# Something Like That

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Something_Like_That
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Something_Like_That.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_Like_That
> Source revision: 1310141669
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

"**Something Like That**" is a song written by Rick Ferrell and [Keith Follesé](/source/Keith_Folles%C3%A9) and recorded by American [country music](/source/Country_music) artist [Tim McGraw](/source/Tim_McGraw). It was released in June 1999 as the second single from McGraw's album *[A Place in the Sun](/source/A_Place_in_the_Sun_(Tim_McGraw_album))*. The song reached number one on the US *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now [Hot Country Songs](/source/Hot_Country_Songs)) chart, and peaked at number 28 on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100).

## Background

"Something Like That" shares songwriting credits between Rick Ferrell and [Keith Follesé](/source/Keith_Folles%C3%A9), two [Nashville](/source/Nashville) lyricists. Ferrell first developed the song based on his memories of going to the local [county fair](/source/County_fair) in his youth in [Ohio](/source/Ohio). He worked on the song for some time, stumbling upon its central piano melody, before joining forces with Follesé, who added details.[1] An original [demo](/source/Demo_(music)) of the song was included on the 2010 compilation *The Original Songwriter Demos Volumes 1 & 2*.[2]

The song recounts the narrator's youthful experience of falling in love for the very first time at age seventeen. The man is enthralled by a woman at a county fair on [Labor Day](/source/Labor_Day) weekend, and then five years later, sees her on a plane, while the man is heading to [Mardi Gras](/source/Mardi_Gras). The bridge talks about how a love can never go away no matter how long the two people are apart. The song has also been known as "BBQ Stain" due to its memorable chorus hook: "I had a barbecue stain on my white t-shirt".[3]

## Commercial performance

According to Ferrell, the song was not initially slated to be a single. He stated in an interview that McGraw was adamant to his label, Curb Records, to issue the song: "Tim kind of forced their hand on it," he said.[1] Curb first serviced the song to radio in May 1999.[4] According to [Nielsen BDS](/source/Nielsen_BDS), the song was the top-played radio single in any musical genre in the 2000s with 487,343 spins from January 1, 2000, to December 17, 2009.[4]

## Critical reception

Natalie Nichols, writing for the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*, called it "a breezy recollection of young love" with "clever turns of phrase."[5] Ed Masley of *[The Arizona Republic](/source/The_Arizona_Republic)* called the song "feel-good" and reminiscent of the work of [Tom Petty](/source/Tom_Petty).[6] Kevin John Coyne of *Country Universe* gave the song an A grade, saying that "through its vivid, detail-laden approach, the lyric effectively hones [*sic*] in on the fact that the experience of one's first love is, in itself, unforgettable." He also states that the point of the song "is driven home by a sprightly piano hook, toe-tapping rhythm, and wildly catchy singalong-friendly chorus – a one-two punch that helps the record make an impression both as a great lyric and as a fun, catchy listen."[7]

In 2024, *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)* ranked the song at number 110 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time list.[8]

## Other versions

In September 2020, McGraw released a stripped-down acoustic version of the song. McGraw also revealed, around the time of the release of this version, that it is one of his favorite songs to play live.[9] He also performed this rendition live on the [CBS](/source/CBS) special *United We Sing: A Grammy Salute to the Unsung Heroes*.[10] The next year, the song was covered by singer-songwriter Alex Melton in a [pop punk](/source/Pop_punk) style, featuring vocals from [Ryan Scott Graham](/source/Ryan_Scott_Graham) of the band [State Champs](/source/State_Champs).[11]

## Charts

"Something Like That" re-entered the U.S. *Billboard* Hot Country Singles & Tracks as an official single at number 68 for the week of July 3, 1999.

Chart (1999) Peak position

### Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[12] 20 US Country Songs (Billboard)[13] 13

Chart (2000) Position US Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 52

## References

1. Vaughn, Grace Lenehan (August 4, 2022). ["'Something Like That': The Story Behind Tim McGraw's Nostalgic Ode to Summer Love"](https://www.wideopencountry.com/something-like-that/). *Wide Open Country*. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. LeMay, Joseph (September 20, 2010). ["Coming Soon: Country's Biggest Hits, In Demo Form"](https://americansongwriter.com/coming-soon-countrys-biggest-hits-in-demo-form/). *American Songwriter*. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. Corrigan, Tom (June 11, 2018). ["Downtown dream"](https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/29536/downtown-dream). *Portsmouth Daily Times*. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. ["Tim McGraw Has Most-Played Single of the Decade - News"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221116223653/https://www.cmt.com/news/10vvwp/tim-mcgraw-has-most-played-single-of-the-decade). *CMT*. December 23, 2009. Archived from [the original](https://www.cmt.com/news/10vvwp/tim-mcgraw-has-most-played-single-of-the-decade) on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. ["Dixie Chicks Fill Wide Open Spaces"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-05-ca-53047-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. July 5, 1999. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. Masley, Ed (June 16, 2015). ["25 best Tim McGraw songs ever made (so far)"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/06/16/tim-mcgraw-best-songs-playlist-essential/28782033/). *The Arizona Republic*. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. [CountryUniverse.net](http://www.countryuniverse.net/2012/04/18/retro-single-review-tim-mcgraw-something-like-that/) Song review

1. ["The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-country-songs-1234986540/tim-mcgraw-something-like-that-1235015149/). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. May 24, 2014.

1. Bonaguro, Alison (September 30, 2020). ["You've Never Heard Tim McGraw's "Something Like That" Like This - News"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221116222147/https://www.cmt.com/news/wy4wfq/youve-never-heard-tim-mcgraws-something-like-that-like-this). *CMT*. Archived from [the original](https://www.cmt.com/news/wy4wfq/youve-never-heard-tim-mcgraws-something-like-that-like-this) on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. ["Tim McGraw Shares Touching Performance of ‘Something Like That’ for ‘United We Sing’ Special: Watch"](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/tim-mcgraw-something-like-that-united-we-sing-special-9406499/). *Billboard*. June 22, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. Rogers, Jack (October 18, 2022). ["Alex Melton Announces Debut Album 'Southern Charm'"](https://rocksound.tv/news/alex-melton-announced-debut-album-southern-charm). *Rock Sound*. Retrieved November 16, 2022.

1. ["RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1999"](http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.9956&type=1&interval=24). *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. December 13, 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.

1. ["Best of 1999: Country Songs"](http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/hot-country-songs). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. [Prometheus Global Media](/source/Prometheus_Global_Media). 1999. Retrieved August 25, 2012.

1. ["Best of 2000: Country Songs"](http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/hot-country-songs). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. [Prometheus Global Media](/source/Prometheus_Global_Media). 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2012.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Something Like That](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_Like_That) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_Like_That?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.