A Little Bit Stronger
Encyclopedia
"A Little Bit Stronger" is the title of a song written by Luke Laird
, Hillary Lindsey
, and Hillary Scott
, and recorded by American country
artist Sara Evans
. It was released in September 2010 and serves as the lead-off single to her sixth studio album, Stronger
, which was released on March 8, 2011. The song was also featured on the soundtrack
for the 2010 movie Country Strong. It became Evans first single to be certified Platinum by the RIAA in June 2011.
Sara Evans performed the song on April 3, 2011 during the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards
, and received a standing ovation for her performance. She also performed the song on May 24, 2011, during the finale of the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Evans debuted the new single during her 2010 fanclub party on June 10, 2010. The song was co-written by Hillary Scott
of Lady Antebellum
, who also performed harmony vocals on the record.
," and "Shame About That."
artist Leighton Meester
. Her version was performed in the 2011 film Country Strong and included on Country Strong: More Music From the Motion Picture.
, was shot on August 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee, and premiered on CMT
's Big New Music Weekend on October 1, 2010. In the video, Evans is shown in various locations within her spacious apartment and sitting behind the wheel of a car in the rain, appearing distraught while she performs the song. Throughout the video, scenes of her recording a video blog are included. As the video progresses, Evans makes note in her video blog that she's been getting stronger with each passing day.
The video is nominated in Female Video of the Year category at the 2011 CMT Music Awards
.
chart for the week of October 2, 2010. It also debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at #98 for the week of January 15, 2011. It became her fifth Number One hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week dated May 14, 2011, and her first Number One hit since "A Real Fine Place to Start
" in October 2005.
Luke Laird
Luke Laird is an American country music songwriter. He is best known for co-writing singles recorded by Carrie Underwood....
, Hillary Lindsey
Hillary Lindsey
Hillary Lindsey is a country music singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, she has written songs with or for Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw. One of her compositions, Underwood's Number One hit "Jesus, Take the Wheel",...
, and Hillary Scott
Hillary Scott (singer)
Hillary Dawn Scott is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is currently a member of Lady Antebellum, a country band that was formed in 2006 and signed to Capitol Nashville.-Early life:...
, and recorded by American 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 Sara Evans
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country singer and songwriter.Evans was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville in the late 1990s, according to Allmusic. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has made five No. 1 Country hits and Gold and Platinum-certified albums by...
. It was released in September 2010 and serves as the lead-off single to her sixth studio album, Stronger
Stronger (Sara Evans album)
Upon its release, Stronger received generally positive reviews from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 5 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".Jon...
, which was released on March 8, 2011. The song was also featured on the soundtrack
Country Strong (soundtrack)
-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:*Byron Gallimore — tracks 1, 7, 12*James Stroud — track 2*Tony Brown — track 3*Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten — track 4*Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay — track 5*Ronnie Dunn — track 6*Michael Knox — track 8...
for the 2010 movie Country Strong. It became Evans first single to be certified Platinum by the RIAA in June 2011.
Sara Evans performed the song on April 3, 2011 during the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards
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...
, and received a standing ovation for her performance. She also performed the song on May 24, 2011, during the finale of the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Content
"A Little Bit Stronger" is a mid-tempo country ballad, backed by mandolin, steel guitar, piano, and percussion. The song's female narrator describes going through her daily routine and being constantly reminded of her former love interest ("I turned on the radio / Stupid song made me think of you"). However, she copes with the pain ("I listened to it for a minute / But then I changed it"), assuring herself that each time she pushes his memory away, she gets "a little bit stronger."Evans debuted the new single during her 2010 fanclub party on June 10, 2010. The song was co-written by Hillary Scott
Hillary Scott (singer)
Hillary Dawn Scott is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is currently a member of Lady Antebellum, a country band that was formed in 2006 and signed to Capitol Nashville.-Early life:...
of Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is an American country pop music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott .The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol...
, who also performed harmony vocals on the record.
Reception
Blake Boldt of The 9513 gave the song a thumbs up, complimenting the song's "flourishes of steel and piano" and the "authentic, organic vocal." Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song 4 stars out of 5, complimenting the song's lighter production and Evans' vocals, which he felt "wring every bit of emotion out of the lyrics that chronicle a woman's ability to move on after a long relationship ends." Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe awarded the song a C rating, stating that the song could've been better "with a stronger melody and a more refined concept." He also compared it unfavorably to her previous singles, "Fool, I'm a Woman," "Cheatin'Cheatin'
"Cheatin" is a song recorded by country music artist Sara Evans, released in October 2005 as the second single from her album Real Fine Place. In early 2006, it peaked in the Top 10 on the US Country charts. The song was later included on Evans' Greatest Hits album.-Content:The song, which is a...
," and "Shame About That."
Other versions
The song was also covered by popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
artist Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
. Her version was performed in the 2011 film Country Strong and included on Country Strong: More Music From the Motion Picture.
Music video
The music video, directed by Peter ZavadilPeter Zavadil
Peter Zavadil is a music video director who works primarily in the field of country music. He has directed many music videos since the late 1990s.-Music videos directed:109 music videos are currently listed here.-References:...
, was shot on August 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee, and premiered on CMT
Country 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...
's Big New Music Weekend on October 1, 2010. In the video, Evans is shown in various locations within her spacious apartment and sitting behind the wheel of a car in the rain, appearing distraught while she performs the song. Throughout the video, scenes of her recording a video blog are included. As the video progresses, Evans makes note in her video blog that she's been getting stronger with each passing day.
The video is nominated in Female Video of the Year category at the 2011 CMT Music Awards
CMT Music Awards
The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast live on CMT. Voting takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.-History:...
.
Chart performance
"A Little Bit Stronger" debuted at #56 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 for the week of October 2, 2010. It also debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at #98 for the week of January 15, 2011. It became her fifth Number One hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week dated May 14, 2011, and her first Number One hit since "A Real Fine Place to Start
A Real Fine Place to Start
"A Real Fine Place to Start" is the title of a song written by Radney Foster and George Ducas, and recorded by American country artist Sara Evans. The song, which was released in May 2005, served as the lead-off single to Evans' fifth studio album, Real Fine Place. It reached the top of the U.S....
" in October 2005.
| Chart (2010–2011) | Peak position |
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