Riot (Rascal Flatts song)

"Riot" is a song written by Jaron Boyer and Sara Haze, and recorded by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It is the third single from their 2014 album Rewind.

"Riot"
Single by Rascal Flatts
from the album Rewind
ReleasedNovember 24, 2014 (2014-11-24)
GenreCountry pop, pop
Length3:50
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)Jaron Boyer, Sara Haze
Producer(s)Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts singles chronology
"Payback"
(2014)		 "Riot"
(2014)		 "I Like the Sound of That"
(2015)

Content

The song is a "pleading ballad replete with piano, strings and Gary LeVox's tender tenor and gentle vibrato".[1] In it, the narrator pleads that his lover not leave him, saying that "there would be a riot" should she do so.[2]

Critical reception

Giving it an "A", Tammy Ragusa of Country Weekly wrote that "A well-written lyric…gives a simple twist as Gary, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney add their full band and harmonies in the verses and soar through the choruses, building to a crescendo that will leave you breathless when it drops back to just Gary's ethereal vocal, piano and strings."[1] Taste of Country also favorably reviewed the song, saying that "Sonically, ‘Riot’ is complex and beautiful, playing to the strengths of each band member perfectly ... The guitar riffs and crescendoing instrumentation create a soaring sound, while the soft cello underneath provides the foundation for a track that will play just as well in intimate acoustic settings as it will in the huge arenas Rascal Flatts play on a regular basis."[2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Brian Lazzaro and premiered in April 2015.[3]

Chart performance

The song has sold 201,000 copies in the US as of August 2015.[4]

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 2
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[6] 20
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 27

Year-end charts
Chart (2015) Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[8] 78
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 76

References
  1. Ragusa, Tammy (9 March 2015). "Reviews: Rascal Flatts – 'Riot'". Country Weekly. 22 (10): 67. ISSN 1074-3235.
  2. "Rascal Flatts, 'Riot' [Listen]". Taste of Country. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  3. "CMT : Videos : Rascal Flatts : Riot". Country Music Television. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  4. Matt Bjorke (August 11, 2015). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: August 11, 2015".
  5. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  7. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  8. "Billboard Country Update for December 14, 2015" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 14, 2015. p. 7. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  9. "Best of 2015: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
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