Eric Church - "Drink In My Hand"

[wilddustin]

"Drink In My Hand" is the follow up to "Homeboy" but a release date is not mentioned.

Source: www.billboard.com/#/news/eric-church-on-surprise-no-1-album-it-s-1005306162.story

NOTE: I'm not sure how 'official' these have to be before they're posted but based on other threads this looked official enough to me.

[austin]

I believe it because it is a surefire hit and will probably go Top 5 coming off the album sales momentum. Love this choice. "Springsteen" next would do this album well.

[tvoss20]

Yessssss!!!!!

[phil1996]

Audio: "Drink In My Hand" (Mediabase)

[singingsparrow]

An obvious breakout smash in the making.

It certainly makes perfect sense as a single choice. However, I will say that I think they should have released "Creepin'" first, and here's why.

Church's road to success has relied minimally on mass airplay, and has culminated most largely on word-of-mouth and cult appeal. So he has already established himself as a reliable commercial force without the aid of breakout singles.

What Church needs to do is display his artistic influences and tastes of his live show sensibilities to a broader audience, and he needs to do that with a release that is not so obvious but still most palatable. And "Creepin'" fulfills both in spades, with its raw energy and constant building-itself-up musically.

"Drink In My Hand", solid single in the making. "Springsteen", solid single in the making. But sometimes when selecting singles, the most accessible choices don't make the most effective, accomplishing ones. This is one of those moments in my view.

Don't get me wrong, this is a possible chart-topper in the making (definite Top Five). But I nonetheless feel Church may be missing an opportunity by releasing the surefire ammunition first.

Namaste,
lisping HIBISCUS

[ClevelandRox]

As long as Springsteen's third...

I really like this too, and hope it IS the top 5 smash everyone sees in it!

[Deleted]

Well, EMI Nashville sure isn't holding back on any plans for Eric...

From tonight's Country Aircheck:

On deck for EMI Nashville is the follow-up single “Drink In My Hand,” which will be followed by “Springsteen.” Dungan calls the former “our first real shot at a slam-dunk No. 1 with Eric.”

I like that. Sounds like they're really behind him (which could've been assumed anyway) and my belief that Eric's closing in on superstar status has been firmed up much more.

[kw9461]

Aug 8, 2011 22:07:34 GMT -5 jhomes87 said:

I like that. Sounds like they're really behind him .

Funny what opening with 150k will do ya. ;)

[Deleted]

^True. But I've felt like, since the last album, they've really been behind him. They set the table with a pair of top 10's and then released the gutsy "Smoke A Little Smoke"...and now they're set up for an even bigger album. The single choices for this album seem perfect.

EDIT: The following is from an interview with Capitol/EMI Nashville President Mike Dungan. This one is from tonight's BCU.

The No. 1 album could be a game-changer for Church’s career. Dungan was cautiously optimistic that the sales results will inspire some of those stillreticent radio stations to add “Homeboy” to their playlists. As a result, Dungan declined to name the next single, though he believes the climate for that release has changed dramatically. “I can comfortably project that our next single will be a No. 1 single at radio, which will be massive for him, because we haven’t had anything near that so far,” Dungan predicts. “And then we’ll follow it up with another No. 1. I feel very comfortable with that.”

So here Dungan does not officially state the next single (which probably means "Homeboy" will still climb for a few more weeks), but he did state to Billboard and Country Aircheck that "Drink In My Hand" is the follow-up.

Judging from Dungan's last statement there, I'd say they're very much behind Eric!

[singingsparrow]

Aug 8, 2011 22:27:01 GMT -5 jhomes87 said:

^True. But I've felt like, since the last album, they've really been behind him. They set the table with a pair of top 10's and then released the gutsy "Smoke A Little Smoke"...and now they're set up for an even bigger album. The single choices for this album seem perfect.

EDIT: The following is from an interview with Capitol/EMI Nashville President Mike Dungan. This one is from tonight's BCU.

The No. 1 album could be a game-changer for Church’s career. Dungan was cautiously optimistic that the sales results will inspire some of those stillreticent radio stations to add “Homeboy” to their playlists. As a result, Dungan declined to name the next single, though he believes the climate for that release has changed dramatically. “I can comfortably project that our next single will be a No. 1 single at radio, which will be massive for him, because we haven’t had anything near that so far,” Dungan predicts. “And then we’ll follow it up with another No. 1. I feel very comfortable with that.”

So here Dungan does not officially state the next single (which probably means "Homeboy" will still climb for a few more weeks), but he did state to Billboard and Country Aircheck that "Drink In My Hand" is the follow-up.

Judging from Dungan's last statement there, I'd say they're very much behind Eric!

It would be pretty ridiculous not to be fully behind Church at this point.

EMI was probably waiting to see if the sales success of "Carolina" was a fluke or not. Going Gold without a breakout lasting hit is an amazing achievement in this climate, but it doesn't necessarily instill a guaranteed confidence in an artist for the longer haul. Some analysts may have feared he was more just filling the dust-caked boots of the Muzik Mafia for the time being, or whetting the whistle of listeners who pine for more of the home-grown, texturally-diverse brand of country music as a placeholder.

But now that "Chief" has bowed thunderously, they see he's the real deal, and may not merely be a bankable star, but a lodestar. Dungan is wise to have made the realization he did, and I do now think both singles won't only be Top Five hits (which I already predicted).............but chart-toppers.

Namaste,
lisping HIBISCUS

[rowdawg21]

This was just sent out to radio.

[singingsparrow]

Aug 15, 2011 14:15:07 GMT -5 rowdawg21 said:

This was just sent out to radio.

Good call.

Those stations reluctant to add "Homeboy" weren't going to do so anyway. It had stalled in the same region of the chart for weeks and so to harness the rabid momentum Church has inspired here, he needs something fresh out of the oven for the airwaves.

This is an obvious smash in the making, and what will be most interesting to see is its pace up the chart. Now that Church has broken through in a behemoth way sales-wise, will that result in a rapid ascent for this single? Or will it rise at a more consistently moderate pace of +300 to +400 weekly?

Namaste,
lisping HIBISCUS

[luca]

Debut at #57 .. I wouldn't be surprised to see it reaching the top 10

[lilcountrygirl4586]

Official video for "Drink In My Hand"
It was filmed in Council Bluffs at Stir Concert Cove (I attended this concert, AMAZING SHOW) Love this video, definitely captures the energy at his concerts :)


www.youtube.com/watch?v=usGv0gB2zEU

[McCreerian]

This is actually the first song of his I've liked enough to turn up the volume when it comes on the radio! I hope it does make the top 10!

[Jonsolo]

I had this one picked out a month ago, as possibly the first "first career #1" of 2012, and it's not letting me down. Jake Owen is the most recent "first #1" recipient, and Eli Young appears to have a shot in the next month, but I don't see any other candidates between Eric and Eli (Brantley Gilbert will get snowed under by the approaching superstars). Reaching the top 20 in its 9th week of release is a very good pace for a "lower tier" artist like Eric, and he could be a contender when he gets up to 24~26 weeks, in late January 2012.

As pointed out, this could be a nice culmination for Eric, of releasing singles that have slowly been producing better and better peaks, and a decent sales showing. I've been rooting for him ever since Two Pink Lines, and except for his debut single How Bout You and the previous two (Smoke and Homeboy), I've enjoyed all of his radio offerings. I like how he has a very distinctive voice, much more so than lots of the other new singers of the last five years. So I'll be hoping he completes the journey.

If Eric fails to be that first "first #1" artist of 2012, I'm not sure if the song that will be is yet on the chart. Songs like those for Hunter Hayes, Craig Campbell, Edens Edge, and James Wesley are way too old. Scotty McCreery had a good debut sales week, and his new single is a) a lot more tolerable than his debut one, and b) in a decent spot on the chart, #37 after six weeks. But I have my doubts, along with for Casey James. I'll keep watching, for any other newbie that starts asserting themselves.

[rbundy1987]

Has Airpower honors this week and is up from #19 to #17 in its 10th week on chart.

[phil1996]

^Hopefully a future #1!!!

Looking great for Eric right now. This is flying up the charts, "Springsteen" is a no-doubt smash after this, and then hopefully he releases "Creepin'" after that. Good to see Eric turning into a superstar!

[Marv]

Keep in mind that the number of country stations which are being programmed by top 40 programmers has soared in the past few years due to budget cuts, and it's obvious that many of those folks don't realize how solid Eric's support is at the format, and the passion which his fanbase, including yours truly, sees in his performances and feels in his music.

That said, it would appear that 2012 is setting up to be a monster year for him, and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the format's next superstar; Mr. Duggan has plenty to be excited about IMHO.

This is a fabulous single, and I certainly hope it hits #1.

[sayshal]

Wow Marv you nailed it again!! Great post; i do think that country radio is going to really start supporting eric more than ever now, his album is great with awesome sales!! "Springsteen" will be a great hit; that's just a fabulous song and I can't wait to see this one go top 5 or #1! I think it can make the top and I agree! 2012 could be Eric's year!

[Jonsolo]

This song has been a favorite of mine ever since I heard it a couple of months back. It's gotten into my head so much, that I actually got an idea for a "parody"/alternate lyrics for it. Several of these lines came to me when I was on a golfing-vacation, road-trip up in New England two weekends ago (seven rounds in seven states over a 4-day period; crazy!).

I put a few of the lines down on paper at the time, and added to it/refined it a bit over the last two weeks. Maybe it came out okay, and not too much "amateur hour". I shared it with Zazie and northerncountry first, and it got their seal of approval:

-------------------------------

Early Sunday morning, out on the fairway,
Man I swing, swing, swing, but it's just not my day,
A bogey, not a par, is now the new plan,
All you gotta do is put a club in my hand.

Slice it right, or completely miss,
There's nothing else I'd rather be doing than this,
No need to overthink it, when your ball hits the sand,
All you gotta do is put a club in my hand.

My ball's in rough that's muddy, it's like hitting a shot put,
If no one's looking I'll kick it out with my foot,
Unlike Tiger no one tells me "You da man!",
But all you gotta do is put a club in my hand.

Hook it left, or completely miss,
There's nothing else I'd rather be doing than this,
My ball's in the water, instead of on land,
Still all you gotta do is put a club in my hand.

It sure makes me want to cuss, cuss, cuss, when I screw up like that,
I kick over my bag, and I throw off my hat,
It'd be a whole lot less stressful, if I was only a fan,
But I still want you to put a club in my hand.

Chip it out, and it lands in the cup,
I must be dreaming, and I'll soon wake up,
But I'll one day play in every state in this land,
All you gotta do is put a club in my hand.

Late Sunday night, I'll say "see you later",
And to add up my score, I'll need a calculator,
But I'm a glutton for pain, so I'll gladly play again,
All you gotta do is put a club in my hand.

Drive it hard, or putt it soft,
I'm on fire, or completely off,
If I've tossed all my clubs into the nearest trash can,
I'll then ask you to put the country chart in my hand.

Yeah I'm tired of this game, and all this thinkin', man,
I now want you to put the Billboard chart in my hand.

Aaawhoooooo... Yeah!

----------------

Might be a few clumsy/awkward rhythms there, where the syllables don't quite fit, but I think it came out pretty well.

And now I've depleted my "inspiration" and "creativity" reserves, and will need at least a year to replenish them.

Onward, to #1, Eric!

[jlatn5b]

This has been chugging along at a really good clip and has now really put it into overdrive as it hits the top 15. Should surpass #10 in a few weeks to become his biggest radio hit. It's definitely performing like a future #1 as many have predicted. And the radio callout scores are really good for it too, which is promising. Most of Eric's singles are polarizing and live in the bottom third of the callout chart week to week.

[phil1996]

^ And it's only been on the chart for 11 weeks. I'm gonna be surprised if it doesn't hit number 1.

[sayshal]

I agree that this one looks like it could be his first #1!! And I will be really happy if they stick to plan and release "Springsteen"; the whole album is great though!!

[tsr]

I love this song! "Homeboy" was nothing special imo, but this is a big improvement. I hope it can become his first #1.

[tvoss20]

Wow I can't believe he's never had a #1!

[Deleted]

Nov 1, 2011 22:26:52 GMT -5 tvoss20 said:

Wow I can't believe he's never had a #1!

He's never had a song peak in the single digits, actually. His highest peak is #10, which he's reached twice: first with "Love Your Love The Most" in 2009, and 2nd with "Hell On the Heart" in 2010. "Smoke A Little Smoke" peaked at #16, and "Homeboy" got up to #13. Both those songs, along with "Love Your Love The Most" managed to go Gold, however...so he definitely has the fan base. Most singles that peak in the 10-15 range don't go Gold, and not even all chart-topping hits go Gold.

Eric also had 3 top 20 hits to open his career: "How 'Bout You" in 2006 peaked at #14, and that was followed by a #19 peak for "Two Pink Lines" and a #17 peak for "Guys Like Me" in 2007. I still wish "Sinners Like Me" could've been a hit... *sigh* That one didn't even make the top 50! :o

I'm pretty confident that "Drink In My Hand" will hit the top spot. It's easily his fastest-climbing single, and his album sales & single sales have really opened the eyes of radio PD's who didn't play him quite as much. I think this can go #1, and he could get another #1 with "Springsteen" as well.

[jlatn5b]

The one concerning thing I can see is the big city stations... the ones with the biggest audience. A lot of them have resisted Eric's songs, which is a big reason why he's never been able to get past #10. Just looking at the biggest stations playing "Drink in my Hand" this week.. Houston and Minneapolis are the only ones giving him the really big audience shares. If he doesn't get those, no matter how many spins he gets in Des Moines, Fresno, Spokane, etc... he's going to hit a wall at some point. The song is in the top 15 and it's not even one of the Top 50 songs spinning right now at WUSN Chicago. It's only getting 5 spins/week at KPLX in Dallas, another large market.

I bet he will eventually be able to get the big spins from a lot of those major markets. I think Chicago may be the last one to fall. It looks like they have something against him there. If I recall, they've never played him very much and I think they are the top market in terms of audience... or definitely one of them.

[Deleted]

^Usually the bigger stations are the last to jump on, so I'm not really worried, given this one's success so far, its digital sales, and the response it's getting elsewhere. I believe his album sales alone will be what finally opens the eyes of PD's at the bigger stations.

I've noticed that, out of the bigger markets, usually Atlanta jumps on board pretty early, but a lot of the others will jump on songs late, especially the ones in Houston & Dallas. Los Angeles and Chicago are typically in between...Boston, Detroit, and Phoenix are all pretty good as well.

I don't think Eric is going to have a problem here. This is perhaps his most accessible song to date, and it still keeps the "edge" that he's known for. I really think EMI is set on getting this up to the top.

[reneetr]

I love this song whether it is first or not, okkk !