Head Over Boots

"Head Over Boots" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jon Pardi. It was released to radio on September 14, 2015, as the lead single to his second album California Sunrise (2016). The song was written by Pardi and Luke Laird.^[1] Its Pardi's first number one hit in his career, topping the Billboard Country Airplay chart. It also peaked at numbers four and 51 on both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. "Head Over Boots" was certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 701,000 copies in that country as of January 2017. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number two on the Canada Country chart and number 64 on the Canadian Hot 100. It was certified Platinum by Music Canada, denoting sales of over 80,000 units in that country. An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Jim Wright, features a band led by Pardi performing for a couple as the former goes through outfit changes and the latter ages as time passes.

"Head Over Boots"
Single by Jon Pardi
from the album California Sunrise
Released	September 14, 2015 (2015-09-14)
Recorded	2015
Genre	Country
Length	3:25
Label	Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Jon Pardi Luke Laird
Producer(s)	Bart Butler Jon Pardi
Jon Pardi singles chronology
"When I've Been Drinkin'" (2014) "Head Over Boots" (2015) "Dirt on My Boots" (2016)

Background

The song was written by Pardi and Luke Laird in January 2015 at Laird's Creative Nation office in Nashville.^[1] According to Pardi, the song was inspired by watching young and old couples dancing in a Texas dance hall, and he wanted to write a song that people could dance to.^[2] The song was produced by Pardi and Bart Butler and recorded at Ocean Way Studios.^[1]

The song has a moderate shuffle tempo in the key of G major, with a main chord pattern of G-D-Em-C-Cm. Pardi's vocals range from E₄ to E₅.^[3]

Reception

Critical

An uncredited review from Taste of Country was favorable, saying that it "immediately separates itself from his previous, mostly party-centric cuts" and that the "swinging feel of 'Head Over Boots' is the song's signature. Lyrically the singer and co-writer Luke Laird don't reinvent the love song."^[4] In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin put "Head Over Boots" at number two on his top 10 list of Pardi's best songs.^[5]

Commercial

"Head Over Boots" first entered the Billboard Country Airplay chart at number 58 dated October 17, 2015 before its official release,^[6] and entered the Hot Country Songs chart two weeks later at number 43.^[7] It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart dated August 27, 2016, which is Pardi's first number-one hit on that chart.^[8] On the Billboard Hot 100, the single debuted at number 97 for the week of March 19, 2016.^[9] It peaked at number 51 the week of August 13, and stayed on the chart for twenty-four weeks.^[10][11] It was certified five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 26, 2023.^[12] The song has sold 701,000 copies in the United States as of January 2017.^[13]

In Canada, it debuted at number 96 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart dated July 2, 2016,^[14] peaking at number 61 on the week of September 3,^[15] and stayed on the chart for thirteen weeks.^[11] The track was certified platinum by Music Canada on November 29, 2016.^[16]

Music video

The music video was directed by Jim Wright and premiered in April 2016.^[17] The video features Jon Pardi fronting a band whose outfit changes through time, from that of an old school honky tonk band to more modern ones, playing music that serves as background to the life of a couple from their courtship to old age.^[18]

Live performance

On July 7, 2016, Pardi performed the song live on NBC's Today.^[19][20]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2015–2016) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 64 Canada Country (Billboard)[22] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[23] 51 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[24] 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[25] 4 Year end charts Chart (2016) Position US Country Airplay (Billboard)[26] 1 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[27] 5

Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales Canada (Music Canada)[16] Platinum 80,000‡ United States (RIAA)[12] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡ / 701,000[13] ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Roland, Tom (September 28, 2015). "Jon Pardi Brings Joy to the Job With Cheery 'Head Over Boots'". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
2. Leigh, Elias (May 9, 2016). "'Head Over Boots' Singer Jon Pardi: 'I'm Helping Country Sound a Little More Country'". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
3. "'Head Over Boots' sheet music". MusicNotes.com. 19 July 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
4. "Jon Pardi, 'Head Over Boots' [Listen]". Taste of Country. September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
5. Dauphin, Chuck (October 1, 2017). "Jon Pardi's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
6. "Country Airplay: October 17, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
7. "Hot Country Songs: October 31, 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
8. Asker, Jim (August 16, 2016). "Jon Pardi's 'Boots' Kicks Up First Country Airplay No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
9. "The Hot 100". Billboard. March 19, 2016. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
10. "The Hot 100". Billboard. August 13, 2016. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
11. "Head Over Boots by Jon Pardi". aCharts.co. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
12. "American single certifications – Jon Pardi – Head Over Boots". Recording Industry Association of America.
13. Bjorke, Matt (January 3, 2017). "Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: January 3, 2017". Roughstock. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
14. "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. July 2, 2016. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
15. "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
16. "Canadian single certifications – Jon Pardi – Head Over Boots". Music Canada.
17. "Head Over Boots – Jon Pardi". Vevo. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
18. Leahey, Andrew (April 12, 2016). "See Jon Pardi's Throwback 'Head Over Boots' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
19. "Jon Pardi performs 'Head Over Boots' live on Today". Today. July 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
20. "Episode 482". Today. July 7, 2016. NBC.
21. "Jon Pardi Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
22. "Jon Pardi Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
23. "Jon Pardi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
24. "Jon Pardi Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
25. "Jon Pardi Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
26. "Country Airplay: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
27. "Hot Country Songs: Year-End 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2016.