Girl in a song

I try not to write about things everyone else is blogging about. Partly because there's usually nothing left to say, and someone else probably said it better. If I'm going to put something out there, I want to add to the conversation.

I do feel I have something of my own to say about this. Plus I can coil together some of the buzz around the two songs I'm about to write about in one convenient place. You're welcome.

Girl in a Country Song by Maddie & Tae: 

I am not really in the loop with country music. I grew up loving the genre. But in the last few years I've gravitated toward rock and metal, which I've discovered I love just as much, maybe more, than I ever loved country. Nothing that has come out of Nashville has excited me in at least half a decade.

Well, I don't know why, but "Girl in a Country Song" by Maddie & Tae excites me.

For an in-depth analysis of the tune, check out Saving Country Music's Maddie & Tae Make a Summer Anthem out of a Protest Song.

I don't think this song is going to change the world, but it's a good dig at the "Bro Country" trend that is part of the reason I don't turn my dial to country radio anymore. There's room for all kinds of songs in the world. But when every. Damn. Song. Is about the same. Damn. Thing--not to mention the sonic sins being committed by the Bro crowd--it's too much. It was only a matter of time before someone did something like this. Who better than two adorable blonde gals with adorable names like "Maddie" & "Tae?"

Is "Girl in a Country Song" a calculated marketing move? Yup. Again, Trigger at SCM tackles this better than I could.

But it's catchy--my personal main requirement for a song. It's clever, and these girls can actually sing. Their music makes me feel the way I felt when I heard Miranda Lambert's first album.

Now, what really made me decide to write this, and the reason I say Maddie & Tae are making me excited about country again...are these videos of them performing other songs they've written. I was going to let "Girl in a Country Song" pass by in the blonde breeze. But I think their other songs are great as well, and I don't see anyone talking about that:

I especially love the one above, "Smoke." I think these girls are great. I couldn't write a song like that now, let alone when I was a teenager.

I think these gals face a challenge though. There's the novelty effect: any time you put too many pop culture/timely references in a song, you're slapping a big expiration date on it. Referencing "sugar shaker" and that gawdawful "red red red red..." business makes sense now. But pretty soon it will feel like watching the Friends episode where they go to a Hootie and the Blowfish concert. Which is why it's encouraging to hear that Maddie and Tae have more good songs up their sleeve. Hopefully those tunes will have a chance to be heard too.

Breaking news: there's now a music video for "Girl in a Country Song." It's about as ridiculous as you'd expect.

Girl in Your Truck Song by Maggie Rose:

My personal reaction to this song: it makes me want to vomit. I tried to be this girl, and it didn't work out for me. At all. The guy who picks you up in his truck on Friday night has an overbearing momma at home who won't let either of you live your dreams. 

Seriously, what the crap is this? I don't know who Maggie Rose even is, but I suspect she was hired by Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan to write a marketing pitch for their party anthems. This song makes her sound like a pandering idiot.

This is pretty much all that's left of my "truck" days.
And this song made me want to burn it all.

My levelheaded reaction: This song is lyrically, and musically, inferior to "Girl in a Country Song." It's not that catchy or interesting. Where "Girl in a Country Song" weaves references to BroCo through in clever ways, "Girl in Your Truck Song" just lists them. 

However, I think "Truck Song" has an advantage in that both women and men will like it. I just can't see a ton of guys digging "Country Song." It's so sassy. While "Truck Song" is apparently getting a lot of love from the dudes who sing the songs she mentions. Duh. But this song will also probably be a hit with the girls who want to make Luke Bryan's speakers go "boom boom." 

Jezebel has a decent write-up about both songs.

I don't know who came up with the Girl in ____ Song bit first. I imagine Maddie, Tae, and Maggie were given the same assignment. Maggie Rose suffered from being the one without a partner because no one wants to work with her since she won't stop talking about her jock boyfriend. 

The twin releases are surely a symptom of the Bro Country trend heading out. The cultural shift about to happen in the country world will be fascinating to watch.

So, that, my friends, was my two cents on this whole mess. 

Love,

"Girl who writes a mile-long blog about country music on the same day she's (willingly) attending a Machine Head concert. Song."