Drinking Alone

"Drinking Alone" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Carrie Underwood, and released as the fourth single from her sixth studio album, Cry Pretty (2018).[1] The single had an official release day of November 4, 2019. The song was written by Underwood, co-producer David Garcia and Brett James.[2]

"Drinking Alone"
Single by Carrie Underwood
from the album Cry Pretty
Released	November 4, 2019 (2019-11-04)
Genre	Country
Length	4:20 (album version) 3:50 (single version)
Label	Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Carrie Underwood David Garcia Brett James
Producer(s)	Carrie Underwood David Garcia
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"Southbound" (2019) "Drinking Alone" (2019)

Writing and composition

Written by Underwood, co-producer David Garcia, and Brett James, the song centers around a bar encounter between a woman and a man after each of their respective relationships have just ended. Because the song was written from the first person narrative, Underwood was adamant that the characters in the song not have a one-night stand, and instead drink at the bar.[3] "It was important to me because we're singing this [in the] first person", Underwood said of the song. She explained, "I didn't want it to be like, 'Oh, we're going to get drunk and go home together', because that's not something that I would do."

Critical reception

"Drinking Alone" was met with mostly positive reviews. Taste of Country reviewed the song favorably, saying, "Underwood's new single brings with it a subtle maturity that's important for her music moving forward. This fourth single from her Cry Pretty album is her most believable, relatable tableau to date." They concluded the review by saying, "the Underwood, Brett James and David Garcia lyric isn't a bop, so it shouldn't sound like one. It's an arrangement as dynamic as the song and both stretch her creatively further than any single radio release has, since she introduced herself on television in 2005."[4]

Upon their review of the album, Consequence of Sound noted "Drinking Alone" as the best song on the album, saying "her voice carries pain, longing, and self-disgust," and mentioned it alongside "Love Wins" and "The Bullet" as the essential tracks on the album.[5]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Drinking Alone" debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and number 49 on the Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending November 16, 2019.[6] It has since reached number 11 and number 17 on each chart respectively: becoming only the second single of her career to miss the top ten on both charts. On the Billboard Hot 100, it has reached number 74.

As of July 2020, "Drinking Alone" is certified Gold by the RIAA.[7]

Music video

The official music video for the single was released November 20, 2019.[8] The video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.[9] The actor in the video is Jared Koronkiewicz.[10]

Live performances

The song was performed by Underwood on her Cry Pretty Tour 360.[11] Underwood gave the debut televised performance of the song at the 53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. [12] She gave an acoustic performance of the song from her home for the television special ACM Presents: Our Country.[13] In April 2020, she gave another acoustic performance of the song for Sirius XM The Highway's "Stagecouch Weekend," on account of Stagecoach Festival being postponed to October.[14]

Versions

The album version of the song is four minutes, twenty seconds, while the single version of the song (sent to radio) is three minutes, fifty seconds, with much of the intro and outro of the album version cut. The album version is used for the song's music video.

Charts

Chart (2019–2020)	Peak position
Canada Country (Billboard)[15]	30
US Billboard Hot 100[16]	74
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[17]	11
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[18]	17

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19]	Gold	500,000^*
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Listen to Carrie Underwood's Slow-Jammin' New Single, "Drinking Alone"". Nash Country Daily. October 29, 2019.
2. Bonaguro 10/29/2019, Alison. "LISTEN: Carrie Underwood on "Drinking Alone"". CMT News.
3. https://popculture.com/country-music/2019/12/04/carrie-underwood-opens-up-challenges-drinking-alone-first-person/
4. https://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-drinking-alone/
5. https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/album-review-carrie-underwood-cry-pretty/
6. https://www.billboard.com/music/Carrie-Underwood/chart-history/CSA/4
7. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Carrie+Underwood&ti=Drinking+Alone#search_section
8. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8544326/carrie-underwood-new-video-drinking-alone
9. http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2019/11/20/carrie-underwood-drops-stylish-new-video-for-drinking-alone-watch/
10. https://extratv.com/2020/01/21/behind-the-scenes-on-the-set-of-carrie-underwoods-drinking-alone-music-video/
11. https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/13/5-impressions-from-carrie-underwoods-cry-pretty-tour-360-concert-at-staples-center/
12. "Carrie Underwood Announces 'Drinking Alone' as Next Single From 'Cry Pretty'". Country Music.
13. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/carrie-underwood-performs-drinking-alone-wine-couch
14. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/carrie-underwood-headlines-virtual-stagecoach/
15. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
16. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
17. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
18. "Carrie Underwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
19. "American single certifications – Carrie Underwood – Drinking Alone". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.