Only You Can Love Me This Way

"Only You Can Love Me This Way"
Single by Keith Urban
from the album Defying Gravity
Released	29 June 2009 (2009-06-29)
Format	CD single Music download
Genre	Country
Length	4:07 (album version) 3:39 (single edit)
Label	Capitol Nashville
Writer(s)	Steve McEwan John Reid
Producer	Dann Huff Keith Urban
Keith Urban singles chronology
"Kiss a Girl" (2009) "Only You Can Love Me This Way" (2009) "'Til Summer Comes Around" (2009)

"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is the title of a song written by Steve McEwan and John Reid. It was recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban on his fifth studio album, 2009's Defying Gravity. The song was released to radio on 29 June 2009, as the third single from that album and the twenty-first solo single of his career. It also became his eleventh #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in October. The song is part of the track listing to Now That's What I Call Music! 32.

Content

"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is a mid-tempo ballad in which the male narrator states that he and his lover were meant for each other.

According to the Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) database, Rascal Flatts has also recorded the song.^[1]

Writing and inspiration

Steve McEwan and John Reid penned the song together in a studio at a songwriting camp in Nashville where they had just met for the first time.^[2] In an interview with HitQuarters McEwan said the demo of the song that was successfully pitched to Urban featured McEwan singing backed by an acoustic guitar and a "tiny drum machine".^[2] Reid had originally sung on the demo but it was later felt it would stand a better chance of being accepted by Urban if, rather than Reid's "sweet pop voice", it was sung in McEwan's deeper "more American" vocal.^[2]

Critical reception

The song has been met with favorable reviews. Jonathan Keefe, in his review for Slant Magazine, said that the song "recall[s] the drippiness of early-'90s Richard Marx and Bryan Adams".^[3] Tara Seetharam of Country Universe gave a B+ rating. Her review makes note of the "stripped-down" production and adds, "It’s a testament to Urban’s artistry that he’s able to breathe life and passion into such nondescript lyrics, turning them into what feels like a tailor-made ode to his wife".^[4] Michael Menachem gave a favorable review in Billboard, calling it "an affectionate ballad that could easily be a wedding song[…]Urban's genteel inflections are enhanced by light production and soft guitar strums."^[5] Bobby Peacock of Roughstock, despite saying that it was "below the standards" of other ballads in Urban's career, called it a "welcome change" after the up-tempos "Sweet Thing" and "Kiss a Girl." This review also made note of Urban's "warm, passionate tone" and the "stripped-down" production.^[6]

Music Video

Directed by Chris Hicky, the video was shot at the Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa, in late June 2009. It premeired in early August of that year. It starts with the sound of an audience cheering, while Keith walks on stage. He then performs to an empty theater with an acoustic guitar. Later, he performs to various fans. The video ends with the sound and visual of him being applauded, and walking away.

Chart performance

"Only You Can Love Me This Way" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100 on the chart week of 11 April 2009, debuting at #84 and #72 respectively. Upon its release to country radio in June, the song debuted at #52 on Hot Country Songs, before climbing to #30 a week later, and re-entered both the U.S. and Canadian Hot 100 soon afterward.

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7]	49
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	34
US Country Songs (Billboard)[9]	1

Certifications

Country	Certifications (sales thresholds)
United States [10]	Gold

Preceded by "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" by Chris Young

Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one single 31 October 2009

Succeeded by "Toes" by Zac Brown Band

References

1. ^ "Search results for "Only You Can Love Me This Way"". BMI. http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=9016600&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Interview With Steve McEwan", HitQuarters, 18 January 2010.
3. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (30 March 2009). "Defying Gravity review". Slant. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1695. Retrieved 2009-07-20. 
4. ^ Seetharam, Tara (9 July 2009). "Defying Gravity review". Country Universe. http://www.countryuniverse.net/2009/07/09/keith-urban-only-you-can-love-me-this-way/. Retrieved 2009-07-20. 
5. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/song/keith-urban/only-you-can-love-me-this-way/12948930
6. ^ Bobby Peacock (23 July 2009). "Keith Urban — "Only You Can Love Me This Way"". Roughstock. http://www.roughstock.com/blog/keith-urban-only-you-can-love-me-this-way-. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
7. ^ "Keith Urban Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Keith Urban. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
8. ^ "Keith Urban Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Keith Urban. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
9. ^ "Keith Urban Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Country Songs for Keith Urban. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
10. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=9&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=on&before=on&startMonth=1&endMonth=11&startYear=2010&endYear=2010&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50