Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
Encyclopedia
"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" is a country music
song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins
and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by singer George Strait
for his 2008 album Troubadour
, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney
instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun
, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records
.
The song is part of the tracklist for Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2
.
, the latter of whom has previously co-written two other singles for Chesney: "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
" from late 1999-early 2000, and "The Good Stuff
" from mid-2002. Initially, George Strait
had recorded the song for his 2008 album Troubadour
. Although Strait's version did not make the album's final cut, he nonetheless made his own rendition available as a digital download. Chesney then recorded his own version of the song, and released it as the first single from his studio album Lucky Old Sun, his first project for his personal Blue Chair label (in association with BNA Records
, the label to which he has been signed since 1995).
Chesney's rendition of the song is a mid-tempo, set in a calypso
orchestration with a slight reggae feel, and is backed by the The Wailers, who also sing the final chorus on the album version. Its lyrics find the narrator detailing his life to a preacher
who has told him to forgo a lifestyle of drinking alcohol and pursuing sexual desires, in favor of a more religious-oriented style. In the chorus, the narrator responds with "Everybody wants to go to heaven / But nobody wants to go now".
Alison Bonaguro, who contributes to the blog for the television network CMT
, gave the song a more positive review. Although she referred to the instrumentation as "not-so-country", she described the song's sentiment favorably, comparing it to Tim McGraw
's "Live Like You Were Dying
", but without a "preachy feel".
Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a B rating. He said the only problem with the song is the production. He went on to say "the calypso trimmings used to be a distinctive trademark of Kenny Chesney records, but by now, they’re a crutch."
to film the song's music video
. The Wailers are featured in the video as well.
Hot Country Songs
chart dated for the week of August 16, 2008. For the chart week of October 18, 2008, it has become his fifteenth Number One hit. The next week, its second and final week at Number One, the song was credited as "Kenny Chesney with The Wailers". Prior to this, it had been credited to Chesney alone.
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...
song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins
Jim Collins (singer)
Jim Collins is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1985 and 1998, Collins released three studio albums. He also charted seven singles on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by singer George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
for his 2008 album Troubadour
Troubadour (George Strait album)
Troubadour is the title of the 25th studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 1, 2008 on MCA Nashville Records. The album comprises twelve tracks, including two duets...
, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun
Lucky Old Sun
Lucky Old Sun is the thirteenth studio album released by country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released on October 14, 2008 as the first release for Blue Chair Records, Chesney's personal division of the BNA Records label...
, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
.
The song is part of the tracklist for Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2
Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2
Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2 is the second country music compilation album from the Now! series, released on August 25, 2009....
.
History and content
"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" was co-written by Marty Dodson and Jim CollinsJim Collins (singer)
Jim Collins is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1985 and 1998, Collins released three studio albums. He also charted seven singles on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
, the latter of whom has previously co-written two other singles for Chesney: "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is the title of a country music song written by Jim Collins and Paul Overstreet. It was recorded by Kenny Chesney for his 1999 album Everywhere We Go, from which it was released as the album's third single...
" from late 1999-early 2000, and "The Good Stuff
The Good Stuff
"The Good Stuff" is a single, released in May 2002, by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was the second single from his 2002 album No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems....
" from mid-2002. Initially, George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
had recorded the song for his 2008 album Troubadour
Troubadour (George Strait album)
Troubadour is the title of the 25th studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 1, 2008 on MCA Nashville Records. The album comprises twelve tracks, including two duets...
. Although Strait's version did not make the album's final cut, he nonetheless made his own rendition available as a digital download. Chesney then recorded his own version of the song, and released it as the first single from his studio album Lucky Old Sun, his first project for his personal Blue Chair label (in association with BNA Records
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
, the label to which he has been signed since 1995).
Chesney's rendition of the song is a mid-tempo, set in a calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
orchestration with a slight reggae feel, and is backed by the The Wailers, who also sing the final chorus on the album version. Its lyrics find the narrator detailing his life to a preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
who has told him to forgo a lifestyle of drinking alcohol and pursuing sexual desires, in favor of a more religious-oriented style. In the chorus, the narrator responds with "Everybody wants to go to heaven / But nobody wants to go now".
Reception
Matt C., a reviewer for the country music blog The 9513, gave "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" a "thumbs down" rating. Although his review makes note of the song's "carefree sentiment that characterizes standards like 'Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young'", he considered the calypso orchestration "patently offensive".Alison Bonaguro, who contributes to the blog for the television network CMT
CMT
- 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...
, gave the song a more positive review. Although she referred to the instrumentation as "not-so-country", she described the song's sentiment favorably, comparing it to Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
's "Live Like You Were Dying
Live Like You Were Dying (song)
"Live Like You Were Dying" is a song written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman and performed by American country music artist Tim McGraw. The song appears on his Live Like You Were Dying album. It reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard country music charts, and held that position for a total of seven...
", but without a "preachy feel".
Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a B rating. He said the only problem with the song is the production. He went on to say "the calypso trimmings used to be a distinctive trademark of Kenny Chesney records, but by now, they’re a crutch."
Music video
In August 2008, Chesney traveled to JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
to film the song's music video
Music 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...
. The Wailers are featured in the video as well.
Charts
"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" debuted at number 22 on the 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...
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...
chart dated for the week of August 16, 2008. For the chart week of October 18, 2008, it has become his fifteenth Number One hit. The next week, its second and final week at Number One, the song was credited as "Kenny Chesney with The Wailers". Prior to this, it had been credited to Chesney alone.
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|