Whoever's in New England (song)

"Whoever's in New England"
Single by Reba McEntire
from the album Whoever's in New England
B-side "Can't Stop Now"
Released March 2, 1986
Recorded Fall 1985
Genre Country
Length 3:25
Label MCA Nashville
Writer(s) Kendal Franceschi and Quentin Powers
Producer(s) Jimmy Bowen
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire singles chronology
"Only in My Mind"
(1985)
"Whoever's in New England"
(1986)
"Little Rock"
(1986)

"Whoever's in New England" is a song written by Kendal Franceschi and Quentin Powers, and recorded by American country music entertainer Reba McEntire. It was released in March 1986 as the first single and title track from the album Whoever's in New England. The song was considered one of her signature and breakthrough singles.

Song background

The song was written in the voice of a Southern woman who believes her husband is having an affair during his business trips up north (the video clearly shows him having at least an emotional affair with a coworker), but pledges that she will remain available to him when "whoever's in New England's through with you." [1] The song was inspired by Barry Manilow's 1970s Pop hit, "Weekend in New England". The 2007 Sugarland hit "Stay" was, in turn, inspired by "Whoever's in New England", and tells the story from the perspective of the mistress.

It was a career-making song for McEntire, not least because it was promoted by her first music video. Reaching number one in May 1986, it marked a major breakthrough for her, beginning a string of chart-topping hits that didn't begin to slow down for the next thirteen years. "Little Rock," the follow-up single, also hit number one, as did the Whoever's in New England album, her first LP to be certified platinum. [1]

In 1987, McEntire won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Whoever's in New England", her first Grammy Award. Also thanks in part to the success of the song, McEntire won a number of awards from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music.

Music video

"Whoever's in New England" was McEntire's first music video. The video aired on CMT in 1986 and was quite popular as well. It was filmed in Boston, and featured footage of Boston Common, the Trinity Church, the Hancock Tower and Logan Airport.

Chart positions

Chart (1986) Peak
position
[2] US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 3
Preceded by
"Tomb of the Unknown Love"
by Kenny Rogers
Billboard Hot Country Singles
number one single

May 31, 1986
Succeeded by
"Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
by Ronnie Milsap

References

  1. 1 2 About Reba McEntire's "Whoever's In New England" at Allmusic; retrieved February 3, 2008.
  2. ā†‘ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 225.
  3. ā†‘ "Reba McEntire ā€“ Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Reba McEntire.
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