"Options" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter

Cameron Whitcomb Cameron Whitcomb is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Nanaimo, British Columbia. He competed on American Idol season 20, season 20 of reality television show ''American Idol''. He is currently signed to Atlantic Records. Whitcomb has charted i ...

. He wrote the track with Cal Shapiro,

Nolan Sipe Nolan Sipe is an American songwriter and record producer. He is the son of the Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a m ...

, and Jack Riley, the latter of whom produced it. The song is the title track for an extended play of the same name.

Background

In an interview, Whitcomb stated the idea for the song came to him from a dream he had been having "for a long time" after he got sober. The dream involved him remaining sober for ten years, then taking a private jet to the

Yukon Yukon () is a Provinces and territories of Canada, territory of Canada, bordering British Columbia to the south, the Northwest Territories to the east, the Beaufort Sea to the north, and the U.S. state of Alaska to the west. It is Canada’s we ...

, bringing

whisky Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from Fermentation in food processing, fermented grain mashing, mash. Various grains (which may be Malting, malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, Maize, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky ...

and

cocaine Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...

, and "

etting Etting (; ; Lorraine Franconian: ''Ettinge'') is a commune in the Moselle department of the Grand Est administrative region in north-eastern France. The village belongs to the Pays de Bitche. See also * Communes of the Moselle department ...

weird" for a week. He remarked, "I'll never do it, but the idea that I'm in control, and the idea that what my life will be whatever I make it, is a big reason why I'm able to stay sober. Having these options instead of feeling like you’re trapped. I get to be sober. I get to make these choices". Whitcomb said the song's lyrics " aintthis picture of exactly showing up to that cabin way out in the Yukon".

Critical reception

Rosie Long Decter of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

Canada'' called "Options" an "energetic

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

anthem" that is "supported by powerful backing vocals that lift hitcombup along the way". Derrick Rossignol stated that the song is "a dynamic track that fans of

Mumford & Sons Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums), Ted Dwane (vocals, double bass, bass guitar), and Ben Lovett (British musician), B ...

and

Zach Bryan Zachary Lane Bryan (born April 2, 1996) is an American country singer-songwriter and rock musician from Oologah, Oklahoma. After two self-produced studio albums—''DeAnn'' (2019) and '' Elisabeth'' (2020)—he signed with Warner Records to ...

should enjoy". Victoria Goodwin of ''Melodic Magazine'' opined that, "for those who have struggled with addiction or know someone who has, Whitcomb’s willingness to be so vulnerable about the shadows of his past while standing firm in his present is what makes this song so powerful".

Track listing

Digital download – single # "Options" – 2:49 Digital download – EP # "Options" – 2:49 # "

Medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; ), also called Gorgo () or the Gorgon, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in place of hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her wa ...

" – 2:37 # " Hundred Mile High" – 2:52 # " Quitter" – 2:41

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2025 songs Atlantic Records singles Cameron Whitcomb songs Songs written by Cameron Whitcomb Songs written by Nolan Sipe