Strawberry Wine (Deana Carter song)
Encyclopedia
"Strawberry Wine" is the title of a song written by Matraca Berg
and Gary Harrison, and recorded by American
country
artist Deana Carter
. It was released in August 1996 as Carter's debut single and served as the lead-off to her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs for This?
. The song went on to peak at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
"Strawberry Wine" is Carter's most successful single in her career overall, and is considered a signature song
for both songwriter Matraca Berg and Deana Carter.
The song tells the story of co-writer Berg's own coming of age
as a teenager outside of Luck, Wisconsin
, she recalled: "We used to go to my grandparents' dairy farm in the summer. My aunt, who's six months younger than me, and I would try to score some wine. And I met this boy..." Berg shopped the song to record labels around Nashville
, but they passed, considering it overly long and controversial, and not memorable enough. Deana Carter heard Berg perform the song at a showcase and then recorded it for her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs for This?.
in 1997
and was voted Song of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International
and the Nashville Music Awards. That year, the song was also nominated for three additional awards; Grammy Award for Best Country Song
, Academy of Country Music
Awards Best Country Song nominee, and Country Music Radio Awards for Song of The Year.
was released for "Strawberry Wine", directed by Roger Pistole. Carter sings the song while standing in the entry way to a house, on a living room couch, and behind a screen door. Accompanying these scenes are a young couple in love. The couple are seen on an old dirt road in the countryside, in front of a house, and in a car driving down a road. Scenes of other people are included as well, including an elderly man by a rocking chair and a woman standing in what was once farmland.
Matraca Berg
Matraca Maria Berg is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has released five albums: three for RCA Records, one for Rising Tide Records and one for Dualtone Records, and has charted in the top 40 of the U.S. Billboard country charts with "Baby, Walk On" and "The Things You Left...
and Gary Harrison, 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 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...
. It was released in August 1996 as Carter's debut single and served as the lead-off to her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs for This?
Did I Shave My Legs for This?
Did I Shave My Legs for This? is the debut album of American country artist Deana Carter, released in 1996. It features her breakthrough debut single "Strawberry Wine", a Number One hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts at the end of that year...
. The song went on to peak at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks.
"Strawberry Wine" is Carter's most successful single in her career overall, and is considered a signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
for both songwriter Matraca Berg and Deana Carter.
Content
"Strawberry Wine" is a ballad, backed primarily with steel guitar and percussion. The narrator describes a time in her youth when she lost her innocence, and compares her love to the sweetness of "strawberry wine". As she grows older, she returns to this place, to find that everything has changed.The song tells the story of co-writer Berg's own coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
as a teenager outside of Luck, Wisconsin
Luck, Wisconsin
Luck is a village in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,210 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Luck is located at ....
, she recalled: "We used to go to my grandparents' dairy farm in the summer. My aunt, who's six months younger than me, and I would try to score some wine. And I met this boy..." Berg shopped the song to record labels around Nashville
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...
, but they passed, considering it overly long and controversial, and not memorable enough. Deana Carter heard Berg perform the song at a showcase and then recorded it for her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs for This?.
Reception
"Strawberry Wine" won Song of the Year at the Country Music Association AwardsCountry 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...
in 1997
1997 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1997.-Events:* July 12 — The song, "It's Your Love," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill becomes the first song in 20 years to spend six weeks atop Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The last song to do so...
and was voted Song of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International
Nashville Songwriters Association International
The Nashville Songwriters Association International is a 501 not-for-profit trade organization that works to help songwriters in three ways: through legislative advocacy, through education and advice about the actual craft of songwriting, and through teaching about the music industry, and how to...
and the Nashville Music Awards. That year, the song was also nominated for three additional awards; Grammy Award for Best Country Song
Grammy Award for Best Country Song
The Grammy Award for Best Country Song has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the writer of the song.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
, Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
Awards Best Country Song nominee, and Country Music Radio Awards for Song of The Year.
Music video
A music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was released for "Strawberry Wine", directed by Roger Pistole. Carter sings the song while standing in the entry way to a house, on a living room couch, and behind a screen door. Accompanying these scenes are a young couple in love. The couple are seen on an old dirt road in the countryside, in front of a house, and in a car driving down a road. Scenes of other people are included as well, including an elderly man by a rocking chair and a woman standing in what was once farmland.
Chart performance
"Strawberry Wine" debuted at #70 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the chart week of August 17, 1996. The song reached Number One on the chart in November 1996, holding the position for two weeks.| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 65 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |