Cruise (song)

"Cruise"
Single by Florida Georgia Line
from the album Here's to the Good Times
Released	August 6, 2012
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2012
Genre	Bro-country country rap
Length	3:29 (album version) 3:26 (remix featuring Nelly) 3:07 (remix radio edit)
Label	Big Loud Mountain Republic Nashville
Writer(s)	Brian Kelley Tyler Hubbard Joey Moi Chase Rice Jesse Rice
Producer(s)	Joey Moi Jason Nevins (remix featuring Nelly)
Florida Georgia Line singles chronology
"Cruise" (2012) "Get Your Shine On" (2013)
Audio sample file info · help "Cruise" (Remix) Cover for remix featuring Nelly. Nelly singles chronology "Hey Porsche" (2013) "Cruise (Remix)" (2013) "Get Like Me" (2013)

"Cruise" is a song recorded by American bro-country duo Florida Georgia Line. It was released in August 2012 as the first single from their extended play It'z Just What We Do. It was written by group members Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard with Joey Moi, Chase Rice, and Jesse Rice. It is included on their first album for Republic Nashville, Here's to the Good Times, which was released on December 4.^[1] "Cruise" is the best-selling country digital song of all time in the United States as of January 2014.^[2] The song is considered the foremost example of the genre of country music termed "bro-country".^[3][4][5]

The recording by Florida Georgia Line reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on its initial release, but dropped off the Hot 100 in February 2013. A couple of months later, a remix by rapper Nelly was released, and the song then re-entered the top 10.^[6] The song reached a peak of No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart in its 34th week, one of the slowest climbs to the top five in the chart's history. The song also logged 24 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, longer than any other song in the chart's 70-year history.

The Nelly remix, produced by Jason Nevins, was released to iTunes on April 2, 2013 and to pop radio on April 16, 2013.^[7] The remix was played at the end of Nelly's music video for "Hey Porsche", and it was included on the deluxe version of Florida Georgia Line's album, This Is How We Roll. In total, all versions of the songs have sold over 7 million in the US by September 2014.^[8]

Background

The song was written by the two member of Florida Georgia Line, Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, together with Joey Moi, Chase Rice and Jesse Rice. According to Chase Rice, they (Brian Kelley, Chase Rice and Jesse Rice) were writing a different song, when Kelley started to strum a chord and hummed another melody, which ended up being the melody for "Cruise".^[9] They decided to drop the song they were writing to write "Cruise" instead, which they finished in 45 minutes.^[10] Kelley originally wrote the opening line as "Baby, you like a song", and the song then went through several edits when Florida Georgia Line recorded the song with producer Moi, with rewrites of some lyrics and the addition of a section after the solo.^[11]

The song is a mid-tempo in the key of B-flat major with a main chord pattern of B♭-F-Gm⁷-E♭.^[12] It is about an attractive woman that the male narrator wants to cruise with in his pick-up truck.

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song four stars out of five, writing that "their formal training shows in the tight execution of this lyric-heavy summer song."^[13] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock also gave the song a favorable review, calling it "a feel-good song from a band that likes to have a good time."^[14] Liv Carter of Urban Country News gave the song a 'thumbs-up,' calling it "one of those disposable-yet-enjoyable country summer songs which will not only enjoy a healthy chart run, but find itself on radio playlists for many more summers."^[15] Ian Crouch wrote in The New Yorker that musically, the song is "forward-thinking, combining traditional country harmonies and a banjo backing with rock and roll stadium-show guitars and drums", and "has the hint of a dance-music". However, lyrically, he thought that the song is "ass-backwards".^[4]

"Cruise" is credited with the rise of "bro-country", a musical trend in country music starting in 2013 that entails rock- and rap-influenced country by male artists, often with partying themes. Jody Rosen, a music critic who coined the term bro-country, described "Cruise" as the "most generic song", an "amiable lunk of a song", and that the "most extraordinary thing about it is its aggressive ordinariness." To Rosen, it exemplifies the genre of bro-country, "music by and of the tatted, gym-toned, party-hearty young American white dude."^[3] Its themes of women and driving are noted by critics to typical of the genre of bro-country, with its perceived objectification of women the target of criticism.^[16] Some country purists also thought it too influenced by hip-hop, pop and rock to be country music, with one describing the song as "the death of modern country music".^[17][18]

Music video

The music video was directed by Brian Lazzaro and premiered in August 2012. It was filmed outside Nashville, and featured the duo driving and performing against an American flag backdrop at a colorful paint party, and showed shots of women and well as a game of strip poker.^[19]

Chart performance

"Cruise" debuted at No. 54 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of August 11, 2012.^[20] On the chart dated December 15, 2012, it reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart in only its 19th week, achieving the fastest climb to the top of the chart for a debut single since Heartland's "I Loved Her First" in October 2006.

"Cruise" went on to spend three weeks atop the Country Airplay chart—the most weeks at No. 1 on Country Airplay for a new act's first charted title since Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman" in early 2004—and 24 weeks (over three different runs including the Nelly remix) atop the new Hot Country Songs chart. When the song reached its 10th week atop Hot Country Songs on May 18, 2013, it became the second song (Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together") to spend that many weeks at No. 1 since Buck Owens's "Love's Gonna Live Here" (16 weeks between October 1963 and February 1964). On August 24, 2013, it logged its 24th week at No. 1, the longest run at No. 1 in the chart's 69-year history (the previous record was 21 weeks held jointly by three songs, the last of which was Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" from February to June 1955). On November 9, 2013, the song logged its 66th and final week on the Hot Country Songs chart,^[21] setting a new all-time record of 56 weeks, previously held jointly by "Love Like Crazy" by Lee Brice and "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes, and just the sixth song to spend 52 or more weeks on the chart during a single chart run.

"Cruise" debuted at No. 99 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of September 1, 2012. It spent 26 consecutive weeks on it, peaking at No. 16. The song returned to the Hot 100 following the release of the remix with Nelly, reappearing at No. 8 for the week ending April 20, 2013, and reaching a new peak at No. 4 in the issue dated July 6, 2013. The remix video featuring Nelly has over 24.9 million views as of 2 December 2013.^[22] According to Nielsen SoundScan, the Nelly version of "Cruise" has sold 2.5 million copies as of January 2014.^[2] The song reached a peak of No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 6, 2013, and set an industry record for the slowest climb to the top five in the chart's nearly 55-year history, eclipsing the 30-week ascent of Lonestar's No. 1 "Amazed" in 1999–2000.^[23] However, the record was soon broken by Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive", which peaked in its 43rd week.^[24]

The song became the best-selling song by a country duo in digital history by April 2013,^[25] and it also became the fourth-selling song of 2013 with 4,691,000 downloads sold for the year.^[26] By October 2013, the song has sold 6 million copies in the United States, then the second best-selling country song in history, behind Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now".^[27] In January 2014, it overtook Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" and became the best-selling country song in the US.^[2] It was certified 9x Platinum by RIAA on January 29, 2015 (certification includes streaming).^[28] The song, including all versions, reached seven million in total sales in September 2014.^[8] It became the country's ninth all-time best-selling digital single in 2015.^[29] On April 1, 2016, the song was certified Diamond, the first country song to achieve this status. The certification includes streams, which numbered more than 155 million by April 2015.^[30] As of November 2016, the song has sold 7,598,000 copies in the U.S.^[31]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2012–13) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[32] 38 Canada AC (Billboard)[33] 25 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[34] 9 Canada Country (Billboard)[35] 1 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[36] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 30 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 34 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[39] 59 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[40] 43 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 75 US Billboard Hot 100[42] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[43] 13 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 6 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[45] Original version 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[46] Original version 1 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 7

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Canada (Music Canada)[48] 2× Platinum 160,000^^ United States (RIAA)[28] Diamond 7,598,000[31] ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone Since May 2013 RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.[49] Year-end charts Chart (2012) Position US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[50] 65 Chart (2013) Position US Billboard Hot 100[51] 9 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[52] 1 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[53] 60

References

1. Conaway, Alanna (October 19, 2012). "Florida Georgia Line Reveal Release Date for Debut Album, 'Here's to the Good Times'". Taste of Country. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
2. Wade Jessen (January 6, 2014). "Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' Sets All-Time Country Sales Record". Billboard.
3. Rosen, Jody (August 11, 2013). "Jody Rosen on the Rise of Bro-Country". Vulture.
4. Ian Crouch (July 24, 2014). "Taking Country Music Back from the Bros". New Yorker.
5. Adam Carlson (October 14, 2014). "'Bro Country' Is Still Thriving, Even If Everyone Hates It". Time.
6. "Cruise by Florida Georgia Line". Song Facts.
7. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15.
8. Paul Grein (September 10, 2014). "Chart Watch: Meghan Trainor, Giant Slayer". Yahoo Music! Chart Watch. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014.
9. Annie Reuter (March 25, 2014). "Behind the Song: Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise'". Radio.com.
10. Christina Vinson (June 12, 2014). "Chase Rice Admits He Didn't Expect 'Cruise' to Become a Big Hit". Taste of Country.
11. Emily Yahr September 29, 2013. "'Cruise': Behind the making of Florida Georgia Line's mega-hit". The Washington Post.
12. Hubbard, Tyler. "Florida Georgia Line "Cruise" Sheet Music - Download & Print".
13. Dukes, Billy (August 22, 2012). "Florida Georgia Line, 'Cruise' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
14. Bjorke, Matt (June 14, 2012). "The Weekly Single Recap: June 14, 2012". Roughstock. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
15. Carter, Liv. "Single Review: 'Cruise' – Florida Georgia Line". UrbanCountry News. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
16. Billy Dukes. "Bro-Country … What the Heck Is It?". Taste of Country.
17. Ashley Anne-Helene (August 1, 2013). "Why Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" is the death of modern country music [A Rant]". Nashville Gab.
18. Sterling Whitaker (August 13, 2013). "Poll: Florida Georgia Line – Love Them, or Hate Them?". The Boot.
19. Wyland, Sarah (August 28, 2012). "Watch Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" Video". Great American Country. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
20. Morris, Edward (August 4, 2012). "Zac Brown Band's Uncaged Racks Up Third Week at No. 1". Country Music Television. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
21. "Country Music: Top Country Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard.
22. Florida Georgia Line - Cruise (Remix) ft. Nelly. 13 May 2013 – via YouTube.
23. Gary Trust (May 29, 2013). "Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Still Atop Hot 100, Zach Sobiech Debuts". Billboard.
24. "The Hot 100: Jul 06, 2013 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
25. Paul Grein (April 17, 2013). "Week Ending April 14, 2013. Songs: PSY Gallops Back". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved April 18, 2013.
26. Grein, Paul (January 2, 2014). "The Top 10 Albums and Songs of 2013". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
27. Grein, Paul (October 23, 2013). "Week Ending Oct. 20, 2013. Songs: Women In Charge". Chart Watch. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
28. "American single certifications – Florida Georgia Line – Cruise". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
29. "The Rise of Uptown Funk: Could It Become the All-Time #1 Seller?". HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
30. "Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' Reaches RIAA Diamond Status". Billboard. April 2, 2016.
31. Bjorke, Matt (November 1, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: November 1, 2016". Roughstock.
32. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Florida Georgia Line.
33. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Florida Georgia Line.
34. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Florida Georgia Line.
35. "BDSRadio Charts (Canada Country National Airplay)". BDS Radio. Nielsen N.V. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
36. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Florida Georgia Line.
37. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
38. "Charts.org.nz – Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly – Cruise". Top 40 Singles.
39. "Archive Chart: 2013-08-25". Scottish Singles Top 40.
40. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201327 into search.
41. "Archive Chart: 2013-08-31" UK Singles Chart.
42. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Florida Georgia Line.
43. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Florida Georgia Line.
44. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Florida Georgia Line.
45. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Florida Georgia Line.
46. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Florida Georgia Line.
47. "Florida Georgia Line – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Florida Georgia Line.
48. "Canadian single certifications – Florida Georgia Line – Cruise". Music Canada.
49. "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
50. "Best of 2012: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
51. "Best of 2013: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
52. "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
53. "Best of 2013: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics