For fans who have been waiting for Sam Hunt‘s long overdue release of new music, the wait is up. Just a few days ago Hunt delivered, releasing raw and real lyrics in the form of an apology to Hunt’s on again, off again girlfriend (now fiancé) Hannah Lee Fowler. While some will praise Hunt’s heartfelt honesty, will country radio jive with this new tune?
“Oh, I drink and take a sip of it
Feelin’ like a hypocrite
Go for more and I don’t give a shit
I never used to talk, I never used to talk like this”
When we say Hunt lays it all out there we mean everything on the table, all or nothing. Fowler who notably was responsible for the breakup lyrics behind the slew of hits in Hunt’s debut album “Montevallo” she’s now clearly the forefront theme in this very specific confession.
“I’m sorry I named the album ‘Montevallo’
And I’m sorry people know your name now
And strangers hit you up on social media
I’m sorry you can’t listen to the radio
And drive out to the place we used to get peaches down in Pelham
I know you want your privacy
And you’ve got nothing to say to me
But I wish you’d let me pay off your student loans
To these songs you gave to me
‘Member the first time you stayed with me?
Overpacked, and drove up, and went to the CMA’s with me
Two years later, it felt like you were a million miles away from me
And I was the one on stage, drunk
Barely holdin’ on, on ABC
Hope your dad still prays for me”
“Drinkin’ too much, drinkin’ too much
Since you been gone, I can’t get gone enough
I’m on top of the world, I’m going down
I’m gonna drink it all ’til you’re not around
Drinkin’ too much, drinkin’ too much
Since you been gone, I can’t get gone enough
I’m on top of the world, I’m going down
I’m gonna drink it all ’til you’re not around”
While it is clear Hunt’s debut album was inspired by his personal life and heartbreak, the songs that turned #1’s we’re delivered with generally relatable themes. Each songwriter has a personal connection as to why a song is written, what makes it successful is that listeners alike can personally embrace the emotions intertwined in the lyrics. Is it possible Hunt has written something so personal people won’t be able to embrace it like they embraced his former singles?
“A year ago I was in a hotel room in Pheonix
Wonderin’ if it’s ever OK to lie
Cause I knew the truth would make you wanna die
But I told you everything, and you told me to have a good life
But you still couldn’t believe it was really goodbye
Every night you’d fill the bathtub up
Lie there for hours, put your face under water, and cry
I never wanted to be a heartbreaker
Turn your sisters and friends into matchmakers
I know you think my dreams came true
Since you been gone
Singin’ these songs are just something to do
Every dream I ever had was you
Hope you know I’m still in love
It’s the kind you can’t fall out of”
There’s always going to be that crowd that doesn’t relate to Hunt’s music, some people are afraid of change, not everyone embraced Johnny Cash when he first started. Talking through some of the lyrics makes artists like Cash, Hunt and many before them more like storytellers. Country is about the story of life, but are we continuing to pull further away from the genre and what separates it’s artists from the pop category?
“I know this might seem like a contradiction
The last thing you need is more unwanted attention
But you changed your number, and moved
And this is the only way I could reach you
So wherever you are, turn it up and listen
Hannah Lee, I’m on my way to you
Nobody can love you like I do
I don’t know what I’m gonna say to you
But I know there ain’t no way, I know there ain’t no way
No there ain’t no way we’re through”
Previous songs aside, would someone hear this song and wonder if Sam Hunt is the next Drake? There is a certain amount of genre-bending one can do in order to evolve their sound and further evolve the new era of it’s style of music. Is it possible Sam Hunt leans more towards his hip hop and R&B influences and should consider crossing over? This song begs to question whether not it will fit comfortably in with heavy hitting chart toppers like Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Blake Shelton. We’ll leave it up to you as to whether or not you feel Hunt’s tune will be his next number one. If you haven’t given it a listen check it out here:
