"Am I the Only One" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Aaron Lewis. It was released on July 2, 2021, as the lead single from Lewis' fourth solo album Frayed at Both Ends.[2] Released through Big Machine Records' Valory imprint, it is a protest song with a politically conservative message. The song is Lewis's highest-charting solo entry on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it became the ninth song ever to debut at number one; it also holds his highest solo position on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number fourteen.
| "Am I the Only One" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Aaron Lewis | ||||
| from the album Frayed at Both Ends | ||||
| Released | July 2, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Country[1] | |||
| Length | 4:29 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Aaron Lewis singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Am I the Only One" on YouTube | ||||
Content and history
editLewis released the song digitally on July 2, 2021, and Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group was released to country radio on July 26, 2021.[3] Prior to releasing it as a single, Lewis performed it for the first time on March 12, 2021, at Billy Bob's Texas, a nightclub in Fort Worth, Texas.[4]
In it, he expresses his conservative viewpoints. He criticizes the destruction and removal of Confederate monuments and expresses opposition to Bruce Springsteen's relatively liberal views.[5] Lewis co-wrote the song with Ira Dean (of Trick Pony) and Jeffrey Steele; Lewis and Dean also produced the track.[6] The song has been described as an acoustic ballad.[7]
Critical reception
editBJ Mac of The Nash News reviewed the song positively, calling it "a mellow, somber song about the relatable feeling of nostalgia and unease when the world seems to be changing too much and too abruptly".[8] Online music publication MetalSucks panned the song, calling the lyrics "stupid" and the patriotic lyrics hypocritical, considering Lewis himself had previously publicly sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" incorrectly, and has never "taken a bullet" for his country, despite the song suggesting otherwise.[9] Political commentator David Corn suggested that the song might encourage a repeat of the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[10] Writer Bob Lefsetz criticized Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta for releasing the song, which he felt "should have been played at CPAC, in between speeches".[11] Borchetta responded that his "job has never been to tell my artists what to sing and write about".[12][10]
Music video
editThe music video was released on October 1, 2021. According to the report of Breitbart News, the video is "set the anthem to a montage of patriotic Americana as well as images from Black Lives Matter riots and COVID-19 shutdowns", and merges scenes of "closed businesses and empty store shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic".[13]
Commercial performance
edit"Am I the Only One" debuted at the number one position on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated for July 17, 2021, making it only the ninth song ever to debut at the top of that chart. The same week, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number fourteen. Both of these positions are Lewis's highest solo rankings on either chart.[3]
Personnel
editAdapted from AllMusic.[6]
- Jake Burns – recording
- Adam Chagnon – engineer
- Matt Combs – cello, viola, violin
- Ira Dean – producer
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Brian Judd – mixing assistant
- Ben Kitterman – production coordination
- Aaron Lewis – vocals, producer
- Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
- Patrick Prophet – assistant engineer
- Matt Rausch – recording
- Doug Rich – production coordination
- Bennett Salvay – arranger
- Janice Soled – production coordination
- Seth Taylor – acoustic guitar
- Biff Watson – acoustic guitar
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[19] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
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‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Aaron Lewis' Controversial 'Am I the Only One' Now a No. 1 Country Song". Loudwire. 15 July 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis Gives Fans First Sample of Upcoming Album, 'Frayed at Both Ends,' with Release of 'Goodbye Town'". 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Jim Asker (July 12, 2021). "Aaron Lewis Debuts Atop Hot Country Songs Chart With 'Am I the Only One'". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "Hear Aaron Lewis Sing 5 Minutes of Conservative Subtext in 'Am I the Only One'". Loudwire. April 20, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "STAIND's AARON LEWIS Releases Official Lyric Video For Controversial New Single, 'Am I The Only One'". Blabbermouth.net. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "'Am I the Only One' credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis' 'Am I the Only One' Is a Top Hot Country Song – Is Radio Next?". Taste of Country. 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis "Am I The Only One" Song Review". The Nash News. July 5, 2021. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis Slams Bruce Springsteen; Bruce Springsteen Wonders, "Who's Aaron Lewis?"". MetalSucks. April 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Corn, David (July 29, 2021). "Is a Country Music Star Encouraging More January 6-Like Violence?". Mother Jones.
- ^ "The Aaron Lewis Track". The Lefsetz Letter. July 15, 2021.
- ^ "Scott Borchetta Responds". The Lefsetz Letter. July 15, 2021.
- ^ O'Hara, Sophie (October 3, 2021). "Watch: Country Star Aaron Lewis Releases New Anti-Dem Music Video That'll Blow You Away". Wayne Dupree. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – Aaron Lewis – Am I The Only One". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 19, 2023.