Over the years, Kenny Chesney has developed a persona as the country music-singing island boy. In addition to his more “typical” country songs, Chesney has recorded a number of beachy tunes throughout his career, many of which you can hear playing on repeat whenever summer comes around.
Of Chesney’s many number one singles, several of them are his beach-themed songs, and many more have made their way into the Top 10 on the charts. Most of the same songs have crossed over onto the Billboard Hot 100, making Chesney one of few successful crossover artists in country music.
“When The Sun Goes Down”
From his album of the same title, “When the Sun Goes Down” was recorded as a duet between Chesney and multi-genre artist Uncle Kracker.
Released in February 2004, the song claimed the top spot on the Billboard country chart only two months later. It held on to the top position on that chart for five weeks, and also went on to take the 26th spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song marked Chesney and Kracker’s first time collaborating, and led to Kracker’s first appearance on the country charts.
The music video for “When the Sun Goes Down” was filmed in South Florida, and serves as the perfect setting for Chesney and Kracker’s chart-topping beach song.
“Pirate Flag”
Chesney kept the beach party going in 2013 when he released “Pirate Flag.” The first single off of Chesney’s album Life on a Rock, “Pirate Flag” was written by Ross Copperman and David Lee Murphy.
As proof that country fans never get tired of Chesney’s beach songs, “Pirate Flag” cruised to the third spot on the Country Airplay chart and the seventh spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. It snuck into the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 as well, peaking at the 46th spot.
Chesney enlisted the help of Shaun Silva to direct his music video for “Pirate Flag,” which debuted in February 2013. The video shows Chesney rockin’ out on a beach at sunset, mixed with various clips of him enjoying all the fun parts of island life.
“Guitars And Tiki Bars”
In January 2005, Chesney took his love of beach songs to a whole new level when he released a completely beach-themed album. Called Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair), Chesney never released any singles from the album, since he only intended for it to be a side project.
Despite that fact, one track off of the album, called “Guitars and Tiki Bars,” made its way into the 53rd spot on the Billboard country charts based on unsolicited airplay alone.
Since “Guitars and Tiki Bars” was never released as a single, Chesney didn’t film a music video for it. However, a fan managed to capture some footage of Chesney singing it during a concert in Miami Beach in 2016.
“Old Blue Chair”
The relaxing tune “Old Blue Chair” opened up Chesney’s beach-themed album as its first track. The song was written entirely by Chesney, and is one of his most memorable beach tunes.
Like mentioned previously, none of the songs on Chesney’s Be as You Are Album were released as singles. While “Guitars and Tiki Bars” was the only song off of the album that charted, “Old Blue Chair” has remained popular with Chesney’s fans over the years.
Maybe the reason why “Old Blue Chair” is so popular is because unlike “Guitars and Tiki Bars,” Chesney actually did film a music video for the song. The video show Chesney admiring the beauty of the ocean all from the comfort of his famous old blue chair.
“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems”
Chesney’s 2003 single, “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems,” was his original expression of frustration over a busy life and a desire to escape to the beach. Written by Casey Beathard, the song plays off of the sign often seen hanging in stores, reading “no shoes, no shirt, no service.”
“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” peaked at the second spot on the Billboard country chart, and also took the 28th position on the Billboard Hot 100 following its release.
The music video for the song was filmed on, you guessed it, a beach, and opens with Chesney speaking about his love of island life. “The notion of no shoes, no shirt, no problems isn’t a song title, but a way of life,” says Chesney. “My way of life.”
No pool or beach party would be complete without these three fun, beachy tunes by Chesney. Which one is your favorite?