I Hate Love Songs

"I Hate Love Songs" is a song recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini for her second studio album, Unapologetically (2017). Ballerini co-wrote the track with Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen. The song was released to American country radio on March 12, 2018, serving as the second single for the album.[1]

"I Hate Love Songs"
Single by Kelsea Ballerini
from the album Unapologetically
Released	March 12, 2018
Genre	Country pop doo-wop
Length	3:11
Label	Black River
Songwriter(s)	Kelsea Ballerini Shane McAnally Trevor Rosen
Producer(s)	Forest Glen Whitehead Jason Massey
Kelsea Ballerini singles chronology
"Legends" (2017) "I Hate Love Songs" (2018) "This Feeling" (2018)

"I Hate Love Songs" has reached number 25 on the Billboard Country Airplay and number 28 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Content

"I Hate Love Songs" is a doo-wop-inspired country pop song that speaks of Ballerini's distaste for romantic lyrical clichés.[2][3][4] Critics noted the 1950s influence on the song's sound and the way in which it continues a trend in country music for blending "classic soul melodies" with "sing-a-long worthy" lyrical arrangements.[2][5] The song's rhyme scheme and Ballerini's delivery have been compared to nursery rhymes.[6]

The song was originally not going to be recorded for the album, but after receiving a standing ovation for her performance of it at the Grand Ole Opry in August 2017, Ballerini and her label, Black River Entertainment decided to include "I Hate Love Songs" on the record.[7] "I called my label," Ballerini told Sounds Like Nashville, "and I was like, 'I think we need to cut this song.'"[7]

Music video

The music video was directed by Chris Hicky and premiered on CMT, GAC and Vevo in June 2018.

Commercial performance

Upon the release of Unapologetically, "I Hate Love Songs" sold 10,000 copies and entered the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart dated November 25, 2017 at number 13.[8] It concurrently debuted at number 39 on the Hot Country Songs chart.[9] After it was announced as a single, "I Hate Love Songs" entered the Country Airplay chart at number 59.[10] It reached a peak position of number 25,[11] becoming the first single of Ballerini's career to miss the top three on the Country Airplay chart as well as the second to miss number one. The song has sold 94,000 copies in the United States as of September 2018.[12]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018) Peak position Scotland (OCC)[13] 79 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[14] 25 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 25 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] 28

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] 73

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17]	Gold	500,000 / 94,000[12]

References

1. "Single Releases : MusicRow". MusicRow. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
2. Reuter, Annie (February 14, 2018). "Is Kelsea Ballerini's 'I Hate Love Songs' a Hit? Listen Here". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
3. Savage, Mark (November 2, 2017). "Meet the singer Taylor Swift calls 'little sis'". BBC. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
4. Gage, Jeff (March 9, 2018). "10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Ashley McBryde, Del McCoury". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
5. Bjorke, Matt (November 2, 2017). "Album Review: Kelsea Ballerini - "Unapologetically"". Roughstock. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
6. Dukes, Billy (November 1, 2017). "Does Kelsea Ballerini Really Hate Love Songs?". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
7. Reuter, Annie (July 12, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini: The Cover Story". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
8. Bjorke, Matt (November 15, 2017). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: November 14, 2017". Roughstock. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
9. "Hot Country Songs: The Week Of November 25, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
10. "Country Airplay: The Week Of March 10, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
11. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
12. Bjorke, Matt (September 5, 2018). "The Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: September 5, 2018". RoughStock. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
14. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
15. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
16. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
17. "American single certifications – Kelsea Ballerini – I Hate Love Songs". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 14, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.