Need You Now Wins Big At Grammys

The first time I heard "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum in the summer of 2009, I knew it was going to be a Country Hit!  However, I never imagined it would be one of the biggest pop records of the past year.  Not only did it win the 2011 Best Country Song of the Year and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammys, it also nabbed Best Song of the Year and Best Record of the Year, out of all formats. 

The competition in an all-genre category and what it takes to promote a song so that everyone in the world knows it, is a rare combination of luck and talent.  In my opinion, just to be considered as a nominee in this category is a major win for any career.  Lady Antebellum won a tough race in this all-genre category against Eminem, Cee-Lo Green, Ray LaMontagne, and Miranda Lambert for Song of the Year (an award that goes to the songwriter).  Then,  they did it again!  The trio came out on top again for Record Of The Year against singles by B.O.B featuring Bruno Mars, Eminem and Rihanna, Cee-Lo Green, and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (an award that goes to the artist and producer).

The song was fueled by an infectious melody that you just couldn't get out of your head.  Add two voices that blended together like two ex-lovers.  Then top it off with lyrics that painted the picture of loneliness, regret, and pleading for the return of a lost love.  How could this song not be a winner with Country Music fans?  After the song hit Number One on the Billboard Country Music Charts in late 2009, pop radio embraced the song in 2010.  The song exploded all over the world, getting airplay in countries like Norway, Japan, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Canada where it hit the top 10 on all of their respective charts.  In the United States the song peaked at Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Charts and Number One on the Adult Contemporary Charts.  There are very few songs in the history of Country Music that have seen such mult-genre and multi-nation success.

In addition to Grammy gold, The Country Music Association voted the song Single of the Year in 2010 and The Academy of Country Music showered the tune with Song and Single of the Year.

So, why does it seem that everyone in the world loves this song?  It's quite catchy, but it's not just the irresistible chorus that makes this one stand out.  I think it's because of the fact that we've all loved and lost.  No matter where you are in the world or what kind of music you like, this song can reach out to the feelings that every human has felt at one point in life.  Some of us have woken up in the middle of the night at quarter after one after seeing an old love in a dream, some of us stay out drinking till quarter after one trying to find the same feeling we had with our ex, and some of might think of that best friend we lost at quarter after one in the afternoon.

"Need You Now" is just one of those rare songs with a universal message to help us heel a broken heart and remind ourselves that we're not alone.

Click here to see all the Country Music Grammy Winners from the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards February 13, 2011