Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” (Review & Roast)
Jason Aldean’s country-rap breakthrough hit “Dirt Road Anthem” is climbing the charts, and after the recent release of the video and his performance with Ludacris at the CMT Awards, I suspect it will remain in the Top 10, if not take one of the top tier spots very soon. So I thought it might be fun to peel the skin back and see what this puppy is made of. And I’ll even tie one hand behind my back by steering clear of the merits of country rap as a whole.
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First off, as I’ve said dozens of times before, 70% of the songs on mainstream country radio can be traced back to Bob Seger’s song “Night Moves”, and “Dirt Road Anthem” is the high school nostalgia rehash yet a-fucking-gain. How many times do we have to regurgitate this song people? It was parody a dozen years ago, and so were the stereotypical cornpone laundry list lyrics: The dirt roads, the ice cold beers, the backwoods; it’s as incessant as torture. Having to listen to these songs makes water-boarding sound like a refreshing summertime activity.
And if this is the “Dirt Road Anthem”, why is Jason standing on pavement during most of this song’s video? Maybe because he didn’t want to get dirt on his $700 designer jeans with customized rips painstakingly cut by Vidal Sassoon himself? Something tells me Aldean’s idea of roughing it is not getting his balls shaved that morning.
Not a specific comment about the rapping itself, but one of the reasons this song doesn’t work is because the rapping comes in completely incongruent with the rest of the song. Colt Ford, who wrote this piece of shit can pull it off because that’s his bit. He can stand there with his gut pouring over his belt buckle and a pair of panties on his head, gnawing on a chicken leg and say whatever the hell he wants because he’s not supposed to be taken seriously. But Jason Aldean is trying to sing all soulful, looking reflectively off in the distance, pensive, in the throes of nostalgia, and then all of a sudden busts into this almost satirically-stereotypical laundry list of “countryisms”. This is especially evident in the second rapping part when he says, “And we like cornbread, and biscuits. And if it’s broke round here we fix it.”
Really? Please. And by the way, the next motherfucker that name checks cornbread in a country song, I’m killing a baby animal on their behalf.
This song is such a cry by Aldean for relevancy and attention. Taylor Swift brings twice the amount of heart to her songs. And this whole mentality of how the alpha and omega of life is marked by the titles freshman and senior seems like an unhealthy youth obsession that needs to be quashed.
If you want to have a rippety rap song with country themes, grow some balls. Don’t dip your toe in the water, dive in. And if you want to have a Seger-esque nostalgia ballad, cheese it up, don’t disturb the mood with interruptive rap interludes.
This song is neither fish nor foul, very similar to the identity crisis facing country music as a whole: it wants to hold on to the stereotypical country elements, because that’s the marketing tool to suburbanites looking for escapism through the corporate country culture, but it wants to be hip as well. There’s no creative leadership, no innovation; just pandering. That’s why when you survey the landscape of popular country music, Taylor Swift looks like the most appealing option out there, and why despite her glowing weaknesses, she’s the most successful.
If you’re going to do country rap, do it right. This was the soft pedal, to ease people into the idea so they’re not too alarmed or made wise to the fact their culture is being sold from under them to help prop up dying corporations. I admit, it will probably work. But as a song, “Dirt Road Anthem” doesn’t.
Two guns down.
June 21, 2011 @ 8:29 am
Mmm… I do like me sum cornbread, boss.
June 21, 2011 @ 9:01 am
So do I. That’s why I wish these Music Row fashion plates would stop evoking it in their stupid songs.
June 21, 2011 @ 8:34 am
I admit, I love country and hip-hop both. I don’t mind the idea of a combination of the two. But I agree with you, “Dirt Road Anthem” is wimpy and cliched as hell. It just feels designed by committee.
Years ago, Ice-T talked about how the two genres had a lot in common. I’m paraphrasing here, but he said that both country and hip-hop artists wore hats and jeans to awards shows and that both genres connected strongly with working-class people. I’d love it if artists saw that now. But today, Ice-T plays a cop on one of the Law and Orders. I wonder if there’s still room for daring spirits in either genre, and if so, could they connect? Hopefully if it ever does happen, sites like yours can spotlight it, because radio and TV stations sure as hell won’t.
June 22, 2011 @ 7:31 am
This bag of douche mixing rap and country is like mixing chocolate ice cream and ranch dressing.
Fine by themselves but together, a skid mark in the respective tighty whities of country and rap music.
Oh yeah … evoking George Jones’ name in a shit show like this should automatically kick over all royalties to the old possum.
December 21, 2011 @ 12:44 pm
First off, rap ain’t freakin’ music in any shape fashion or form, it’s stupid people who are the blind leading the blind, no talent required. One idiot whinning and 10,000 following them. WOW, just mirrow that statement and you’ve got Nashville Country today…..AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!
June 21, 2011 @ 8:37 am
The state of country music and the rise of suburban cowboys like Jason Aldean are proof positive that “if it’s broke ’round here” it stays broke.
Trigger — at this point, making fun of this guy and this song is like making fun of a retarded kid, except I don’t feel bad for laughing. So keep it up.
June 21, 2011 @ 4:47 pm
ahahahaha Suburban Cowboys There’s a good name for a POP country band.
June 21, 2011 @ 8:51 am
I wrote a response song to the latest “glory days” bullshit anthem about 5 or 6 years ago- I can’t even remember which formulaic piece of shit actually sparked it, because theyr’e all the same and a new one comes out every 6 months or so. It’s called “I Never Wanna See That Place Again”. Definitely need to record that one.
Just like Triggerman said- how many ridiculous cliche’s can you cram into one song? It baffles me that people buy this shit. The only thing positive that comes out of songs like these? Clear-cut examples of what sucks.
June 21, 2011 @ 2:00 pm
I wanna hear that song!
May 15, 2013 @ 11:48 am
It was probably something by Kenny Chesney. Say what you will about other artists, but he’s one of the few where literally ALL of his songs follow the same formulas: beach, girls, parties, back in the good old days, takin’ it easy. Name me a hit of his that doesn’t pander to these tropes?
May 15, 2013 @ 1:59 pm
“She Think’s My Tractor’s Sexy,” but that’s even worse.
May 15, 2013 @ 5:00 pm
Girls? I mentioned that :). Either way, I guess you’re right; it’s a completely different song when compared with his output from the last ten years. That was the late 90’s, if I remember correctly, and it’s been a while.
June 21, 2011 @ 8:59 am
I can’t believe I just heard what I just heard. Holy fuck.
June 21, 2011 @ 9:42 am
Trigger,
You mention the song is a suburbanites marketing tool, yet here in definitely rural NW Oklahoma “Dirt Road Anthem” is one of my radio station’s most requested songs. People here feel their way of life is under attack. Witness constant facebook viral posts about “they’re trying to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance” and “atheists are trying to take God out of Christmas”, even though their conservative views currently hold the power. (Even saw one posts claiming the “liberal media” is paying more attention to Palin’s emails than Weinergate…WTF?!?!) They need to feel like the underdog, and songs like this are like a statement of rebellion against the urbanization of the nations. (Yes, it is ironic it uses the urban music style) They don’t care about how slick Aldean is, they hear the lyrics glorifying their lifestyle.
(On a side note, to show how bi-polar my audience is, a song just a popular as Aldean is the quite good Turnpike Troubador’s “Long Hot Summer Days”)
June 21, 2011 @ 11:54 am
The world is full of dumb-asses. They don’t ALL live in cities.
June 21, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
Hey shadegrown back of the guy. I agree with what your saying man our lifestyle is under attack. But i agree with trigg Aldean is a poser and so are all these city fags listening to it thinking there country. Around here in western nc Justin Moore is king and he is the greatest country singer in the past 10 years. By the way his new albums out today and its fuckin awesome. And as for all you city fags who think your country you can kiss my ass.
June 21, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
Surely you jest. Justin Moore might be more country, whatever that means, but his songs are cut from the same cloth as Aldean’s. Same jeans, shorter inseam.
June 22, 2011 @ 7:43 am
Blake Shelton, ladies and gentlemen! Let’s hear it for him!
June 23, 2011 @ 4:40 pm
exactly, you hit the nail on the head, whos to judge what country people litsen to other than country people? no one, especially not this wannabe country critic
December 21, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
WHAT! Thay’re trying to take God out of ????? You, we, they, no man can take God anywhere. He is God! The only true argument here is that those who claim to follow Christ always look for someone else to blame. Get real, the only thing that can take God out of the picture is weak kneed so called christians who are the majority but sit home and whine instead of getting off yer ass and doing something about it….you are the majority! THEY is YOU! not a song.
June 21, 2011 @ 11:50 am
ROFLMAO at the review. And I mean that in a good way! Cornbread and ball-shaving. I’m still laughing. Thanks.
June 21, 2011 @ 3:29 pm
The thing that pisses me off the most is when Aldean throws my heroes names around in his pop country hip hop bull shit songs. People use Jones, Cash, and Waylon’s names to make them seem legit. “blastin out to Johnny Cash”, “laid back swervin like i’m George Jones.” please…. He probably can’t name ten Jones or Cash songs
December 21, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
And damned sure can’t sing one!
June 21, 2011 @ 3:55 pm
Aldean is probably the worst thing in country right now. It’s obvious that he does WHATEVER the record execs tell him to do. He has the cowboy hat, genuine looking jeans that, like you said, cost 700 dollars, and a pearl snap button up, and claims to be country, but I can’t think of anyone farther from. He is a douchebag.
June 23, 2011 @ 4:36 pm
since when did $40 wranglers cost $700, stop making up bullsh*t “facts”
June 23, 2011 @ 4:50 pm
I have it from a reliable source that Vidal Sasoon charged Jason $660 to painstakingly make designer rips in those jeans, constituting them to be worth $700. It’s true. This guy I know told me. His name is Doug.
Seriously dude it’s a joke. Laugh a little. You’re taking this way too seriously, and that means a lot coming from me.
September 24, 2011 @ 9:50 am
Seriously, they are $45 Wranglers. He probably ripped them himself and splashed some bleach on them, and he wears the same clothes…over and over. And over.
Fashion is not one of his strong points. Go make fun of Luke Bryan’s jeans.
August 15, 2011 @ 11:20 pm
Agreed. I really can’t stand Jason Aldean. Something about him just rubs me the wrong way. The chorus isn’t terrible but the cliche rap lyrics are awful. And I also loved the ball shaving comment.
January 9, 2012 @ 2:10 pm
you are wrong
May 15, 2013 @ 12:02 pm
You’re completely right about him being a tool of corporate Nashville. Would it surprise you to know that he moved to the city to be a songwriter? He gave up for some reason (probably couldn’t get a hit). He co-wrote a few of the songs on his debut and hasn’t since. He just cuts whatever the execs tell him to, it seems like. Have you ever noticed that about half of his hits are covers? “Amarillo Sky” (McBride & The Ride), “Johnny Cash” (Tracy Byrd), “The Truth” (Trent Willmon), “My Kinda Party” (Brantley Gilbert), “Dirt Road Anthem” (Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert) and maybe one or two more. And again, these are COVERS; someone heard these songs (maybe an exec, maybe Aldean) and decided that he should record them. The only differences between the versions are the heavy guitars that Aldean favors and his frequently weaker and monotonous vocals. The tunes and incantations are exactly the same, more or less. Ironically, he actually improved “Dirt Road Anthem,” which was just a Rap song before. Now it’s COUNTRY Rap. Yay!
June 21, 2011 @ 4:02 pm
I have never, never understood the draw to this guy??? The label puts him up like he is something special when he is a 2nd rate, hat wearing Keith Urban at best.
This guys is a joke.
June 23, 2011 @ 4:33 pm
keith urban sucks, jason aint that bad
July 2, 2011 @ 6:19 pm
Keith Urban is one of best pickers out there. I’m not defending his cheesy ass pop songs, just saying that he has a ton of talent…. Unlike Jason Aldeen
June 21, 2011 @ 6:04 pm
my coworker loves that song and whenever it comes on (5 times a frickin day) she turns it up. I normally check to make sure my ears aren’t bleeding after.
June 21, 2011 @ 6:36 pm
This song is just a loop of the canned vocabulary of wanna-be country cliches of the last 20 years. The songwriting process most likely went something like this:
“‘Dirt road’: check. ‘Cold beer’: check. ‘Cornbread’: check. ‘Fixing things’: check. ‘Small town’: check. ‘Good times’: check. ‘Obligatory mention of George Jones’: check.” The shameless namedropping for credibility makes songs like this that much harder to swallow. They loft themselves on the shoulders of country’s greatest performers, despite the fact that their music is chiseling away at the foundation guys like George and Johnny built. Do they refrain from name dropping guys like Pierce, Snow, Acuff and Gibson because they’ve never head of them, or because their fans have never heard of them?
I tend to get saddle sores from sitting on this high horse of mine, but when you grow up on a dirt road and actually live a country lifestyle, it’s easy to recognize when some yuppy private school jackoff is cashing in on your way of life. Sadly, the people that live the lifestyle are paying money they don’t have to listen to this watered down bullshit, just so the guy that’s dancing on their backs can buy another sports car and wipe his ass with the country ideal.
June 22, 2011 @ 7:27 am
“Do they refrain from name dropping guys like Pierce, Snow, Acuff and Gibson because they”™ve never head of them, or because their fans have never heard of them?”
One of the best comments I have read! They jump on the Cash wagon because “Walk the Line” came out, but couldn’t name a song beyond Folsom or Ring of Fire. They jump on Jones because he has allowed himself to become the “go to” guy, outside of Hank Jr., for harkening back to the old way, when the Aldean’s of the world don’t know shit about the old way.
One guy out of Nashville is influenced by Pierce, Snow, Acuff and Gibson types. But he doesn’t drop their names in every other line or every other song.
June 21, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
This song is neither fish nor foul
Oh, I’m sure it’s quite foul, indeed. 😉
June 21, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Erm, are we sure this song isn’t a parody?!?
June 23, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
200%
June 21, 2011 @ 10:13 pm
Country writers and artists lose me when they start trying to out country each other. While they should be writing songs about honest stories that come from the heart, they seem to be trying to convince us how country they are. For an example, how about Dirt Road Anthem VS. Run By George Strait.. I have also come to dread the mention of dirt, mud, clay. red dirt,Georgia clay, mud on the tires or any combination of the aforementioned. Great ideas by the ones who first thought of them, but please quit making me sick.Same with where the black top ends. Brooks and Dunn did that already.
Justin Moore is definitely a country guy and I don’t have anything against him,but his new record is called Outlaws Like Me. Get real Justin.
As for Taylor Swift, she may be the writer currently working today, who is closest to Hank Williams in her approach. Yes, Hank wrote breakup songs. Yes, Hanks songs read like entries from a Diary. Yes, many of Hanks songs were to and about someone in particular.
I don’t want to criticize Jason Aldean or anyone for trying to make a buck. What is he supposed to say, OK some of you don’t like my music so I’ll just have to retire?
Hey Jason, Put out some music a little more like “Run” You could kill a song like that.
June 22, 2011 @ 7:01 am
OH! I love Run by George Strait.
YOU CAN’T GET HERE FAST ENOUGH . . . 🙂
June 22, 2011 @ 8:01 am
OH! and one last thing Tom . . . Taylor Swift is no where near Hank Williams in approach and style. Sorry. Grasping at straws. Luke the Drifter read like entries, so does “Cold Cold Heart” but nowhere near the caliber is Taylor Swift’s ditties, and that’s my opinion on it.
June 22, 2011 @ 2:38 pm
There is a difference between approach and substance. Miss Swift will have to experience much more pain and sorrow to come close to Hank in that respect, but when and if she does, you can bet she will write about it and do it well. As it is, she speaks to millions who love her as much as you and I and love Hank Williams. It is because of what they do share. Honesty from the heart,and not endless songs about mud.
June 22, 2011 @ 8:51 am
Did I just hear “Taylor Swift” and “Hank Williams” in the same sentence? I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.
June 25, 2011 @ 3:19 pm
Hank would love her.
June 25, 2011 @ 3:30 pm
George Strait does,Alan Jackson does, Kriss Kristofferson does,Tim Mcgraw does, Faith Hill does, Neal young does, Brad paisley does, Reba does; I could go on and on.
July 3, 2011 @ 9:45 am
I don’t think we should try and guess what Hank would or wouldn’t love. But Taylor Swift, whether you like her or not, has no business being put in the same conversation as Hank Williams Sr. That’s like comparing John Mayer to Robert Johnson. Just don’t.
December 21, 2011 @ 1:03 pm
I feel the ground shaking, run everyone it’s an earthquake…..no wait….it’s okay…it was just Ol’ Hank Rollin’ over in his grave! H. Jr. I may believe with his antics….kid rock, you kiddin’ me! where’s H. Jr and who is that in his mind!
June 23, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
i really see no big deal with “outlaws like me”
June 24, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
I like the guy. It’s just, he hasn’t robbed any banks that I know of and he hasn’t moved to another state and started his own label to avoid the mean, bad and nasty Nashville music industry. He hasn’t smoked pot on the roof of the Capital as the redheaded stranger outlaw has and i’m sure, like Waylon, he doesn’t have to worry about if Hank done it this way . I’m sure his record label Big Machine Records( The house that Taylor built) doesn’t require that he be anything but clean cut and totally lawful.
All kidding aside, He was probably told by experts in the industry( Big Machine) that this was a good title for his album. I defer to the Indie label what believed in a 14 year old girl who got turned down by the big labels and turned the music industry,all genre, up side down. OMG, an outlaw.
December 21, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
I agree, he could kill a song like that….matter of fact, he could KILL ANY SONG!!!!!!!
August 21, 2015 @ 7:44 pm
Its funny how everybody is saying that country music needs to tell real stories. This is a real story. I dont know about yall but i have been tailgating on dirt roads before. This is a song about what country people like me actually do. How is it not country music? I dont know how country Jason aldean is and i dont care. So what if hes not? The song is. Yall just hate on everything thats new or cliche. Do you know why so many country songs are about this stuff? Its because this is what country people do. Chillin on a dirt road is country as hell.
June 22, 2011 @ 2:54 am
I thought Brantley Gilbert wrote this song (originally for Colt Ford). Didn’t Gilbert also write Aldean’s ‘My Kind of Party’?
June 22, 2011 @ 2:03 pm
gilbert wrote it with colt ford. gilbert already had the guitar and chorus, then he and colt finished it up together
June 23, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
yes he wrote both of thoose songs, he writes virtually all jasons songs and they always sound better with gilbert singing them.
September 24, 2011 @ 9:17 am
Jason has cut THREE songs by Brantley Gilbert. Hardly ALL of them. He also has recorded a few songs by John Rich. And has utilized many other writers more than once.
The first time I heard Dirt Road Anthem, I started laughing. LAUGHING…and I freaking love Jason Aldean. I could not believe it was released as a single and it just proves that Jason could basically sing phone numbers and crude messages written on a bathroom wall and turn it into a hit.
Who cares. He’s sexy and I like his music, along with millions of other people. Dont hate.
DRA has grown on me. Brantley Gilbert is a great song writer (Best of Me=LOVE) but he’s no Jason Aldean.
December 21, 2011 @ 1:10 pm
Writin’ s*#t on a bathroom wall and making a hit???? once you understand what a hit consist of, i’ll explain… today a hit is made according to how many millions of dollars you spend on advertisement. How much shelf space your label rents at walmart, you’ll find out of a million seller record, 99.9% of them are laying in a warehouse collecting dust until some flea marketer buys them at auction for 2 cents on the dollar and starts selling them for 2.99 to truck stop cowboys! a hit….n ot likely!
June 22, 2011 @ 8:08 am
I’ve noticed the Triggerman making references to Taylor Swift being actually pretty talented, or could be, if you set aside all the POP country hoopla and such.
Who wants to do a Taylor Swift cover the way it should be done?
June 22, 2011 @ 7:28 pm
Triggerman actually IS Taylor Swift.
June 22, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
Quit it! I refuse to think Triggerman has an alter ego that has curls, giggles and sings about his mean boyfriends.
December 21, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
ha ha ha…that actually makes sense….i think!
June 22, 2011 @ 10:09 am
Great comment about Pierce, Snow, and Acuff! Most “country” fans I talk to don’t even know who those people are. Most of the people around here (southeast Ohio/northern West Virginia) eat that Aldean/Shelton/Church crap up. For me, the downhill slide began with “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” by Kenny Chesney. When that song first came out, I thought, that’s so stupid, nobody is going to listen to that kind of crap. Fifteen years later…..well, you know the sad truth.
June 22, 2011 @ 10:50 am
“She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” made me give up on radio country altogether. I am not willing to wade through a river of shit because there’s a chance I might find a gem somewhere along the way.
June 22, 2011 @ 3:15 pm
I admit I thought it was clever when I first heard it, because, sorry fellas, but some women do think farmers are sexy. I was married to one, so I can speak upon that with total confidence and not feel saddened by the fact that POP country really does suck. I just didn’t know it then. Now, after finding out through real life experiences, I know the difference between POP country and REAL country. There is a big gap and some of y’all know it too. The POP country lovers want to defend it, but the REAL country lovers ain’t havin’ it.
July 2, 2011 @ 6:21 pm
HaHa… I’ve been saying for years, that “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” was responsible for all of this shit.
December 27, 2011 @ 1:15 pm
GARTH BROOKS….started this shit, when he hit the air waves Coutry went stright to HELL!!!
June 22, 2011 @ 2:01 pm
first off, i honestly don’t think his jeans cost 700 bucks, he has a deal with wrangler, he’s the spokesman for the “retro” line of jeans. you can buy them at your local western store for like 40 bucks, but he probably gets his for free. secondly, i’m not defending all of the laundry list songs, especially not this one, but being from the country you kinda want something you can relate to and singin about cornbread and bustin ass for 40 hours is something i can relate too. you forget that music has to be number one believable, and number two relateable. i’m not defending this song, but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
June 22, 2011 @ 6:05 pm
The lyrics I can relate to — I grew up on a dirt road, I grew up on George Jones, I grew up on 120 acres in a town of 74 people in the hills of West Virginia. But you know who didn’t do any of those things? Jason Aldean. He grew up in a private school in “old money” Georgia. It’s not the message I have a problem with, it’s the messenger. The same lyrics, coming from a guy who actually lived it, would make all the difference in the world. Country music used to be the most honest music out there. This song’s not honest — everything about it feels forced, and the fact that he “raps” in it shows that he’s not even trying to hide it. The song, and by association the singer, are nothing but a gimmick. Is the gimmick working? Sadly, the answer is yes.
June 23, 2011 @ 3:32 pm
Well, I was born on the in the hills of western pa. on the w. va. line, but i grew up in georgia. I went to a private school, but my family wasn’t rich. You’d be surprised how many private schools there are in the country in the south. Aldean grew up around macon, and that’s a fairly “country” area. Not that I’m defending him, I just have a hard time putting him down because I remember him before he went to nashville.
September 24, 2011 @ 9:32 am
You are making a lot of assumptions.
First of all, you most certainly don’t have to be RICH to go to a private school.
Secondly, the median household income in Macon is about $26K, which is almost HALF of the MHI for the state. The MHI where I live (in the country) is $60K+—the city I live by is $40K and IT is a shithole, so I can’t even imagine what living in Macon is like.
My next point is, regardless of how Aldean grew up (of which, you have no idea), I was unaware there were pre-requisites for being a country singer.
Keith Urban sings in a fake accent and isn’t even American. So…there ya go.
June 22, 2011 @ 7:26 pm
I can’t decide if this is rap/country—“Runtry” or country/rap….”Countrap”….
Just for the record I still live on a dirt road so I think I qualify more than most to judge this clump of sonic fecal matter…FAIL!
July 2, 2011 @ 6:24 pm
it’s real simple…. just call it “Crap”
June 22, 2011 @ 9:25 pm
(Playing devils advocate, here) Another thought in defense of the whole “song about being country” theme. I touched on this earlier. As communication and media continue to homogenize American society, people gravitate toward themes and ideas they can use to show they are NOT like everyone else. There is a fear among those in middle America that their way of life is under attack by more powerful “elites” on East and West coasts. Middle America see songs like this as a middle finger thrust in coast’s direction.
Also, your average middle America country music listener doesn’t in one-millionth of the amount of thought into what they listen to as those who post in blogs like this. Its that old stereotype…they like it cause its got a good beat and they can dance to it…and the lyrics are easy to sing along. Music is escapism. They’re lives are too busy to put any thought into what they listen to. They like what they like cause they like it.
June 22, 2011 @ 10:11 pm
….Eric Church’s “Homeboy” is prime example of this
September 24, 2011 @ 9:33 am
I like it.
June 23, 2011 @ 4:19 pm
not related to this song, you are in no way shape or form country my friend. Your articles make me sick or pissed sometimes both, you ramble on and on and on about bullsh*t. You think your sitting up on a throne all high and mighty as the know all country king, but here in the real world, you are a wannabe-know it all-asshole critic. you should really sit back and look at yourself before you go crucifying every artist that even thinks about opening they’re mouths to sing. I havent seen an article where you actually complemented any one. What you need is an old fashioned country ass whoopin to knock some fu*king sense in your head. I recall you putting down eric church for saying he is “next in line for greatness” but you are on the same page, only you’ve never made a hit song, you just feel that youre already great, and anyone else is a piece of fu*king sh*t. shut your fu*king mouth and find something you can do where you dont have ever say or type a word to any one before you get your lip swollen shut by someone.
June 23, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
First off, no need to censor yourself. We don’t believe in censorship around here.
Second, I support music all the time. It’s not my fault you only read the negative articles. Click “Home” in the top left and you’ll find a whole page of positive articles. Hell, I’ve written three articles supporting music since I wrote this one.
I understand you’re a Jason Aldean fan and I respect that you’re coming here to defend him, but you’re not doing him or yourself any good by making wild-ass assumptions about how I’m a “wanna-be” anything. Bring some substance to your argument, please. Honestly, I’d really like to hear the defense of this song from a true Jason Aldean fan.
And you’re right, I’ve never written a “hit” song.
June 30, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
I applaud you Triggerman. I dont think I could have held my composure like that.
September 24, 2011 @ 9:41 am
I am a true Aldean fan.
um…ugh…ummm…well..?
Sorry, I know a lot of people like this song and it was insanely popular. As I posted above, I laughed at it when I first heard it. Not his best work.
My only defense of it is I guess it is better than the sweaty Colt Ford version.
And he looks real good in the video, on the paved road.
June 23, 2011 @ 4:48 pm
Jason Aldean deserves every bit of critism, because he flat out sucks. He’s first album was somewhat good, but everything until now has been watered down, cliche, and every other criticizing word out..However, I’m with you on the Eric Church part. Carolina was not that great, but Sinners like Me was some seriously good stuff. The title track alone gives him some credibility. I’m also with Trigger about how he promotes himself. In my honest opinion, that’s one of the very few downfalls of Church. I also have a feeling that his upcoming album will be on par with sinners like me. Just because someone is making a lot of money doesn’t mean they aren’t making good tunes.
June 24, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
Wow dude, that’s pretty harsh. I don’t always agree with trig, but his hearts in the right place. He’s fighting the good fight. Country music is in a downhill spiral and he’s doing his part to try to save it.
June 24, 2011 @ 8:12 pm
I just wanted to add my criticism- the central focus of that (above) photo of him is his tightly packed crotch. Blech. I feel like he should be advertising a sperm bank or something…
June 25, 2011 @ 9:21 am
It’s the same old formula in reverse: make him look like a sex symbol and you’ll hook the ladies. It’s tired and blase.
June 25, 2011 @ 7:48 am
Him dancing in the middle of the road is too awkward to watch.
June 25, 2011 @ 11:12 am
This song seriously blows. Did he forget who Cowboy Troy is? Everyone should start calling his label, his publicist, and his management company. I did it last week. Although the lady at his label kinda agreed as much as she could, she asked me to call his publicist and his management company. I called them both. His manager was not available but the nasty and very offended lady answering the phone was almost in tears defending him. Wow.
Jason Aldean needs to be punished for this song by calling his management, label, and the radio stations who play this song. Tell them every time they play the song, your forced to change the station.
Country Rap Is Here: A Survival Guide « Saving Country Music
June 26, 2011 @ 10:26 am
[…] week, as I predicted, off of the strength of Jason Aldean’s country rap song “Dirt Road Anthem”, his […]
June 26, 2011 @ 11:13 am
I’ve always taken the high-road with Jason Aldean, because despite that fucking “Johnny Cash” song that had NOTHING to do with the man in black, I really never had anything against the guy. This “Dirt Road Anthem” bit is just too much to swallow. Everything about it is forced and contrived. I’m no fan of hip-hop but I can say that his delivery is stiff, awkward, and has no fucking flow whatsoever. It’s already ripe for mockery and the fact that some will embrace this shit is depressing. Is this what I’ve been missing on mainstream radio?
June 27, 2011 @ 11:47 am
wow u have no live is all u do is put down a song thst colt ford asked jason aldean to do cause they are not money grubbing assholes like all of u r
June 27, 2011 @ 11:51 am
Deep.
Thanks for bringing such substance to the discussion.
June 27, 2011 @ 5:05 pm
The majority of the internet is composed of people who are probably legally retarded. Accept it and move on. And be happy that he agrees with you.
June 27, 2011 @ 12:38 pm
I could never make it past the first chorus of this song. But I did today.
Why does he rap in a different voice than just talking it through. That “might” make this not so cliched. I mean, forgive the stereotype, but he tries to sound like a black rapper rather than just talk the words as a white country singer.
And what the fuck is with the earings dude? Your not an NBA player.
You wanna be a pretty boy, be a pretty boy.
But don’t claim to be riding around with a marlboro and bud in the console when we know it is a winecooler and your pulling off a virginia slim. What a home slice.
He should tour with Aaron Lewis. They can have a pissing contest on who can list country themes the best in a shit song.
June 27, 2011 @ 5:03 pm
As a straight up rap fan, I find these last few posts by trigger rather funny. At the end of the day there will be two genres, rap and country? Um, no. There will always be combinations of rock and rap, due to some of their similarities (heavy bass, invented by black people, etc), but the two will always maintain their own identities as well. Tupac will never be rock, the Beatles will never be rap. And neither of them will ever be country.
Dirt Road Anthem? Total crap. But for different reasons than the rest of you. I don’t care that he’s a shitty country singer rehashing the same thing over and over again. By the way, back in the good ol’ days, the majority of the people in them couldn’t wait until they were over. It bothers me that this fuckface dared to rap. That goes for a lot of people. The fact that it was then combined with that totally unrelated, and clearly not at all rap friendly hook, is absurd. Here’s an idea. Let rappers rap. Then kill half of them, because honestly, a lot of pop rappers should be euthanized. If you’re a country singer, sing country. That way when you release a song where you try to rap, I won’t have to hear confused listeners trying to recommend this song to me. By the way, that’s why I’m here. For any of you trolls out there.
Anyway, trigger, I think your bias toward country has made you a bit unrealistic. And I think you’ve been supported by the majority of the people on this site because they share that bias. Well the voice of reason has arrived. Maybe country needs rap, but rap doesn’t need country. And under no circumstances will I allow my music to absorb any of the filth that is country.
Now, although I just said that, I’m not straight up trying to offend anyone. I hate country. But I accept that I don’t speak for everyone, that each has a right to his/her opinions, etc. So it’s filth from my perspective. Not from yours, whoever you are. You like it. I get it.
Anyway, Lil Wayne and KiD CuDi may have tried rock, but they haven’t tried country. Luda might have hopped on this song, but he was also on that Beiber song. The man’s lost it. I miss the old Luda. He’s one of the ones that was good, and still is when he’s in the right mindset, who just decided to be stupid.
The point I’m getting at here is that country is not as important to American music as you seem to think it is. I know it’s a big deal and all, but claiming it will ultimately be one of the only two genres left? No sir. Indie, punk rock, rock, alternative, all that stuff. It’s not going anywhere.
Finally, let’s discuss Big K.R.I.T.’s “Country Shit” (featuring Ludacris and Bun B). Not sure how to start this. Did you listen to the song, or did you just see ‘country’ in the name and assume that rap was adopting themes from country music?
For starters, the ghetto version of country, and your version of country, are incredibly unrelated. In your version, you hang black people. In KRIT, Luda, and Bun’, there are only black people. Wow, went right for the throat there, didn’t I? Killin em with hyperbole. What I’m getting at is they aren’t the same. KRIT grew up in Mississippi, and he wasn’t driving a pickup truck, riding horses, wearing cowboy hats/boots, or hanging out with blond chicks wearing denim and flannel. Same goes for Luda (Atlanta) and Bun B (Port Arthur, Texas; near Houston). Notice that they’re all from the south. That’s the country in rap. Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi. Florida’s down there, yes, but they don’t tend to rep the south as much for some reason. I don’t even know how to express what I’m trying to get across here. At the end of the day what I’m saying is they’re totally different. Maybe you should go into this assuming that the term country was a coincidence, not representative of a relationship. Substitute it for ‘Third Coast’ (the south), I imagine that isn’t widely used in country music. They are totally unrelated concepts. Except that they’re less urban environments, but that’s the only similarity.
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To recap, for those of you who are TL;DR fans, I agree with most of your statements (outside of rap), and agree the song sucks. I think there are other reasons for why the song sucks, and I think it’s absurd for rap and country to be the last genres standing. That’s your bias talking. The end.
June 27, 2011 @ 6:10 pm
Yes, I am a country music fan, but I am also a tireless music geek at studying the trends in music overall, and try my best to shelve my country leanings when doing so.
You should read this, and take special note of the stats below.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/the-future-of-music-the-mono-genre-micro-genres
Rap gained in sales last year. Country dropped just slightly, 2.4%. This is what happened to the other genres:
Rock -down 16%
Alternative ”“ down 25%
Metal -down 16%
Christian/gospel ”“ down 13%
Classical ”“ down 26%
Jazz ”“ down 25%
Latin ”“ down 25%
New Age ”“ down 29%
R&B ”“ down 17%
Soundtracks ”“ down 14%
June 27, 2011 @ 8:10 pm
To address some of the points you covered: people in the good old days wanted them to end? That’s the craziest piece of propaganda I’ve heard yet. My grandma told me stories of growing up on the farm, getting up with the chickens to get the eggs for breakfast, gather the cream for the day, and an honest days work and hard times and struggles were part of life. They sat around listening to the victrola but never did they sit around and think they wanted them over. That’s the demise of society talking. Talk about bias. Kids nowadays can’t see past the edges of their Xboxes and IPOD’s playin’ all that crappy crap that they want you to think is good music.
There was a time in my musical appreciation when I thought blending genre’s was cohesive and inevitable. Now it’s just bland and ridiculous. I get rap. I get country. Putting the two together for the sake of making money is what sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Jason Aldean wants to be a country rapper? What does that really mean? He wants to talk about the drug deals goin’ down yonder? What about them country hoes? Is he spinnin’ 24’s and gold tooth displayin? Is he bringin’ it to you crump style? He got soul in his banjo, cuz, and smokin’ those blunts NYC style, diggity dog. Fo real.
But seriously, what exactly is the ghetto style of country?
June 28, 2011 @ 6:24 am
“Putting the two together for the sake of making money is what sounds like nails on a chalkboard.”
Denise, well put. I agree.
As I stated above, this song might not be the complete shit show it is if Aldean would have talked out the “rap” parts vs. trying to go all “gangsta” speak on us. Call it stereotyping (some probably call it racist…which is incorrect) but Aldean tries to sound like an urban (not just African American, cause some white kids sound like this) guy rapping.
to Thejewforyou- I don’t agree that country and rap will be the only genres left, but I don’t follow the point your trying to make at all? You yourself are being bias if you think the music Trig is trying to save represents “hangings”. Obviously your jumping to the conclusion that a fiddle and redneck speak can only mean you want to hang black people. (I would say African American, but the insinuation is so rediculous it doesn’t warrant it.)
And you talk about “flith” in country music? Can you please define flith? I think we can find more examples of “flith” in rap. And the argument of “they are singing about real street/urban life” to condone the flith… then I say, get your shit together and change your street/urban life.
June 28, 2011 @ 2:31 pm
This is trash beginning to end. He is a no talent hack and to listen to or buy his music is even worse. Glad I live in Texas where we have our own brand of music that cant be touched by the likes of this asswipe and his Nashville bretheren. Yall can keep this shit and GAC or CMT and shove it.
July 3, 2011 @ 12:27 am
Is that Toby Keiths new lady friend?
July 5, 2011 @ 7:39 am
I myself recently wrote a review for this song, and then read triggermans brilliant critique here. I gotta say, I pretty much share the same sentiment about this joke of a song, and on a personal level, just really hate it. It really does sound like a gaspy dying breath from the depths of Nashville. Its awful! However, a friend of mine sent me a link to Colt and Gilberts original recording of this song, checked it out- and one thing I CAN say is that as much as I dislike Colt Ford as a writer, at least in his version he’s not pretending to be country. There was one MASSIVE difference between Aldean singing it and Ford- when Ford and Brantley performed it the lyric says “laid back rolling to some george jones.” NOT “laid back swerving like im george jones”…. just something i’ve been forced to chew upon, so take that for whats its worth. I AM curious to know who’s grand idea it was to change those few words so it suddenly became a comparison between Aldean and Jones..?
July 20, 2011 @ 6:11 am
This son is EVERYTHING that is wrong with country music today! When did hillbilly chic become the standard? I have said this every since Kenny Chesney started rising to the top years ago. Jason Aldean also sings through his nose which is like fingernails on a chalk board to me so, I turn the radio station when he comes on.
November 29, 2011 @ 1:31 pm
Why, at 2:53, does he look like he’s totally scoping out the young boys, and not in a “I’m gonna break up the fight” way!
December 27, 2011 @ 2:56 pm
jason aldean rock’s i love his songs and my oldest boy can sing them right along with the cd or radio
February 18, 2012 @ 9:42 pm
Everybody is a critic! Every body has an opinion and an A**hole. Here is mine… If you like the sound of a tune, the words of a song keep it, make it your song. Who cares and nobody should try to make you feel inferior or belittle you for liking it. Hell, Barney the Dinosaur brought joy to millions of kids hearts.
February 21, 2012 @ 2:21 am
How many of you Jason Aldean haters can sell out a concert of 25 thousand people in 4 minutes? Fuck all you assholes your just jealous cause you can’t sing and your as ugly as hell!
May 3, 2012 @ 10:48 pm
your a moron
May 3, 2012 @ 10:53 pm
I should specify. Your a moron for the following reasons, “if your going to do country rap do it right”…? You write on a website called saving country music and u make a comment like that? Country rap is never right or ok. And your giving props to Taylor Swift? Nothing against her but talk about a singer who is the complete opposite of country music. No ill feelings towards any of the singers you are talking about, just you. Learn your REAL country music before you start typing again. So once again…MORON!
November 28, 2016 @ 6:14 pm
Learn your grammar before you start typing again.# ”you’re”
May 15, 2013 @ 12:08 pm
Trigger, if you think this version is bad, you HAVE to hear the original. I’m not sure what album it debuted on, but this “Revisited” (with a new intro) version from Brantley Gilbert’s “Halfway to Heaven” album is a treat. I know you’ll probably have a heart attack hearing your two favorite artists (Gilbert, Colt Ford) in the same song, but you simply MUST endure it! It’s guaranteed to make your ears bleed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzEMzh9RcH0
May 15, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
Wow. Horrible.
Is Gilbert taking some sort of PED or HGH? He was about 130lbs. in those photos, now he is about 160lbs. Or maybe he just got a smaller, tighter Affliction shirt?
February 12, 2014 @ 12:01 am
There was no doubt in my egoʼs mind that I would add Ê»Songwriter on a Grammy winning Album” to my list of accolades after the Grammys. After all, I was on the CMA and ACA winning Ê»Country Album Of The Yearʼ thanks to Blake Sheltonʼs Platinum certified “Based On A True Story”.
Source:http://www.nashville.com/music/2014/02/opinion-tired-of-pickup-truck-and-dirt-road-songs-listen-to-the-girls/