Dean Dillion on Today’s Country Songs: “Radio Candy, I Call It.”
If you want to have your mind blown, think about this: Chris Stapleton’s version of the song “Tennessee Whiskey” written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove—and previously recorded by David Allan Coe and George Jones—was originally released in 2015. This week, it was the #2 streaming song in all of country music, and regularly appears in the Top 5, seven years after its release, and 41 years after it was originally released as a country song.
That is what you call longevity, ladies and gentlemen. And that is one of the many reasons songwriter Dean Dillon is in the Country Music Hall of Fame. There are many other reasons in the form of some of the biggest songs ever released by George Strait, including iconic tracks such as “The Chair” and “Ocean Front Property.” But Dean Dillon wasn’t trying to write hits. He was just trying to write songs that would withstand the test of time. They just happened to become hits.
Earlier this month, the annual Key West Songwriters Festival transpired down in Florida where Dean Dillon is commonly a fixture. Saving Country Music saw him there in 2021 while attending the fest. It’s an opportunity for fans of country songwriting to get to see many of the writers of the biggest hits in often intimate settings.
While talking to Taste of Country, Dean Dillon had some interesting things to say about the writing of country songs today.
“It’s more radio-oriented,” Dillon says. “I hate to say it, but more one-hit wonder-ish kind of thing now, as opposed to back then when we strived to write great every time. I don’t think that holds true now. I think what holds true is radio candy, I call it. You can call it whatever you want to. I don’t begrudge that one darn bit. A lot of these young kids are having great success with it, and that’s wonderful. Like I said, I don’t begrudge it one bit, but for this old cowboy, I’m not going to do anything different than I’ve always done: sit down and try to write the best damn thing I can write that day.”
These are more than just the grumpy words of an old songwriter. There is a lot of wisdom contained in what Dean Dillon is saying. And being a gentlemen, he also makes sure to say he “doesn’t begrudge it” even though his approach is quite different.
Dean Dillon is right that radio finds favor with many of the “country” songs today and makes them mega hits (that Applebee’s song from Walker Hayes, anybody?). But how many of these songs are here today, and gone tomorrow, like a piece of sugary candy melting in your mouth? Meanwhile, Dean Dillon songs never leave. “Tennessee Whiskey” is the perfect example.
“It’s a different game, but my advice to the young ones is, be true to yourself, man,” Dean Dillon continues. “And if you want to write great songs and nothing but great songs, write great songs and nothing but great songs. Don’t settle for second best. No second-best lines, none of that. Go for it. Find your voice. Find yourself.”
Sure, you can write a big radio single and have success in the short term. But where does that leave you when country music moves on to the next trend? Meanwhile, Dean Dillon is still receiving royalty money every week for a song he wrote over 40 years ago. That is the mark of great songwriting.
May 14, 2022 @ 10:55 am
He said that to Taste of Country?
Damn, I bet they didn’t like that one bit.
May 14, 2022 @ 12:21 pm
Billy Dukes had to publish this with a tear in his eyes.
May 14, 2022 @ 11:30 am
I had the privilege of seeing Dean Dillon many times at Jimmy Rogers Song Writers Night in the 1990s in Meridian,Ms.
He is Great in his own right‼️
Keep on Keeping on‼️Love your music‼️
May 14, 2022 @ 2:01 pm
In the 90s maybe. Candy at least tastes good,…it’s hard to call most of what’s on radio these days anything other than dung.
May 14, 2022 @ 5:58 pm
I only write songs of heartbreak, loneliness, loss, and want. I wonder if he would like anything I’ve written.
May 15, 2022 @ 2:05 am
nice post…….like many like me writing a good country song takes time , takes even more time to have radio listen to any song…….it is a world of who you might know not how much $ you might have to get radio to play any song……i have 2 complete albums with 3 CCMA players on both albums……local small radio does play some of my songs……but BIG radio won’t play any of my songs……example : i wrote a tribute song for George Strait called “Stay this way” and even try to have it played at KKYX radio in San Antonio Texas……the D.J. there could not play this song…..Jerry King had just retired from this station but i knew his son Gaylon King who had an internet station that played many new comers music……new internet rules forced Gaylon to quit – sort of sad too. you can find this song on youtube type Charley smith stay this way………and Dean if you have a chance to hear this track pls let me know where or if it is worth any radio air play…..this song is my way of thanking GeorgeStrait for keeping the country music trail open for many to fallow……my email > cvsmith23@yahoo.com
May 16, 2022 @ 8:48 am
I just listened to “Stay This Way” & like it a lot.
May 15, 2022 @ 4:48 am
Dean Dillon is an excellent singer. He has some albums worth checking out.
May 17, 2022 @ 6:00 am
I love the movie about him on Amazon prime “Tennessee whiskey; the dean dillon story” I bet I’ve watched it five times already.
May 18, 2022 @ 11:19 am
I saw George Strait two times on his 2 year Cowboy rides away stretch. The first time was in Knoxville. In that show he had Dean Dillion come out for a few songs. It had a VH1 storyteller atmosphere. Strait that night had already been kind of nostalgic introducing songs. He and Dillion talked like old friends on stage. From the first demo, he ever heard of Denas to how some songs came about it was gold. I have no idea if this was a one-off but it made for an awesome evening.
The other two highlights were Martina singing independence Day. It was a treat for this 90s country fan.
And the crowd getting excited about all my exes living in Texas. It was hearing the emphasis That’s why I hang my hat in “Tennessee”
I then saw him the next year in Atlanta. It was good to show and he was top-notch. But he had very little banter and no storytelling. Not complaining just pointing out the differences.
May 18, 2022 @ 12:56 pm
Poor Dean, he’s never had a piece of good candy. Or he hates candy.
May 18, 2022 @ 6:17 pm
Why settle for candy when you can write a steak dinner like Dean does.
May 21, 2022 @ 11:33 am
RIGHT ON,Mr. Dillon !!!!!!! (And I know you’ve written songs for nearly everyone who matters,but why are your tunes never played?) Of course,I enjoy candy,Country and other kinds as I approach the big 70,and SOME “candy” Country IS catchy,but some of it is plain dumb.