Single Review: ‘Downtown’ – Lady Antebellum
12 years ago Liv Carter 6
Songwriters: Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally
Pop-country trio Lady Antebellum have been decidedly more pop than country on their second and third albums. For the upcoming fourth release, they have been talking about getting back to their original sound. If that was the aim, there is no evidence of this on new single, ‘Downtown.’
The song has Hillary Scott take the lead, remembering the old, carefree days of late nights and parties, and lamenting that her other half no longer takes her out. She struggles with her lower register at several points in the verses, quite noticeably on lines like ‘they would let us in on a laidback kinda style.’ Her vocals are fantastic on the choruses, she sounds like she’s having a lot of fun, but unfortunately with lines that make this woman a very annoying character.
Witness ‘I got a dress that’ll show a little uh-uh / but you ain’t getting uh-uh / if you don’t come pick me up / show me off.’ Oh great, another dependent, insecure female who thinks using sex as a bargaining chip makes her sound strong and sassy. She’s not fooling anyone. And what’s with the demanding to be shown off? She wants to be a trophy on his arm?
With solid drums, a funky guitar riff and good steel accents, this has a good base from which to build a great track, albeit nothing resembling the debut record. But the mix is disjointed. The guitar part in the guitar and steel solo, as well as the bass line, sound like they were dropped in from a different song.
When by the last pass of the chorus, Scott wonders ‘I don’t know why you don’t take me downtown anymore,’ I found myself saying ‘I think I do.’ Why this woman can’t just call a girlfriend and go have fun on the town remains unaddressed.
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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