Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)
| "Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Tenille Townes | ||||
| from the album The Lemonade Stand | ||||
| Released | September 9, 2019 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
| Label | Columbia Nashville | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Jay Joyce | |||
| Tenille Townes singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)" on YouTube | ||||
"Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country artist Tenille Townes. The song was co-written with Gordie Sampson and Tina Parol.[1] It was the third single from Townes' studio album The Lemonade Stand, and her second number-one hit on the Billboard Canada Country chart.[2][3]
Background[edit]
Several years before the song's release, Townes performed for a high school in Grand Manan, New Brunswick. After hanging out with several students during the day, she learned afterwards that four of them were survivors of a car crash in which the driver, a 17-year old star of the town’s basketball team and the valedictorian, was killed. Townes bonded with the group, and returned the next year to attend commencement. She remarked that upon seeing the late girl's Jersey hanging on the wall, she "looked at it and just thought about questions I had for God". In October 2016, she had a writing session with co-writers Gordie Sampson and Tina Parol, and according to Parol, set out on writing a song "about trusting [God] even when you don’t understand why something so awful could happen to someone so good".[1][4]
Critical reception[edit]
"Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)" was released to largely positive reviews, mostly praising it for asking tough questions and speaking the truth. Marissa R. Moss of Rolling Stone called the song "a moment of country music existentialism".[5] Bobby Moore of The Boot said the track is "one of the few newer songs worthy of the old descriptor "three chords and the truth"".[6] Kerry Doole of FYI Music News stated that Townes' "understated vocal performance places full emphasis on the powerful lyrics".[7]
Music video[edit]
The official music video for "Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)" was directed by Mason Dixon and premiered on September 30, 2019.[8] It features Townes singing in a high school gymnasium.[9] The video won "Video of the Year" at the 2020 CCMA Awards.[2]
Chart performance[edit]
"Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)" reached number one on the Billboard Canada Country chart for the week of February 1, 2020,[10] making it her second number-one hit after "Somebody's Daughter".[11] It also peaked at number 88 on the Canadian Hot 100.[12]
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] | 88 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[3] | 1 |
Certifications and sales[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[13] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References[edit]
- ^ a b Roland, Tom (October 28, 2019). "Makin' Tracks: Tenille Townes' 'Jersey on the Wall' Dresses Real-Life Tragedy With a Coat of Hope". Billboard.
- ^ a b Parton, Chris (October 29, 2020). "Tenille Townes Salutes Fans With Special 'Jersey on the Wall' Video". Sounds Like Nashville.
- ^ a b "Tenille Townes Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Tenille Townes Takes a Moment to Talk Songwriting, 'Jersey on the Wall'". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Moss, Marissa R. (August 16, 2019). "Tenille Townes Asks God 'Why?' in Probing New Song 'Jersey on the Wall'". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Moore, Bobby (August 19, 2019). "Tenille Townes' 'Jersey on the Wall' Asks Big Questions [LISTEN]". The Boot.
- ^ "Tenille Townes: Jersey On The Wall". FYI Music News. August 19, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Tenille Townes – Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking) (Official Video)" (video). September 30, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Colley, Katie (September 30, 2019). "Tenille Townes Asks God Why In New Music Video For 'Jersey On The Wall'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020.
- ^ "Canada Country chart for February 1, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Tenille Townes' 'Jersey On The Wall' Reaches #1 At Canadian Country Radio". Your Life in a Song. 2020.
- ^ a b "Tenille Townes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Tenille Townes – Jersey on the Wall". Music Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2024.