"Nineteen" is a song written by Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, and Gary Nicholson. The song was originally recorded by the country music duo Waycross, whose version peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July 2007.[1] Taylor Hicks later recorded the song on his 2009 album The Distance,[2] although his version of the song was not released as a single. It was then recorded by country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus, on his album I'm American, which was released on June 28, 2011. Cyrus' version of the song was released as the album's second single on September 26, 2011. Clayton Bellamy also recorded it on his 2012 album Everyone's a Dreamer.

"Nineteen"
Single by Billy Ray Cyrus
from the album I'm American
ReleasedSeptember 26, 2011
GenreCountry
Length3:18
LabelBuena Vista Records
Songwriter(s)Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, Gary Nicholson
Producer(s)Buddy Cannon
Billy Ray Cyrus singles chronology
"Runway Lights"
(2011)
"Nineteen"
(2011)
"Change My Mind"
(2012)

Content

edit

"Nineteen" tells the story of a high school football standout, who turns down the University of Tennessee to serve in the Marines after watching the September 11 attacks.

Reception

edit

Critical

edit

Taste of Country positively reviewed the song, rating it 4 stars out of five.[3] The reviewer, Billy Dukes, comments on how many times the song has been recorded, but mentions that the song deserves the attention of the mainstream country audience.

Commercial

edit

The song debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending October 8, 2011. It is Cyrus' first chart entry since "A Good Day" peaked at number 59 on the country chart in September 2009.[4]

Chart performance

edit

Waycross

edit
Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[1] 54

Billy Ray Cyrus

edit
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 58

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Hot Country Songs for July 7, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 7 July 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Distance". Allmusic. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  3. ^ Dukes, Billy (August 24, 2011). "Billy Ray Cyrus, "Nineteen" - Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  4. ^ "A Good Day - Billy Ray Cyrus". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  5. ^ "Billy Ray Cyrus Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2011.