Songoftheday 4/25/24 - Becky was a beauty from South Alabama, her daddy had a heart like a nine pound hammer...

 

 

"What Was I Thinkin'" - Dierks Bentley

from the album Dierks Bentley (2003)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #22 (two weeks)

Weeks in the Top-40: 10

 

Today's song comes from country music singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley, who despite the genre he pursued a music career, had an "un-redneck" upbringing, from fairly well-to-do parents in his birthplace of Arizona (fun fact: his real first name is Fred) to his prep-school stint in New Jersey (down the road from my own high school nonetheless). He eventually graduated college in Nashville, and was signed to Capitol Nashville Records. His self-titled debut album came out in the summer of 2003, preceded by the single "What Was I Thinkin'". Written by Bentley with Brett Beavers and Deric Ruttan. the uptempo number is a comic look at a man risking the wrath of a father to date a pretty woman. And she's instigating him into getting into all sorts of trouble. The production pits the raucous pacing with minor key flourishes as he questions his own actions. The plot of course is perfect for a music video, so it follows the script pretty well. And with the two-step friendly neo-country and Dierks dubious twang to his smoky voice he found himself with his first hit out of the gate...

"What Was I Thinkin" spent a week at #1 on Billboard magazine's Country Songs airplay chart, and crossed over to the top-40 on their Hot 100 all-genre list in September of 2003. His debut set Dierks Bentley came in at #26 on the Billboard 200 sales tally, and #4 on the Country Albums list, spending two whole years on the latter and going on to sell over a million copies. 

The second single from the album, the more serious ballad "My Last Name", stopped at #17 on the Country Songs chart and only "bubbled under" the Hot 100 at #102. But Dierks regained momentum with the follow-up, "How Am I Doin'", which brought back his affable comic charm to western swing. That single made it to #4 on the Country Songs chart, and at least made it halfway up the Hot 100 at #49.

Dierks will be back to the series.

(7/10)

Here's Bentley performing the song for an online gig for Fender guitars in 2010...

and lastly, on his Crossroads episode on CMT where he also talks about the song...

Up tomorrow: This vocal powerhouse won't be stopped.