{{Infobox song | name = How Not To | cover = Dan and Shay - How Not To (single cover).jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Dan + Shay | album = Obsessed | released = {{start date|2016|09|26}} | recorded = 2015 | studio = Ocean Waves Studios (Nashville, Tennessee) | venue = | genre = Country | length = {{duration|m=3|s=13}} | label = Warner Bros. Nashville | writer = {{hlist|Adam Hambrick|Paul DiGiovanni|Kevin Bard}} | producer = {{hlist|Dan Smyers|Scott Hendricks}} | prev_title = From the Ground Up | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = Road Trippin' | next_year = 2017 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|SMXOPi2iHSY|"How Not To"}}}} }}
"'''How Not To'''" is a song recorded by American country music duo Dan + Shay for their second studio album, ''Obsessed'' (2016). Written by Adam Hambrick, Paul DiGiovanni, and Kevin Bard, the song is one of only two tracks on the album not co-written by Dan and Shay.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Obsessed - Dan + Shay {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/obsessed-mw0002940668|website=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|accessdate=October 4, 2016}}</ref> A mid-tempo country ballad, the song is about the struggle to move on from a breakup, only for those emotions about the former lover to come back. It was released to country radio September 26, 2016 through Warner Bros. Nashville as the album's second single.<ref>{{cite web|title=Future Release for Country Radio Stations|url=http://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases|publisher=All Access Media Group|accessdate=October 4, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914072608/http://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases|archivedate=September 14, 2016}}</ref> The song received positive reviews from critics, who generally praised the duo's vocal performances.
"How Not To" gave the duo their third consecutive number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' Country Airplay chart. It also peaked at numbers 7 and 57 on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. The song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 158,000 copies as of July 2017. It also charted in Canada, reaching number 25 on the Canada Country chart. Two music videos were made for the song: an "instant grat" where a couple performs an interpretive dance that symbolizes the story from the track, and an official one where actors Katie Stevens and Pierson Fodé portray recovering alcoholics falling in love with each other.
==Composition== "How Not To" is a country music song written by Adam Hambrick, Paul DiGiovanni, and Kevin Bard and produced by Dan Smyers and Scott Hendricks. It is a midtempo ballad with melodic verses that build into a bigger chorus and is instrumented by piano and electric guitar.<ref name="taste of country">{{cite news|author1=Taste of Country Staff|title=Dan + Shay, 'How Not To' [Listen]|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/dan-shay-how-not-to/|accessdate=4 October 2016|work=Taste of Country|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=September 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name="sounds nashville">{{cite news|last1=Reuter|first1=Annie|title=Album Review: Dan + Shay's 'Obsessed'|url=http://www.soundslikenashville.com/reviews/album-review-dan-shays-obsessed/|accessdate=4 October 2016|work=Sounds Like Nashville|publisher=Spin Media|date=May 30, 2016}}</ref> The song's hook is accentuated by a "melodic lift."<ref name="taste of country"/> The lyrics describe the difficulty of moving on after a breakup when the narrator's emotions keep drawing him back to that person.<ref name="the boot">{{cite news|last1=Carr|first1=Courtney|title=Dan + Shay Drop 'How Not To' as Their Next Single [LISTEN]|url=http://theboot.com/dan-and-shay-how-not-to/|accessdate=October 4, 2016|work=The Boot|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>
==Critical reception== In a review of ''Obsessed'', Annie Reuter of ''Sounds Like Nashville'' wrote that "their ability to translate the emotion in a song they didn’t write like 'How Not To' is the sign of a true artist," and described the song as "poignant."<ref name="sounds nashville"/> The staff of country music blog ''Taste of Country'' praised the vocal performances on the song and called it a likely hit. "Dan + Shay aren't really breaking any new musical ground here," they write, "but wow, do they sound sweet not doing it."<ref name="taste of country"/>
==Commercial performance== "How Not To" was the most-added new single on country radio the week of its impact.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bjorke|first1=Matt|title=Dan + Shay Drop Gauntlet With New Single "How Not To"|url=http://roughstock.com/news/2016/09/40885-dan-shay-drop-gauntlet-with-new-single-how-not-to|accessdate=4 October 2016|work=Roughstock|publisher=Cheri Media|date=September 28, 2016}}</ref> The song debuted at number 59 on the ''Billboard'' Country Airplay chart dated October 15, 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Country Airplay: The Week of October 15, 2016|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-airplay/2016-10-15|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=February 2, 2017}}</ref> It reached number one on the chart dated July 1, 2017.<ref name="Country Airplay"/> "How Not To" debuted at number 50 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated October 29, 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hot Country Songs: The Week of October 29, 2016|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/2016-10-29|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=February 2, 2017}}</ref> It reached a peak of 7 on the chart dated July 1, 2017.<ref name="Country Songs"/> The song has sold 158,000 copies in the US as of July 2017.<ref name="SoundScan">{{cite news|url=http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-7-06-17.pdf|title=Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 7/6/2017|publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808081251/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-7-06-17.pdf|archivedate=August 8, 2017}}</ref>
==Music video== An "instant grat" video accompanying the song was uploaded to the duo's official YouTube channel on May 20, 2016 in promotion of the song's then-upcoming parent album.<ref>{{cite web|author1=DanAndShay|title=Dan + Shay - How Not To (Instant Grat Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdiHbV0qmIw|website=YouTube|accessdate=4 October 2016|format=video|date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> It features a couple (Lily Molina<ref>{{Cite web|url=movement-agency.com/sites/default/files/talent/resume/Lily%20Molina%20MTA%20Resume.pdf|title=Lily Molina MTA Resume|website=The Movement Talent Agency|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref> and Jesse Pattison) engaged in an interpretive dance that is meant to symbolize the break-up story told in the lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cerny|first1=Summer|title=Dan + Shay Release A Powerful Video For "How Not To" - Watch Here|url=http://www.whiskeyriff.com/2016/05/25/dan-shay-release-a-powerful-video-for-how-not-to-watch-here/|website=Whiskey Riff|publisher=Momentum Media|accessdate=October 4, 2016|date=May 25, 2016}}</ref>
The official music video for the song was directed by Patrick Tracy and premiered January 16, 2017.<ref name="rolling stone video">{{cite magazine|last1=Freeman|first1=Jon|title=Watch Dan + Shay's Intense 'How Not To' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/videos/watch-dan-shays-intense-how-not-to-video-w461414|accessdate=February 2, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> Starring Katie Stevens and Pierson Fodé as recovering alcoholics Sophie and Noah, respectively, the video follows the pair as they succumb to self-destructive behavior and fall in love on their journey back to sobriety.<ref name="radio.com video">{{cite news|last1=Wicks|first1=Amanda|title=Dan + Shay Tackle Addiction in 'How Not To' Video|url=http://radio.com/2017/01/17/dan-shay-how-not-to-video/|accessdate=February 2, 2017|work=Radio.com|publisher=CBS Corporation|date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> The video begins with an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, where the pair first meet and bond.<ref name="ToC video">{{cite news|last1=Reuter|first1=Annie|title=Dan + Shay Strike a Chord With Powerful 'How Not To' Video [Video]|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/dan-shay-how-not-to-video/|accessdate=February 2, 2017|work=Taste of Country|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> Most of the video is framed as a flashback, showing how their addiction got the best of each of them and began negatively affecting their day-to-day life.<ref name="radio.com video"/><ref name="ToC video"/> Towards the end, the video shows a one-year sober party for the couple, who celebrate their recovery with a gathering of friends, including Dan and Shay.<ref name="rolling stone video"/><ref name="nash video">{{cite news|last1=Konicki|first1=Lisa|title=Dan + Shay Release Powerful New Video for "How Not To"|url=http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2017/01/18/dan-shay-release-powerful-new-video-for-how-not-to/|accessdate=February 2, 2017|work=Nash Country Weekly|publisher=American Media, Inc.|date=January 18, 2017}}</ref> According to Amanda Wicks of Radio.com, the clip "[looks] at how love can save lives;"<ref name="radio.com video"/> critics also noted a more "serious" tone compared to the duo's previous videos and praised the video's storyline for imbuing "new meaning" into the lyrics beyond simple relationship drama.<ref name="rolling stone video"/><ref name="ToC video"/><ref name="nash video"/>
==Live performances== The duo appeared on an episode of ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' on September 29, 2016 and performed the song.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Moss|first1=Marissa R.|title=See Dan and Shay's Dynamic 'How Not To' on 'Kimmel'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/videos/see-dan-and-shays-dynamic-how-not-to-on-kimmel-w442704|accessdate=4 October 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>
==Charts and certifications== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! Chart (2016–2017) ! Peak <br> position |- {{singlechart|Billboardcanadacountry|25|artist=Dan + Shay|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 13, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|57|artist=Dan + Shay|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardcountryairplay|1|artist=Dan + Shay|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2017|refname="Country Airplay"}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|7|artist=Dan + Shay|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2017|refname="Country Songs"}} |}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2017) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Country Airplay<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/country-airplay-songs|title=Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 18, 2017}}</ref> | 21 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 18, 2017}}</ref> | 26 |- |}
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===Certifications=== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Dan + Shay|title=How Not To|relyear=2016|certyear=2023|access-date=August 21, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Dan + Shay|title=How Not To|relyear=2016|relmonth=9|certyear=2019|digital=true}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}} {{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Dan + Shay}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2016 songs Category:2016 singles Category:Country ballads Category:2010s ballads Category:Dan + Shay songs Category:Warner Records Nashville singles Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Hendricks Category:Songs written by Adam Hambrick