Busy Man
"Busy Man" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Billy Ray Cyrus | ||||
from the album Shot Full of Love | ||||
B-side | "Touchy Subject" | |||
Released | August 25, 1998 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:17 | |||
Label | Mercury Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bob Regan, George Teren | |||
Producer(s) | Keith Stegall, John Kelton | |||
Billy Ray Cyrus singles chronology | ||||
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"Busy Man" is a song written by Bob Regan and George Teren, and recorded by American country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. It was released in August 1998 as the second single from his album Shot Full of Love. The song reached a peak of number 3 on the U.S. country singles charts in early 1999, becoming his first Top 10 hit since "Somebody New" in 1993 and his last until "Ready, Set, Don't Go" in 2008.[1]
Content
[edit]"Busy Man" tells the story of a man who is so busy with his job that he doesn't have time to play with his son, buy lemonade from his daughter, or keep his appointment with his wife. Instead, he has to tend to his job. In the final verse of "Busy Man," the speaker initially plans to spend the weekend working. However, he changes his mind and cancels his work plans in order to spend the weekend with his children and wife.
Critical reception
[edit]Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "lyric most everyone will relate to." She goes on to say that the production has an "easy, rootsy feel that works well with Cyrus' vocal performance. He sounds more self-assured and in control - the marks of an artist who has suffered the slings and arrows of countless critics and emerged with his artistic vision stronger and more focused despite the abuse."[2] In 2002, Shelly Fabian of About.com ranked the song number 392 on her list of the Top 500 Country Music Songs.[3]
Chart performance
[edit]"Busy Man" debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the chart week of October 31, 1998.[4] It entered the Top 40 of the charts at number 40 in its fifth chart week.[5] The single spent 27 weeks on the chart, reaching number 3 on March 13, 1999; Cyrus' first Top 5 since "In the Heart of a Woman" also reached number 3 in 1993.[6]
Chart (1998–1999) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] | 5 |
US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 46 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 3 |
Year-end charts
[edit]Chart (1999) | Position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10] | 23 |
US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] | 23 |
References
[edit]- ^ Billboard (magazine) (2009). "Billy Ray Cyrus: Billboard chart history retrieval". Retrieved 2009-05-25.[dead link ]
- ^ Billboard, November 7, 1998
- ^ Fabian, Shelly (2002). "Top 500 Country Music Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-12. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
- ^ Billboard (1998). ""Busy Man" chart history - October 31, 1998". Retrieved 2009-05-25. [dead link ]
- ^ Billboard (1998). ""Busy Man" chart history - November 28, 1998". Retrieved 2009-05-25. [dead link ]
- ^ Billboard (1999). ""Busy Man" chart history - March 13, 1999". Retrieved 2009-05-25. [dead link ]
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7461." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 5, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ "Billy Ray Cyrus Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ "Billy Ray Cyrus Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1999". RPM. December 13, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 1999: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.