs have been recorded by country music artists including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and Keith Urban...
and John Reid penned the song together in a studio at a songwriting camp in Nashville where they had just met for the first time. In an interview with HitQuarters
HitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
McEwan said the demo of the song that was successfully pitched to Urban featured McEwan singing backed by an acoustic guitar and a "tiny drum machine". Reid had originally sung on the demo but it was later felt it would stand a better chance of being accepted by Urban if, rather than Reid's "sweet pop voice", it was sung in McEwan's deeper "more American" vocal.
Critical reception
The song has been met with favorable reviews. Jonathan Keefe, in his review for Slant MagazineSlant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
, said that the song "recall[s] the drippiness of early-'90s Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
and Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
". Tara Seetharam of Country Universe gave a B+ rating. Her review makes note of the "stripped-down" production and adds, "It’s a testament to Urban’s artistry that he’s able to breathe life and passion into such nondescript lyrics, turning them into what feels like a tailor-made ode to his wife". Michael Menachem gave a favorable review in 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...
, calling it "an affectionate ballad that could easily be a wedding song[…]Urban's genteel inflections are enhanced by light production and soft guitar strums." Bobby Peacock of Roughstock, despite saying that it was "below the standards" of other ballads in Urban's career, called it a "welcome change" after the up-tempos "Sweet Thing
Sweet Thing (Keith Urban song)
"Sweet Thing" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. The song is the first single from his 5th studio album, Defying Gravity. It was released to country radio on 3 November 2008, and it made its debut on the Hot Country Songs charts at #30,...
" and "Kiss a Girl
Kiss a Girl
"Kiss a Girl" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. The song is the second single from his fifth studio album, Defying Gravity. It was released digitally on 10 March 2009, and it made its debut on the Hot Country Songs charts at #29...
." This review also made note of Urban's "warm, passionate tone" and the "stripped-down" production.
Music Video
Directed by Chris Hicky, the video was shot at the Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa, in late June 2009. It premeired in early August of that year. It starts with the sound of an audience cheering, while Keith walks on stage. He then performs to an empty theater with an acoustic guitar. Later, he performs to various fans. The video ends with the sound and visual of him being applauded, and walking away.Chart performance
"Only You Can Love Me This Way" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Billboard 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...
and Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
on the chart week of 11 April 2009, debuting at #84 and #72 respectively. Upon its release to country radio in June, the song debuted at #52 on 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...
, before climbing to #30 a week later, and re-entered both the U.S. and Canadian Hot 100 soon afterward.
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|
Certifications
{| class="wikitable" border="1"|-
! Country
! Certifications
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
(sales thresholds)
|-
|United States
|Gold