Top of the World (Dixie Chicks song)
"Top of the World" | |
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Contemporary folk, country | |
Length | 5:28 |
Label | A&M |
Songwriter(s) | Patty Griffin |
Producer(s) | Craig Ross |
"Top of the World" | ||||
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Dixie Chicks singles chronology | ||||
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"Top of the World" is a
Griffin wrote and recorded "Top of the World" in 2000 for Silver Bell,[1] but a dispute with her label A&M Records caused Griffin to be dropped and the album to go unreleased for 13 years.[1] In the meantime, copies of Silver Bell circulated and increased Griffin's reputation as a songwriter within the music industry.[2]
The Dixie Chicks had already covered other Griffin songs and had toured with Griffin on their 2000
Tension is built up with pauses, then midway through a string section begins accompanying in an ominous fashion as the reason for the regret is unveiled.[4][6] The strings then pick up in intensity during the instrumental coda, as Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines moans wordlessly and then repeats "To the top of the world" as a mantra over and over.
Dixie Chick
It is written from the point of view of a man who has passed on, and he's sort of looking down wishing that he had been a different person, and having a lot of regrets and wishing he hadn't had the negative effect on the people in his life and err... I don't know what I just said...
Author Chris Willman wrote that this was "a song that could send a chill down even a seasoned spine after repeat listens."[4] Entertainment Weekly stated that the Dixie Chicks' recording "lift[ed] the quality of [the song] in a way [its] author herself could not."[8] The New York Times said that "Top of the World" was an example of the Dixie Chicks turning to Griffin for their most ambitious material[6] that at the same time led to the Chicks' commercial and critical success.[9]
"Top of the World" was released as a single in mid-2003,[5] together with a music video,[5][7] but failed to chart. At six minutes the song was likely too long for radio, but by then the infamous controversy regarding Maines' criticism of U.S. President George W. Bush had broken out,[5] and the Chicks had become a country radio anathema.[5]
Maines would remark of the video, "We haven't been banned from television yet."[5] Directed by Sophie Muller[10] and filmed in London,[7] it portrayed the three Chicks as three women in different stages of the protagonist's life.[7] The story started with a boy growing up with his single mother (Emily Robison), who frequently abused and neglected him. As a result, he would become frustrated with his life and in turn mutilate inanimate objects such as a rag doll. Later, the boy grew up as a bitter person and never became close to his daughter and wife (Martie Maguire). When he became old, and his daughter (Natalie Maines) groew up, she loved and took care of him like her mother did when she was little. The old man died feeling regretful about his life, but the cycle was broken when Natalie raised and loved a good family in her generation. The video premiered on VH1 on September 22, 2003,[11] and it would later be nominated for MVPA Awards in the Adult Contemporary Video and Director of the Year categories.[10]
Although not one of the Chicks' big hits, the song was prominent enough that the trio's 2003
Griffin's own re-recording of "Top of the World" would finally surface for good on her 2004 album
"Top of the World" has been performed by others as well, notably Jessica Harp of The Wreckers,[16] Kelly Clarkson, and Australian singers Jasmine Rae and Kasey Chambers.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Patty Griffin: Bio". Pattygriffin.net. Archived from the original on 2018-07-28. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ Lucas Hendrickson (2001-05-31). "Will 'Silver Bell' Ever Ring". Nashvillerage.com. Archived from the original on 2001-07-30. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b c d Dave Dawson (2006-03-01). "Dave's Diary — Patty Griffin". Nu Country TV. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ ISBN 1-59558-017-4. p. 23.
- ^ a b c d e f Jon Pareles (2003-06-23). "Down-Home and Defiant Again". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- ^ a b c Jon Pareles (2004-05-14). "Patty Griffin: Country Infused With Faith and Romance". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ a b c d e "Spotlight: The Dixie Chicks". VH1. 2003. Archived from the original on October 11, 2003. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ Ken Tucker (2002-08-19). "Home". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- ^ Jane Gross (2004-08-14). "After a Long Wait, Harvest of Success; Former Waitress Serves Up Songs To Dixie Chicks And Other Stars". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ a b "MVPA Award Nominees 2004". Music Video Production Association. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ "Briefly: John Mayer, Elvis Presley, Dixie Chicks, 'Acoustic Christmas,' Sheb Wooley". liveDaily.com. 2003-09-17. Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ "2005 Grammy Award Winners". CBS News. 2005-02-13. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ Jon Pareles (2007-04-21). "Good News for Sad Songs: Hits Don't Need Happiness". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ "Performing Arts". The Washington Post. 2004-05-13. p. C08.
- ^ Rory Flynn (2006-09-15). "The Wreckers bring country to Axis". Bostonmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2007-06-16. Retrieved 2008-05-28.