Every No. 1 Single of the 2000s: Alan Jackson, “Remember When”

“Remember When”

Alan Jackson

Written by Alan Jackson

Radio & Records

#1 (3 weeks)

January 30 – February 13,  2004

Billboard

#1 (2 weeks)

February 7 – February 14, 2004

This decade is all about managing the brand.

The nineties stars that transitioned most effectively into the aughts were able to double down on a clear public image that courted a particular demographic.

This happened in the nineties too, with Alan Jackson playing his “new traditionalist who reveres the legends and curses Urban Cowboy country” role so well that George Jones himself, country music’s most legendary “old man yelling at clouds,” was cameoing in Jackson’s music videos only a year after he broke through at radio.

But it became much more blatant and obvious with the new decade. It’s easy to forget that before 9/11, Jackson’s commercial fortunes were on the decline. He’d launched a studio set with a song called “www.memory,” and his most notable pop culture impact was storming off the CMA Awards show mid-song, a gift from the future old man yelling at clouds to the current one stewing at home.

Then “Where Were You” happened, and Jackson was teed up for post-9/11 genre deity, a status that came to pass fairly quickly. A key part of this was his musical mea culpa “Remember When,” an anniversary ballad that directly addressed the publicly exposed infidelity that was the only blemish on Jackson’s otherwise spotless public persona.

And because he’s Alan Jackson, he did it with a pretty damn flawless song that directly acknowledges his infidelity, yet somehow still works perfectly as an anniversary song for a husband who actually kept his vows. My own father loved it, though there was no bumping “Look at Us” out of the winner’s circle for my parents.

Generally speaking, I’m not interested in the personal lives of artists and celebrity doesn’t interest me much either. Even when I’ve interviewed my favorite artists, it’s come from a place of respect for their talent, not an interest in them as celebrities or in anything about their private life.

I also don’t place a big value on confessional songwriting. I love it when it’s done well, but I feel the same way about perfectly crafted pop music that has no connection to a real life experience. I just like it when music is good.

But I really couldn’t write about this song without going into the background because part of the songs impact rests on the public knowledge of their marriage. The song would hit different if we didn’t know about it.

That’s what makes it both a great anniversary song and the most brilliant public image rehabilitation a country artist pulled off since George was saved by Nancy.

“Remember When” gets an A.

Every No. 1 Single of the 2000s

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