Glad You Exist
| "Glad You Exist" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Dan + Shay | ||||
| from the album Good Things | ||||
| Released | February 5, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Country pop | |||
| Length | 2:25 | |||
| Label | Warner Nashville | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Dan Smyers | |||
| Dan + Shay singles chronology | ||||
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| Lyric video | ||||
| "Glad You Exist" on YouTube | ||||
"Glad You Exist" is a song by American country pop duo Dan + Shay. It was released as the third single from their fourth studio album, Good Things on February 5, 2021. The members of the duo, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney wrote the song along with Tayla Parx, Ryan Lewis, and Jordan Reynolds, the former of who produced it.[1]
Background
[edit]On February 2, 2021, Dan + Shay explained the meaning of the song with a note through an Instagram post:
to us, glad you exist is more than just a song. it's a message of gratitude and hope. a message to everyone in our lives: our fans, our friends, our families, to remind them all how grateful we are to be on the planet at the same time. it's truly remarkable when you think about it. we've spent the majority of the past year, like many others, searching for answers and a sense of normalcy, but finding comfort in memories of better days (that we all know will return soon). concerts, bonfires, road trips with friends, even the simple things like date night at a restaurant, or beers at a bar during a football game. this song has taken on new meaning not being able to see our loved ones in person, but throughout history, music has always had a special way of bringing people together, even when we are furthest apart. these words hold a special place in our hearts, and hopefully they will in yours too. we've said it before, and we'll say it again (and again). we're just so glad you exist. every. single. one of you.[2]
Speaking about the song, Dan Smyers told The Country Daily that he had the phrase "glad you exist" to be appreciative of his wife Abby Smyers and to be grateful that she is living in the same time that he is living. He brought it to Shay Mooney and the two were thinking of ideas, wanting to create a gratitude song about their friends, family, and fans.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]Tomás Mier of People described the song as a "sweet, pop-country track" and that "the upbeat pop-infused track and its positive lyrics provide for the perfect optimistic soundtrack of 2021."[4] CMT's Jessica Nicholson theorized that the duo was influenced by the loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic to create the song and "it has also led many to find greater appreciation for the people they have in their lives.[5]
Credits and personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]
Dan + Shay
- Dan Smyers – bass guitar, drums, piano, synthesizer, background vocals, production, programming, recording, songwriting
- Shay Mooney – lead vocals, background vocals, songwriting
Other musicians and technical
- Abby Smyers – background vocals
- Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar
- Jeff Juliano – mixing
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Josh Ditty – additional engineering
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[16] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[18] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Freeman, Jon (February 5, 2021). "Dan + Shay Give Thanks in New Song 'Glad You Exist'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Dan + Shay on Instagram: "glad you exist // 2.5.21"". February 2, 2021. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Dan + Shay's New Song "Glad You Exist" Exists Because of Dan's Wife". The Country Daily. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (February 5, 2021). "Dan + Shay Drop 'Glad You Exist' as a Reminder of 'How Grateful We Are' for Fans and Family". People. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica (February 2, 2021). "Dan + Shay Reveal New Song "glad you exist" and Share "It's A Message of Gratitude and Hope"". CMT. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Credits / Glad You Exist / Dan + Shay". Tidal. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shay Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shay Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shay Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "Dan Shay Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Country Airplay – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Dan + Shay – Glad You Exist". Music Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Dan + Shay – Glad You Exist". Radioscope. Retrieved December 18, 2024. Type Glad You Exist in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "American single certifications – Dan + Shay – Glad You Exist". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 22, 2023.