Road Less Traveled (song)

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"Road Less Traveled"
Single by Lauren Alaina
from the album Road Less Traveled
ReleasedJuly 11, 2016 (2016-07-11)
RecordedSummer 2014[1]
GenreCountry rock[2]
Length3:36
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)busbee
Lauren Alaina singles chronology
"Next Boyfriend"
(2015) 		"Road Less Traveled"
(2016) 		"What Ifs"
(2017)
Music video
"Road Less Traveled" on
YouTube

"Road Less Traveled" is a song recorded by American country music singer Lauren Alaina for her 2015 self-titled EP. Alaina co-wrote the song with Jesse Frasure and Meghan Trainor. It was released to country radio through Mercury Nashville and Interscope Records on June 27, 2016, as the EP's second single and officially impacted the format on July 11, 2016.[1][3] The song is also included on her second studio album of the same name (2017), and serves as the record's second single.[4]

The

Canada Country
chart.

An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Chris Hicky.

The song won Alaina a CMT Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year in 2017.

Background and recording

"Road Less Traveled" was written in 2013 by

chorus and the hook, "take the road less traveled on," first, which is extremely similar to Berlin's "Take My Breath Away."[7]

The demo was recorded using entirely programmed instrumentation. Busbee, who serves as the record's producer, sought to blend the synthesized instruments with authentic ones to create a soundscape that is radio-friendly but in tune with the song's message.[1] Vocals were recorded in the summer of 2014. Alaina underwent vocal surgery on August 12, 2014 and re-recorded the lead vocals on the song after her recovery.[8] Her vocal range expanded after her surgery with Alaina hitting a big note during the song's bridge that she struggled to reach prior.

Composition

"Road Less Traveled" is a

four-on-the-floor" beat accentuated by two banjos and a mandolin "twisting" around a "spacey" synth line.[1][5] Producer busbee aimed to blend authentic instrumentation with synthetic sounds for a blend of country and pop styles.[1]

Lyrically, the song is about "feeling good in your own skin" and speaks to a journey of self-acceptance.[6] The titular lyrics were inspired by the popular Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken", in which the narrator chooses a "road less traveled" at a fork in the road.[1] Self-image is addressed in the first verse with references to dress sizes and Alaina imploring the listener not to "let the world decide what's beautiful," alluding to Alaina's own previous struggles with body image.[9] Other lyrics emphasize the importance of staying true to yourself, or "march[ing] to the rhythm of a different drum" and "just own[ing] it".[9] Critics have labelled the song an "anthem" for its empowering message comparing it to Martina McBride's "This One's for the Girls" and co-writer Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass".[1][6]

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of

Taste of Country wrote that Alaina "has never sounded more confident" in his "Critic's Pick" review of the single. In particular, Dukes praised the singer's approach to the "anthemic" and "uplifting" message.[2] In a review of the EP, Jason Scott of PopDust complimented the "undeniable" songwriting on "Road Less Traveled" and deemed the track "one of her most alluring performances ever".[10]

Commercial performance

"Road Less Traveled" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated September 3, 2016.[11] The following week, the song experienced a significant gain in airplay and audience, due in part to Alaina's selection as the iHeartRadio "On the Verge" artist, which guarantees airplay on the brand's affiliated stations.[12][13] As a result, the song jumped to 28 on the chart dated September 10, 2016, thereby tying "Road Less Traveled" with 2012's "Georgia Peaches" as Alaina's highest-charting song.[14] It has since reached a peak position of number 1, making it her highest-charting single to date and first number one.[15] The song has sold an estimated 220,000 copies in the US as of July 2017.

In Canada, the song debuted at number 50 on the

Country airplay chart dated October 15, 2016, earning Alaina her first entry on the chart.[16]

Live performances

Alaina appeared on

The Today Show on September 8, 2016, to perform the song in its television debut.[17]

She also performed the song at the 2017 CMT Awards.[citation needed]

Music video and movie

The music video was directed by Chris Hicky and premiered in October 2016.[18] The video won her Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2017 CMT Music Awards.[19]

In May 2017, Lauren released a new trailer for the film Road Less Traveled based on the song. It features the songs "Road Less Traveled,"" Doin' Fine," "My Kinda People," "Painting Pillows," "Holding the Other," and "Queen of Hearts."[citation needed]

Charts

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 2, 2015 Digital download
(as part of Lauren Alaina EP) 		19 [26]
United States June 28, 2016 Radio premiere
(via PlayMPE)
[1]
July 11, 2016 Country radio [3]

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[27] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Roland, Tom (August 10, 2016). "Lauren Alaina Literally Finds Her Voice On 'Road Less Traveled'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Dukes, Billy (July 7, 2016). "ToC Critic's Pick: Lauren Alaina, 'Road Less Traveled' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  4. ^ "Anatomy of a Hit: Lauren Alaina's Literal 'Road Less Traveled'" (PDF). Billboard. April 24, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Freeman, Jon (July 8, 2016). "Lauren Alaina on How Eating Disorder Led to Redemptive New Song". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  6. ^
    Nash Country Weekly. Cumulus Media
    . Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  7. ^ "Single Review: Lauren Alaina, "Road Less Traveled"". 25 October 2016.
  8. ^ Thompson, Gayle (October 14, 2014). "Lauren Alaina Had Vocal Surgery in August". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Allers, Hannahlee (July 11, 2016). "Lauren Alaina Drops New Single, 'Road Less Traveled' [LISTEN]". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  10. ^ Scott, Jason (October 4, 2015). "Lauren Alaina Exudes Confidence, Maturity With Self-Titled EP—Review". PopDust. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  11. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Country Airplay for Lauren Alaina. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  12. ^ Cantor, Brian (29 August 2016). "Lauren Alaina's "Road Less Traveled" Reaches #35 On MB Country Radio Chart; Keith Urban's "Blue Ain't Your Color" #36". Headline Planet. Cantortainment. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  13. ^ "Lauren Alaina: iHeartRadio On The Verge Artist". iHeartRadio. iHeartMedia. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  14. ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  15. American Media
    . Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Lauren Alaina Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  17. TODAY. NBC
    . Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  18. ^ "Lauren Alaina 'Road Less Traveled' Music Video Premiere". iHeartRadio. October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  19. ^ Billboard Staff (June 7, 2017). "CMT Music Awards 2017: Complete Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  20. ^ "Lauren Alaina Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  21. ^ "Lauren Alaina Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  22. ^ "Lauren Alaina Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  23. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  25. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  26. ^ "Amazon.com: Road Less Traveled: Lauren Alaina: MP3 Downloads". Amazon Music. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  27. ^ "American single certifications – Lauren Alaina – Road Less Traveled". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2021.

External links

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