Shotgun (Christina Aguilera song)

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"Shotgun"
Promotional single by Nashville Cast featuring Christina Aguilera
ReleasedApril 21, 2015 (2015-04-21)
GenreCountry, country pop
Length3:18
LabelLionsgate Television
Composer(s)Christina Aguilera, Sean McConnell, Audra Mae
Producer(s)Buddy Miller

"Shotgun" is a song recorded by Nashville Cast featuring American singer Christina Aguilera. It was featured on episode "The Storm Has Just Begun" of the third season of Nashville.[1] The song was released on April 21, 2015, as a promotional single for Nashville.[2] A country pop ballad about a long-lasting love, for Aguilera herself the song examines the theme of relationships and partners who "have stood the test of time."[3]

"Shotgun" received positive reviews from music critics. Aguilera sang the song at the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, accompanied by Rascal Flatts. Their performance segued into "Riot" from the country trio's Rewind album.

Background and release[edit]

Country musician Buddy Miller produced the song.

"Shotgun" is a downtempo country pop ballad, and a second song by Christina Aguilera recorded for the ABC musical drama series Nashville (the first one being "The Real Thing").[1][4][5][6] Digital Spy's editor Lewis Corner called it a "slow and rousing" ballad and the exact opposite of "The Real Thing", which was a "jaunty pop-rock bop".[7] The singer portrayed Jade St. John, the ex-fiancée of former record label boss Jeff Fordham, over three episodes of the series.[1] Speaking to ABC News, Aguilera described her character:

"Jade St. John is a pop star, but her first love is in country and she really wants to make a country album. And as she's passing by town with her tour, she really takes the opportunity to sort of experience Nashville and make some contacts for herself. But really she's just a huge fan of country and she just wants to dive right in."[8]

"I really love the song. It speaks to long-lasting love, the roads it takes, the turns it makes and how it lasts forever. When I perform it, I really think of that older couple who have been through it all and who have stood the test of time with the changes that their relationship goes through."

— Aguilera about the meaning of the song.[3]

Co-written by Aguilera, Sean McConnell and Audra Mae, and produced by Buddy Miller,[9] "Shotgun" is a love song about the strength of an emotional relationship and its stability.[4][3] A long-term love affair is compared to riding shotgun in a car and then taking over its wheel ("When you're tired, I'll grab the wheel / And you take over when I'm done / Love is taking turns / Riding shotgun").[4][9] In the chorus Aguilera sings: "It's a hard road honey, and there ain't nobody I'd rather be next to."[4][9] For the artist herself the song examines two partners who have stood the "test of time" as their relationship goes through different life stages.[3] "Shotgun" marks the second time the singer worked on a country material, after 2012's "Just a Fool".[10][11] Its melodic structure features acoustic guitars and a guest male vocals are heard in the background.[10]

The song was released on April 21, 2015, as a promotional single meant to support Aguilera's appearance in the series,[2][12] and its snippet leaked on April 10.[13] Although both "Shotgun" and "The Real Thing" officially premiered as digital singles,[12] neither song appears on The Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 2 album due to label rights (Aguilera being a RCA artist, and the soundtrack being released under Big Machine Records).[6]

Critical reception[edit]

"Shotgun" received critical acclaim. Bianca Gracie of Idolator provided a positive review toward the song, applauding Aguilera's "soothing and emotive vocal tone", and summarizing it as a "stunning tune".[10] Writing for PopCrush, Zara Husaini called "Shotgun" a "gorgeous ballad",[4] while the Music Times editor Carolyn Menyes praised both Aguilera as a "powerhouse diva" and the song for its "stripped down, banjo-filled" sound.[12] Zuzanna Janicka from The Rockferry ranked "Shotgun" among Aguilera's "best unknown songs", explaining: "Three years after 'Just a Fool' was released Aguilera recorded something better: a song that's restricted vocally but even more emotional. A simpler, quieter song, a thriving one."[14] Cosmopolitan's Rebecca Rose expressed her curiosity about whether Aguilera will "keep venturing into other music genres", and added: "one thing is for sure—I'm going to play [the song] on repeat basically forever."[15]

Live performance[edit]

Aguilera sang "Shotgun" with Rascal Flatts at the 2015 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Aguilera performed the "stripped-down" song with the Columbus-baded country group Rascal Flatts at the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.[16] Journalist Carolyn Menyes thought the rendition showed a "softer side" of the singer and elaborated: "Through the lens of her character Jade St. John, Aguilera turns her throaty vocals into a twang alongside a male accompaniment, and it's effective as a country single."[12] The performance segued into the band's song "Riot"—forming a medley—and featured a small choir.[17] The Source thought Aguilera and Rascal Flatts paired "surprisingly well",[17] and the Taste of Country editor Rebekah Bell hailed it as a "stellar" performance.[18] Billboard noted that the artistic delivery was commended by the audience.[16]

Charts[edit]

"Shotgun" debuted at number 28 on the US Hot Country Songs, becoming Aguilera's first entry on the chart.[19] It also debuted at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100,[20] and it managed to sell 30,000 copies before it was taken down from iTunes that week.[21][22]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 14
US Country Digital Songs (Billboard)[24] 7
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[25] 28
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[26] 43

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label
United States[2] April 21, 2015 Digital download

Sean McConnell version[edit]

Sean McConnell, who co-wrote the song, recorded his own version of it, also titled "Shotgun". The folk rock cover features Audra Mae and was released on October 2, 2015, by 333 Entertainment.[27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Christina Aguilera releases new 'Nashville' track 'Shotgun' – listen". NME. BandLab Technologies. April 21, 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Shotgun – Single by The Nashville Cast". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Steiner, Amanda Michelle (April 15, 2021). "Christina Aguilera on Her Nashville Role and Whether She'd Ever Record a Country Album". People. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Husaini, Zara (April 21, 2015). "Hear Christina Aguilera's Love-Struck Ballad 'Shotgun' From 'Nashville'". PopCrush. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on 2019-05-20. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Miller, Jordan (April 21, 2015). "Listen: Christina Aguilera's Country Ballad 'Shotgun'". Breathe Heavy. Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Nashville (TV Series) – The Storm Has Just Begun (2015)". IMDb. Amazon. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Corner, Lewis (April 21, 2015). "Christina Aguilera unveils rousing new Nashville track 'Shotgun'". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 2015-11-20. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  8. ^ Dresdale, Andrea (April 15, 2015). "Christina Aguilera Opens Up About Her 'Nashville' Role". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2015-04-17. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Nashville Cast – Shotgun Lyrics". Genius. Genius Media Group Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Gracie, Bianca (April 21, 2015). "Christina Aguilera Rides "Shotgun": Listen To The Tune From ABC's 'Nashville'". Idolator. Hive Media. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Wass, Mike (April 7, 2015). "Christina Aguilera Announces New Songs 'The Real Thing' And 'Shotgun'". Idolator. Hive Media. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Menyes, Carolyn (April 21, 2015). "Christina Aguilera 'Nashville' Song 'Shotgun' Arrives Online After ACMs 2015 Performance with Rascall Flatts (LISTEN)". Music Times. Archived from the original on 2016-01-03. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  13. ^ Husaini, Zara (April 10, 2015). "Did Christina Aguilera's 'Shotgun' Leak?". PopCrush. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  14. ^ Janicka, Zuzanna (December 18, 2018). "RANKING: 15 najlepszych, nieznanych piosenek Christiny Aguilery". The Rockferry (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  15. ^ Rose, Rebecca (April 20, 2015). "Christina Aguilera Looked Stunning, Sounded Amazing at the Academy of Country Music Awards". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (April 19, 2015). "Christina Aguilera Teams Up With Rascal Flatts at ACM Awards: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera Does Joint Performance With Rascal Flatts at ACM Awards". The Source. The NorthStar Group. April 21, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-22. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Bell, Rebekah (April 19, 2015). "Rascal Flatts and Christina Aguilera Team Up at 2015 ACM Awards". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  19. ^ Trust, Gary (April 30, 2015). "Christina Aguilera Makes First Appearance on Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  20. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: May 9, 2015". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015.
  21. ^ Bjorke, Matt (April 29, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of April 29, 2015". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 2015-05-05. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  22. ^ "Top 30 Digital Singles – April 29, 2015". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  23. ^ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  24. ^ "Country Digital Songs – The Week of May 9, 2015". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  25. ^ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  26. ^ "Digital Song Sales – The Week of May 9, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  27. ^ "Shotgun (feat. Audra Mae) by Sean McConnell on Amazon Music – Amazon.com". Amazon. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
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