In Color (song)

Infobox Single
Name = In Color


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Jamey Johnson
Album = That Lonesome Song
Released = March 17, 2008
Format = CD Single
Genre = Country
Length = 3:49
Label = Mercury Nashville
Writer = Jamey Johnson
Lee Thomas Miller
James Otto
Producer = The Kent Hardly Playboys
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single = "Rebelicious"
(2006)
This single = "In Color"
(2008)
Next single = TBD

"In Color" is the title of a single co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jamey Johnson. It is the first single from his second album, "That Lonesome Song", which was initially released to digital retailers in 2007, and was released on August 5, 2008 on Mercury Nashville Records.cite web |url=http://www.the9513.com/jamey-johnson-in-color/ |title=Jamey Johnson - "In Color" - The 9513 |accessdate=2008-07-03 |last=Vercher |first=Brady |date=2008-03-17 |work=The 9513] Johnson co-wrote the song with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller.

Content

The song is a largely acoustic ballad centralizing on an elderly man who is showing black-and-white photographs to his grandson, each photograph showing a various part of the man's life. Describing the instances in each photos, such as fighting in World War II, he recalls his own life story to his grandson, telling him, "you should have seen it in color" (i.e., that the grandson would have had to be there himself to know what each experience was truly like). Trace Adkins was originally slated to record the song, until Johnson asked Adkins' permission to record the song himself.cite journal |last=Paxman |first=Bob |date=2008-07-28 |title=Living Color: Jamey Johnson sets memories to music in his touching new video. |journal=Country Weekly |volume=15 |issue=15 |pages=31 |accessdate=2008-07-12]

A music video was shot for "In Color" in July 2008. It portrays Johnson sitting on a stool, playing acoustic guitar and singing, with various black-and-white photographs (which Johnson borrowed from his grandmother) spread out on the floor around him.

Reception

The song received a "thumbs up" rating from Brady Vercher of The 9513. Vercher commended the writers for using "such vivid and emotive imagery without becoming overwrought", also saying " [t] he production stays out of the way of the vivid stories and adds a richness and expressiveness…Johnson may not be the most gifted vocalist as far as range goes, but he is more than capable and knows how to interpret a song for good effect. Needless to say, he nails the delivery in this song."

Chart positions

References