Tim McGraw – “If You’re Reading This”
I don’t know if Curb plans to send this song to radio as a single, but this live recording from the ACM Awards could climb the country charts based solely on unrecruited spins. I haven’t liked anything that Tim has released since “Live Like You Were Dying,” but “If You’re Reading This” is one of the greatest and most timely recordings of his career. As such, a studio recording deserves an official single release. Some of the power of the ACM performance is lost without the visual element; studio instrumentation and a more polished vocal would elevate this song to the level that it deserves. Still, as live recordings go, this one is close to perfect. Eliminate the crowd noise at the beginning and the end and iron out a few pitch problems and you’re left with something almost transcendent. This is a song that needs to be heard in whatever form it is released. It shouldn’t take much for it to become a career song for an artist assuming legendary status.
Listen: Tim McGraw – “If You’re Reading This”
Watch:
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Trackback URI for this postJune 1, 2007
[...] to pass the results on to Curb Records. Be sure to check out Matt’s review of the song and watch the live performance of Tim McGraw from the ACM [...]
June 12, 2007
[...] Watch the video of McGraw’s live performance on Matt’s review of the song. [...]
44 Comments
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May 23, 2007 at 11:35 am Permalink
I heard it on the radio today.
May 25, 2007 at 12:54 am Permalink
Such This could be a great opportunity to help families of servicmen and women who’ve died or been injured in the current conflicts.
I run a Country music reviews site, and we’re so taken by Tim McGraw’s song that we’ve launched a campaign to have it released as a charity single.
It’s a simple on screen poll, there are no catches, no spyware, and with a little luck, it’ll help persuade Tim M and his people to get the song out there to raise funds for families.
PLEASE: if you like the song, and think it’s a good idea, check out the site and this page specifically.
http://www.coquet-shack.com/cmr-M/McGraw-Tim/If-Youre-Reading…
June 16, 2007 at 12:25 am Permalink
Love this song
June 19, 2007 at 11:02 am Permalink
Great song. Very, very hard to hear for those of us with family members fighting overseas.
June 28, 2007 at 8:07 pm Permalink
I love this song it reminds me of all my family members who are fighting in Iraq right now and how they know what they are fighting for is freedom for the people over seas..God bless all of our troops and for those of you who bad mouth or troops you can kiss my a–…
June 28, 2007 at 8:20 pm Permalink
I just read that Tim McGraw will release “If you are reading this” as a single. I think this is wonderful. I am the “spouse” in the military family and I love songs that make you think. I think people forget who is fighting over there and this makes people stop and remember that they are husbands, wives, sons, daughters, moms and dads and while not everyone supports the war, we need to support each other. These men and women volunteered to be in the military and I love everyone for it. Thank you Tim McGraw for recording such an amazing song.
June 29, 2007 at 9:58 pm Permalink
I love this song, it really makes you think about it, people dont always understand what its like to have loved ones in the military, this give people a perspective. I think this song is hard to listen to the first time, but it makes you appriciate the person you support that much more.
July 2, 2007 at 11:46 am Permalink
Great Song, it’s hard to watch/listen too without crying. God Bless our Troops.
July 7, 2007 at 4:58 pm Permalink
best tim song ever, right from the heart
July 7, 2007 at 5:26 pm Permalink
AWESOME!!! Such a powerful song! I love it and could listen to it over and over again for hours and still cry each time that I heard it.
July 8, 2007 at 11:40 pm Permalink
This is a wonderful and powerful song. My husband is headed to Iraq for a second time and it is very hard to let go. I heard this song for the first time today and I cried. It was hard to listen to with the rode ahead. It hits home for all of us who have someone there fighting and for the families of those who have been there and we have lost. Thank-you Tim. God bless you, our troops and their families.
July 13, 2007 at 10:45 am Permalink
This song is perfect for those who have family and friends in the military overseas. Very powerful and moving.
July 22, 2007 at 8:41 pm Permalink
awesome song.. cant listen with out crying
July 23, 2007 at 10:57 am Permalink
Incredible song. As a veteran of the first gulf war, and having a great friend over there now, in my opinion it is one of the greatest songs ever. How nice for a song to come from a soldiers perspective. Great work TM.
August 1, 2007 at 3:48 pm Permalink
The song is beautiful. As soon as i heard i got all choked up and started to cry. My husband is a vietman vet and he said that he had goose bumps listening to it. Tim MCGRAW is the best there is. Please have this on his next album. God
The song is beautiful. As soon as I heard it i started to cry. My husband is a vet and he was so touched by this song. I would love this song to be on Tim McGraw next album. Tim you did a beautiful job singing this right from the heart. God bless you Tim. God Bless our troops and their loved ones.
August 3, 2007 at 2:51 pm Permalink
Best ever Tim!!!!!
August 3, 2007 at 10:14 pm Permalink
The song is one of the bestI have heard in a long time. Tim sang it from his heart and even had a tear in his eye. He should get performance of the year. He is the greatest male country artist.Hope he will be around for a long time.
August 6, 2007 at 12:11 pm Permalink
I TOO LOVE THIS SONG AND IT SHOULD MAKE EVERYONE THINK.MY SON IS HOME FROM IRAQ SAFELY, BUT I STILL PRAY FOR THE TROOPS ALWAYS.
HEATHER
August 8, 2007 at 4:53 pm Permalink
Love Tim’s New song , would buy it if i could find it out there ! TRuly beautiful work from tim!
August 8, 2007 at 5:02 pm Permalink
Jennifer; It will be on the new pressings of “Let It Go”, Tim’s latest album.
August 8, 2007 at 8:41 pm Permalink
Psst! I checked today and the song is also now on iTunes.
August 11, 2007 at 9:57 am Permalink
This song is a awesome, I really love the lyrics, I am a proud Marine Spouse; And this song is perfect for the military familes. I love you Josh! BE Strong and come home to us.
August 17, 2007 at 10:14 am Permalink
My husband and I love Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I love their duetsand would love for them to have a CD with just the two of them singing to each other. Tim your new song is great. Faith I love you new song “Lost” Keep up the good work.
August 17, 2007 at 11:53 am Permalink
I cry every time I hear this. I’m an “Army Mom” expecting a new grand-daughter in November. Blessedly, my son is on reserve duty in Kansas, but it still hits home.
My heart goes out to all the “Army Moms”not as fortunate as I have been
August 18, 2007 at 3:41 am Permalink
I am an army wife of my husband over there. He left on our oldest daughter”s birthday last year. We need him here!! His name is Tim with 3 little girls
He will not listen to this song
The first time I heard it I was driving and had to pull over.
I love this song but makes me cry every time.
The radio station in Alaska has not played it in day!!
August 19, 2007 at 10:50 am Permalink
I would love to hear more of “If Your Reading This” played on CMT, and Todays Country on tv. Also on the radio. I also love Faith Hills song Lost and you don’t hear that played on the country channels either. I know both songs are now singles. Please
play them more often.
August 20, 2007 at 12:21 am Permalink
Just beautiful!!! I came across this while searching for a song about a husband dying…I lost my husband in April 2007 and I am so sad…. this song came up – it is such a wonderful tribute to our servicemen and women. Tim McGraw has truly touched countless families with this one.
August 24, 2007 at 2:48 pm Permalink
WHY HASN’T THIS SONG ‘IF YOUR READING THIS’ ON ANY OF THE COUNTRY TV CHANNELS? THE SONG IS SUCH AN EMOTIONAL SONG AND I HAVE TALKED TO FRIENDS AND FEEL THE SAME. LET’S HEAR MORE OF THIS SONG ON CMT.
August 31, 2007 at 10:37 am Permalink
I love this song!!!!!My cousin Bradly JUST died from canser cause he smoked alot!!!! It makes me, my mom,brother and sister cry every time we here this!!!! We just love this!!!! It reminds me of him!!!! And my family!!!! We miss him sooooo very much and hope to be happy very soon!!!! We are still crying/ sobing!!!! He was also in the navy or army. We miss him so very much and can’t stop thinking of him and when we all here this song, we all have tears going down our face’s!!!!!!!
Love,
9 year old Mary and family:) P.S. We all miss him sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo very much!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 1, 2007 at 11:15 pm Permalink
this song gives me shivers, i pray for all of the familys of the soldiers especially the ones that have lost sons and daughters overseas, support our troops!
September 5, 2007 at 2:42 am Permalink
Love this song–I actually found the CD at Wal-Mart in my hometown in GA! I also found it on Karaoke CD+G at http://www.acekaraoke.com The song gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it on CMT. Being a Navy Veteran, I know what it is like to be away from my family for years or months at a time. Great going Tim, keep up the good work!!
September 6, 2007 at 10:10 pm Permalink
Why would anyone enjoy a song like this? My fiance is in Iraq and I dread everyday that we could get a letter like this one. I do not understand why everyone is so moved by something so terrible? I love him and support him with my whole heart but death real and so many of us are facing it. Do we really have to hear about it on the radio? It is heart breaking. Thanks Tim for reminding me of my worst fear. We want our troops to come home safely. Not in body bags. And that is what this song is about.
September 6, 2007 at 10:41 pm Permalink
Julia, that’s an interesting alternative perspective that I’m surprised more people haven’t expressed. I also have a family member in Iraq and I think that most military families, despite their fears, realize that casualties are a terrible reality that they have to deal with. They’re touched by the beautiful treatment that this song gives that reality and the fact that it emphasizes the promise of salvation in the face of an event that seems impossibly tragic.
September 11, 2007 at 12:08 pm Permalink
This song means so much to me and my family because this is the first song we heard on Aug.11, 2007 after we got the news my cousin was killed in a car accident. We Love & Miss You Lynette …. I really think this should be Tim’s next release. We call it Lynette’s Song. Thanks Tim …
September 25, 2007 at 8:12 am Permalink
My husband is currently serving in Iraq and when I heard this song it brought tears to my eyes. This is a wonderful song.
October 3, 2007 at 7:37 pm Permalink
THAT SONG MEENS SO MUCH TO A LOT OF SOLDERS AND THERE WIFES THE RADIO STATIONS NEED TO PLAY IT MORE OFTEN
October 6, 2007 at 4:54 pm Permalink
We just laid to rest our beloved soldier,
SFC Matthew D. Blaskowski, KIA 9/23/07 in Afghanistan. My sister is married to his brother. Our hearts are broken. Over 3,000 people came to his funeral in our small town- Cheboygan, Michigan. This song was played as his casket was wheeled into the high school gymnasium where Matt once played basketball. There was not a dry eye in the place as the words resonated everything we were feeling. It is just what Matt would have said if he could. He was laid to rest out on the edge of town… back home where he belongs.
Goodnight, sweetheart. See you in the morning. xoxo
October 9, 2007 at 4:24 pm Permalink
I loved this song!
October 28, 2007 at 3:06 pm Permalink
i love this song it makes me think about the people who fight for us. it makes me cry every once in awhile.
October 30, 2007 at 5:46 pm Permalink
i like it because it helped me understand people die fighting in war. it is such a sad song
November 13, 2007 at 10:09 pm Permalink
What a wonderful tribute to our beloved soldiers and their families- Thumbs up Tim !!
December 19, 2007 at 1:21 pm Permalink
great song even though it brakes my heart we lost our son Clinton Upchurch Jan 7 2006 in Iraq his earthly body is in Arlingoton but he is in Heaven with his Heavenly Father thank you Tim for singing this song
December 25, 2007 at 4:00 pm Permalink
I love this song I always cry at the end. My husband is out to war right now and it is very hardknowing that someone you love can die at anytime. I believe thats why I love this song so much!
April 29, 2009 at 11:33 am Permalink
This is an amazing song. I have looked at a lot of places to try and find it so I can sing it in Karaoke, I found the best place at http://www.loudkaraoke.com They have it in stock so we can sing this amazing piece.
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