Last Call (Lee Ann Womack song)
Encyclopedia
"Last Call" is a song written by Erin Enderlin and Shane McAnally
, and recorded by American
country
artist Lee Ann Womack
. It is the lead-off single to Womack's sixth studio album, Call Me Crazy
, which was released in October 2008. In December the song reached the Top 20 on Billboard Country Chart, becoming Womack's first Top 20 hit in three years.
", which refers to the last round of alcohol served before the bar closes for the night.
Allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek called the song " a classic example of what makes Womack such a fascinating and emotionally resonant singer." Country Universe gave it an A rating, and considered that "Last Call" was reminiscent of her 2005 hit, "I May Hate Myself in the Morning". The song received a "thumbs up" review from The 9513 reviewer Brady Vercher, who also compared the song to "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" and said that "although the lyric doesn't accentuate the emotional conflict, Womack's vocal dips with indecision as she delivers a splendid performance." This song was number 52 on Rolling Stone
wrote, "Haunting single “Last Call” is song-of-the-year material on a number of levels: songwriting, vocal performance and production." Chuck Arnold of People Magazine listed the song as a hot download and wrote, "Lee Ann Womack will have you busting out the hankies with the touching breakup ballad "Last Call."
In December 2008, the song received a Grammy award
nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. "Last Call" also received a nomination for Female Video of the Year in the 2009 CMT Music Awards
.
directed by Trey Fanjoy
was released for "Last Call." The video is done entirely in black and white, and was shot in New York City
. In it, Womack is seen strolling down the street and standing on a balcony of a skyscraper, while scenes of a man drinking in a bar follows the song's lyrics. He attempts to call Womack, which prompts her to examine her phone and not answer. Singer Clayton Stroope of the band Thriving Ivory
is featured as Womack's lover in the video.
Hot Country Songs
chart in July 2008. The song reached a peak of #14 in February 2009, after spending over 36 weeks on the chart.
Shane McAnally
Shane McAnally , is an American country music artist. He signed to Curb Records in 1999 and released a self-titled debut album the following year...
, and recorded by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
. It is the lead-off single to Womack's sixth studio album, Call Me Crazy
Call Me Crazy
Call Me Crazy is the sixth studio album released by country music singer Lee Ann Womack, released on October 21, 2008 via MCA Nashville Records. It is her first studio release in three years, as her previous album was not released...
, which was released in October 2008. In December the song reached the Top 20 on Billboard Country Chart, becoming Womack's first Top 20 hit in three years.
Content
Written by Erin Enderin and Shane McAnally, "Last Call" is the set opener to Womack's sixth studio album. The song is a country ballad that begins with the female narrator noticing her phone ringing, and refusing to answer it because she recognizes the number. The woman is aware that the male character is most likely in a bar and drinking alcohol. Therefore, she refuses to answer her phone because she knows that she is always his "last call". This is a play on the bartending term "last callLast call (bar term)
In a bar, a last call is an announcement made shortly before the bar closes for the night, informing patrons of their last chance to buy alcoholic beverages. There are various means to make this signal, like ringing a bell, flashing the lights, or announcing orally.Last call times are often...
", which refers to the last round of alcohol served before the bar closes for the night.
Critical reception
"Last Call" was well-received by critics, being met with several positive reviews and was nominated for two awards.Allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek called the song " a classic example of what makes Womack such a fascinating and emotionally resonant singer." Country Universe gave it an A rating, and considered that "Last Call" was reminiscent of her 2005 hit, "I May Hate Myself in the Morning". The song received a "thumbs up" review from The 9513 reviewer Brady Vercher, who also compared the song to "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" and said that "although the lyric doesn't accentuate the emotional conflict, Womack's vocal dips with indecision as she delivers a splendid performance." This song was number 52 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
wrote, "Haunting single “Last Call” is song-of-the-year material on a number of levels: songwriting, vocal performance and production." Chuck Arnold of People Magazine listed the song as a hot download and wrote, "Lee Ann Womack will have you busting out the hankies with the touching breakup ballad "Last Call."
In December 2008, the song received a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. "Last Call" also received a nomination for Female Video of the Year in the 2009 CMT Music Awards
CMT Music Awards
The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast live on CMT. Voting takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.-History:...
.
Music video
A music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
directed by Trey Fanjoy
Trey Fanjoy
Trey Fanjoy is a country music and pop music video director. Fanjoy has directed over 150 major label music videos. Her videos have appeared on CMT, VH-1, GAC, The Nashville Network, CMT Canada, and MTV.-Music videos:...
was released for "Last Call." The video is done entirely in black and white, and was shot in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In it, Womack is seen strolling down the street and standing on a balcony of a skyscraper, while scenes of a man drinking in a bar follows the song's lyrics. He attempts to call Womack, which prompts her to examine her phone and not answer. Singer Clayton Stroope of the band Thriving Ivory
Thriving ivory
Thriving Ivory is an American rock band who originated in the San Francisco Bay area. They released their self-titled Wind-up Records debut album on June 24, 2008. The debut album reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart on the strength of the charting single "Angels on the Moon"...
is featured as Womack's lover in the video.
Chart performance
"Last Call" debuted at #56 on the U.S. BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in July 2008. The song reached a peak of #14 in February 2009, after spending over 36 weeks on the chart.
| Chart (2008–2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 77 |