Beautiful Mess
Encyclopedia
"Beautiful Mess" is the title of a song recorded by the American country music
band Diamond Rio
. It was co-written by Shane Minor
, Clay Mills, and former Exile
member Sonny LeMaire, and was the first single from Diamond Rio's 2002 studio album Completely. The song reached Number One on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts, a position that it held for two non-consecutive weeks. The song was also Diamond Rio's most successful crossover single, peaking at #28 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
.
magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that "reverb-drenched guitar, a smoldering melody, and the barely contained pathos in the vocal highlight this next slice of excellence." Taylor said the "well-rendered backup vocals" and the good production give depth to the song.
on May 31, 2002. It was filmed at The Nashville International Airport.
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...
band Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio is an American Country music/Christian music band formed in 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its foundation, the group has comprised the same six members: Gene Johnson , Jimmy Olander , Brian Prout , Marty Roe , Dan Truman , and Dana Williams...
. It was co-written by Shane Minor
Shane Minor
Shane Allen Minor is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Nashville Records in 1999, Minor released his self-titled album that year, and it produced three hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
, Clay Mills, and former Exile
Exile (American band)
Exile, originally known as The Exiles, is an American band founded in Richmond, Kentucky by J.P. Pennington. They started by playing local clubs which led to touring with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars opening shows and providing backup for major rock artists of the period.Their name was shortened...
member Sonny LeMaire, and was the first single from Diamond Rio's 2002 studio album Completely. The song reached Number One 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 (now 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...
) charts, a position that it held for two non-consecutive weeks. The song was also Diamond Rio's most successful crossover single, peaking at #28 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Content
The song is a mid-tempo in which the narrator describes how his life has changed since he fell in love. He describes himself as "going out of [his] mind" and unable to concentrate — for example, appearing tired at work, accidentally putting salt in his coffee, and "walkin' 'round in a haze". Ultimately, he calls his state of mind a "beautiful mess".Critical reception
Chuck Taylor, 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 saying that "reverb-drenched guitar, a smoldering melody, and the barely contained pathos in the vocal highlight this next slice of excellence." Taylor said the "well-rendered backup vocals" and the good production give depth to the song.
Music video
The music video was directed by Deaton Flanigen and premiered on CMTCMT
- Medicine :* California mastitis test* Certified Massage Therapist* Cervical motion tenderness, a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease* Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease* Chemically modified tetracyclines* Circus Movement Tachycardia...
on May 31, 2002. It was filmed at The Nashville International Airport.
Charts
"Beautiful Mess" debuted at #55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of April 13, 2002. "Beautiful Mess" reached its peak of number one on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on the chart week of September 28, 2002. One week later, it fell to the number-two position. "Beautiful Mess" then returned to the number one spot on the chart dated for October 12, accounting for a second and final week in that peak.| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Billboard Hot 100 | 28 |