Just a Kiss (song)
"Just a Kiss" is a song recorded by American country music group Lady Antebellum. It was released on May 2, 2011, as the lead single from the band's album Own the Night (2011). Dallas Davidson collaborated with band members Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood to write the song, taking inspiration from the members' personal experiences. Produced by Paul Worley, "Just a Kiss" was among the last songs recorded for the album, and is a mid-tempo country ballad with lyrics that speak of a romantic relationship between two new couples. Professional reviews for "Just a Kiss" have been mostly positive, commending on the song's theme and musical arrangement and also praising Lady Antebellum's performance, and it features lead vocals from both Scott and Kelley.
"Just a Kiss"
"Bottle Up Lightning"
May 2, 2011
2011
Warner (Nashville, Tennessee)
3:39
- Paul Worley
- Lady Antebellum
In the United States, the song debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and appeared at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It later topped the Country chart and was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song peaked at number 13 in Canada, 22 in Japan and reached the top 80 in Australia and Slovakia. Shaun Silva directed a well-received music video for the song. It portrays the story of two young lovers, Joy, played by actress/model Danielle Donn, and Brady, set against a backdrop of scenery of Europe. The band first performed the song on their Houston Rodeo show on March 11, 2011, and later at the Divas Nashvegas benefit show. Following the single's release, they performed it on US reality television show American Idol and at the Billboard Music Awards. The group's live performances have been praised by critics. The song was featured in the season 2 finale of Pretty Little Liars and in the season 1, episode 17 of Hart of Dixie.
Music and lyrics[edit]
"Just a Kiss" was produced by Paul Worley[1] and lasts for three minutes and 41 seconds.[7] The mid-tempo country power ballad[8] opens with piano chords, played by Haywood.[9][10] The melody builds up as the track progresses, exhibiting elements of pop music and incorporating acoustic guitars.[11] As the "soaring chorus"—sung in three-part harmony[11] by Scott and Kelley and backed by Haywood—starts,[12][13] beats of "overly dramatic drums" are also heard, as described by music critic Matthew Wilkening.[9] According to Tris McCall from The Star-Ledger, "Just a Kiss" contains the "specific structure" found in Lady Antebellum's previous songs.[11] This was echoed by John Hill of About.com and Nadine Cheung of AOL Radio, both of whom compared the song's arrangement to that of "Need You Now" (2009).[12][14] According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Company, "Just a Kiss" is set in common time with a moderately slow tempo of 72 beats per minute. Written in the key of B♭ minor, it follows a chord progression of B♭m7–A♭/C–D♭–G♭major9, and Scott's vocals range from the note of A♭3 to F5.[15]
The lyrics of the song describe a "tortured romantic scenario"[11] of a newly formed couple's relationship,[13] which, according to McCall, is enhanced by the piano and guitar arrangements. Kelley and Scott alternate on lead vocals.[11][13] It speaks of the couple who prefer not to take their romantic relationship further anytime soon, want to take things slow,[14] and are satisfied with "just a goodnight kiss".[14][16] McCall also noted that the lyrics portray how the female character's lines, sung by Scott, attempt to fight back her lustful feelings, and precariously sighs the line "I don't want to mess this thing up."[11] Scott told Billboard that "there is so much excitement at the beginning of a new relationship ... all the butterflies and that optimistic feeling that this person could be 'the one'. This song is about one of those times when your brain kicks in and tells your heart 'good things are worth waiting for.'"[1][17] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe wrote that the song's production is "emblematic of the album's midtempo complacency."[18] Melinda Newman of HitFix noted that the strings "give a nice lift at the end."[19]
Critical reception[edit]
Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave "Just a Kiss" a rating of four stars out of five and called it "another excellent song that plays up all of the band's strengths."[16] Erik Ernst of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel observed that the track's "lush melody" shows "new confidence for these musicians who have become bona fide stars."[20] A Washington Post editor also gave a positive review, declaring "Just a Kiss" as "one of the group's finest".[21]
Daryl Addison, writing for Great American Country, commended the group's vocal chemistry in the song, adding that "[t]he group's dynamic allows them to explore a wide range of emotions as they each add their own voice."[8] Melinda Newman of HitFix suggested that "Just a Kiss" is "a good summer song for young lovers."[19] Robbie Daw of music website Idolator commented that the song "deftly captures" the state of nervousness that lovers experience during the early stages of the romance.[22] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly also praised "Just a Kiss" and noted that Lady Antebellum sing the song "like they mean it". He suggested that the song is "classy and very sincere".[23] Stephen Hyden of The A.V. Club wrote that the song was "painfully chaste".[24]
Matthew Wilkening, writing for Taste of Country, gave the song a score of 7.5 out of 10, writing that the song is "surprisingly serious and dour" in contrast to its subject matter, but he praised the "catchy melody".[9] It also received 3.5 stars out of five from John Hill of About.com, who found it "lyrically lacking" but a "solid contribution to the power ballad genre".[12] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine found the song to be repetitive in its lyrical theme, and said that the group was "sticking to the blandly pleasant, cliché-driven songwriting of Need You Now, not taking a single risk."[25] Tris McCall of The Star-Ledger criticized the song for bearing a close resemblance to "Need You Now" and concluded that "if you swooned for 'Need You Now', chances are you won't be able to resist the tidal pull of this one, either."[11] Shahryar Rizvi of Dallas Observer was also less enthusiastic about the song, writing that it "seems kinda old-fashioned amongst all the outspoken and steamy acts in the Top 40." Rizvi concluded by noting that "maybe the music industry's just covering their bases by serving the demographic that appreciates sugar-coated love ballads over brash statements ... If not, well, then "Just A Kiss" will probably appear in sappy, modest teenage romantic comedies. If those types of movies still exist."[26]
Chart performance[edit]
"Just a Kiss" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 28 on May 21, 2011.[27] According to Nielsen BDS, the song opened with a first week audience of 6 million across 85 radio stations, becoming the group's highest debut to date.[27] It marked the third highest debut on the chart among groups at the time, after Rascal Flatts's "Take Me There" and Sugarland's "All I Want to Do".[27] The following week, the song ascended to number 20 on the chart, with the Greatest Gainer mark and soon became the band's fifth number-one hit.[28] On the Billboard Hot 100, "Just a Kiss" debuted and peaked at number seven, setting a record for the highest debut on the chart for a country group.[29][30] The song debuted at number three on the Hot Digital Songs chart due to sales of 211,000 downloads.[29]
"Just a Kiss" stayed on the Hot 100 for 42 weeks and was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of two million digital units.[30] The song also experienced pop crossover success, peaking at number 21 on the Pop Songs chart, number one on the Adult Contemporary chart and number six on the Adult Pop Songs chart.[30] In Canada, the song debuted and peaked on the Canadian Hot 100 at number thirteen, selling 15,000 units in its first week.[30][31] It has stayed on the chart for 24 weeks and was certified Platinum by Music Canada for downloads of 80,000 units.[32] The song reached number one on the Canada Country airplay chart, number six on the Canada AC chart, and number 23 on the Canada Hot AC chart as tracked by Billboard via Nielsen BDS.[33][34][35] In Slovakia, "Just a Kiss" charted for three weeks on the Singles chart and peaked at number 73. In Japan, it peaked at number 21 on the Japan Hot 100.[36] The song also charted and peaked in the United Kingdom and Australia, at number 78 and number 72, respectively, for one week,[37][38] and at number 91 in the Netherlands.[39]
Live performances[edit]
Lady Antebellum sang a portion of "Just a Kiss" on their Houston Rodeo show, on March 11, 2011, performing it after "Love's Lookin' Good on You".[49] The whole band stepped down, and Kelley and Scott sat on bar stools, singing the track to each other. They were accompanied by Haywood on a piano.[49] Matthew Keever of Houston Express called "Just a Kiss" "the most intimate song of the evening",[49] and Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle wrote that the song could become "another pop smash."[50] They later performed at the Divas Nashvegas benefit show for the Oasis Center in April 2011.[51] The same month, Lady Antebellum posted a Twitter message, saying that they would debut the whole song on the tenth season of the US reality television show American Idol.[51] The performance aired on May 5, 2011.[1][51] Natasha Mullan of TV Guide Canada wrote that the group sang the song on American Idol "in perfect harmony."[52]
Lady Antebellum was tapped to perform "Just a Kiss" at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, held in Las Vegas. The show aired on May 22, 2011, on ABC.[53] Scott, Kelley and Haywood, dressed all in black, performed the song as Haywood played piano with their full band behind them.[54] Scott Shetler of Taste of Country commended the performance, writing that the members were "harmonized beautifully, particularly on the song's hook."[54] In June 2011, the group performed the song on the 2011 CMT Music Awards, where they were presented with the Award for Group Video of the Year (for "Hello World"). The band, dressed in black, sang "Just a Kiss" and a few lines of the song "Kiss" by Prince.[55] The trio also performed the song on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman.[56][57] Robbie Daw of Idolator wrote that the performance was "pitch-perfect".[58] Lady Antebellum appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on October 1, 2011. They performed "We Owned the Night", followed by "Just a Kiss".[59][60]