Burn Out (Midland song)

"Burn Out" is a song recorded by American country music band Midland. It is the third single from their 2017 debut album On the Rocks. The band's three members, Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy, and Jess Carson, co-wrote the song with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, the latter two of whom co-produced it with Dann Huff.

"Burn Out"
Single by Midland
from the album On the Rocks
Released	April 9, 2018 (2018-04-09)
Genre	Country
Length	3:09
Label	Big Machine
Songwriter(s)	Jess Carson Cameron Duddy Mark Wystrach Shane McAnally Josh Osborne
Producer(s)	Josh Osborne Shane McAnally Dann Huff
Midland singles chronology
"Make a Little" (2017) "Burn Out" (2018) "Mr. Lonely" (2019)

Content

The song is about a male narrator watching a relationship "burn out", comparing it to a cigarette burning itself out. Lead singer Mark Wystrach told the blog Taste of Country that he sees the song as a prequel to their 2017 debut single "Drinkin' Problem", saying that "Burn Out" is "very much in the same landscape. It could tell the story of how the character in 'Drinkin' Problem' could get to that place, as usually is the case through heartache". He also feels that the song draws inspiration from Dean Dillon and Gary Stewart, while also noting the group's prominent vocal harmonies.^[1]

Music video

Directed by TK McKamy,^[2] the video was filmed in one single take at the nightclub Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. Wystrach said that the video, which features him rescuing a female bar patron from a rude customer, takes inspiration from the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy, which itself was filmed partially at Billy Bob's.^[3] Live version was directed by Roger Pistole and premiered on CMT, GAC & Vevo in 2018.

Personnel

From On the Rocks liner notes.^[4]

Musicians

• Jess Carson – acoustic guitar, background vocals
• Cameron Duddy – bass guitar, background vocals
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar
• Dann Huff – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Charlie Judge – keyboards
• Greg Morrow – drums
• Derek Wells – electric guitar
• Mark Wystrach – lead vocals

Technical

• Dann Huff – producer
• David Huff – digital editing
• Steve Marcantonio – recording
• Shane McAnally – producer
• Andrew Mendelson – mastering
• Justin Niebank – mixing
• Josh Osborne – producer
• Chris Small – digital editing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018–2019) Peak position Canada Country (Billboard)[5] 29 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 63 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[7] 3 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 11

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 79 Chart (2019) Position US Country Airplay (Billboard)[10] 42 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 61

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Midland's 'Burn Out' Is a Prequel to 'Drinkin' Problem'". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
2. "Midland – 'Burn Out'". CMT. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
3. "Midland Throw It Back for Retro Cool 'Burn Out' Video [Watch]". Taste of County. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
4. On the Rocks (CD backing card). Midland. Big Machine Records. 2017. BMRML0100H.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. "Midland Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
6. "Midland Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
7. "Midland Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
8. "Midland Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
9. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
10. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
11. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
12. "American single certifications – Midland – Burn Out". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 25, 2021.