"Better as a Memory" is a song written by Scooter Carusoe and Lady Goodman and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in March 2008 as the fourth and final single from Chesney's 2007 album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. With a two-week stay, it became Chesney's fourteenth number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of June 28, 2008.
| "Better as a Memory" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kenny Chesney | ||||
| from the album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates | ||||
| Released | March 31, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2007 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | BNA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Scooter Carusoe Lady Goodman | |||
| Producer(s) | Buddy Cannon Kenny Chesney | |||
| Kenny Chesney singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Content
editThe song is a ballad in which the narrator addresses a lover with whom he is splitting with, but most likely warning her he is not the kind to get deeply involved with. He then lists a series of similes regarding himself (such as "built to fade like your favorite song", and "always sure until I doubt"), ultimately telling her that he is "better as a memory / than as [her] man".[1]
The co-writers of the song are both pseudonymous: Scooter Carusoe is a pseudonym for Travis Hill, founder of Carnival Music, and Lady Goodman is a pseudonym of Holly Gleason, Chesney's publicist and a music critic.[2][3]
Critical reception
editNoted Nashville critic Robert K Oermann of Music Row Magazine wrote that "['Better as a Memory'] could be the performance of [Chesney's] life, [and] perhaps his career."
Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave the song a B− grade. She stated that the lyrics seem to be somewhat "self-indulgent" but then said that "the production is nice and Kenny’s vocals are spot on."[4]
Notable Performances
editThe song was performed with a string quartet on the 2009 Grammy Awards, where Chesney was introduced by Morgan Freeman. Later, it became the final performance in his Sony/Hot Ticket theatrical film "Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D."
Popular culture
editThe tune was voted one of NSAI’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” in November 2008.
Chart performance
edit| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 46 |
| US Billboard Pop 100 | 100 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[7] | 2 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] | 61 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2008) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 23 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[10] | 15 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ Vercher, Brady (2008-03-19). "Kenny Chesney - "Better as a Memory"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ "Holly Gleason Celebrates Chart-Topping 'Better as a Memory'". 10 December 2008.
- ^ "Kenny Chesney Celebrates His Former Publicist's First Hit". Archived from the original on April 27, 2009.
- ^ Coyne, Kevin John (2008-03-24). "Kenny Chesney - "Better as a Memory"". Country Universe. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Best of 2008: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ^ "Top Canada Country Songs". R&R. December 12, 2008. p. 62.
- ^ "American single certifications – Kenny Chesney – Better as a Memory". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.