Beautiful Drug
| "Beautiful Drug" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Zac Brown Band | ||||
| from the album Jekyll + Hyde | ||||
| Released | September 21, 2015[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:11[2] | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Zac Brown, Niko Moon | |||
| Producer(s) | In the Arena Productions | |||
| Zac Brown Band singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Beautiful Drug" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album, Jekyll + Hyde, on September 21, 2015.[1] The song was written by Zac Brown and Niko Moon.
On February 14, 2024, it was announced that the late Swedish DJ Avicii's remix of the song would be released on February 16, 2024.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]In his review of the album, Carl Wilson of Billboard gave the song a mixed review, saying that "The "beware who enter" sign is hung by the opener, "Beautiful Drug," which doesn't just flirt with top 40 EDM but checks it into a cheap motel for a quickie. The affair is brisk and forgettable, and soon gives way to more comfy MOR and gospel-rock cuts, but notice has been served."[4] A review from Taste of Country was favorable, saying that "it's the most left-of-center single Zac Brown Band have ever released, which translates to their biggest risk. One gets a sense that this band is pretty comfortable at the edges of the format. It's the secret all but the most casual fan was aware of already anyway" and "Not all will [love it], as ZBB employ more effects than ever. But the song's relentless energy will convert most quickly."[5]
Commercial performance
[edit]The song first entered the Hot Country Songs chart on the album release at No. 45 for chart dated May 16, 2015, selling 5,400 copies.[6] It debuted on the Country Airplay chart at No. 54 for chart dated September 26, 2015, Billboard Hot 100 at No. 95 for chart dated November 21, 2015, and re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 48 on October 10, 2015. The band performed the song at the 2015 CMA Awards on November 4, 2015,[7] which prompted 21,000 downloads for the week,[8] and the song then debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 95. The song has sold 412,000 copies in the US as of May 2016.[9]
Personnel
[edit]From Jekyll + Hyde liner notes.[10]
- Coy Bowles – electric guitar
- Zac Brown – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, programming
- Clay Cook – background vocals, electric guitar
- Jimmy DeMartini – background vocals, violin
- Chris Fryar – drums
- John Driskell Hopkins – background vocals, baritone guitar
- Matt Mangano – bass guitar, acoustic guitar
- Niko Moon – background vocals
- Daniel de los Reyes – percussion
- Ben Simonetti – programming
Charts
[edit]Weekly charts
[edit]| Chart (2015–2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] | 68 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[12] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 52 |
| US Country Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 1 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] | 5 |
Year end charts
[edit]| Chart (2016) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Airplay (Billboard)[16] | 26 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] | 37 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[18] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Country Aircheck" (PDF). Countryaircheck.com. August 31, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
September 21 : The Zac Brown Band : Beautiful Drug
- ^ "iTunes - Music - JEKYLL + HYDE by Zac Brown Band". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
- ^ "Unreleased Avicii remix, 'Beautiful Drug', shared for the first time: Listen". DJ Mag. 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Wilson, Carl (28 April 2015). "Album Review: Zac Brown Band Captures Its Onstage Madness With 'Jekyll + Hyde'". Billboard. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band, 'Beautiful Drug' [Listen]". Taste of Country. September 8, 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ^ Matt Bjorke (May 6, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of May 6, 2015". Roughstock.
- ^ Adelle Platon (November 4, 2015). "Zac Brown Band Performs 'Beautiful Drug' at the 2015 CMA Awards". Billboard.
- ^ Matt Bjorke (November 9, 2015). "Top 30 Digital Singles: November 9, 2015". Roughstock.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 5, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Report: May 5, 2016". Roughstock.
- ^ Jekyll + Hyde (CD booklet). Zac Brown Band. John Varvatos/BMLG/Southern Ground/Republic. 2015. B0022962-02.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Zac Brown Band Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Country Airplay: Year End 2016". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "American single certifications – Zac Brown Band – Beautiful Drug". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
