7 Summers

While at the beach with his children, songwriter Shane McAnally came up the idea of a song titled "7 Summers", as it was his seventh summer going to the beach with his family.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 15, 2021 |title=Morgan Wallen Wins NSAI Songwriters Awards For "7 Summers" & "Chasin' You" |url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/morgan-wallen-wins-nsai-songwriters-awards-for-7-summers-chasin-you/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Music Mayhem Magazine |language=en-US}} He would pitch the title to Wallen who found the title to be interesting and would begin writing the song alongside McAnally and Josh Osborne, while bringing in Joey Moi to produce the song.{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Jessica |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Earns Viral Hit With New Track "7 Summers" |url=https://musicrow.com/2020/08/morgan-wallen-earns-viral-hit-with-new-track-7-summers/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=MusicRow.com |language=en-US}} During the COVID-19 quarantine, Wallen was nominated by fellow country musician Jake Owen to do a demo on Instagram; he accepted the challenge and performed what would become the song's first verse and chorus in April 2020.{{cite web |last=Clouse |first=Allie |date=August 6, 2020 |title=That boy from East Tennessee Morgan Wallen announces new single on TikTok |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/08/06/morgan-wallen-announces-release-date-7-summers/3307259001/ |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel}}{{cite web |date=August 5, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Reveals "7 Summers" Release Date |url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/morgan-wallen-reveals-7-summers-release-date |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Music Mayhem Magazine}} Wallen was initially uncertain whether the song would be included on his second album, however he changed his mind after the demo received positive feedback from fans and went viral on video-sharing app TikTok, earning over 24 million views prior to its official release.{{cite web |last=Black |first=Lauren Jo |date=August 19, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Shatters Records With '7 Summers' |url=https://www.countrynow.com/morgan-wallen-shatters-records-with-7-summers |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Country Now}} On August 4, in response to a fan who posted on TikTok that they were waiting for Wallen to release the song, he announced it would be released the following week. In a statement on the song's release, Wallen said: {{quote|"Social media played a huge part in me releasing this song, especially this early. It's a cool thing – me being on the fence about it, then being able to put it out and get people's feedback. Seeing the response played the biggest part in this release. I think that speaks to just how much fans mean to me and fans mean to music".}}

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"7 Summers" has been described as a blend of 1980s style country music and soft rock, with Wallen stating that he was influenced by rock bands Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles, whom he grew up listening to with his father.{{cite magazine |last=Freeman |first=Jon |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Looks Back in Dreamy New Song '7 Summers' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/morgan-wallen-new-song-7-summers-1044588 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikail |date=August 27, 2020 |title=How mullet-sporting Morgan Wallen is pulling country music into the 21st century |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-08-27/morgan-wallen-7-summers-country-streaming |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} While writing the song, song writer Shane McAnally sought to incorporate a wistfulness and bittersweet quality that would distinguish it from the more lighthearted songs that he typically wrote. Wallen would include experiences from his upbringing in the lyrics.{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Lauren Jo |date=October 13, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Shares the Real Story Behind '7 Summers' and Reveals How an Ex-Girlfriend Inspired It |url=https://countrynow.com/morgan-wallen-shares-the-story-behind-his-smash-hit-7-summers/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Country Now |language=en-US}} The song contains ringing, suspended chords, and layered guitars meant to add a maximalist element,{{cite web |last=Parton |first=Chris |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Looks Back on a Summer of Love in '7 Summers |url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/morgan-wallen-7-summers/ |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Sounds Like Nashville}} a "shimmering mid-tempo groove", and a "breezy, island-influenced" melody.{{cite web |last=Stefano |first=Angela |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Drops Fan-Favorite '7 Summers' |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/morgan-wallen-7-summers/ |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Taste of Country}} Wallen's vocals are "nostalgic", "bittersweet", "wistful", and "daydreamy" as he reminisces on a lost summer romance that took place, as the title suggests, seven summers ago, while also pondering if his summer lover still thinks about "that boy from East Tennessee", referring to himself.{{cite web |last=Clouse |first=Allie |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Is Morgan Wallen's '7 Summers' the song of the summer? Track tops country streaming charts |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/08/19/morgan-wallen-streak-7-summer-tops-streaming-charts-new-radio-show-coming/5606119002/ |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel}} His nostalgia takes him back to an unforgettable summer that is "all too vivid", with a "time traveling chorus" indicating a second chance with his former romance may be possible.

The song was officially released on August 14, 2020, as the second single from Wallen's second studio album Dangerous: The Double Album.{{Cite web |last=Wendowski |first=Andrew |date=August 14, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Releases Fan-Favorite Song "7 Summers" — LISTEN |url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/morgan-wallen-releases-fan-favorite-song-7-summers-listen/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Music Mayhem Magazine |language=en-US}} Upon its release, the song was met with positive reviews from music critics, who praised Wallen's vocals, Moi's production, and the overall mood of the song. Billboard{{'}}s Melinda Newman gave the song overall praise, calling it reminiscent of the easy listening music of the mid 20th century and stating: "Wallen's wistful vocals, Joey Moi's pitch-perfect production and the yearning for a time and love long gone pack a gentle wallop".{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=August 14, 2020 |title=First Country: New Music From Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen, Jon Pardi, Caylee Hammack & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/9434968/first-country-new-music-from-kane-brown-morgan-wallen-jon-pardi-caylee-hammack-more |access-date=August 19, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}} Allie Clouse of the Knoxville News Sentinel deemed the song a "nostalgic summer soundtrack". Think Country Music{{'}}s Jamie Gard declared it "the country soundtrack of the season", opining that the song would captivate listeners with its "irresistible sway".{{cite web|url=https://thinkcountrymusic.com/whats-new/morgan-wallen-shares-nostalgic-summertime-soundtrack-7-summers-debut-album-if-i-know-me-tops-billboards-country-albums-chart-after-historic-114-week-run/|title=Morgan Wallen Shares Nostalgic Summertime Soundtrack '7 Summers' Debut Album If I Know Me Tops Billboard's Country Albums Chart After Historic 114 Week Run|work=Think Country Music|last=Gardam|first=Jamie|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 19, 2020}} CountrySwag{{'}}s Erica Zisman described the song as "having imagery like no other".{{Cite web |last=Zisman |first=Erica |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Morgan Wallen: 'Dangerous' The Double Album - Review |url=https://countryswag.com/morgan-wallen-dangerous-the-double-album-review/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=CS |language=en-US}} Rolling Stone{{'}}s Jon Freeman called the song "dreamy", complimenting Moi's "atmospheric" production, stating that it "perfectly fits the mood of Wallen's story". At the years end, Time ranked it the seventh best song of 2020.{{cite magazine |title=The 10 Best Songs of 2020 |url=https://time.com/5914984/best-songs-2020/ |magazine=Time}}

Since its release, "7 Summers" has grown to be a fan favorite track and is frequently cited as being one of Wallen's best songs.{{Cite magazine |title=Morgan Wallen |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/morgan-wallen/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hagan |first=Mark |title=The Best Morgan Wallen Songs {{!}} Holler |url=https://holler.country/lists/the-best-morgan-wallen-songs |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=holler.country |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Bobby |date=December 4, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen's 5 Best Songs So Far, Ranked |url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/morgan-wallen-song/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=Wide Open Country |language=en-US}}

File:Morgan Wallen performing in Bristol, Tennessee at Country Thunder, Photo by Andrew Wendowski.jpg

On November 10, 2020, Wallen released an eight minute cinematic short film for the song directed by Justin Clough.{{Cite web |last=Parton |first=Chris |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Makes Acting Debut in '7 Summers' Mini Movie |url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/morgan-wallen-acting-debut-7-summers-video/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=Sounds Like Nashville}} Filmed in Nashville, the film features Wallen in his acting debut as a small town high school baseball star whose father pressures him to pursue a professional baseball career, while he fears that doing so might force him to leave behind his high school sweetheart.{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Chooses Between Baseball & Love in '7 Summers' Short Film |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/morgan-wallen-7-summers-short-film-9481488/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Liptak |first=Carena |date=November 9, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen's '7 Summers' Video Is a Nostalgic Mini-Movie |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/morgan-wallen-7-summers-music-video/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=Taste of Country |language=en}} In the film, after failing to make the big leagues, Wallen returns to his hometown and discovers that his lost love has new life without him. The video was inspired by a period in Wallen's life in which he got injured playing baseball and struggled adjusting to community college, as well as by him reminiscing on old conversations with his high school girlfriend. The film received positive reviews, with reviewers praising Wallen's acting and its cinematic nature.{{Cite web |last=Parton |first=Chris |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Makes Acting Debut in '7 Summers' Mini Movie |url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/morgan-wallen-acting-debut-7-summers-video/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=Sounds Like Nashville}}{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Releases Incredible Short Film for '7 Summers' |url=https://www.wbwn.com/2020/11/10/morgan-wallen-releases-incredible-short-film-for-7-summers/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=B104 WBWN-FM |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Shepard |first=Will |date=November 9, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Drops '7 Summers' Short Film with Release Date Clue |url=https://outsider.com/entertainment/music/morgan-wallen-drops-7-summers-short-film-with-release-date-clue/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Outsider |language=en-US |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126210642/https://outsider.com/entertainment/music/morgan-wallen-drops-7-summers-short-film-with-release-date-clue/ |url-status=dead }}

The film also served to tease Dangerous: The Double Album, with him stating that the release date of the album could be found in the film. Fans spotted the numbers 1, 8, and 21 in the film, hinting at a release of January 8, 2021, the ultimate release date of the album.

"7 Summers" set the record for the biggest first-day streams for a country song on Apple Music, garnering 4.6 million streams and debuting at number three on the global chart. It also broke Spotify's first day record for a country track by a solo artist. The song debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Wallen's first top 10 entry, as well as the second top 10 debut ever for a song by a solo male country artist, the first since Chris Gaines (Garth Brooks)' "Lost in You" in 1999.{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=August 24, 2020 |title=Cardi B's 'WAP' Tops Billboard Hot 100 for Second Week; Drake, Morgan Wallen & Gabby Barrett Hit Top 10 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9439074/cardi-b-wap-billboard-hot-100-second-week-drake |access-date=August 25, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}} This also made Wallen the first contestant from The Voice to score a top 10 single.{{Cite magazine |last=Kelefa |first=Saneh |date=December 17, 2020 |title=How Morgan Wallen Became the Most Wanted Man in Country |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/12/28/how-morgan-wallen-became-the-most-wanted-man-in-country |access-date=January 26, 2023 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}} The song would peak at number three on the Rolling Stone Top 100, the highest charting solo country song in the charts history.{{Cite magazine |last=Freeman |first=Jon |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Cements His Crossover Appeal With '7 Summers' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/morgan-wallen-7-summers-charts-1049620/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

The song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in February 2021, becoming Wallen's first single to miss the top 10 on the airplay chart since his debut single "The Way I Talk" peaked at number 30 in 2017. Its chart run was halted as a result of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, iHeartRadio, Entercom, and Cumulus Media all issuing directives to their stations to remove Wallen's music from airplay,{{Cite magazine|title=Morgan Wallen's Music Removed From iHeart's Radio Stations and Others Following Racial Slur|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/9520243/morgan-wallen-removed-iheartradio-cumulus-racial-slur-fallout/|access-date=February 3, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}{{cite web |author=Willman |first=Chris |date=February 3, 2021 |title=Morgan Wallen Disqualified by Academy of Country Music for Upcoming Awards; One-Day Airplay Down 80% |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/morgan-wallen-disqualified-acm-awards-cma-radio-play-drops-1234899952/ |accessdate=February 4, 2021 |website=Variety}} following controversy after the singer was caught on camera using a racial slur with friends as they were entering his Nashville home.{{Cite web |title=Morgan Wallen Hurls N-Word Outside Home After Rowdy Night Out |url=https://www.tmz.com/2021/02/02/morgan-wallen-n-word-nashville-neighbors/ |access-date=February 3, 2021 |website=TMZ |language=en}} The song has been certified triple platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).{{Cite web |title=7 Summers |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Morgan+Wallen&ti=7+Summers&format=Single&type=#search_section |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=RIAA |language=en-US}}

"7 Summers" strong commercial performance was primarily driven by TikTok and streaming, a rare occurrence in country music which typically relies on radio airplay and physical sales more than other genres. The success of the song through streaming was cited by the Los Angeles Times as "helping move country music into the 21st century".{{Cite magazine |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=August 26, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen's '7 Summers' Debut Is a Sign Not Just of His Own Stardom, But of Country's Streaming Rise |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/morgan-wallens-7-summers-streaming-success/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

Wallen first performed "7 Summers" live on September 10, 2020, in Austin, Texas as part of Tito's Handmade Vodka Presents: Made to Order Festival.{{Cite web |last=Mayhem |first=Boot Kickin' |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Morgan Wallen Gives Debut Live Performance Of 7 Summers — Watch |url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/morgan-wallen-gives-debut-live-performance-of-7-summers-watch/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=Music Mayhem Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Tito's Made to Order Music Festival Featuring Dierks Bentley, Louis the Child, Portugal. The Man, Summer Walker and ZHU Coming Soon to a Screen Near You |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2020/08/25/2083305/0/en/Tito-s-Made-to-Order-Music-Festival-Featuring-Dierks-Bentley-Louis-the-Child-Portugal-The-Man-Summer-Walker-and-ZHU-Coming-Soon-to-a-Screen-Near-You.html |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=GlobeNewswire |language=en}} On December 5, 2020, Wallen performed the song on his Saturday Night Live debut to an audience of 6.1 million viewers.{{Cite web|date=December 6, 2020|title=Morgan Wallen Made His 'Saturday Night Live' Debut With "7 Summers" And "Still Goin Down"|url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/morgan-wallen-made-his-saturday-night-live-debut-with-7-summers-and-still-goin-down-watch/|access-date=December 6, 2020|website=Music Mayhem Magazine}}{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=December 8, 2020 |title=TV Ratings: 'Saturday Night Live' Suffers Post-Election Slide |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-saturday-sunday-dec-5-6-2020-4101715/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} On January 8, 2021, Wallen performed the song live on The Bobby Bones Show along with other songs on his album.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Morgan Wallen Performs "More Than My Hometown," "Somebody's Problem," and "7 Summers" |url=https://989bull.com/morgan-wallen-performs-more-than-my-hometown-somebodys-problem-and-7-summers/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=The All-New 98.9 THE BULL |language=en-US |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211032342/https://989bull.com/morgan-wallen-performs-more-than-my-hometown-somebodys-problem-and-7-summers/ |url-status=dead }}

Information taken from AllMusic.{{Citation |title=7 Summers - Morgan Wallen {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/7-summers-mw0003425294/credits |language=en |access-date=January 26, 2023}}

Personnel

• Morgan Wallen{{spaced ndash}}songwriter
• Shane McAnally{{spaced ndash}}songwriter
• Josh Osborne{{spaced ndash}}songwriter
• Joey Moi{{spaced ndash}}producer, background vocals
• Bryan Sutton{{spaced ndash}}acoustic guitar, mandolin
• Dave Cohen{{spaced ndash}}keyboards, organ
• Jerry Roe{{spaced ndash}}drums
• Jimmie Lee Sloas{{spaced ndash}}bass
• Tom Bukovac{{spaced ndash}}electric guitar

Technical

• Scott Cooke{{spaced ndash}}engineer
• Eivind Norland{{spaced ndash}}engineer
• Ally Gecewicz{{spaced ndash}}engineer
• Ted Jensen{{spaced ndash}}mastering engineer
• Jeff Balding{{spaced ndash}}recording engineer
• Ryan Yount{{spaced ndash}}assistant recording engineer

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "7 Summers"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|type=single|certyear=2024|access-date=September 28, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Morgan Wallen|title=7 Summers|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2020|certyear=2022|accessdate=October 5, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Morgan Wallen|title=7 Summers|award=Gold|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=2025-01-02}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Morgan Wallen|title=7 Summers|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=April 7, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true | noshipments=true | streaming=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Morgan Wallen}}

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Category:2020 singles

Category:2020 songs

Category:Morgan Wallen songs

Category:Songs written by Morgan Wallen

Category:Songs written by Josh Osborne

Category:Songs written by Shane McAnally

Category:Song recordings produced by Joey Moi

Category:Easy listening songs

Category:Songs about nostalgia

Category:Big Loud singles