"Better as a Memory"
Single by Kenny Chesney
from the album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
ReleasedMarch 31, 2008
Recorded2007
GenreCountry
Length4:12
LabelBNA
Songwriter(s)Scooter Carusoe
Lady Goodman
Producer(s)Buddy Cannon
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney singles chronology
"Every Other Weekend"
(2008)		 "Better as a Memory"
(2008)		 "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven"
(2008)

"Better as a Memory" is a song written by Scooter Carusoe and Lady Goodman and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney. It was released in March 2008 as the fourth and final single from Chesney's 2007 album Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. With a two-week stay, it became Chesney's fourteenth number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of June 28, 2008.

Content

The song is a ballad in which the narrator addresses a lover with whom he is splitting with, but most likely warning her he is not the kind to get deeply involved with. He then lists a series of similes regarding himself (such as "built to fade like your favorite song", and "always sure until I doubt"), ultimately telling her that he is "better as a memory / than as [her] man".[1]

The co-writers of the song are both pseudonymous: Scooter Carusoe is a pseudonym for Travis Hill, founder of Carnival Music, and Lady Goodman is a pseudonym of Holly Gleason, Chesney's publicist and a music critic.[2][3]

Critical reception

Noted Nashville critic Robert K Oermann of Music Row Magazine wrote that "['Better as a Memory'] could be the performance of [Chesney's] life, [and] perhaps his career."

Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave the song a B− grade. She stated that the lyrics seem to be somewhat "self-indulgent" but then said that "the production is nice and Kenny’s vocals are spot on."[4]

Notable Performances

The song was performed with a string quartet on the 2009 Grammy Awards, where Chesney was introduced by Morgan Freeman. Later, it became the final performance in his Sony/Hot Ticket theatrical film "Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D."

The tune was voted one of NSAI’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” in November 2008.

Chart performance

Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 46
US Billboard Pop 100 100
Canada Country (Billboard)[7] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 61

Year-end charts

Chart (2008) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 23
Canada Country (Billboard)[10] 15

Certifications

Certifications for Better as a Memory
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Vercher, Brady (2008-03-19). "Kenny Chesney - "Better as a Memory"". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  2. ↑ "Holly Gleason Celebrates Chart-Topping 'Better as a Memory'". 10 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Celebrates His Former Publicist's First Hit".
  4. ↑ Coyne, Kevin John (2008-03-24). "Kenny Chesney - "Better as a Memory"". Country Universe. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  5. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  8. ↑ "Kenny Chesney Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ↑ "Best of 2008: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Top Canada Country Songs". R&R. December 12, 2008. p. 62.
  11. ↑ "American single certifications – Kenny Chesney – Better as a Memory". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
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