Strip It Down

"Strip It Down"
Single by Luke Bryan
from the album Kill the Lights
Released	August 4, 2015
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2015
Genre	Bro-country R&B
Length	4:02
Label	Capitol Nashville
Writer(s)	Luke Bryan Jon Nite Ross Copperman
Producer(s)	Jeff Stevens Jody Stevens
Luke Bryan singles chronology
"Kick the Dust Up" (2015) "Strip It Down" (2015) "Home Alone Tonight" (2015)

"Strip It Down" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It was first released to digital retailers as the first promotional single from his fifth studio album, Kill the Lights (2015), on July 17, 2015 and was released to radio on August 4, 2015 as the album's second official single.^[1][2][3] The song was written by Bryan, Jon Nite and Ross Copperman, and produced by Jeff and Jody Stevens.

Critical reception

Leeann Ward, reviewing the song for Country Universe, rated the song a D+, saying that "Luke Bryan’s “Strip It Down” is just another in a long string of his own singles that has been stripped of any country elements. The only aspects of the song that keep it from being a straight up pop single is its arbitrary reference to cowboy boots and that Bryan’s interesting but thin voice has more nasal than a typical pop singer’s voice."^[4]

Website Taste of Country was more favorable, saying that "“Kick the Dust Up” was a new take on a well-tested sound for Bryan. More of the same from this new album would have signaled a career on a plateau. “Strip It Down” ensures this two-time Entertainer of the Year’s career remains on the rise."^[5]

Commercial performance

Based on pre-order downloads for Kill The Lights in advance of the album's release, the song debuted at No. 19 on the Hot Country Songs chart, No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at No. 5 on the Country Digital Songs chart, selling 44,000 copies.^[6] The song has sold 779,000 copies in the US as of February 2016.^[7]

Music video

A lyric video for the song was uploaded to Bryan's Vevo account on July 17, 2015 in conjunction with the song's digital debut.^[8] The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and premiered in October 2015.^[9]

Chart performance

Chart (2015–16)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10]	48
Canada Country (Billboard)[11]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	30
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13]	1
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[14]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)	Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[15]	51
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16]	12

References

1. "Luke Bryan Premieres New Sexy Country Jam "Strip It Down": Listen". DirectLyrics. July 18, 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
2. Vinson, Christina (August 4, 2015). "Hear Luke Bryan's Newest Single, 'Strip It Down'". The Boot (Townsquare Media). Retrieved 7 August 2015.
3. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 3, 2015. p. 8. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
4. "Single Review: Luke Bryan, “Strip it Down”". Country Universe. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
5. "Luke Bryan, ‘Strip It Down’ [Listen]". Taste of Country. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
6. Matt Bjorke (July 28, 2015). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: July 28, 2015".
7. Bjorke, Matt (February 16, 2016). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: February 16, 2016".
8. LukeBryanVEVO (July 17, 2015). "Luke Bryan - Strip It Down (Lyric Video)". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
9. "Strip It Down – Luke Bryan". Vevo. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
10. "Luke Bryan – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Luke Bryan.
11. "Luke Bryan – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Luke Bryan.
12. "Luke Bryan – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Luke Bryan.
13. "Luke Bryan – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Luke Bryan.
14. "Luke Bryan – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Luke Bryan.
15. "Best of 2015: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
16. "Best of 2015: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.