So, about this new Luke Bryan single…
10 years ago Liv Carter 2
It’s becoming a tradition. Luke Bryan releases a new single, the corners of the internet decrying the current state of country music howl.
And who can blame those people? Luke Bryan wields enormous power at radio, and his single choices are influential.
Still, I tend to be quite forgiving. I understand the place his music holds in Nashville, and I understand that I am not his target audience. If I don’t like it, I am totally free to listen to something else. And I do.
But here’s why it still bothers me that he reigns supreme at radio.
I don’t believe him.
Nothing about this feels in any way authentic. ‘Kick the Dust Up’ sounds like a reject from a Nappy Roots project. He’s not the only artist to add in “hip hop influences” in the last few years, of course, but it seems the most calculated with him. He could defend this as his evolution as an artist, but when your “evolving” is indistinguishable from pandering to whatever is the most popular trend, I’m going to find that suspicious.
Florida Georgia Line have made this kind of music too, but they started out that way. It’s not my thing, but at least it feels like an honest representation of who they are. Take that as you will.
As for Luke Bryan, his debut album was called I’ll Stay Me.
And apparently now, that “me” is a nearly 40-year-old guy, married, with two kids, who thinks the end-all-be-all is drinking beer and partying with “girls.”
It’s the complete lack of emotional maturity. The total absence of creativity.
And if this is meant to be a party song, why is it so boring, and why does he sound so disengaged from the lyrics?
So how about it Luke Bryan fans? It seems that you guys can make a difference here. Is this really enough for you? Is the fact that it’s sung by Luke Bryan really enough to make you call this a good song, or do you actually wish it had a bit more substance?
And before anyone says anything about not wanting this song to make it to #1? Of course, it will. Radio hits are bought.
Listen below, if you must.
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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