1994 (song)

This article is about the Jason Aldean song. For other songs, see 1994 (disambiguation).

2013 single by Jason Aldean

"1994"

Single by Jason Aldean
from the album  Night Train
Released| March 11, 2013
Recorded| 2012
Genre| Country
Length|

* 4:03 (album version)
* 2:52 (radio edit)

Label| Broken Bow
Songwriter(s)|

* Thomas Rhett
* Luke Laird
* Barry Dean

Producer(s)| Michael Knox
Jason Aldean singles chronology
| "The Only Way I Know"
(2012)  | "1994"
(2013)  | "Night Train"
(2013)

|
|

"1994" is a song written by Thomas Rhett, Luke Laird, and Barry Dean and recorded by American country music artist Jason Aldean. It was released in March 2013 as the third single from Aldean's 2012 album Night Train. A tribute to Joe Diffie referencing many of his songs, the song has received mixed reviews from music critics. The song peaked at numbers 10 and 14 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts respectively. It also reached number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over 500,000 units in that country. It garnered similar chart success in Canada, reaching number 18 on the Country chart and number 65 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Wes Edwards.

## Content

[edit]

The song, a tribute to Joe Diffie, refers to many of his songs: "Third Rock from the Sun", "John Deere Green", "Ships That Don't Come In", "Honky Tonk Attitude", "Pickup Man", "So Help Me Girl", "A Night to Remember", and "C-O-U-N-T-R-Y".

Upon being sent a copy of the song by Billboard, Diffie said, "What else can you say but what an honor it is to have the larger part of a song reference songs of mine. To think all of Jason's fans will be chanting my name… pretty dang cool." He also praised Aldean's overall musical styles, saying that Aldean is "pushing the envelope."[1]

## Critical reception

[edit]

The song has received mixed reviews from music critics. Tammy Ragusa of Country Weekly gave it a B+ grade, saying that it "serves to further his penchant for upping the musical ante," also praising the musical arrangement and calling the song "pure fun."[2] In her review of Night Train, Jewly Hight of American Songwriter said that the song was "as ridiculous, and fun, a song as Aldean’s ever done."[3]

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song a one-star review, saying that "Aldean’s recording would lead one to believe 1994 was a watershed year in country music. It wasn't."[4] Ben Foster of Country Universe gave the song an F grade, saying that its lyrics "comprise little more than a hodgepodge of radio-baiting backwoods clichés" and "are so haphazardly thrown together that’s it’s hard to tell what the song is even meant to be about."[5]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video was directed by Wes Edwards and premiered on CMT on March 25, 2013. The music video starts off with two women going into a coin-operated photo booth. When they put in a coin, the song begins. The music video features country music artists Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Hayden Panettiere, co-writer Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, and Jake Owen and has scenes of Aldean performing at a barn party.

## Chart performance

[edit]

"1994" debuted at number 42 on the Billboard Country Songs chart for the week ending of March 9, 2013. On the Country Airplay chart for the week ending of March 2, 2013, it debuted at number 60. It also debuted at number 93 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of March 30, 2013. It also debuted at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of April 13, 2013. It peaked at number 14 on the Country Airplay chart dated May 4, 2013, making it Aldean's first single to miss the top 10 since 2008's "Relentless" and the second-lowest-peaking single of his career.

## Track listing

[edit]

US CD singleNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "1994" (Radio Edit)| 2:52
2.| "1994" (Album Version)| 4:01
3.| "1994" (Suggested Callout Research Hook)| 0:13
Total length:| 7:05

## Charts and certifications

[edit]

### Charts

[edit]

| Chart (2013)  | Peak
position

|

Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] | 65
Canada Country (Billboard)[7] | 18
US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 52
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 10
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[10] | 14

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (2013)  | Position

|

US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] | 74
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] | 53

### Certifications

[edit]

| Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[13] | Gold  | 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "'Hey, Joe Diffie!' Jason Aldean Gives '90s Star a Shout on New Album". Billboard. 20 September 2012.
2. ^ Ragusa, Tammy (April 1, 2013). "Reviews: Jason Aldean — '1994'". Country Weekly. 20 (13): 51. ISSN 1074-3235.
3. ^ "Jason Aldean: Night Train". 24 October 2012.
4. ^ "Jason Aldean, '1994' – Song Review". Taste of Country. 19 February 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
5. ^ "Single Review: Jason Aldean, "1994"". 21 February 2013.
6. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
7. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
8. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
9. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
10. ^ "Jason Aldean Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
11. ^ "Billboard Country Update for December 16, 2013" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 16, 2013. p. 21\. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
12. ^ "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
13. ^ "American single certifications – Jason Aldean – 1994". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Jason Aldean

Discography

Studio albums|

* Jason Aldean
* Relentless
* Wide Open
* My Kinda Party
* Night Train
* Old Boots, New Dirt
* They Don't Know
* Rearview Town
* 9
* Macon, Georgia
* Highway Desperado

Singles|

* "Hicktown"
* "Why"
* "Amarillo Sky"
* "Johnny Cash"
* "Laughed Until We Cried"
* "Relentless"
* "She's Country"
* "Big Green Tractor"
* "The Truth"
* "Crazy Town"
* "My Kinda Party"
* "Don't You Wanna Stay"
* "Dirt Road Anthem"
* "Tattoos on This Town"
* "Fly Over States"
* "Take a Little Ride"
* "The Only Way I Know"
* "1994"
* "Night Train"
* "When She Says Baby"
* "Burnin' It Down"
* "Just Gettin' Started"
* "Tonight Looks Good on You"
* "Gonna Know We Were Here"
* "Lights Come On"
* "A Little More Summertime"
* "Any Ol' Barstool"
* "They Don't Know"
* "You Make It Easy"
* "Drowns the Whiskey"
* "Girl Like You"
* "Rearview Town"
* "We Back"
* "Got What I Got"
* "Blame It on You"
* "If I Didn't Love You"
* "Trouble with a Heartbreak"
* "That's What Tequila Does"
* "Try That in a Small Town"
* "Let Your Boys Be Country"

Guest singles|

* "Drivin' Around Song"
* "Straight to Hell"
* "Forever Country"
* "Friends Like That"

DVDs|

* Wide Open Live & More

Concert tours|

* 2013 Night Train Tour
* Burn It Down Tour
* We Were Here Tour

Related articles|

* 2017 Las Vegas shooting

* v
* t
* e

Thomas Rhett

Discography

Studio albums|

* It Goes Like This (2013)
* Tangled Up (2015)
* Life Changes (2017)
* Center Point Road (2019)
* Country Again: Side A (2021)
* Where We Started (2022)
* About a Woman (2024)

Compilations|

* 20 Number Ones (2023)

EPs|

* Thomas Rhett (2012)
* Merry Christmas, Y'all (2022)

Singles|

* "Something to Do with My Hands"
* "Beer with Jesus"
* "It Goes Like This"
* "Get Me Some of That"
* "Make Me Wanna"
* "Crash and Burn"
* "Die a Happy Man"
* "T-Shirt"
* "Vacation"
* "Star of the Show"
* "Craving You"
* "Unforgettable"
* "Marry Me"
* "Life Changes"
* "Sixteen"
* "Look What God Gave Her"
* "Remember You Young"
* "Beer Can't Fix"
* "Be a Light"
* "What's Your Country Song"
* "Country Again"
* "Slow Down Summer"
* "Half of Me"
* "Angels (Don't Always Have Wings)"
* "Talking to Jesus"
* "Mamaw's House"
* "Beautiful as You"

Featured singles|

* "Small Town Throwdown"
* "Goodbye Summer"
* "God Who Listens"
* "Thank You Lord"
* "Praise the Lord"

Promotional singles|

* "Leave Right Now"
* "Death Row"

Written singles|

* "1994"
* "Parking Lot Party"
* "Round Here"
* "Think a Little Less"
* "Ring on Every Finger"
* "Some People Do"
* "She Had Me at Heads Carolina"
* "Stars Like Confetti"

Tours|

* Very Hot Summer Tour
* Center Point Road Tour

Related articles|

* Rhett Akins

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