Shiftwork (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Shiftwork
| cover = Shiftwork kenny chesney single cover.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Kenny Chesney and George Strait
| album = Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
| released = {{start date|2007|12|10}}
| recorded = 2007
| genre = Country
| length = 4:29 (album version)
3:56 (single version)
| label = BNA
| writer = Troy Jones
| producer = Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Kenny Chesney
| type = singles
| prev_title = Don't Blink
| prev_year = 2007
| title = Shiftwork
| year = 2007
| next_title = Every Other Weekend
| next_year = 2008
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = George Strait
| type = singles
| prev_title = How 'bout Them Cowgirls
| prev_year = 2007
| title = Shiftwork
| year = 2007
| next_title = I Saw God Today
| next_year = 2008
}}
}}
"Shiftwork" is a song written by Troy Jones and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Chesney with George Strait as a duet. It was released in December 2007 as the third single from Chesney's 2007 album, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.
History
Initially, "Shiftwork" first charted as an album track by receiving unsolicited airplay that brought the song up to number 42 on the country music charts before its official release to country radio. Until the song was officially released, it was credited to both Chesney and Strait. However, once it was officially released as a single, Strait's name was removed from the song because of contractual agreements between his label (MCA Nashville) and Chesney's label (BNA Records).{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/chat.jsp |title=Chart Beat Chat |accessdate=2008-01-07 |last=Bronson |first=Fred |date=2008-01-18 |work=Billboard |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071231194802/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/chat.jsp |archivedate =December 31, 2007}} Starting with the Billboard chart dated February 9, 2008, the song was once again billed as "Kenny Chesney duet with George Strait".{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-09/country-songs |title=Billboard chart listing for the week of February 9, 2008 |accessdate=January 31, 2008|work=Billboard |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817235310/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-02-09/country-songs |archivedate=August 17, 2014 }}
Content
"Shiftwork" is a moderate up-tempo song backed by percussion (mainly steel drums). In the song, the central characters (Chesney and Strait) express their frustrations with constantly working shifts at a convenience store ("Workin' seven to three / Three to eleven / Eleven to seven"). Both characters point out that their job is "a bunch of shiftwork". In the second verse, Chesney talks about taking a trip to the beach to party "from seven to three / Three to eleven / Eleven to seven".
Music video
The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and was premiered on CMT on December 6, 2007. It shows various people lip-syncing to the song.
The music video reached number 1 on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown for the week of February 28, 2008.
Critical reception
The AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the song a highlight of Chesney's album, noting how Strait and Chesney both "playfully soften the F in the title, making for a genuinely funny highlight" (thus making the line sound closer to "shit work").{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1185082|pure_url=yes}} |title=Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates – Overview |accessdate=July 7, 2008 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |work=AllMusic}} Brady Vercher of Engine 145 gave it a "thumbs-down" rating, writing, "What makes this a bad song is that it's dull and boring, with zero redeeming qualities. If music is supposed to make you feel something, then this song captures the monotony of 'shiftwork,' but who in their right mind is going to want to be bored when they listen to a song?"{{cite web|url=http://www.engine145.com/kenny-chesney-featuring-george-strait-shiftwork/|title=Kenny Chesney with George Strait - Shiftwork|last=Vercher|first=Brady|work=Engine 145|date=December 12, 2007|accessdate=December 8, 2008|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218091621/http://www.engine145.com/kenny-chesney-featuring-george-strait-shiftwork/|archivedate=December 18, 2014}} Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe, gave the song a B grade, saying that "the ’big ol’ pile of shiiiiiftwork" wordplay in the chorus is funny. It doesn't hold up much on repeated listenings, however" and that the song "still manages to become a song about getting drunk in the islands".{{cite web|url=http://www.countryuniverse.net/2007/12/08/kenny-chesney-featuring-george-strait-shiftwork/|title=Kenny Chesney - "Shiftwork"|last=Coyne|first=Kevin John|date=December 8, 2007|work=Country Universe|accessdate=June 17, 2010}}
Chart performance
The song originally charted at number 42 from unsolicited airplay in September 2007, shortly after Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates was released.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2007–2008) !align="center"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=Kenny Chesney|artistid=49903}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|47|artist=Kenny Chesney|artistid=49903}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcanadacountry|2|artist=Kenny Chesney}} |
| {{singlechart|Canada|61|artist=Kenny Chesney|artistid=49903}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2008)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 2008: Country Songs | work=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=2008| accessdate=December 13, 2008}}
| align="center" | 38 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Shiftwork|artist=Kenny Chesney|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2022|access-date=November 18, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Kenny Chesney singles}}
{{George Strait 2000s singles}}
Category:Music videos directed by Shaun Silva