"look what AP just brought by, lemon meringue pie!"
i traditionally write about my thoughts on the year in music every december/january, and as i was thinking things over, this song, to me, deserved a little extra thought. i honestly believe that this is the greatest country song ever recorded.
everything about it is so perfectly crafted. the name itself is witty yet tongue-in-cheek. the single artwork is beautiful, as is the accompanying lyrical video; the colors are so vibrant and lively yet the imagery is so simplistic. the acoustic guitar and the t-shirt brad has worn in performances of it are equally as beautiful. and the music video itself is so well done. the message is wonderful, and again, so simple: see the world. basically, before even getting into the song itself, the entire way this song has been packaged is perfect in my eyes.
the music video and the song almost present the song in two different ways, which i find very unique. the audio clips of country and southern culture in the song itself add such a wonderful feel to the song. the music video, with him playing the song live with background music and the hum of an old tractor gives a similar feel but in a much different way, it's a brilliant dynamic between the two.
the simple, yet very driving guitar part really sets the song up to build nicely and the pace of the song has a lot of natural energy. the musicianship, as is the case with most songs by brad, does not disappoint. the drama kings shred it up in a wonderful arrangement that is well beyond the creative boundaries of most popular country musicians these days. the fact that brad writes and co-writes most of his music and plays all of his own guitar tracks is something that sets him apart. being a musician myself, i can not stand how many country "artists" have minimal connection to their songs besides a vocal track. that being said, his guitar solo so wonderfully compliments the song, and the addition of the gospel choir at the tail end of the solo brings you right back into the mood of the song.
the message is almost one of country music in a more traditional time. such as a "great day to be alive" or "check yes or no" kind of feel, the song has a very relateable feel. country is supposed to be known for that, but this song takes it to a whole new level. the imagery is wonderful in lines that take you deep into southern culture and then across the pond to france or up to alaska to see the northern lights.
basically this song takes everything good about country music and puts an exclamation point on it, while adding a creative element that is often times forgotten in the genre. it's brilliant. seeing brad play the guitar solo with a giraffe hanging out in the background is a great visual. and seeing that little cowboy outline diving into the water against a brilliant sunset makes you long for summer without hating that it's winter. if you haven't given this song a fair shake...then what are you waiting for?
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