Slow Down Summer
{{short description|2021 single by Thomas Rhett}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Slow Down Summer
| cover = Slow Down Summer.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Thomas Rhett
| album = Where We Started
| released = {{Start date|2021|11|5}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country
| length = 3:36
| label = Valory
| writer = * Ashley Gorley
- Sean Douglas
- Jesse Frasure
- Rhett Akins
- Thomas Rhett
| producer = * Dann Huff
- Jesse Frasure
| prev_title = Thank You Lord
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Half of Me
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|bvFKx3TVrak|"Slow Down Summer"}}}}
}}
"Slow Down Summer" is a song by American country music singer Thomas Rhett. It was released on November 5, 2021 as the lead single from his sixth studio album, Where We Started. The song was written by Rhett with his father Rhett Akins, as well as Ashley Gorley, Sean Douglas, and Jesse Frasure.{{cite web|url=https://themusicuniverse.com/thomas-rhett-releases-slow-down-summer/|title=Thomas Rhett releases 'Slow Down Summer'|work=The Music Universe|last=Ianh|first=Buddy|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116022818/https://themusicuniverse.com/thomas-rhett-releases-slow-down-summer/|url-status=live}}
Background
In a press release, Rhett stated: "I wrote this song from the point of view of two people who are in love during senior year of high school, I envisioned them headed off to different schools and they're starting to understand that the moment the weather starts to change, they've got a 99-percent chance this relationship is not going to work. I know that myself and a lot of people have been there before, wishing the fireworks stage doesn't have to end."{{cite web|url=https://www.bigmachinelabelgroup.com/news/thomas-rhett-shares-romantic-thriller-slow-down-summer-new-single|title=Thomas Rhett Shares Romantic Thriller, "Slow Down Summer" as New Single|publisher=Big Machine Records|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116022828/https://www.bigmachinelabelgroup.com/news/thomas-rhett-shares-romantic-thriller-slow-down-summer-new-single|url-status=live}}
Content
Carena Liptak of ABC Audio wrote that the lyrics "follow a couple who are soaking up every minute of their summer love together, knowing that when the weather cools, so will their relationship."{{cite web|url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/thomas-rhett-hoping-slow-down-summer-first-single-new-musical-chapter|title=Thomas Rhett is hoping for a "Slow Down Summer" in first single off a new musical chapter|work=ABC Audio|last=Liptak|first=Carena|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109073055/https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/thomas-rhett-hoping-slow-down-summer-first-single-new-musical-chapter|url-status=live}} Chris Parton of Sounds Like Nashville described the storyline as "two lovers locked in a summer they'll never forget—but knowing all too well their time together will soon end".{{cite web|url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/thomas-rhett-previews-new-album-with-slow-down-summer/|title=Thomas Rhett Previews New Album With 'Slow Down Summer'|work=Sounds Like Nashville|last=Parton|first=Chris|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116022819/https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/thomas-rhett-previews-new-album-with-slow-down-summer/|url-status=live}}
Composition
The song includes instrumentation from a 14-piece string section as well as a piano melody.{{cite web|url=https://outsider.com/news/country-music/thomas-rhett-shares-first-taste-of-6th-studio-album-with-release-of-lead-single-slow-down-summer/|title=Thomas Rhett Shares First Taste of 6th Studio Album With Release of Lead Single, 'Slow Down Summer'|work=Outsider|last=Krol|first=Jacklyn|date=November 7, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116022819/https://outsider.com/news/country-music/thomas-rhett-shares-first-taste-of-6th-studio-album-with-release-of-lead-single-slow-down-summer/|url-status=live}} It is written in the key of B major, with a tempo of 156 beats per minute.{{cite web | url=https://songdata.io/album/6uWWkRv3qKdFcFyayL1Vw4/Slow-Down-Summer-by-Thomas-Rhett | title=Slow Down Summer - Thomas Rhett Album Information | access-date=November 16, 2021 | archive-date=November 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116022818/https://songdata.io/album/6uWWkRv3qKdFcFyayL1Vw4/Slow-Down-Summer-by-Thomas-Rhett | url-status=live }}
Critical reception
Billy Dukes of Taste of Country opined that the track is "a nostalgic summer love song that stings just like it should".{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/thomas-rhett-slow-down-summer/|title=Thomas Rhett's 'Slow Down Summer' Is A Progressive Piece of Country Nostalgia [Listen]|work=Taste of Country|last=Dukes|first=Billy|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112013645/https://tasteofcountry.com/thomas-rhett-slow-down-summer/|url-status=live}}
Music video
The music video was released on December 3, 2021, and directed by P. Tracy. It described a story of "two young people holding on to the last moments of a summer together, as they prepare to embark on a new season apart".{{cite web|url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/thomas-rhett-makes-time-stop-in-slow-down-summer-music-video/|title=Thomas Rhett Makes Time Stop in 'Slow Down Summer' Music Video|work=Sounds Like Nashville|last=Parton|first=Chris|date=December 3, 2021|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204033149/https://www.soundslikenashville.com/music/thomas-rhett-makes-time-stop-in-slow-down-summer-music-video/|url-status=live}} It features as Rhett plays the piano in different seasons.{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/thomas-rhett-slow-down-summer-music-video/|title=Thomas Rhett's 'Slow Down Summer' Video Stings With Each Passing Season [Watch]|work=Taste of Country|last=Dukes|first=Billy|date=December 3, 2021|access-date=December 4, 2021|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203225102/https://tasteofcountry.com/thomas-rhett-slow-down-summer-music-video/|url-status=live}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Slow Down Summer" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|64|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=April 12, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|4|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=May 17, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|43|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=April 12, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|2|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=May 24, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|9|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=April 12, 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2022 year-end chart performance for "Slow Down Summer" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Country Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Country Airplay – Year-End 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/country-airplay-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 1, 2022|archive-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208164322/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/country-airplay-songs/|url-status=live}}
| 32 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-country-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 1, 2022|archive-date=December 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202025901/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-country-songs/|url-status=live}}
| 32 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Thomas Rhett|title=Slow Down Summer|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|relyear=2021|access-date=August 10, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "Slow Down Summer" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| November 5, 2021 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2"| Valory | {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/slow-down-summer-single/1591152681|title=Slow Down Summer - Single by Thomas Rhett|date=November 5, 2021|via=Apple Music|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116022817/https://music.apple.com/us/album/slow-down-summer-single/1591152681|url-status=live}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| United States
| November 8, 2021 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Thomas Rhett}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Ashley Gorley
Category:Songs written by Sean Douglas (songwriter)
Category:Songs written by Jesse Frasure
Category:Songs written by Rhett Akins
Category:Songs written by Thomas Rhett