# People Thought This 1993 Song Was “Too Pop” for Country Music, Then It Went No. 1 in Both Genres

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/people-thought-this-1993-song-was-too-pop-for-country-music-then-it-went-no-1-in-both-genres/
- Published: 2026-11-01T18:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T19:26:32+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/people-thought-this-1993-song-was-too-pop-for-country-music-then-it-went-no-1-in-both-genres/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Nashville listeners thought “I Swear” was too pop for country.
- John Michael Montgomery took it to No. 1 on the country chart.
- All-4-One’s version reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.

## Summary

“I Swear” was turned down by several Nashville figures who thought it sounded too pop for country music, but John Michael Montgomery recorded it and took it to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song’s success across genres matters because it showed how a love song could connect with country and R&B audiences alike.

Co-writer Frank Myers said Gary Baker suggested the title during a phone call, and Myers wrote the chorus on the drive to meet him. All-4-One later recorded the song after their label asked them to review Montgomery’s version; five weeks after their version was released in April 1994, it topped the Billboard Hot 100.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.