I Still Like Bologna

"I Still Like Bologna"
Single by Alan Jackson
from the album Good Time
ReleasedAugust 3, 2009 (2009-08-03)
GenreCountry
Length4:39 (Album Version)
4:23 (Single Version)
LabelArista Nashville
Songwriter(s)Alan Jackson
Producer(s)Keith Stegall
Alan Jackson singles chronology
"Sissy's Song"
(2009) 		"I Still Like Bologna"
(2009) 		"It's Just That Way"
(2010)

"I Still Like Bologna" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It is the fifty-seventh single release of his career, and the fifth single from his album Good Time. The song was released to radio on August 3, 2009, and debuted at number 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Composition

As with all of the other songs on Good Time, Jackson wrote "I Still Like Bologna" himself. In the song, the narrator states that, although he owns many pieces of modern technology (such as a cell phone, plasma television, and laptop computer) and embraces technological advances, he still likes the simplicity of a bologna sandwich on white bread, or the scenery of a rural lifestyle.[1]

Regarding the song's theme, Jackson said that the title "just sounded like the perfect way to say that I’m aware of all the modern technology and do adapt to some of it, and the health — better eating and diet policies — but every now and then, I still like that bologna on white bread."[2]

Critical reception

The song has been met with primarily negative reception. Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine said that the song "jettison[s] any serious attempts at reflection by simply reciting long lists of common points of reference,"[3] and Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield said that Jackson "goes overboard" on the song due to its length.[1] Engine 145 critic Karlie Justus gave a thumbs-down review, saying that the song's premise "wears a thin [sic]", although her review also calls it "agreeable, likable album filler."[4] In his Allmusic review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave a more favorable description, calling it "slightly gangly, tongue-in-cheek Western swing,"[5] and Bobby Peacock of Roughstock said, "While that list [of things that Jackson likes] may sound fairly pedestrian[…]every note seems to ring true here. The lyrics find Alan in his smoothest narrative mode[.]"[6]

Music video

The song's music video is directed by Scott Scovill. It was released to Country Music Television on August 20, 2009. On GAC's Top 50 Videos Of 2009, it was voted in at number 36.

Chart performance

"I Still Like Bologna" debuted at number 56 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of August 8, 2009.[7] The song reached a peak of number 32 in October 2009, making it Jackson's first single to miss Top 20 since "The Blues Man" in 2000.

Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 32

References

  1. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (February 7, 2008). "Good Time review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  2. ^ "Alan Jackson says "Baloney" to Change". Great American Country. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  3. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (March 2, 2008). "Good Time review". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  4. ^ Justus, Karlie (July 31, 2009). "Alan Jackson — "I Still Like Bologna"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Good Time review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  6. ^ Bobby Peacock (July 31, 2009). "Alan Jackson — "I Still Like Bologna"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2009.
  7. ^ Morris, Edward. "Taylor Swift and Billy Currington Continue to Hold No. 1 Slots". CMT. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  8. ^ "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.