Tender When I Want to Be
Encyclopedia
"Tender When I Want to Be" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter
. Released in December 1994, it was the second single from her album Stones in the Road
. The song reached #6 on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart in February 1995.
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "think-while-you-dance pop/country tune about grown-up emotions." She goes on to say that Chapin Carpenter continues to "light up country radio with incisive, intelligent lyrics and a talent for creating just the right melody."
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
. Released in December 1994, it was the second single from her album Stones in the Road
Stones in the Road
-Personnel:As listed in liner notes.*Kenny Aronoff – drums*Paul Brady – tin whistles, background vocals*J. T. Brown – fretless bass, bass guitar*Mary Chapin Carpenter – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar*Jon Carroll – piano, accordion...
. The song reached #6 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 Singles & Tracks
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 in February 1995.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of 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...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "think-while-you-dance pop/country tune about grown-up emotions." She goes on to say that Chapin Carpenter continues to "light up country radio with incisive, intelligent lyrics and a talent for creating just the right melody."
Chart performance
"Tender When I Want to Be" debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of December 10, 1994.| Chart (1994-1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 6 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |