Simple Life (Carolyn Dawn Johnson song) explained

"Simple Life" is a song by Canadian country music singer-songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson, recorded for her second studio album Dress Rehearsal (2004). Despite being a successful songwriter, this is the only song on the album where Johnson does not have a writer's credit and is the first song recorded by Johnson to not be written by her, with the track instead being written by songwriters Troy Verges, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, and Hillary Lindsey, with production being handled by Johnson and Dann Huff. The song was released on November 24, 2003, to country radio via Arista Nashville as the lead single from Dress Rehearsal. It received the Single of the Year and CMT Video of the Year awards at the 2004 Canadian CMA Awards.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the production has an "earthy, organic feel, infused with dobro, mandolin and some tasty guitar work." She calls Johnson's voice "effervescent" and "full of passion and verve."^[2]

Music video

Steven Goldmann directed the video for "Simple Life". The video shows Johnson in Hollywood, Los Angeles, which intercuts to scenes of the singer in a house in a rural area. Johnson's husband, Matt Fisher, is featured in the music video as a policeman.^[3] The video first debuted to Great American Country (GAC) on March 14, 2004.^[4] The video was then released to Country Music Television (CMT) on March 21, 2004.^[5]

Charts

"Simple Life" debuted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of November 29, 2003.

Weekly charts

Chart (2003–2004)	Peak position
Canada Country (Radio & Records)[6]	14
US Country Top 50 (Radio & Records)[7]	13

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[8]	49
US Country (Radio & Records)[9]	62

Notes and References

1. Going for Adds: Country. Radio & Records. 25. November 21, 2003. 1531.
2. Billboard, December 6, 2003, Vol. 115, No. 49, Page 36.
3. News: February 7, 2005 . Ask American Profile . September 23, 2024 . Grayson County News-Gazette . 2 . Google Books.
4. March 27, 2004 . Video Monitor: New Ons . September 23, 2024 . . . 60 . . 116 . 13 . 0006-2510.
5. April 3, 2004 . Video Monitor: New Ons . September 23, 2024 . . . 74 . . 116 . 14 . 0006-2510.
6. R&R Canada Country Top 30. Radio & Records. 48. April 16, 2004. 1551.
7. R&R Country Top 50. Radio & Records. 45. May 7, 2004. 1554.
8. Best of 2004: Country Songs . . . 2004. July 11, 2012.
9. Web site: Radio & Records 2004 Year-End Chart. Pop Radio Top 20. September 23, 2024.