American Kids

"American Kids" is a song written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally^[2] and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in June 2014 as the first single from Chesney's 2014 album The Big Revival.^[3] After its official release, the song became available for sale on June 21 that year.^[4]

"American Kids"
Single by Kenny Chesney
from the album The Big Revival
Released	June 20, 2014 (2014-06-20)
Recorded	2014
Genre	Country
Length	3:02
Label	Blue Chair Columbia Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Rodney Clawson Luke Laird Shane McAnally
Producer(s)	Kenny Chesney Buddy Cannon^[1]
Kenny Chesney singles chronology
"When I See This Bar" (2013) "American Kids" (2014) "Til It's Gone" (2014)

Background

Chesney heard the tune during a writers' retreat with McAnally, and according to Chesney: "It was unlike anything I'd ever heard... it just grabs you and holds on, but even more importantly, it feels really good."^[5] He also said that "there is so much more to being alive than partying, tailgates and bonfires," and that "American kids are so much more complicated, more fun, more real".^[6]

Reception

Critical

The song received mostly good reviews by critics with some mixed reactions. Matt Bjorke of Roughstock described the song as "groove-filled" with "perfect" delivery by Chesney, that the "flair for nostalgia" by the songwriters brought the song to life, and also that "the final production of the track easily makes it something radio and fans are certain to eat up".^[7] The song was described as "catchy" and "highly relatable",^[8] and Melinda Newman of Billboard thought that the song "captures the zeitgeist of American youth in a way that John Mellencamp once owned."^[9] For the Country Record called the song "refreshingly original" by not following the "current country clichés" about tailgates, beers and girls,^[10] Country Perspective called the song "a feel good song that is fun and light-hearted" that is hard to hate, but nevertheless did not love the song.^[11]

Commercial

The song received 117 radio adds on its first week of release,^[12] and debuted at No. 27 on the Country Airplay chart, which is Chesney's 10th top-30 debut and this total is the most of any artist since the chart was launched in 1990.^[13][14] It also debuted at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the Hot Country Songs chart with 40,000 downloads sold in less than three full days of sales.^[13] In the following week, it reached No. 1 on the Country Digital Songs chart and No. 6 on the Hot Country Songs chart with 74,000 copies sold after a full week of sale.^[15] The song peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100,^[16] and No. 7 on the Hot Country Songs chart.^[17] The song reached its millionth sales mark in October 2014.^[18] As of April 2015, the song has sold 1,266,000 copies in the US.^[19]

Music video

The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and was released on June 30, 2014. It shows Chesney partying and making music with a group of young men and women in a brightly colored school bus.^[20][21] Some have suggested the bus in the video is a nod to Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and their bus Further.^[22] According to Chesney, "[t]he spirit of this thing — the song, the bus, the idea of the kids riding around, having fun, playing music and just celebrating life — makes you want to get involved," and that "[f]un is where and how you make it."^[23]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[24] 27 Canada Country (Billboard)^[25] 1 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[26] 66 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[27] 74 US Billboard Hot 100^[28] 23 US Country Airplay (Billboard)^[29] 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[30] 2 Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position Canada Canadian Hot 100^[31] 88 US Billboard Hot 100^[32] 73 US Country Airplay (Billboard)^[33] 33 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[34] 6

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)^[35] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^‡ ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Kenny Chesney Unveils New Video & Album". 30 June 2014.
2. Watts, Cindy (June 21, 2014). "Hear Kenny Chesney's new single, 'American Kids'". The Tennessean.
3. Beville Dunkerley (June 30, 2014). "Kenny Chesney Drops 'American Kids' Video, Declares 'The Big Revival'". RollingStone.
4. "Hear Kenny Chesney's New Single 'American Kids'". Radio.com. June 20, 2014.
5. Tammy Ragusa (June 10, 2014). "Kenny Chesney Teases New Song "American Kids" and Forthcoming Album". Country Weekly.
6. Katie Kauss (June 20, 2014). "LISTEN: Kenny Chesney Releases New Single, 'American Kids'". People.
7. Matt Bjorke (June 20, 2014). "Single Review: Kenny Chesney – American Kids". Roughstock.
8. "Single Review Kenny Chesney "American Kids"". The Daily Country. June 21, 2014.
9. Melinda Newman (September 23, 2014). "Album Review: Kenny Chesney Mixes Country Salvation With a Good Time on 'The Big Revival'". Billboard.
10. Vickye Fisher. . For the Country Record. Archived from the original on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
11. Josh Schott. "Review – Kenny Chesney's "American Kids"".
12. Gayle Thompson June 28, 2014 (30 June 2014). "Kenny Chesney to Premiere 'American Kids' Video". Country Music Rocks.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. Gary Trust (June 27, 2014). "Chart Moves: Michael Jackson Tops Adult R&B; Kenny Chesney Soars Onto Hot Country Songs; Michelle Williams' Destiny's Child Reunion Leads Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard.
14. Jason Scott (June 27, 2014). "Kenny Chesney's 'American Kids' video drops June 30". AXS.
15. Gary Trust (July 3, 2014). "Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood Vault To No. 1 On Hot Country Songs". Billboard.
16. Elias Leight (September 30, 2014). "Kenny Chesney Brings 'American Kids' to 'Conan'". Billboard.
17. "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Country Songs of 2014 So Far". Rolling Stone. 15 July 2014.
18. Paul Grein (October 29, 2014). "Chart Watch: Maroon 5 Busts Up All-Female Top Five". Yahoo Music! Chart Watch.
19. Matt Bjorke (April 22, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of April 22, 2015". Roughstock.
20. Sophie Schillaci June 27, 2014. "EXCLUSIVE: Go Behind-the-Scenes of Kenny Chesney's 'American Kids' Music Video".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
21. "Watch: Kenny Chesney premieres 'American Kids' music video Jun. 30". The Music Universe. June 30, 2014.
22. Kurt Wolff (June 30, 2014). "Kenny Chesney's 'American Kids' Video Is a Playful Tribute to Being Young in the U.S.A." Radio.com.
23. Beville Dunkerley (June 30, 2014). "Kenny Chesney Drops 'American Kids' Video, Declares 'The Big Revival'". Rolling Stone.
24. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
25. "Canada Country". Billboard.
26. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201432 into search. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
27. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201432 into search. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
28. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
29. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
30. "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
31. "Best of 2014: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
32. "Best of 2014: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
33. "Best of 2014: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
34. "Best of 2014: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
35. "American single certifications – Kenny Chesney – American Kids". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 18, 2022.