If it wasn’t for a series of fortunate events, Lady A’s “Need You Now” would probably never see the light of day.
The country music group penned the song together with Nashville songwriter Josh Kear. The foursome joined forces in one writing session to create songs for Lady A’s sophomore album, and it was already the second song they had written that day.
They have already finished the song called “Young Love,” which they believed was going to be such a big hit!
Then something amazing happened.
Charles Kelley started playing around a couple of chords on his guitar and found himself singing the opening line of “Need You Now.” This led to the team throwing off different verses until they were able to make it to the end.
But when it’s time for Josh Kear to turn in a rough demo, he chose not to include the heart-tugging ballad – thinking that it would perhaps never see the light of day.
Undeniably, it might have remained in oblivion if not for Kelley Scott, who remembered the song while meeting their former label, Capitol Records, and choosing songs for their forthcoming project at that time.
Little did they know it would change their lives forever!
“Need You Now” was then released in 2009 as the lead-off single and title track to the country band’s sophomore album. And it went on resonating “with any human being that had a pulse.”
It sings about a drunk, lonely person giving his former lover a phone call in the middle of the night. After all, he’s longing for her company that he lost all control not to call her – though he knows he shouldn’t.
Indeed, these lyrics are something everyone could easily relate to – the feeling of loneliness that will make you do things you know you’ll regret later. So, it was no longer a surprise when it quickly climbed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs – holding that position for five amazing weeks.
Not only that, the song was so popular that it crossed over onto several different pop and adult contemporary music charts, making it to Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand’s top five. It also became the most awarded songs among Lady A‘s catalog, taking home both Single of the Year and Song of the Year during the 2010 Academy of Country Music Award.
And if that’s not enough to impress you, this song earned – not just one but four Grammy Awards such as Song of the Year and Record of the Year; this makes it the first country song to be awarded both honors since 2006.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best songs of all time. You can listen to Lady A’s “Need You Now” in the video below.
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