Compass (Lady Antebellum song)

"Compass" is a song recorded by American country music group Lady Antebellum. The song was written by members of the pop/R&B production team Stargate, and was produced by Nathan Chapman and Lady A. It was released as the third overall single from the group's fifth studio album, Golden, on October 1, 2013 by Capitol Records Nashville, and is included on the deluxe edition re-issue of the album, and it features lead vocals from both Scott and Kelley.

"Compass"
Single by Lady Antebellum
from the album Golden
ReleasedOctober 14, 2013 (2013-10-14)
GenreCountry folk
Length3:04
LabelCapitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lady Antebellum singles chronology
"Goodbye Town"
(2013)		 "Compass"
(2013)		 "Bartender"
(2014)

In 2015, the song was used in the E3 world reveal trailer for the upcoming 2016 theme park simulation video game "Planet Coaster", which is being developed by Frontier Developments.[1][2]

Background and composition

After the May 2013 release of Golden, Lady A took a short break before returning to the studio to continue working on new music, rather than immediately going on tour to promote the album.[1] The band came across the song "Compass" and felt so passionate about it that, despite not having a project to record it for and it coming from outside their Nashville comfort zone, they decided to record. "From the minute we first heard it," group member Hillary Scott explained to Billboard, "we believed in the message and the overall feel of the song. We knew we could put our own little overall spin on it. We had to have the fans hear it – immediately."[2] Scott also elaborated on the sonic departure of the song from the group's previous recordings, stating that the prevalent banjo and fiddle in "Compass" were missing from their repertoire and country music as a whole,[2] and credited the song with "reinvigorating" the band creatively and inspiring them to pursue new musical directions.[1]

"Compass" is an uptempo song influenced by country music, folk music and bluegrass. It is composed in the key of C major, and features banjo and mandolin prominently.[3][4]

Critical reception

Matt Bjorke of Roughstock described "Compass" as an "easily likable song" unlike anything else on country radio, with some of the best lyrics in recent country music releases and an "infectious, percussive and melodic melody". He also noted its potential to be the group's biggest crossover hit since "Need You Now".[5] Taste of Country compared the bluegrass-inspired sound of the song to the music of Mumford and Sons, while praising "Compass" for being a "burst of positive energy... that relies on traditional country instruments" and suggested that the song could pave the way for bluegrass music's acceptance into the mainstream.[4]

Music video

The music video was directed by Peter Zavadil and premiered in December 2013.[6]

Chart performance

The song has sold 546,000 copies in the US as of April 2014.[7]

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 51
Canada Country (Billboard)[9] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 46
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 6

Year-end charts
Chart (2014) Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[13] 35
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 41

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[15] Gold 40,000*
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Country Date Format
Canada October 1, 2013[17] Digital download
United States
United States October 14, 2013[18] Radio airplay

References
  1. Blistein, Jon (September 30, 2013). "Lady Antebellum Share New Single 'Compass'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  2. Dauphin, Chuck (September 30, 2013). "Lady Antebellum Point to 'Compass' as New Single". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. "Lady Antebellum "Compass" Sheet Music". MusicNotes.com. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  4. "Lady Antebellum, 'Compass' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  5. Bjorke, Matt (Oct 1, 2013). "Single Review: Lady Antebellum - Compass". Roughstock. Cheri Media. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  6. "CMT : Videos : Lady Antebellum : Compass". Country Music Television. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  7. Matt Bjorke (April 9, 2014). "Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - April 9, 2014: Play It Again as Luke Hits #1, FGL #2, Hunter Hayes and Justin Moore Earn AcM Boosts". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 11, 2014.
  8. "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  10. "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  12. "Lady Antebellum Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  13. "Best of 2014: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. "Best of 2014: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  15. "Canadian single certifications – Lady Antebellum – Compass". Music Canada. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  16. "American single certifications – Lady Antebellum – Compass". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 21, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  17. "Compass - Single by Lady Antebellum". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  18. "(R)R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio and Records. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
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