99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)

Background

The track was one of hundreds McComas listened to before choosing the five final songs for his debut album. He said, "I let my wife hear it, and we were both humming it and singing it to each other. I thought, ‘If I’ve heard 1,200 songs and I'm humming and singing this one, then I might think about cutting it.'"

Composition

"99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)" is written in the key of G major, with his vocals ranging from D–C. The track moves at a tempo of 116 beats per minute. The track lyrically describes McComas singing about a good relationship and how he's "99.9% sure" he's never had a good love like this.

Critical reception

Brian Mansfield of USA Today stated that the song's "clean steel lines and bright guitars [blend] agreeably on contemporary country radio." Kristina Dorsey of The Day magazine commented that the song was "idiosyncratic and catchy in the best mandolin–pop way."

Chart performance

"99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, then known as Hot Country Singles & Tracks, the week of March 8, 2003, at number 59. It peaked at number ten on the chart for the week of August 2, 2003, becoming his only top ten single. It spent 27 weeks in total on the chart. In September 2005, the track received a Spin Award from Broadcast Data Systems for 100,000 confirmed airplay spins.

Music video

Brent Hedgecock directed the music video. McComas told CMT about the experience, "Brent [Hedgecock] said, 'We're going to change around the scenery as much as we can." The video was filmed all over the state of California in 20 different locations, averaging about four to five locations per day; it was filmed across four days.

Personnel

Taken from the Brian McComas album booklet.

• Lonnie Wilson – drums
• Glenn Worf – bass
• David Grissom – electric guitar
• Biff Watson – acoustic guitar
• Steve Nathan – keyboards
• Dan Dugmore – steel guitar
• Aubrey Haynie – fiddle
• Eric Darken – percussion
• Leigh Reynolds – banjo

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

References

1. (March 7, 2003). "Going for Adds".
2. CMT.com staff. (August 4, 2003). "Rascal Flatts Headlining ''MWL'' Tour". [[CMT (American TV channel).
3. Dolloff, Aimee. (October 27, 2003). "Fans get out of their seats for Rascal Flatts". [[Bangor Daily News]].
4. Gilbert, Calvin. (July 16, 2003). "Brian McComas Moves Forward With Certainty". [[CMT (American TV channel).
5. McComas, Brian. (June 30, 2003). "Brian McComas "99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)" Sheet Music in G Major — Download & Print". [[Alfred Music.
6. "BPM for "99.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)" by Brian McComas".
7. Brian Mansfield. (28 July 2003). "LSG returns; Sarai raps up her debut". [[USA Today]].
8. Dorsey, Kristina. (September 18, 2003). "disc tip: ''Brian McComas'', Brian McComas". [[The Day (New London)]].
9. (October 22, 2005). "Announcing This Month's Recipients of BDSCertified Spin Awards". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
10. (2003). "[[Brian McComas (album)". [[Lyric Street Records]].
11. (August 8, 2003). "R&R Country Top 50".
12. (2003). "Best of 2003: Country Songs". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
13. (December 12, 2003). "Most Heard R&R 2003 – Country".