Worth It (Danielle Bradbery song)
{{infobox song
| name = Worth It
| artist = Danielle Bradbery
| type = single
| album = I Don't Believe We've Met
| cover = Danielle Bradbery - Worth It (single cover).jpg
| border = yes
| caption =
| released = {{start date|2018|03|05}}
| recorded = 2017
| studio =
| genre = Country blues
| label = Nashville Harbor
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=31}} {{small|(remix single)}}
| writer = {{hlist|Danielle Bradbery|Jeff Pardo|Molly Reed}}
| producer = Josh Kerr
| prev_title = Sway
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Goodbye Summer
| next_year = 2018
| misc =
}}
"Worth It" is a song recorded by the American country music singer Danielle Bradbery for her second studio album, I Don't Believe We've Met (2017). Bradbery co-wrote the song with Jeff Pardo and Molly Reed; it was produced by Josh Kerr. "Worth It" was first released digitally as the album's fourth and final promotional single on November 10, 2017, and was promoted to American country radio through Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment on March 5, 2018, as the second official single.
Content and themes
"Worth It" is a bluesy, piano-driven ballad in which Bradbery asserts her self-value.{{cite news |last1=Hostelle |first1=Laura |title=Album Review: Danielle Bradbery's 'I Don't Believe We've Met' |url=http://www.soundslikenashville.com/reviews/album-review-danielle-bradbery-dont-believe-weve-met/ |accessdate=March 10, 2018 |work=Sounds Like Nashville |date=November 30, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Papadatos|first1=Markos|title=Review: Danielle Bradbery wows on new album 'I Don't Believe We've Met'|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/music/review-danielle-bradbery-wows-on-new-album-i-don-t-believe-we-ve-met/article/508429|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Digital Journal|date=November 24, 2017}} The song's lyrics express both vulnerability and indignation towards the way Bradbery has been treated by former lovers,{{cite news|last1=Hight|first1=Jewly|title=Review: Danielle Bradbery, 'I Don't Believe We've Met'|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/23/565670116/first-listen-danielle-bradbery-i-dont-believe-weve-met|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=NPR|date=November 23, 2017}} while she claims on the chorus that she is not afraid to walk away from a relationship if she is not given the respect she deserves.{{cite news|last1=Houghton|first1=Cillea|title=Album Spotlight: Danielle Bradbery, 'I Don't Believe We've Met'|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/danielle-bradbery-i-dont-believe-weve-met-album/|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Taste of Country|date=December 1, 2017}} Bradbery employs a melisma technique in her vocal delivery as well as "bending" notes to give the song a more soulful sound.
According to Stephen L. Betts of Rolling Stone, the song captures the "zeitgeist of empowerment and self-worth" present at the time of the song's release, with its lyrical content being characterized as feminist.{{cite news|last1=Betts|first1=Stephen L.|title=Watch Danielle Bradbery's Intense New 'Worth It' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/danielle-bradberys-worth-it-watch-video-w511513|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Rolling Stone|date=November 10, 2017}} Bradbery reported that the song was written in response to her concerns about her career and, while applicable to a relationship, is ultimately about "standing up for yourself in any situation".{{cite news|last1=Yahr|first1=Emily|title=Danielle Bradbery finds her own voice|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2017/12/10/danielle-bradbery-finds-her-own-voice.html|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Toronto Star|date=December 10, 2017}}
Release and promotion
"Worth It" was released to digital retailers as the album's fourth and final promotional single on November 10, 2017. The song was announced as the second official single through the Billboard Country Update newsletter on February 20, 2018, and was made available to country radio stations on February 26.{{cite web|title=Billboard Country Update|url=https://www.billboard.com/files/pdfs/country_update_0220.pdf|website=Billboard|accessdate=March 10, 2018|page=7|date=February 20, 2018}} It officially impacted the format on March 5, 2018. A remixed version of the song was released digitally on March 9, 2018.
On December 1, 2017, Bradbery performed the song live on Megyn Kelly Today.{{cite news|last1=McKenna|first1=Brittney|title=See Danielle Bradbery's Slow-Burning 'Worth It' on 'Today'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/see-danielle-bradberys-slow-burning-worth-it-on-today-w513040|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Rolling Stone|date=December 1, 2017}} Her performance was praised for highlighting both her "powerhouse vocals" and the "emotional heft" of the song's message. Bradbery appeared as a musical guest on the December 5, 2017, episode of the thirteenth season of The Voice and performed "Worth It".{{cite news|last1=Whitaker|first1=Sterling|title=Danielle Bradbery Returns to 'The Voice' to Perform 'Worth It'|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/danielle-bradbery-worth-it-the-voice/|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Taste of Country|date=December 6, 2017}} Sterling Whitaker of Taste of Country wrote that her performance "demonstrated all over again why she dominated [her season]".
Critical reception
Jewly Hight of NPR wrote that Bradbery's melismatic delivery "brings a bit more authority to her indignation" on the track. Praising the lyrical content, Stephen L. Betts of Rolling Stone wrote that Bradbery "could be poised for a major breakthrough" at country radio with "Worth It".
Chart performance
"Worth It" sold 6,000 copies in its first week of release and entered the Country Digital Songs chart at number 23.{{cite news|last1=Bjorke|first1=Matt|title=Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: November 21, 2017|url=http://roughstock.com/news/2017/11/42545-top-30-digital-country-singles-chart-november-21-2017|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Roughstock|date=November 22, 2017}} The song debuted at number 49 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated December 2, 2017,{{cite web|title=Hot Country Songs: The Week Of December 2, 2017|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/2017-12-02|website=Billboard|accessdate=March 10, 2018}} becoming her first song to appear on the chart (outside of releases from The Voice) that was not actively being promoted as a single at the time. After the song first became available to radio stations, "Worth It" debuted at number 55 on the Country Airplay chart dated March 3, 2018.{{cite web|title=Country Airplay: The Week Of March 3, 2018|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-airplay/2018-03-03|website=Billboard|accessdate=March 10, 2018}} It later reached a peak position of 46. The song had sold 15,000 copies in the United States as by December 2017.{{cite news|last1=Bjorke|first1=Matt|title=Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: December 19, 2017|url=http://roughstock.com/news/2017/12/42597-top-30-digital-singles-chart-december-19-2017|accessdate=March 10, 2018|work=Roughstock|date=December 19, 2017}}
Music video
An "instant grat" video was premiered on Bradbery's Vevo channel on November 10, 2017, following the song's digital release.{{cite web|title=Worth It (Instant Grat Video) - Danielle Bradbery|url=https://www.vevo.com/watch/danielle-bradbery/worth-it-(instant-grat-video)/QM3E21710004|publisher=Vevo|accessdate=March 10, 2018}} It was directed by Keith J. Leman. Bradbery is lit in shades of blue, red and purple throughout the video to convey her bruised spirit.
The official music video for the song was directed by Shaun Silva and was premiered May 18, 2018. The video was inspired by Jenny Lind's performance of "Never Enough", as seen in the film The Greatest Showman. It was filmed at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/country/danielle-bradbery-debuts-greatest-showman-worth-it-music-video/|title=Danielle Bradbery Debuts Greatest Showman and The Voice-Inspired Music Video for 'Worth It'|publisher= |website=People.com|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}
Track listing
;Digital download – promotional single{{cite web|title=Worth It - Danielle Bradbery {{!}} Release Info|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/worth-it-mr0004813568|publisher= |website=AllMusic|accessdate=March 10, 2018}}
- "Worth It" – 3:27
;Digital download – remix singleSelect international releases of remix single:
- France: {{cite web|title=Worth It (Remix) (Single) de Danielle Bradbery|url=https://fr.napster.com/artist/danielle-bradbery/album/worth-it-remix|publisher= |website=Napster|accessdate=March 10, 2018}}
- United States: {{cite web|title=Worth It (Remix) by Danielle Bradbery on Amazon Music|url=https://www.amazon.com/Worth-Remix-Danielle-Bradbery/dp/B07B8XCTSF|publisher= |website=Amazon.com|accessdate=March 10, 2018}}
- "Worth It" {{small|(Remix)}} – 3:31
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Chart (2017–18) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|46|artist=Danielle Bradbery|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 17, 2018|refname="Country Airplay"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|49|artist=Danielle Bradbery|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 10, 2018|refname="Country Songs"}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Country ! Date ! Format ! Label ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Worldwide
| November 10, 2017 | Digital download – promotional single |
|---|
| scope="row"| United States
| March 5, 2018 | rowspan="2"| BMLG |
| scope="row"| Worldwide
| March 9, 2018 | Digital download – remix single |