Outside My Window
Encyclopedia
"Outside My Window" is the title of a song recorded by American country music
artist Sarah Buxton
. The song was released in June 2009 as the lead-off single to her self-titled debut album
, which was released in February 2010. It has since become Buxton's second Top 30 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs
chart, as well as the highest-charting single of her career.
song, backed primarily by electric guitar with steel guitar fills. The song's female narrator describes the positive things she sees "outside [her] window," which brightens up her day.
-like optimistic ballad", as well as "a hook-y, sing-a-long to play for women this summer." Karlie Justus of The 9513 gave the song a thumbs down, finding fault in the song's "strange production choices" and the chorus' "long mishmash of feel-good staples, which underscores its 'written by committee' feel." She thought that the verses were well-written, and compared Buxton's sound to the likes of SHeDAISY
, Deana Carter
, and Julianne Hough
. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a C rating, noting that while her voice is "distinctive and interesting," it is crowded out by "layers of backing instruments and vocalists," which result in her "sound[ing] like any one of the countless 21st century country acts who have to put all their effort into getting close enough to being on key for auto-tune to fix it."
on July 9, 2009. The video shows Buxton outside in the woods, playing her acoustic guitar, while experiencing events portrayed in the song lyrics. Props for the video include a cut-out window that is held in front of Buxton as she looks through it, noticing a couple kissing among other things. Buxton revealed that the video was homemade and with a budget of $80.
chart in July 2009. The song was a minor Top 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, reaching a peak of number 23 in early 2010.
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 Sarah Buxton
Sarah Buxton
Sarah Buxton is an American country music artist, formerly signed to the independent Lyric Street Records...
. The song was released in June 2009 as the lead-off single to her self-titled debut album
Sarah Buxton (album)
Sarah Buxton is the self-titled debut album by American country artist Sarah Buxton. It was released on February 23, 2010 via Lyric Street Records. The album's only single, "Outside My Window," was released in June 2009 and was a Top 25 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, reaching a...
, which was released in February 2010. It has since become Buxton's second Top 30 hit on the U.S. Billboard 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, as well as the highest-charting single of her career.
Content
"Outside My Window" is an up-tempo country popCountry pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
song, backed primarily by electric guitar with steel guitar fills. The song's female narrator describes the positive things she sees "outside [her] window," which brightens up her day.
Reception
The song has received mixed reception from music critics. Matt Bjorke of Roughstock reviewed the song favorably and referring to it as Buxton's "biggest shot at radio stardom yet." He described the song as "a Martina McBrideMartina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
-like optimistic ballad", as well as "a hook-y, sing-a-long to play for women this summer." Karlie Justus of The 9513 gave the song a thumbs down, finding fault in the song's "strange production choices" and the chorus' "long mishmash of feel-good staples, which underscores its 'written by committee' feel." She thought that the verses were well-written, and compared Buxton's sound to the likes of SHeDAISY
SHeDAISY
SHeDAISY is an American country music group founded in the late 1980s by sisters Kristyn Robyn Osborn , Kelsi Marie Osborn , and Kassidy Lorraine Osborn from Magna, Utah...
, Deana Carter
Deana Carter
Deana Carter is a country music artist who broke through in 1996 with the release of debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for sales of over five million...
, and Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough
Julianne Alexandra Hough is an American professional ballroom dancer, country music singer and actress. She is most widely known for being a two-time champion of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. She earned a Creative Arts Primetime Emmy nomination in 2007 for choreography...
. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a C rating, noting that while her voice is "distinctive and interesting," it is crowded out by "layers of backing instruments and vocalists," which result in her "sound[ing] like any one of the countless 21st century country acts who have to put all their effort into getting close enough to being on key for auto-tune to fix it."
Music video
The music video, which was directed by co-writer Mark Hudson, premiered on CMTCountry Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
on July 9, 2009. The video shows Buxton outside in the woods, playing her acoustic guitar, while experiencing events portrayed in the song lyrics. Props for the video include a cut-out window that is held in front of Buxton as she looks through it, noticing a couple kissing among other things. Buxton revealed that the video was homemade and with a budget of $80.
Chart performance
"Outside My Window" debuted at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country SongsHot 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 in July 2009. The song was a minor Top 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, reaching a peak of number 23 in early 2010.
| Chart (2009-2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US 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... Bubbling Under Hot 100 |
7 |