Wikipedia

Middle of a Memory

"Middle of a Memory" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Cole Swindell. The song was released to radio on May 2, 2016 as the second single to his second studio album You Should Be Here (2016). The song was written by Swindell, Zach Crowell and Ashley Gorley.[1] It received positive reviews from critics praising Swindell's improvements as a storyteller. "Middle of a Memory" peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, giving Swindell his fifth number-one country hit overall. It also reached numbers three and 46 on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 365,000 copies as of January 2017. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number 33 on the Canada Country chart and number 98 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Michael Monaco.

"Middle of a Memory"
Single by Cole Swindell
from the album You Should Be Here
ReleasedMay 2, 2016 (2016-05-02)
Recorded2015–16
GenreCountry
Length3:47
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Carter
Cole Swindell singles chronology
"You Should Be Here"
(2015) 		"Middle of a Memory"
(2016) 		"Flatliner"
(2017)

Critical reception

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Taste of Country thought that the song showed Swindell's improved storytelling, and that he chose songs that represent the album as a whole.[2] Similarly, Annie Reuter of Sounds Like Nashville also found that the song has a "vivid storyline" where the maturity of Swindell's songwriting "shines through."[3] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock thought the song fit Swindell as a vocalist, and that its story of a girl who left before a man could express an interest in her is "a song most people have lived" and therefore would like to keep hearing on the radio.[4] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin put "Middle of a Memory" at number four on his top 10 list of Swindell's best songs.[5]

Commercial performance

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"Middle of a Memory" debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated May 21, 2016,[6] and entered at number 31 on the Hot Country Songs chart a week later on the album's release date,[7] selling 12,000 copies in its first week.[8] It also debuted at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of August 13.[9] Twelve weeks later, it peaked at number 46 the week of November 5, and remained on the chart for twenty weeks.[10][11] As of January 2017, it has sold 365,000 copies in the US.[12] On July 24, 2017, the song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and streaming data of over a million units in the United States.[13]

In Canada, the track debuted at number 50 on the Canada Country chart dated August 27, 2016 and at number 98 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of November 12.[14][15] It peaked at number three on the former chart dated December 2 and stayed there for twenty weeks.[16] On the Canadian Hot 100, it peaked at number 81 for two consecutive weeks and stayed on the chart for six weeks.[11]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Michael Monaco and premiered in August 2016.[17] Danielle Maltby, a contestant from season 21 of The Bachelor and season 4 of Bachelor in Paradise appears in the video.[18]

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[26] Gold 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[13] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Vinson, Christina (May 6, 2016). "Cole Swindell Selects 'Middle of a Memory' as His Next Single [LISTEN]". The Boot. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  2. ^ "Cole Swindell, 'Middle of a Memory' [Listen]". Taste of Country. May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  3. ^ Reuter, Annie (May 2, 2016). "Album Review: Cole Swindell's 'You Should Be Here'". Sounds Like Nashville. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  4. ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 8, 2016). "Album Review: Cole Swindell - "You Should Be Here"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Dauphin, Chuck (August 8, 2017). "Cole Swindell's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Country Airplay: May 21, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  7. ^ "Hot Country Songs: May 28, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  8. ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 16, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: May 16, 2016". Roughstock. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "The Hot 100: August 13, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "The Hot 100: November 5, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Middle of a Memory by Cole Swindell". aCharts.co. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  12. ^ Bjorke, Matt (January 24, 2017). "Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: January 24, 2017". Roughstock. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  13. ^ a b "American single certifications – Cole Swindell – Middle of a Memory". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  14. ^ "Canada Country: August 27, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  15. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: November 12, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Cole Swindell Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  17. ^ "CMT: Videos : Cole Swindell : Middle of a Memory". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  18. ^ "Bachelor in Paradise Season 4 Casting Guide: Who's Heading to Mexico?". E! News. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  19. ^ "Cole Swindell Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  20. ^ "Cole Swindell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Cole Swindell Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  22. ^ "Cole Swindell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  23. ^ "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  24. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  25. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  26. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Cole Swindell – Middle of a Memory". Music Canada. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
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