What Hurts the Most
"What Hurts the Most" | |
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YouTube |
"What Hurts the Most" is a song written by American songwriter Jeffrey Steele and English songwriter Steve Robson. Originally recorded by country music artist Mark Wills in 2003 on his album And the Crowd Goes Wild, it was covered by Bellefire a year later. The first version to be released as a single was by pop singer Jo O'Meara in 2005, from the album Relentless. Later that year, country band Rascal Flatts covered the song as well, releasing it as the first single from the 2006 album Me and My Gang, topping the U.S. country and adult contemporary charts with it. German band Cascada later had international chart success with the song in 2007. It was also covered by Eden in 2008.
Content
Jeffrey Steele co-wrote the song with Steve Robson, with whom he also co-wrote Rascal Flatts' 2002 single "These Days". Robson presented Steele with an unfinished track, and Steele decided to come up with lyrics to finish the track. Originally, he had wanted to write a song about the loss of his father, but instead went with a more universal theme of lost love.[1] After singing the lyrics, he decided that he liked how sad the song sounded, when Robson suggested that it be recorded in a higher key to sound more emotional.[1]
Jo O'Meara version
"What Hurts the Most" | ||||
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Sanctuary | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Jeffrey Steele, Steve Robson | |||
Producer(s) | Brian Rawling | |||
Jo O'Meara singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"What Hurts The Most" by Jo O'Meara on YouTube |
British singer
Track listings
CD 1
- "What Hurts the Most" – 3:21
- "The First Time" – 4:11
CD 2
- "What Hurts the Most" – 3:21
- "Never Meant to Break Your Heart" – 4:28
- "Let's Love" (Metro Mix) – 5:40
- "What Hurts the Most" (CD-ROM Video)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Rascal Flatts version
"What Hurts the Most" | ||||
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Single by Rascal Flatts | ||||
from the album Me and My Gang | ||||
Released | January 9, 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2005 | |||
Genre | Country, country pop | |||
Length | 3:34 | |||
Label | Lyric Street | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jeffrey Steele, Steve Robson | |||
Producer(s) | Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts | |||
Rascal Flatts singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"What Hurts The Most" by Rascal Flatts on YouTube |
In 2006, country music trio Rascal Flatts released a cover of this song as a single from their album Me and My Gang, and it became their fifth number-one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also peaked at number six on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first top 10 pop hit. In addition, the song reached number one on the Adult Contemporary charts. Rascal Flatts also performed the song live with Kelly Clarkson at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2006.
Rascal Flatts' recording earned two nominations for the
As of the chart dated January 30, 2010, the song topped the 2 million mark in paid downloads. This makes Rascal Flatts the first country group to top the 2 million mark with two songs.[6] By April 2011, the song sold 2.28 million in the US.[7]
Music video
The music video starts with a young girl crying over the loss of her boyfriend. She expresses anger for her father who she blames for making her boyfriend leave, resulting in his demise in a
Song information
Rascal Flatts' version of the song is set in the key of F minor, with a vocal range of E♭3-C 5. The main chord pattern is Fm-D♭-A♭-E♭.[8]
Personnel
From Me and My Gang liner notes.[9]
- Tim Akers – keyboards
- Jay DeMarcus – bass guitar
- Paul Franklin – steel guitar
- Dann Huff – guitars
- Charlie Judge – keyboards
- lead vocals
- Chris McHugh – drums
- Joe Don Rooney – guitars
- Jonathan Yudkin – fiddle, banjo
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[24] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Cascada version
"What Hurts the Most" | ||||
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Yann Peifer | ||||
Cascada singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"What Hurts the Most" (US video) by Cascada on YouTube |
Background and composition
In 2007, German
In contrast to the original version, Cascada's cover of "What Hurts the Most" deviates from the country sound and replaces it with
Critical reception
Alex Fletcher of
Chart performance
In Sweden, Cascada's cover of "What Hurts the Most" debuted on the
On January 26, 2008, the band's cover of "What Hurts the Most" entered the
Music video
The music video for "What Hurts the Most" was filmed in Los Angeles was released on January 24, 2008, to the US digital markets.
International version
The video opens with Horler sitting in a studio apartment living room holding a note saying "I can't sorry". It moves to a scene, that is intercut throughout the video, where Horler is seen performing in front of a lit up brick wall. When the first verse begins, Horler leaves the room to open the door, allowing her friends to enter. One friend sees the note and tears it up in disgust. More friends came into the apartment and soon began partying. After the chorus ends, the video moves to a tattoo parlor, where Horler receives a tattoo. As the second chorus commences, she is against a wall, appearing heartbroken, while her former love interest gestures toward the wall, attempting to try to reach out to her. Scenes of the house party continue to play throughout the rest of the video. Near the end of the second chorus, Horler is sitting against a white brick, with mascara running from her eyes, telling that she was crying. On the wall is a window in which the love interest appears to be frustrated. As the song approaches the last chorus, the house party ends with the guests exiting Horler's apartment. The video ends with Horler opening the door to see her former lover, who exchanges a smile with her, and shutting the door on him, leaving with a smile on her face.
US version
The video opens with Horler sitting in a studio apartment living room holding a note saying "I can't sorry". It moves to a scene, that is intercut throughout the video, where Horler is seen performing in front of a lit up brick wall. The first minute of the video features Horler singing in the living room. As the song approaches the chorus, Horler leaves the room and moves to a secluded room where she is seen crying. In that scene, there is also an opening that shows an image of the protagonist's former lover staring into the opening. After the chorus ends, Horler sits at a tattoo parlor while the artists gives her a tattoo. She is then seen sitting against a wall while the love interest gestures to the other side, attempting to reach out to her. As the video nears the final chorus, Horler is at a house party with her friends, appearing lonely and heartbroken.
Credits and personnel
- Recorded and produced at Plazmatek Studio Cologne in Cologne, Germany
- Songwriting – Jeffrey Steele, Steve Robson
- Production – Manuel Reuter, Yann Peifer
- Vocals – Natalie Horler
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
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Sweden | November 21, 2007 | CD, digital download | Bonnier
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United Kingdom | December 3, 2007 | Digital download | All Around the World
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December 10, 2007 | CD single | ||
United States | November 27, 2007 | Digital download | Robbins |
December 4, 2007 | CD single | ||
Germany | January 3, 2008 | CD, digital download | Zooland |
See also
- List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2006 and 2007 (U.S.)
References
- ^ Great American Country. Archived from the originalon January 24, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
- ^ a b c "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Hurts the Most". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "2005 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
- ^ "Week Ending Jan. 17, 2010: 21 Million Lady Gaga Fans Can't Be Wrong". Chart Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ "Chart Watch Extra: Lady A Makes Country History". Chart Watch. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ "What Hurts the Most sheet music". MusicNotes.com. March 31, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
- ^ Me and My Gang (CD liner notes). Rascal Flatts. Lyric Street Records. 2006. 165058.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "Canada Country Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 14, 2006. p. 45. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ "Best of 2006: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ "American single certifications – Rascal Flatts – What Hurts the Most". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ "Cascada - What Hurts the Most". iTunes (SE). Apple. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ "Cascada - What Hurts the Most". iTunes (GB). Apple. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ "Cascada - What Hurts the Most Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. BPJ Administration. March 31, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ Fletcher, Alex (December 4, 2007). "Cascada: "What Hurts the Most" - Music Singles Review". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the originalon June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck. "What Hurts the Most". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Cascada – What Hurts the Most". Singles Top 100.
- ^ a b c d "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Hot 100 (January 26, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ "Hot 100 (February 2, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Cascada Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ a b "Cascada Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "American single certifications - Cascada - What Hurts the Most". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ a b "Cascada Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Cascada – What Hurts the Most" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- Ultratip.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200814 into search.
- ^ "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 14. April 5, 2008. p. 59.
- ^ "Cascada: What Hurts the Most" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- Les classement single.
- ^ "Cascada – What Hurts the Most" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ "Cascada – What Hurts the Most" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200815 into search.
- ^ "Cascada Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "Cascada Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
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- ^ "UK Year End 2007" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
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- SNEP. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
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