Reckless

Album: Reckless (2016)
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Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from Martina McBride's 13th album, this was written by Sarah Buxton, Zach Crowell and Heather Morgan. "I was immediately drawn to this song. It's really a song expressing gratitude to someone who is willing to reach out and see the best in you and loves you unconditionally," said McBride. "I feel like its universal and that most everyone has someone who believed in them and maybe even pulled them through a hard time. I've heard people say it reminds them of their relationship with their mom or sister or counselor."
  • McBride explained to Billboard magazine the reasons why the song resonates for her. "Well, there are all kinds of 'reckless,' she said. "Probably the time when I was the most reckless was when I was 19 or 20 years old, and singing in clubs until all hours of the morning, trying to get my career started. Luckily, that was when I met [sound engineer husband] John and got things together. But, I think it can mean a lot of things - from moving across the country for a new job or loving someone. I think we all have reckless points in our lives, for sure."
  • McBride premiered the song while playing a show at the Arena at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey on January 16, 2016.
  • Speaking to People about the song's meaning, McBride said: "My interpretation of [the song] is, it's about gratitude for unconditional love, and it's about being vulnerable."

    "The track is big and energetic and kind of tough, but the lyrics are vulnerable and powerful," she continued. "There's a lot of different kinds of reckless: It's taking chances, it's being daring, it's doing the unexpected. I think it has a positive connotation."
  • The laying down of this song was a poignant experience for McBride. "I've never recorded a song as vulnerable as this one," she admitted to Taste of Country. "I was tearing up in the vocal booth because I was just so grateful for the song."

    She added: "And after doing Everlasting, which was so much fun and a great project for me personally - but they're cover songs and it is what it is - to come back and make a country album and have a song that I had such a connection to was so moving to me."

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