Beautiful Drug
2015 single by Zac Brown Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Beautiful Drug" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album, Jekyll + Hyde, on September 21, 2015.[1] The song was written by Zac Brown and Niko Moon.
| "Beautiful Drug" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Zac Brown Band | ||||
| from the album Jekyll + Hyde | ||||
| Released | September 21, 2015[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:11[2] | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | Zac Brown, Niko Moon | |||
| Producer | In the Arena Productions | |||
| Zac Brown Band singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
On February 14, 2024, it was announced that the late Swedish DJ Avicii's remix of the song would be released on February 16, 2024.[3]
Critical reception
In his review of the album, Carl Wilson of Billboard gave the song a mixed review, saying that "The "beware who enter" sign is hung by the opener, "Beautiful Drug," which doesn't just flirt with top 40 EDM but checks it into a cheap motel for a quickie. The affair is brisk and forgettable, and soon gives way to more comfy MOR and gospel-rock cuts, but notice has been served."[4] A review from Taste of Country was favorable, saying that "it's the most left-of-center single Zac Brown Band have ever released, which translates to their biggest risk. One gets a sense that this band is pretty comfortable at the edges of the format. It's the secret all but the most casual fan was aware of already anyway" and "Not all will [love it], as ZBB employ more effects than ever. But the song's relentless energy will convert most quickly."[5]
Commercial performance
The song first entered the Hot Country Songs chart on the album release at No. 45 for chart dated May 16, 2015, selling 5,400 copies.[6] It debuted on the Country Airplay chart at No. 54 for chart dated September 26, 2015, Billboard Hot 100 at No. 95 for chart dated November 21, 2015, and re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 48 on October 10, 2015. The band performed the song at the 2015 CMA Awards on November 4, 2015,[7] which prompted 21,000 downloads for the week,[8] and the song then debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 95. The song has sold 412,000 copies in the US as of May 2016.[9]
Personnel
From Jekyll + Hyde liner notes.[10]
- Coy Bowles – electric guitar
- Zac Brown – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, programming
- Clay Cook – background vocals, electric guitar
- Jimmy DeMartini – background vocals, violin
- Chris Fryar – drums
- John Driskell Hopkins – background vocals, baritone guitar
- Matt Mangano – bass guitar, acoustic guitar
- Niko Moon – background vocals
- Daniel de los Reyes – percussion
- Ben Simonetti – programming
Avicii remix
| "Beautiful Drug" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remix by Avicii & Zac Brown Band | ||||
| Released | February 16, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 (Original version)
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
| Label | No Reserve | |||
| Producer | Avicii | |||
| Avicii chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Zac Brown Band - Beautiful Drug (feat. Avicii) - Remix" on YouTube | ||||
In February 2024, vocalist Zac Brown announced the release of remix of "Beautiful Drug" by Swedish DJ Avicii.[11]
Background
Zac Brown and Avicii had previously collaborated on the track "Broken Arrows" for the latter's Stories album. In return for this collaboration, Avicii promised to remix one of Zac Brown's songs, ultimately choosing "Beautiful Drug."
Brown revealed that the song "had been locked away in the vault for a long time." Avicii worked on the remix between 2016 and 2017, but it was never released by the DJ himself. Instead, it was posthumously made available by Zac Brown.[12]
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2015–2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[13] | 68 |
| Canada Country (Billboard)[14] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 52 |
| US Country Airplay (Billboard)[16] | 1 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] | 5 |
Year end charts
Beautiful Drug Remix
| Chart | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| US Dance/Electronic Songs[20] | 48 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[21] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||