Yesterday's Song

"Yesterday's Song" is a song written by Hunter Hayes, Barry Dean, and Martin Johnson about the "emotional shift" that occurs when someone important to you ceases to be a part of your life.[3] The song's hook compares this person to a song that Hayes used to play "on repeat" but who is now "just an echo where the feeling is gone."[3] According to Hayes, the song represents a "joyous realization that you're moving on and starting this fresh, new chapter."[4] Musically, it is a country song with rock influences and features prominent guitar work, performed by Hayes.[5] The track employs a wall of sound approach to its production.[5] Hayes co-produced the song with long-term collaborator Dann Huff.

Hayes released three then-new songs ("Yesterday's Song", "Amen", and "Young Blood") to his SoundCloud page on his 25th birthday: September 9, 2016. The songs were available to stream for a limited time before they were pulled.[6] On the writing process behind the songs, Hayes said that "this is the first time I've really been able to kind of step back from [the pressure of releasing new music] and just let my instincts and creativity flow."[4]

All three songs were then released to digital retailers and Spotify on September 23, 2016 through Atlantic Records (in the United States) and Warner Music Group (internationally).[1][7] "Yesterday's Song" was selected as an official single and was sent to American country radio stations on October 3, 2016 through Warner Bros. Records and Warner Music Nashville.[4] It officially impacted the format on October 24, 2016.[2]

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country praised the song's fun nature and catchy hook, writing, "there’s some new spontaneity that results in a less perfect, but more enjoyable first single."[5]

"Yesterday's Song" sold 6,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 29 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.[8] This resulted in the song entering the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated October 15, 2016 at number 43.[9] "Yesterday's Song" debuted at number 57 on the Country Airplay chart dated November 12, 2016.[10]

In Canada, "Yesterday's Song" did not enter the Canadian Hot 100, but did chart at number 37 on the Canadian Digital Song Sales component chart dated October 15, 2016.[11]

The song's music video was directed by Ryan Hamblin and finds Hayes reflecting on his musical journey.[12] It premiered March 27, 2017 through Travel + Leisure.[13] The video begins with Hayes finding a shattered disco ball in an abandoned building, which leads him to a giant replica where photos and video clips from earlier stages of his career play on the mirrors.[12][14] Inside, he is surrounded by faceless women and a "suit-wearing captor" with disco balls in place of their heads.[14] At the end of the video, Hayes runs across a field and jumps into a floating mirror. According to Hayes, the imagery and references to previous videos represent "not letting your past determine who you always will be."[13]

Hayes debuted the song at a benefit concert hosted in Nashville, Tennessee for the 2016 Louisiana floods, which took place September 13, 2016.[15]