Changed (song)

"Changed" is a song recorded by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It was released in December 2012 as the third single from their eighth studio album of the same name. The song was written by Gary LeVox, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher.[1] It was released to country radio on December 17, 2012 and AC and Christian AC radio on January 22, 2013.[2][3]

"Changed"
Single by Rascal Flatts
from the album Changed
Released	December 17, 2012
Genre	Christian country
Length	4:22
Label	Big Machine
Songwriter(s)	Gary LeVox Wendell Mobley Neil Thrasher
Producer(s)	Dann Huff Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts singles chronology
"Come Wake Me Up" (2012) "Changed" (2012) "Sunrise" (2013)

History

The song came about from a true story told by the co-writer Neil Thrasher after his daughter was baptized on the beach. Thrasher shared the story of his daughter's baptism with Rascal Flatts lead vocalist Gary LeVox, and presented him with some lyrics that he had written about it. He sang the lines to LeVox, who finished the song with him and Wendell Mobley at LeVox's farm.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Taste of Country	[4]
Roughstock	(favorable)[5]
Country Universe	(B)[6]

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song four and a half stars out of five, writing that "sonically, the soaring ballad has all of the hallmarks of a choice Rascal Flatts song."[4] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song a favorable review, calling it "a lyrically strong song about giving up the past transgressions for a better path."[5] Tara Seetharam of Country Universe gave the song a B, calling it "an earnest and relatively restrained performance and has legs."[6]

Music videos

A live music video, directed by Shaun Silva, premiered in November 2012.[7] It was cut from their DVD, All Access & Uncovered: The Making of Changed and Beyond. The official music video, directed by Carl Diebold, premiered in April 2013.[8] The official video stars Chip Esten.[9]

Chart performance

"Changed" debuted at number 52 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of January 5, 2013.[10] It also debuted at number 48 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of January 26, 2013.[11] As of the chart dated February 2, 2013, the song debuted at number 26 on the U.S. Billboard Christian Songs chart. This makes Rascal Flatts' first appearance on that chart. It also debuted at number 73 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 54 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of March 31, 2012. As of the chart dated March 2, 2013, the song debuted at number 29 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart. This is Rascal Flatts' first appearance on that chart. It peaked at number 20 on Country Airplay and number 25 on Hot Country Songs.

Chart (2012–13)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12]	54
Canada Country (Billboard)[13]	43
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	73
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[15]	21
US Hot Christian Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	19
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[16]	20
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17]	25

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)	Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[18]	89
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[19]	75

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[20]	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

List of radio and release dates with formats and record labels

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States	December 17, 2012	Country radio	Big Machine Records
	January 22, 2013	Christian AC radio
		AC radio

References

1. Wyland, Sarah (January 22, 2013). "Rascal Flatts Share Story Behind "Changed"". Great American Country. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2013-01-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2013-01-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. Dukes, Billy (November 30, 2012). "Rascal Flatts, 'Changed' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
5. Bjorke, Matt (November 30, 2012). "The Weekly Single Recap: November 30: Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood and More". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
6. Seetharam, Tara (April 11, 2013). "Single Reviews Round-Up: Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw ft. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, & Kip Moore". Country Universe. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
7. "CMT : Videos : Rascal Flatts : Changed". Country Music Television. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
8. "CMT : Videos : Rascal Flatts : Changed". Country Music Television. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
9. Duvall, Erin (April 3, 2013). "Rascal Flatts 'Changed' Video Stars 'Nashville' Actor Charles Esten". The Boot. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
10. "Country Airplay Week of January 5, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
11. "Country Songs Week of January 26, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
12. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
13. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
14. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
15. "Chart Highlights: Phillip Phillips Finds His 'Home' Atop AC Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
16. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
17. "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
18. "Billboard Country Update for December 16, 2013" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 16, 2013. p. 21. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
19. "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
20. "American single certifications – Rascal Flatts – Changed". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 21, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.