"Freaks Like Me" is a song recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

artist

Joe Nichols Joseph Edward Nichols (born November 26, 1976) is an American country music artist. Between 1996 and 2001, he held recording contracts with the Intersound and Giant Records (Warner), Giant labels. In 2002, he signed with Universal South Records, ...

. It was released in September 2015 as his fourth single for Red Bow Records. The song was written by Monty Criswell, Josh Thompson and Lynn Hutton.

Content

The song is a "sturdy mid-tempo anthem" expressing praise for a person who, according to Nichols, "honors tradition and old-fashioned things".

History

Nichols heard the song when working on his second album for Red Bow, but later found out that the song had been on hold for

Justin Moore Justin Cole Moore (born March 30, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. For that label, he has released seven studio albums: his self titled debut in 2009, '' Outla ...

. Upon discovering that Nichols was "passionate" about the song, Moore gave him permission to record it instead.

Critical reception

Giving it a "B+", Tammy Ragusa of ''

Nash Country Weekly ''Country Weekly'' (known as ''Nash Country Weekly'' from 2015–16) was an American magazine about country music. It was in circulation between April 1994 and May 2016. The publisher, Cumulus Media, now maintains the site Nash Country Daily. O ...

'' wrote that the song is "refreshing to those who hanker for something different" and that "Joe's honey-smooth vocals give the tune an almost sleepy feel that contradicts the thumping groove, creating a unique, unapologetic vibe that makes you want to listen again." An uncredited review from ''

Taste of Country Townsquare Media, Inc. (formerly Regent Communications until 2010) is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting wit ...

'' was favorable, saying that the song "is louder and edgier than most of what’s in the veteran’s catalog, but he keeps it country lyrically. Fans will embrace his message and his ironic way of delivering it. He treads along a line that separates coy from cynicism, but never crosses it." Giving it 5 out of 5 stars, Markos Papadatos of ''Digital Journal'' praised the song's "killer electric guitar riffs and infectious melodies and hooks", Nichols' voice, and the lyrical content for "deal ngwith the simple yet important values in life."

Chart performance

The song has peaked at #45 on the

Country Airplay Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States since October 20, 2012, although the magazine also retrospectively recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, through October 13, 2012, ...

chart, becoming his first single to miss the Top 40 in eighteen years.

References

{{authority control 2015 songs 2015 singles Joe Nichols songs Songs written by Monty Criswell Songs written by Josh Thompson (singer) BBR Music Group singles Songs written by Lynn Hutton