Best Thing Since Backroads
{{Short description|2021 single by Jake Owen}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Best Thing Since Backroads
| cover = Best Thing Since Backroads.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jake Owen
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2021|8|6}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country rock{{cite web|url=https://sidestagemagazine.com/jake-owen-turns-the-ignition-on-new-single-best-thing-since-backroads/|title=Jake Owen Turns The Ignition On New Single, "Best Thing Since Backroads"|work=Side Stage Magazine|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021}}
| length = 3:07
| label = Big Loud
| writer = * Ben Johnson
- Geoff Warburton
- Hunter Phelps
- Spencer Saylor
- Jordan Minton
| producer = Joey Moi
| chronology = Jake Owen
| prev_title = Made for You
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = 11 Beers
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|iOHMIWpyqfo|"Best Thing Since Backroads"}}}}
}}
"Best Thing Since Backroads" is a song by American country music singer Jake Owen. It was released on August 6, 2021. The song was written by Ben Johnson, Geoff Warburton, Hunter Phelps, Spencer Saylor and Jordan Minton, and produced by Joey Moi.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/jake-owen-hits-the-romantic-gas-on-best-thing-since-backroads/|title=Jake Owen Hits the Romantic Gas on 'Best Thing Since Backroads'|work=Sounds Like Nashville|last=Parton|first=Chris|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021}}
Background and content
Shelby Scott of Outsider wrote that the song describes "the subject’s long time spent traveling his town’s back roads." Carena Liptak of ABC Audio said it [is] "about the breezy, simple pleasure of driving two-lane highways — and the equally euphoric feeling of finding true love."{{cite web|url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/jake-owen-sings-praises-true-love-best-thing-backroads|title=Jake Owen sings the praises of true love on "Best Thing Since Backroads"|work=ABC Audio|last=Liptak|first=Carena|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021}} In a press release, Owen stated: "It's always exciting releasing new music. It feels great being back out on the road and bringing happiness to people."{{cite web|url=https://outsider.com/news/country-music/jake-owen-drops-new-single-best-thing-since-backroads/|title=Jake Owen Drops New Single, 'Best Thing Since Backroads'|work=Outsider|last=Scott|first=Shelby|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021}}
Critical reception
Billy Dukes of Taste of Country felt that fans listening to "Best Thing Since Backroads" "may recall songs from the previous decade. Familiar scenes of lovemaking by the riverbank and dirt road drives with a cooler in the back dotted many of Moi's best arrangements in the early 2010s."{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/jake-owen-best-thing-since-backroads/|title=Jake Owen's 'Best Thing Since Backroads' Is Two Kinds of Retro [Listen]|work=Taste of Country|last=Dukes|first=Billy|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021}}
Charts
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{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Best Thing Since Backroads" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|78|artist=Jake Owen|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|3|artist=Jake Owen|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|72|artist=Jake Owen|rowheader=true|access-date=August 2, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|2|artist=Jake Owen|rowheader=true|access-date=August 2, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|17|artist=Jake Owen|rowheader=true|access-date=August 2, 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2022 year-end chart performance for "Best Thing Since Backroads" ! Chart (2022) ! Position |
| scope="row"| US Country Airplay (Billboard){{cite web|title=Country Airplay – Year-End 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/country-airplay-songs|website=Billboard|access-date=December 1, 2022}}
| 11 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{cite web|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-country-songs|website=Billboard|access-date=December 1, 2022}}
| 51 |
{{col-end}}