Raymond (song)

"Raymond"
Single by Brett Eldredge
from the album Bring You Back
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2010 (2010-09-27)
GenreCountry
Length3:39
LabelAtlantic Nashville
Songwriter(s)
  • Brett Eldredge
  • Brad Crisler
Producer(s)Byron Gallimore
Brett Eldredge singles chronology
"Raymond"
(2010) 		"It Ain't Gotta Be Love"
(2011)

"Raymond" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brett Eldredge. It was released on September 27, 2010, as his debut single from his debut studio album Bring You Back.[1] Eldredge wrote the song with Brad Crisler.[2]

Content

"Raymond" tells the story of a maintenance worker at a nursing home and his relationship with a patient with Alzheimer's disease, who believes that the maintenance worker is her son Raymond, who was a private killed in action in Vietnam in 1971.[3]

Eldredge was inspired to write the song because his grandmother had Alzheimer's disease for several years.[2]

Critical reception

Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave the song four and a half stars out of five, calling it "one of those rare debut singles that gets your attention right away, while at the same time showing off a great deal of vocal and songwriting talent."[4] The song also received a "thumbs up" from Engine 145 reviewer Janet Goodman, who wrote that it "is an impressive debut single with a vocal performance that blends earthiness with emotional highs, and a message that manages to remain sugar-free while leaving us with its hopeful refrain of kindness."[5]

Music video

Shaun Silva directed the music video which premiered in October 2010.[6]

Chart performance

"Raymond" debuted at number 52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 16, 2010.[7]

Chart (2010–2011) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 23

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 84

References

  1. ^ Conaway, Alanna (July 25, 2011). "Brett Eldredge Books His 'One Way Ticket' to Stardom With Upcoming Album". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Conaway, Alanna (March 13, 2011). "Brett Eldredge, 'Raymond' – Lyrics Uncovered". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  3. ^ Morris, Edward (December 11, 2010). "Rascal Flatts' "Why Wait" Reigns as Country's Top Song". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  4. ^ Peacock, Bobby (October 4, 2010). "Brett Eldredge - "Raymond"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  5. ^ Goodman, Janet (November 15, 2010). "Brett Eldredge – "Raymond"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  6. ^ "CMT Videos: Brett Eldredge: Raymond". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  7. ^ Morris, Edward (October 9, 2010). "Kenny Chesney's Hemingway's Whiskey Debuts at No. 1". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 12, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  8. ^ "Brett Eldredge Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2012.