It’s kind of wild to think about now, but Jordan Davis wasn’t even supposed to be a "singer." Back in 2016, he was just another songwriter in Nashville trying to get a publishing deal. He was bartending at night, writing all day, and basically just hoping someone would record his stuff. Then came a fishing trip, a little too much whiskey, and a weird phrase that eventually turned into Jordan Davis Singles You Up.
You know the song. It’s that breezy, slightly "bro-country" anthem about waiting in the wings for a girl to realize her boyfriend is a total dud. It’s catchy. It’s a little bit cheeky. And honestly? It changed the entire trajectory of modern country radio when it hit the airwaves in 2017.
Why Jordan Davis Singles You Up Is Actually a Compliment (Sort Of)
The term "single you up" sounds like something you’d hear at a frat party, but the origin story is actually pretty wholesome. Jordan was in a writing session with Steven Dale Jones and Justin Ebach. Justin had just gotten engaged, and as they were congratulating him, someone—history is a bit fuzzy on exactly who—blurted out that he was smart not to "single her up."
They stopped.
They looked at each other.
In the world of Nashville songwriting, a phrase like that is gold. It’s a hook waiting to happen. They wrote the thing in about an hour and a half.
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The vibe of the song is pretty straightforward: a guy is watching a girl he likes from across the room. She’s with a guy who clearly doesn't appreciate her. He’s "sippin' white wine instead of whiskey" and he's "a little more city" than she is. The narrator is basically saying, "Look, if he ever messes this up and leaves you single, I’m first in line."
It's a "waiting-my-turn" anthem.
Breaking Down the Stats
If you want to talk about impact, this wasn't just a minor hit. It was a juggernaut.
- Chart Success: It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in April 2018.
- Sales Power: As of early 2025, the RIAA has certified it 4x Platinum. That’s four million units. For a debut single? That’s unheard of.
- International Reach: It didn't just stay in the States. It went 2x Platinum in Australia and 4x Platinum in Canada.
People connected with it because it felt relatable. Everyone has been that person—or known that person—who is stuck in a relationship that’s just... fine. Not great. Just okay. And there’s always someone else thinking, Man, I could do so much better.
The Video, the Firebird, and the Desert
The music video for Jordan Davis Singles You Up adds a whole other layer to the vibe. Directed by Eric Ryan Anderson, they shot the whole thing out in the deserts of El Paso, Texas. It’s got this vintage, road-trip feel that matches the "tech-tinged" production of the track.
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In the video, Jordan basically "rescues" the girl from a guy who’s more interested in his phone than her. They hop into a vintage Pontiac Firebird and just drive. It’s a classic Nashville trope—the girl choosing the "real" country guy over the city slicker—but it worked.
Interestingly, critics weren't all on board at first. Some bloggers, like the folks at Kyle’s Korner, actually hated it. They called it "creepy" and "shallow." They thought it ignored the woman's agency. But the fans? The fans didn't care. They loved the internal rhyme and the easygoing singalong nature of the chorus.
From Songwriter to Superstars
Success like this usually ruins an artist. They get a No. 1 right out of the gate and then vanish. But Jordan Davis didn't. He used the momentum from "Singles You Up" to build a massive career. If you look at his trajectory, he went from this poppy, beat-driven debut to more "grown-up" songs like "Buy Dirt" with Luke Bryan and "Next Thing You Know."
He’s admitted recently that "Singles You Up" feels a little "dumb" compared to his newer, more personal writing on albums like Bluebird Days or his 2025 release Learn the Hard Way. But he also knows he wouldn't be playing sold-out shows in London or Nashville without that "dumb" hit.
What You Can Learn from the "Singles You Up" Phenomenon
If you’re a songwriter or just a fan of the genre, there’s a few things to take away from how this song blew up:
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- Listen for the "Noodle": That's what writers call a weird phrase that sticks. "Single you up" wasn't a real phrase until they made it one.
- Production Matters: Paul DiGiovanni (who was actually the guitarist for the pop-punk band Boys Like Girls) produced the track. He brought a snap and a polish that country radio was craving in 2017.
- Timing is Everything: The "boyfriend country" era was just starting to peak. Jordan hit the sweet spot between being a "nice guy" and a "bad boy."
Honestly, it’s one of those songs that defines a specific era of country music. It’s the sound of summer 2017/2018. Whether you think it’s a bit stalker-ish or just a cute "what if" scenario, you can’t deny it’s a masterclass in hook-writing.
If you want to really appreciate the craft, go back and listen to the "stripped" version. It takes away all the electronic drums and the slick layers, leaving just the lyrics. You can hear the Louisiana influence in his voice a lot better there.
The next time you’re out and see a couple that clearly doesn't belong together, you’ll probably have that chorus stuck in your head. That’s the power of a good hook. It’s simple, it’s catchy, and it’s very, very successful.
To dig deeper into the evolution of Jordan's sound, you should check out the "Buy Dirt" collaboration or his live acoustic sessions. Seeing the jump from the "Firebird" days to his more recent, family-oriented storytelling shows just how far a single lucky phrase can take a guy from Shreveport.