Tequila (Dan + Shay song)

The song is performed in the key of B major in common time with a tempo of 86 beats per minute. It follows a chord progression of E–B–F♯(add4)–G♯m, and the duo's vocals span from F♯₄ to B₅.^[4]

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country wrote that the song is characterized by a "strong sense of melody and even stronger vocals", and complimented the songwriting as being "vivid and full of color".^[5] Stephen L. Betts of Rolling Stone noted that the duo successfully subvert expectations with the song's title and wrote that "Tequila" is a "nostalgic tale of heartbreak and regret."^[1]

"Tequila" debuted at number 35 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated January 20, 2018.^[6] The song debuted at number 15 on the Hot Country Songs chart the following week.^[7] On the Hot 100 chart dated January 27, 2018, "Tequila" entered at number 84, while debuting in the top 10 of the all-genre Digital Songs component chart at number nine.^[8] "Tequila" has since peaked at number 21, becoming the duo's first top 40 single.^[9][10] It was the duo's highest charting single on that chart until "10,000 Hours" reached number four in October 2019.^[11] "Tequila" reached number one on the Country Airplay chart dated July 1, 2018, the same week its parent album debuted as the number one country album.^[12] The song remained at the top position the following week, making "Tequila" their first multi-week number-one.^[13][12] In February 2019, "Tequila" reached number one on Hot Country Songs, replacing its follow-up single, "Speechless". "Tequila" was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in November 2018, and eight-times platinum on June 22, 2023, for 8 million units in sales and streams. It is their bestselling song. The song has sold 707,000 copies in the United States as of February 2020.^[14]

The song entered the Canadian Hot 100 chart at number 100, the duo's first single to impact the chart since "From the Ground Up" reached number 77 in 2016.^[15] "Tequila" was certified double platinum by Music Canada in October 2018.^[16] In July 2018, "Tequila" reached number one on the Canada Country airplay chart, becoming their highest-charting radio hit and first chart-topper in Canada.^[17]

An accompanying music video was directed by Patrick Tracy with Cinematography by Jon Chema and premiered March 1, 2018.^[18] The video explores the love story between a skier, played by Mica Von Turkovich, and a hiker, played by Nyle DiMarco, who meet in a mountain range. The video was filmed on location in Breckenridge, Colorado and captured on 35mm movie film .^[19] Like the actor himself, DiMarco's character is deaf, and throughout the video he can be seen teaching Turkovich's character various words and phrases in sign language.^[20] The sign for tequila is featured prominently.^[20] After a brief romance, the pair separate when DiMarco's character departs to finish his journey alone. However, the two are reunited four years later at the bar where they first grabbed drinks.^[18]

Dan told Nash Country Daily that the duo were "so inspired by" Nyle's advocacy for the deaf community and hoped to use their video as another platform for this.^[19]

Digital download^[21]

1. "Tequila" – 3:16

Digital download (remix)^[22]

1. "Tequila" (R3hab remix) – 2:37