That's the Way (Jo Dee Messina song)

"That's the Way" is a song written by Annie Roboff and Holly Lamar, and recorded by American country music singer Jo Dee Messina. It was released in May 2000 as lead-off single for her album Burn. The song spent four weeks at the top of the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs), and was her highest-peaking single on the Billboard Hot 100 where it reached No. 25.

"That's the Way"
Single by Jo Dee Messina
from the album Burn
B-side	"Even God Must Get the Blues"
Released	May 15, 2000
Genre	Country
Length	3:21
Label	Curb
Songwriter(s)	Annie Roboff, Holly Lamar
Producer(s)	Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw
Jo Dee Messina singles chronology
"Because You Love Me" (1999) "That's the Way" (2000) "Burn" (2000)
Music video
"That's the Way" at CMT.com

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that Messina "injects personality galore" into this song. She goes on to call the production, "sonically ambitious, featuring neat percussive elements, tempo changes, and those heavy, layered vocals that Nashville producers are so fond of, these days."^[1]

Music video

The music video was directed by Thom Oliphant and premiered in mid-2000. It features Messina performing the song from various colored rooms, both solo and joined by backup dancers. Messina and others are also shown throughout the video climbing the walls and ceiling of the rooms, appearing to defy gravity.

Track listings

U.S. CD Single

1. "That's the Way" - 3:23
2. "Even God Must Get the Blues" - 3:52

UK CD Single

1. "That's the Way" - 3:21
2. "Stand Beside Me" - 3:41

UK Promo CD Single

1. "That's the Way" (UK Radio Remix) - 3:21

Chart performance

"That's the Way" debuted at No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of May 20, 2000.

Peak positions

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[2]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	25
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[4]	1

End of year charts

Chart (2000)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks^[5]	9
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[6]	74

Release history

Release dates and format(s) for "That's the Way"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 15, 2000	Country radio	Curb	^[7]

References

1. Billboard, May 13, 2000 - Vol. 112, No. 20
2. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7161." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 21, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
3. "Jo Dee Messina Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
4. "Jo Dee Messina Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
5. "Best of 2000: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
6. "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Retrieved 2010-08-31.
7. "Going for Adds - Country" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 12, 2000. p. 72.