George Strait Tributes Law Enforcement in Next Single
George Strait surprised everyone when the debut single “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” from his 2019 record Honky Tonk Time Machine debuted in the Top 20 on country radio, and then resided there for a few months, eventually peaking at #17. Sure, there was a time when any George Strait single would be almost guaranteed to hit #1 (he’s had 45 of them, after all), but this was still Strait’s best showing since 2013, and helped make Honky Tonk Time Machine the best-selling album in the first half of 2019. Perhaps there was something to this idea that mainstream country is in the midst of a honky tonk resurgence.
But after “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” was sent to recurrents, we weren’t sure if we’d get another proper radio single from Strait’s new record. There was a significant pause in the calendar after “Honky Tonk Bar” dropped off, as opposed to a new single being launched right away as usually happens. Now we know the second single will be Strait’s tribute to the men and women of law enforcement, “The Weight of the Badge.”
Written by George Strait himself, with his son Bubba and long-time collaborator Dean Dillon, on the surface, “The Weight of the Badge” doesn’t make a very good radio single. Forget electronic drums that adorn many of today’s country radio hits, “The Weight of the Badge” doesn’t really have drums at all aside from some hand percussion. Despite the weightiness of the material, it’s a pretty light song instrumentally. But the calculus here is that the message and story is something that will resonate with country listeners and the radio programmers who serve them, and at least give Strait a chance in a format that at times has seemed to pass him by.
“‘The Weight of the Badge,’ the idea for that song came about when I got the Texan of the Year award about a year ago,” George Strait explains. “Last year, me and Bubba, Tamara and Harvey, everybody Norma, and even Jilliann, I think were there, and I had security you know I had an officer who was talking to Harvey and letting him play with his badge and hold it and pinning it on his shirt. And I just got to thinking about that because it really wasn’t that heavy until you put it on it and then it means, it really gets heavy. So, that was one of those things I thought was a real important message especially these days and times. I love the way it turned out.”
In an era when law enforcement is often repudiated by many, George Strait runs counter to that by speaking about the seriousness and sacrifices police officers, sheriff department personnel, and anyone who dons a shield and sidearm to go to work every day must endure. As in any profession, there are good and bad apples. But the majority of police offers take their oath to serve and protect seriously. The men and women who serve in the military are regularly shouted out in country songs to the point of cliche, but police officers and first responders rarely get their due.
Don’t expect “The Weight of the Badge” to shoot up the charts like “Honky Tonk Bar” did, and like most everything on country radio these days, its performance depends a lot on how much effort the label puts behind a single to promote it. But the song should be a good litmus test to see just how deep this commitment is to deeper and twangier songs is on country radio.
Joe
September 21, 2019 @ 10:18 am
I certainly didn’t think I would be saying this even a couple months ago, but it now feels like there may be too many “heavy” songs suddenly competing for attention. With “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” by Riley Green and Craig Morgan’s “The Father, My Song, and the Holy Ghost” already out, it feels like now would not be the best time to put out this song as a single. I see this single getting overlooked by radio in favor of the other serious songs out right now. That said, I am sure they were already planning this as the next song before the other songs blew up in popularity.
I should also add that I do believe that the genre and industry are better off by this song being a single and by this emergence of serious songs. I just hope it doesn’t cost King George the chance at staying relevant in today’s radio environment.
Chris
September 21, 2019 @ 10:33 am
This is a good song. I wonder if they’ll release God and Country Music as a single?
Dan
September 21, 2019 @ 10:37 am
Watch this great song fail as fucking aldean’s “we back” goes to #1. Thank you country radio!!
Wobblyhorse
September 21, 2019 @ 11:40 am
Holy shit, how is that song #1? The lyrics are equivalent to BedRock by Young Money, has the shiftiest guitar background noise, isn’t really about anything, and it’s not even catchy
wayne
September 21, 2019 @ 11:06 am
Joe,
I understand what you mean. But I would not call them “weighty” songs as much as I would say “songs of substance.” And that is what has been lacking for quite some time in country music.
Melissa W
September 21, 2019 @ 11:13 am
I love this song. I am glad he actually releasing it as a single. They did a great job writing this one.
Strait Country 81
September 21, 2019 @ 11:24 am
The BLM freaks will definitely be protesting this song.
OlaR
September 21, 2019 @ 12:00 pm
Great track…too good to burn out between LoTrash & Walker Hayes.
New Stuff / Singles & Tracks:
Lady Antebellum – “Ocean” (title track of the new album)
Jon Pardi – “Old Hat”
Brent Cobb feat. Jade Bird – “Feet Off The Ground”
Tracy Byrd – “Redneck Roses”
Aaron Pritchett – “Good Thing” (canadian country star)
Southern Brave – “Nashville” (…”can go to hell”…good idea)
Allie Dunn – “Lines Of That Vinyl” (great debut)
Melanie Gray – “Drive Slow” (australian country-pop)
Aly Cook – “Red Dirt Road Trip” (big australasian country star)
Kevin Sullivan – “Belonging” (australian country-rock)
Sue Dyson – “You Can’t Undo The Wrong That’s Been Done” (australian country ballad)
Andrew Swift feat. Gretta Ziller – “Second Hand” (australian alt-country ballad)
New Stuff / Albums & EPs:
Georgette Jones – Skin – Album – 09/11 (duets with Vince Gill, Gene Watson & Dean Miller)
Zac Brown Band – The Owl – Album – 09/19 (god no…)
Rachael Fahim – Iconic – EP – 09/12 (australian singer…too pop to be country)
David Tribble – Modern Day Urban Cowboy – EP – 09/12 (good one)
Cory Gallant – Welcome To My World – Album – 09/16 (sounds like Tim McGraw 20 years ago)
The Sunny Cowgirls – Happy Days – EP – 09/19 (australian country-folk)
New Stuff / The Winner:
Ilse DeLange – Gravel & Dust – Album – 09/05 (perfect atmospheric country-folk for the fall season)
New Stuff / The Loser:
Crystal Gayle – You Don’t Know Me – Album – 09/05 (“Put It Off Until Tomorrow” with sisters Loretta Lynn & Peggy Sue is a great track…the other tracks not so much)
New Stuff / On The List (all released):
T.G. Sheppard – Midnight In Memphis – Album
Jetty Road – Because We Can – Album
Angus Gill – Welcome To My Heart – Album
Steven Padilla – Hank & Jesus – Album
Charley Crockett – The Valley – Album
Jacob Stelly – University Heights – EP
albert
September 21, 2019 @ 3:30 pm
OlaR…..a thought :
perhaps it would serve your suggestions better if you were to whittle them down to your recommendations on , say , the best 2-3 per post . with the barrage of music suggestions most of us are likely getting daily from numerous sources , friends , other music folk etc , ( 26 of yours alone above ) there is no way most of us have time to follow up on all of them . consequently many will never stand the chance of being heard.
trigger reviews ONE album …maybe two and I ( and i’m guessing many others ) make a point to give it a quick read and listen . wading through 26 suggestions is just a herculean task for anyone . just a thought …..obviously you are a music listener and lover . i’m certain if you were to pick one or two of your faves over the week they would receive more attention . certainly from myself , at least .
love your passion about this stuff .
Music Jedi
September 21, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
OlaR – how is Tracy Byrd’s “Redneck Roses” listed under your New Stuff? It was on his 1994 album NO ORDINARY MAN. 🤷🏻♂️ But I do like the Southern Brave song that I wouldn’t have know about save your list.
King Honky Of Crackershire
September 21, 2019 @ 2:12 pm
The truth is, every cop I’ve ever encountered was a prick on a power trip. Having said that, maybe I’d be that way too if I had to deal with the masses day-in and day-out.
Cops aren’t racist. The media just loves to show the interactions with black folks the most.
Cops don’t always have great judgment, but I appreciate them doing a job I would hate to do.
I don’t LOVE the song, but I love George’s delivery on it, which makes this boring song worth listening to. I don’t know Trig, mainstream “Country” fans may still be sentimental enough to make a hit out of this.
Lugnut
September 22, 2019 @ 8:01 am
Being only human, the police sometimes do give what they get. It’s a sad commentary on the intelligence level of humans that many respond to a proper intrusion of law enforcement into their lives with open hostility and sarcasm. They are then mystified as to why the encounter was not one filled with happiness and smiles.
Kevin Smith
September 21, 2019 @ 2:42 pm
Of course it’s good ol George, he’s always welcome on the radio in my world. And honestly, any chance to get one our legends in the mix is worthwhile. Speaking of legends, Crystal Gayle has a new record, that’s strong. Shes covering some American song catalog classics and her take on Ribbon of Darkness is Aok. Thanks OlaR for reminding me.
For those unacquainted or who dismiss her as hopelessly pop crossover, watch the live concert of her on Amazon Prime. Starts out a little hokey but midway through becomes a serious showcase on Country music, with her and her lesser known sister doing Bob Wills, Loretta, and some other great stuff. You won’t be disappointed.
Also, WOW… Honky has something positive to say today!!!!!!!! Consider me shocked but pleasantly surprised.
DJ
September 22, 2019 @ 6:58 am
As a “traditional” Country song it’s good and I’m liking George’s voice as he ages more than I used to- as a “message” song I’m one who questions everything- I remember when (does that make it traditional) cops were called Peace Officers-
When they morphed into (modern day) Law enFORCEment is when they lost respect-
I’m not sure it’ll be a Radio hit since it seems, according to people here, Radio isn’t listened to by those seeking Traditional anything, much less Country Music.
durks
September 22, 2019 @ 7:48 am
Serious question: what does the term ‘single’ mean these days? This is one song from an already-released album – who decides that it is now a ‘single.’ Who is promoting it to be one?
Trigger
September 22, 2019 @ 8:25 am
A single in this case would be one directly promoted to country radio seeking radio play. A single can also be the track released before a record to help promote it for radio play, or just in general. This is opposed to an “instant grat” track, which is a track from an album released just to gin up additional attention, or an “album cut,” which is released with an album, but never released as a single.
Alex
September 22, 2019 @ 5:57 pm
Happy to see one of George’s better written songs being put in the spotlight off his new album. Was hoping for Some Nights, but seems like that might be kept as an album cut and a treat for those who appreciate his music.
Jared
September 23, 2019 @ 8:58 am
I like the song and it is well done. George probably put this song out, because he felt it was a message that needed to be heard. I’m sure it has been well received at concerts. However, there are better songs or at least songs I’d prefer be a single. He has more momentum than he’s had in years and I think a song like “Some Nights” or “Honky Tonk Time Machine” would keep it going. Heck, “God and Country Music” would be a great pick. I’ll remain hopeful “Sometimes Love” gets released. It is the type of song you never, ever hear on the radio these days, and it might be the best on the album.
Sarah
September 25, 2019 @ 5:59 pm
As the sister of a police officer, I could not have been more thrilled when I was in Las Vegas in February and he sang this song. After he played this song I said out loud that he just did more for the law enforcement community than most politicians, media staff and leaders could dream of doing in recent years with rhetoric that has continued to put folks like my brother in danger. Naturally, I got some looks from the people in front of me who sat bored in a George Strait concert and scrolled Facebook the whole time (WHY WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS!?). Perhaps it’s not the most attractive single, but for members of the law enforcement community the impact of this song has already been significantly felt. I hope it does well.