"Meet Your Mama" is a song recorded by Canadian country music group James Barker Band. The band's frontman James Barker wrote the song along with Gavin Slate, Travis Wood, and producer Todd Clark.[1] It marks the band's first release after signing with Records Nashville in 2023.[2] The song is the lead single off the band's extended play Ahead of Our Time.[3]
Background
The band's frontman James Barker stated the song is about "that feeling of being early on in a relationship and wanting to know everything about that person."[4] Barker and the band believed that the song can provoke an emotional response due to its authenticity about knowing when you have met the right person.[5] Guitarist Bobby Martin stated that the song shows a "more mature side" of the band that fans had yet to see in their music.[6] Barker credited co-writer and producer Todd Clark for the "anthemic" feel of the chorus.[7]
Critical reception
Erica Zisman of Country Swag stated that "Meet Your Mama" is a "sweet song," with "the potential to be a killer radio single," while also adding that "it is only a matter of time before the American country music fanbase catches on" to the band's music.[8]
Commercial performance
"Meet Your Mama" was the sixth most-added Canadian song at all formats of radio in Canada for the week of February 6, 2023.[9] It debuted at number 44 on the BillboardCanada Country chart for the week of February 11, 2023.[10] It would later peak at number three after 15 weeks on the chart, and remained there for two weeks.[11][12] The song debuted at number 85 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the week of May 27, 2023.[13] On Mediabase Canada Country, "Meet Your Mama" reached number one for the chart issued May 15, 2023.[14] That same week, it was the most-spun domestic track on Canadian country radio since 2016, according to Mediabase.[15]
Live performance
James Barker Band performed "Meet Your Mama" live on KTLA on February 3, 2023, as part of their "Music Fest Friday" series.[16]
