Tender When I Want to Be
{{Infobox song
| name = Tender When I Want to Be
| cover = Chapin Carpenter - Tender When I Want single.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Mary Chapin Carpenter
| album = Stones in the Road
| B-side = John Doe No 24
| released = December 5, 1994
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = 2:54
| label = Columbia
| writer = Mary Chapin Carpenter
| producer = {{hlist|Mary Chapin Carpenter|John Jennings}}
| prev_title = Shut Up and Kiss Me
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = House of Cards
| next_year = 1995
}}
"Tender When I Want to Be" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from her album Stones in the Road. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in February 1995.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=mary chapin carpenter|chart=Country Songs}} Mary Chapin Carpenter Hot Country Songs Chart History]
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "think-while-you-dance pop/country tune about grown-up emotions." She goes on to say that Carpenter continues to "light up country radio with incisive, intelligent lyrics and a talent for creating just the right melody."Billboard, December 3, 1994
Music video
The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered in early 1995.
Personnel
- Kenny Aronoff–drums
- Mary Chapin Carpenter–lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Don Dixon–bass guitar, arco bass
- John Jennings–electric guitar, baritone guitar
- Steuart Smith–electric guitar
- Trisha Yearwood–background vocals
Chart performance
"Tender When I Want to Be" debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of December 10, 1994.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (1994–1995) !align="center"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|Canadacountry|2|chartid=8009|publishdate=February 27, 1995|accessdate=July 21, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|6|artist=Mary Chapin Carpenter}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col"|Chart (1995)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2838&type=1&interval=24|title=RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995|work=RPM|date=December 18, 1995|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}
| align="center" | 44 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Mary Chapin Carpenter singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mary Chapin Carpenter songs
Category:Songs written by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Michael Salomon
{{1994-country-song-stub}}