Church Bells (song)

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For other songs, see Church Bells (disambiguation).
"Church Bells"
Single by Carrie Underwood
from the album Storyteller
Released April 11, 2016 (2016-04-11)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2015
Genre Country pop
Length 3:13
Label Arista Nashville
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Mark Bright
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"Chaser"
(2016)		 "Church Bells"
(2016)

"Church Bells" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Carrie Underwood from her fifth studio album, Storyteller. The song was written by Zach Crowell, Brett James, and Hillary Lindsey, with production from Mark Bright, and will serve as the third single from the album in the United States, being shipped to radio on April 3, 2016, and having an official impact date of April 11, 2016.[1]

Composition and lyrics

"Church Bells" is a country pop song that tells the story of a young woman who marries a rich, older gentleman, but afterwards finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage, which she ends by poisoning his drink (in a manner that the cause of his death would be a mystery and that law enforcement would not trace to her).

Underwood said of the song, "It's...like Fancy's little sister", referencing Bobbie Gentry's hit song "Fancy", made famous by Reba McEntire.[2]“She’s young, she’s pretty, she’s poor, doing what she can to survive,” Underwood explains, describing her “Church Bells” heroine. “(She) meets a man that has a lot of wealth and is supposed to take care of her.”[2]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. In their review of the album, Billboard said of the song, "The first half holds a pair of Southern-gothic blockbusters that are the closest she has come to channeling McEntire’s down-home storytelling: “Choctaw County Affair,” a tale of lovers silencing their would-be blackmailer, and “Church Bells,” a rags-to-riches murder ballad in which a woman quietly offs her abusive husband."[3] Rolling Stone called it "the most epic domestic-violence-revenge-murder ballad in years" and that it "split the difference between Martina McBride's "Independence Day" and the Dixie Chicks "Goodbye Earl", but without the latter's safety-valve of humor."[4]

In a mixed review, website Taste of Country said, "on “Church Bells” Underwood injects new drama into an oft-told tale. The Dixie Chicks “Goodbye Earl” relies on the same plot points, with Earl’s fate being the same as the oil baron in this song".The review was concluded by saying "expect the song to perform well on country radio, even if it’s not one that pushes her artistry forward as much as others on her most recent studio album".[5]

Commercial performance

"Church Bells" first charted at No.49 on the "Hot Country Songs" chart, selling 2,300 copies following the release of the parent album. It fell off the chart in the following week.

After its release as the third official single and following Underwood's performance at the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards,[6] the song re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 34 and has since reached number 10. It debuted at No.50 on the Country Airplay chart and moved to number 35 in its second week. It has reached number 12 so far. For the week ending May 28, 2016, it debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has reached number 67 so far.[7]

It debuted at number 37 on the Canada Country chart and has reached number 16. It also debuted at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100 and has reached number 85 so far.

As of May 2016, it has sold 132,000 copies in the US.[8]

Music video

The music video for the single was filmed during the Storyteller Tour in Lincoln, Nebraska. The music video was released on May 10, 2016, and premiered on Good Morning America.[9]

Live performances

Underwood first performed the song live on the first stop of the Storyteller Tour in Jacksonville, Florida.[10] She has since performed the song numerous times during the tour.[11] Underwood's first televised performance of the song was at the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.[6] She again performed the song live at the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards.

Track listing

Digital download
  1. "Church Bells" – 3:14

Charts

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 85
Canada Country (Billboard)[13] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 67
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[15] 12
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] 10

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100
  8. ↑ http://roughstock.com/news/2016/05/40398-top-30-digital-country-singles-chart-may-31-2016
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Carrie Underwood.
  13. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Carrie Underwood.
  14. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Carrie Underwood.
  15. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Carrie Underwood.
  16. ↑ "Carrie Underwood – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Carrie Underwood.

External links

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