Only Prettier

"Only Prettier"
Single by Miranda Lambert
from the album Revolution
Released	July 26, 2010
Format	Music download
Genre	Country
Length	3:09
Label	Columbia Nashville
Writer(s)	Natalie Hemby Miranda Lambert
Producer	Frank Liddell Mike Wrucke
Certification	Gold (RIAA)[1]
Miranda Lambert singles chronology
"The House That Built Me" (2010) "Only Prettier" (2010) "Heart Like Mine" (2011)
Music video "Only Prettier" at CMT.com

"Only Prettier" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country artist Miranda Lambert. It was released in July 2010 as the fourth single from her third studio album, Revolution. In December 2010, it reached a peak of number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving Lambert her seventh Top 20 hit.

Content

"Only Prettier" is an up-tempo song in the key of A♭ major backed by electric and steel guitars and percussion. The song's female narrator, a typical rough-and-rowdy country girl, finds herself facing off with a stereotypical model-thin city girl ("I got a mouth like a sailor and yours is more like a Hallmark card"). Although the song's verses find the narrator describing the differences between the two, she offers in the chorus that the two actually have quite a lot in common ("You got your friends, just like I got mine") and that they should put their differences aside ("So let's shake hands and reach across those party lines"). Though, she gets the last word in, stating that "[country girls are] just like you, only prettier."

Lambert relates to the song as her own anthem: "It’s antagonistic in a fun way, and I loved the attitude behind it. It kind of fools you, because it’s got this really country, laid-back intro, but then it’s balls-to-the-wall the rest of the way. It’s so much fun!"^[2]

Co-writer Natalie Hemby told The Boot that she and Lambert wanted the song to be "clever." She referred to the lyrics as being like "a smack in the face, but you don't realize it. It's like wait ... did you just insult me?"^[3]

Reception

Blake Boldt of The 9513 gave the song a thumbs up, complimenting that "once again, Lambert has bent the iron-clad rules of radio to bring us sharp material like this." He also commented that the "cleverness of her performance makes up for the clumsiness of the production."^[4] Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B+ rating, comparing it to Lambert's own "Dry Town" and complimenting the lyrics and vocals. However, he was not as impressed with the production, in which he felt "thrashing guitars drown out the steel guitar and come close to overshadowing a great vocal performance from Lambert."^[5]

Music video

The music video for "Only Prettier" was directed by Trey Fanjoy and filmed in Joelton, Tennessee in June 2010,^[6] and premiered on VEVO on August 3, 2010.^[7] It features a 1950s theme and cameo appearances by fellow country artists Kellie Pickler, Laura Bell Bundy, and Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum. In the video, Lambert and her friends portray two rival cliques attending a high school sock hop.^[2] The alter-egos are shown doing things such as spiking the punch, stuffing their bras and smoking. Ultimately, the alter-egos have a bad time at the party, while Lambert, Pickler, Bundy and Scott enjoy themselves the entire night. Additionally, Lambert is also shown performing with her band on stage at the event.

Chart performance

"Only Prettier" debuted at number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 17, 2010. After spending 24 weeks on the chart, it reached a peak of number 12 for the week of December 25, 2010.

Chart (2010)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	61
US Country Songs (Billboard)[9]	12

References

1. ^ "American single certifications – Miranda Lambert – Only Prettier". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Only+Prettier%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
2. ^ ^{a b} Peter Cronin (June 24, 2010). "New Single, New Video For Miranda Lambert". Music Row. http://www.musicrow.com/2010/06/new-single-new-video-for-miranda-lambert/. 
3. ^ Conaway, Alanna (27 August 2010). "Miranda Lambert, 'Only Prettier' -- Story Behind the Lyrics". The Boot. http://www.theboot.com/2010/08/27/miranda-lambert-only-prettier-lyrics/. Retrieved 28 August 2010. 
4. ^ Boldt, Blake (2010-07-06). "Miranda Lambert – “Only Prettier”". The 9513. http://www.the9513.com/miranda-lambert-only-prettier/. Retrieved 2010-07-06. 
5. ^ Coyne, Kevin J (2010-06-26). "Single Review: Miranda Lambert, “Only Prettier”". Country Universe. http://www.countryuniverse.net/2010/06/26/single-review-miranda-lambert-only-prettier/. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
6. ^ http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1642337/miranda-lambert-releasing-only-prettier-as-next-single-video.jhtml?rsspartner=rssMozilla
7. ^ http://www.mirandalambert.com/news/article.php?article=232
8. ^ "Miranda Lambert Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Miranda Lambert. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
9. ^ "Miranda Lambert Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Country Songs for Miranda Lambert. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 29, 2011.