"Someone Somewhere Tonight" is a song co-written and recorded by Walt Wilkins for his 2005 album, ''Mustang Island''. Since then it has been covered by several artists including

Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted m ...

for his 2006 album, '' Water & Bridges'',

Pam Tillis Pamela Yvonne Tillis (born July 24, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis and ex-wife of songwriter Bob DiPiero. Tillis recorded unsuccessful ...

for her 2007 album, '' RhineStoned'', and by Dutch artist Mark Blomsteel (who first recorded it in 2012, but later released it as single from his 2019 album, ''Burning Old Bridges''). In 2013, the song was recorded by

Kellie Pickler Kellie Dawn Pickler (born June 28, 1986) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and television personality. Pickler gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of ''American Idol'' and finished in sixth place. In 2006, she signed ...

and was released as the first single from her fourth studio album, '' The Woman I Am''. Pickler's version peaked at number 49 on the '' Billboard'' Country Airplay chart in 2013.

Content

The song's lyrics contemplate what different things people in the world are experiencing at the same time, contrasting between good and bad scenarios (such as someone tasting their first kiss versus someone suffering with

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...

). It is performed from the perspective of a narrator singing to their significant other, and requesting in the chorus that they just lie down together and be still. Kellie Pickler told ''Country Weekly'' that she felt " tis such a special song and is honestly my favorite song that I've ever cut and released to country radio. It's so real and it's so true, and it means something and I think people need to hear it." Pickler also connected with the song because of her husband, saying that "for me, my greatest treasure is my best friend and my best friend is my husband. And every night I get to go home to a good man. I think for the people out there that have yet to discover their soul mate and that significant other, that hasn’t found that best friend yet, I want to give them hope that that is possible."

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews. Matt Bjorke of ''Roughstock'' awarded the song five stars out of five, favorably saying that "poetic lyrics are lovingly performed over a burning, emotive melody with Pickler showcasing why she's such an engaging vocalist, the kind of vocalist who was born to sing songs like "Someone Somewhere Tonight." Billy Dukes, writing for ''Taste of Country'', gave the song four-and-a-half stars out of five. He praised the song's continuation of the sonic direction of '' 100 Proof'' and the lyrical structure, while also complimenting Pickler's connection with the song, saying that "her performance is just short of the magical tear-jerking performance one feels coming from the first note, but still amongst the best and most genuine of her career. It’s refreshing to hear her sing from a place of love as opposed to a place of pain as she did early in her career with ballads like ' I Wonder.' The calm that Jacobs helped her find is allowing for her best music yet." ''Rolling Stone'' gave the song three-and-a-half stars out of five, describing it as "a widescreen power ballad with the kind of lyrics – steeped in down-home philosophizin' 'sic''.html" ;"title="sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''">sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''– that can be gruesome in the wrong hands. But here the music is raw and burly, full of shuddering electric guitars, and her big, open-throated singing sells the emotion of every last word."

Music video

The music video for "Someone Somewhere Tonight" was directed by Roman White and premiered on Country Music Television, CMT on July 9, 2013. The video, which shows Pickler dancing a choreographed routine around an empty house with Derek Hough, was inspired by the singer's 2013 appearance on '' Dancing with the Stars'': "It was really neat that we were able to incorporate my passion for singing with my new passion for dancing."

Chart performance

"Someone Somewhere Tonight" debuted at number 57 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Country Airplay chart for the week dated June 15, 2013, and reached a peak of number 49 on the chart in its eighth week.

References

{{Kellie Pickler 2006 songs 2013 singles Kellie Pickler songs Kenny Rogers songs Pam Tillis songs Black River Entertainment singles Song recordings produced by Frank Liddell Music videos directed by Roman White