Shiftwork (song)
| "Shiftwork" | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| File:Shiftwork kenny chesney single cover.jpg | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Single by Kenny Chesney and George Strait | ||||||||||||||||||||
| from the album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | December 10, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format | CD Single | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Country | |||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 4:29 (album version) 3:56 (single version) |
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| Label | BNA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Troy Jones | |||||||||||||||||||
| Producer(s) | Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney | |||||||||||||||||||
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"Shiftwork" is a song written by Troy Jones, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney with George Strait as a duet. It was released in December 2007 as the third single from Chesney's 2007 album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.
Contents
History
Initially, "Shiftwork" first charted as an album cut by receiving unsolicited airplay that brought the song up to number 42 on the country music charts prior to its official release to country radio. Before the song was officially released, it was credited to both Chesney and Strait. However, once it was officially released as a single, Strait's name was removed from the song due to contractual agreements between his label (MCA Nashville) and Chesney's label (BNA Records).[1] Starting with the Billboard chart dated February 9, 2008, the song was once again billed as the "Kenny Chesney duet with George Strait".[2]
Content
The song is a moderate up-tempo, backed by percussion (mainly steel drums), in which the central characters (Chesney and Strait) express their frustration with constantly working shifts at a convenience store ("Workin' seven to three / Three to eleven / Eleven to seven"). Both characters point out that their job is "a bunch of shiftwork". In the second verse, Chesney talks about taking a trip to the beach to party "from seven to three / Three to eleven / Eleven to seven."
Critical reception
Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the song a highlight on Chesney's album, making note of how Strait and Chesney both "playfully soften the F in the title, making for a genuinely funny highlight" (thus making the line sound closer to "shit work").[3] Brady Vercher of Engine 145 gave it a thumbs-down rating, saying "What makes this a bad song is that it’s dull and boring, with zero redeeming qualities. If music is supposed to make you feel something, then this song captures the monotony of 'shiftwork,' but who in their right mind is going to want to be bored when they listen to a song?"[4] Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe, gave it a "B-", saying that " the ’big ol’ pile of shiiiiiftwork” wordplay in the chorus is funny. It doesn’t hold up much on repeated listenings, however" and that the song "still manages to become a song about getting drunk in the islands".[5]
Chart performance
The song originally charted at number 42 from unsolicited airplay in September 2007, shortly after Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates was released.
| Chart (2007–2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 47 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] | 61 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2008) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 38 |
References
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- ↑ "Kenny Chesney – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Kenny Chesney.
- ↑ "Kenny Chesney – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Kenny Chesney.
- ↑ "Kenny Chesney – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Kenny Chesney.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
