You and Tequila
Encyclopedia
"You and Tequila" is the title of a song co-written by Matraca Berg
and Deana Carter
. It was recorded by Kenny Chesney
for his 2010 album Hemingway's Whiskey
, from which it was released in May 2011 as the fourth single. Chesney's version of the song features a guest vocal from Grace Potter, lead singer of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
.
and Matraca Berg
co-wrote the song, and both recorded their own versions: Carter on her 2003 album I'm Just a Girl
, and Berg on her 2011 album The Dreaming Fields.
Carter told the music website Taste of Country that Berg was inspired to write the song after having been out on the town. According to Carter, the two began talking about relationships, when Carter said, "Yeah, it's just like men… they get in your blood!" Also, Carter added several references to California, because she was living there at the time.
Chesney first heard the song when he and Carter toured together in 2003. He said that he identified with it more after he rented a house in Malibu, California, and chose to record "You and Tequila" because it reminded him of driving the Pacific Coast Highway. He also told National Public Radio host David Green that "there are some commonalities about getting someone out of your mind and drinking and trying to quit."
called it a "melancholy love-hate song", and an uncredited review in HitFix called the song "exquisite" and one of Chesney's "career high notes". Bobby Peacock of Roughstock rated the song four-and-a-half stars out of five, praising Chesney's and Potter's vocals and the "understated simplicity" of the lyrics. Bill Friskics-Warren of The Washington Post
thought that the song had an Americana influence and made the album Chesney's "most stylistically wide-ranging to date."
, which was filmed in Malibu, California.
Matraca Berg
Matraca Maria Berg is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has released five albums: three for RCA Records, one for Rising Tide Records and one for Dualtone Records, and has charted in the top 40 of the U.S. Billboard country charts with "Baby, Walk On" and "The Things You Left...
and Deana Carter
Deana Carter
Deana Carter is a country music artist who broke through in 1996 with the release of debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for sales of over five million...
. 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...
for his 2010 album Hemingway's Whiskey
Hemingway's Whiskey
Upon its release, Hemingway’s Whiskey 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 67, based on 6 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable...
, from which it was released in May 2011 as the fourth single. Chesney's version of the song features a guest vocal from Grace Potter, lead singer of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals is an American rock band from Waitsfield, Vermont.-Career:Grace Potter and the Nocturnals' lead vocalist is multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter, who attended St. Lawrence University for two years before pursuing music professionally...
.
Background and writing
Deana CarterDeana Carter
Deana Carter is a country music artist who broke through in 1996 with the release of debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for sales of over five million...
and Matraca Berg
Matraca Berg
Matraca Maria Berg is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has released five albums: three for RCA Records, one for Rising Tide Records and one for Dualtone Records, and has charted in the top 40 of the U.S. Billboard country charts with "Baby, Walk On" and "The Things You Left...
co-wrote the song, and both recorded their own versions: Carter on her 2003 album I'm Just a Girl
I'm Just a Girl
I'm Just a Girl is the fourth studio album released by American country singer/songwriter Deana Carter. The album peaked at #6 on the U.S. Top Country Albums chart and #58 on the Billboard 200, and produced two singles. "There's No Limit" was released in late 2002 as the lead single...
, and Berg on her 2011 album The Dreaming Fields.
Carter told the music website Taste of Country that Berg was inspired to write the song after having been out on the town. According to Carter, the two began talking about relationships, when Carter said, "Yeah, it's just like men… they get in your blood!" Also, Carter added several references to California, because she was living there at the time.
Chesney first heard the song when he and Carter toured together in 2003. He said that he identified with it more after he rented a house in Malibu, California, and chose to record "You and Tequila" because it reminded him of driving the Pacific Coast Highway. He also told National Public Radio host David Green that "there are some commonalities about getting someone out of your mind and drinking and trying to quit."
Song information
Chesney and Potter's version of the song is set in the musical key of F♯ major with a vocal range from F♯3 to D♯5. The main chord pattern is F♯5-F♯/A♯-Bsus2-F♯5.Critical reception
Chesney's version of the song has received positive reviews. Chris Talbott of the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
called it a "melancholy love-hate song", and an uncredited review in HitFix called the song "exquisite" and one of Chesney's "career high notes". Bobby Peacock of Roughstock rated the song four-and-a-half stars out of five, praising Chesney's and Potter's vocals and the "understated simplicity" of the lyrics. Bill Friskics-Warren of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
thought that the song had an Americana influence and made the album Chesney's "most stylistically wide-ranging to date."
Music video
Potter appears in the song's music videoMusic 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...
, which was filmed in Malibu, California.
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|