What's Going On in Your World

"What's Going On in Your World"
Single by George Strait
from the album Beyond the Blue Neon
B-side"Let's Get Down to It"
ReleasedApril 3, 1989
RecordedOctober 13, 1988
GenreNeotraditional country
Length3:28
LabelMCA 53648
Songwriter(s)David Chamberlain, Royce Porter, Red Steagall
Producer(s)Jimmy Bowen & George Strait
George Strait singles chronology
"Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye"
(1988)
"What's Going On in Your World"
(1989)
"Ace in the Hole"
(1989)

"What's Going On in Your World" the title of a song written by David Chamberlain, Royce Porter and Red Steagall, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in April 1989 as the second single from his album, Beyond the Blue Neon. The song was his 17th number-one single as well as his eleventh consecutive number one.

Content

The narrator contacts his former lover to inquire of her welfare in the time since the dissolution of their relationship.

Musical style and composition

“What’s Going On in Your World” is a neotraditional country song with lyrical comparisons to Eddy Arnold, and Strait's vocal performance compared to the twang of Hank Williams.[1]

Critical reception

Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, calling the song "a testament to the ability of a compelling melody, and a simple no-frills country production to connect with deep-seated emotions, even without a word being sung." He goes on to say that "even if the lyrics had not been so potent, “What’s Going On In Your World” would still have legs to stand as an instrumental showcase, thanks in large part to the mourful, crying fiddle that winds through the song."[2]

Chart performance

"What's Going On in Your World" reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart[3] and number 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 2
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] 7
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 9

References

  1. ^ "Every #1 Country Single of the Eighties: George Strait, "What's Going On in Your World"". Country Universe. October 2, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  2. ^ CountryUniverse.net Song review
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 336.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6423." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 24, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  5. ^ "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  7. ^ "Best of 1989: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.