Kid Rock Releases “First Kiss” to Country (Review)
So the “Wet Cigarette of Country Music” wants to dip his toes into the sharky waters of country music radio again, huh? Well I guess it couldn’t be any worse than what’s already there.
Kid Rock must have led the most idyllic, kick ass adolescence and young adulthood imaginable if you go by the testimony of his songs. His entire career has been taking his cues from fellow ‘Gander Bob Seger and singing about how he’d love to go back and live it all again. That, and stealing riffs from other people’s established hits has been Kid’s truck now for 25 years. In Kid Rock songs all the chicks are hot and you can still water ski in mid-December, when in reality the majority of Kid Rock’s rearing was spent smoking marijuana behind Burger King’s, getting his ass kicked for being the white Run DMC of his town, and masturbating to water-logged copies of Playboy out in the woods by a trailer park in cold-ass Michigan.
It’s pretty easy to use Kid Rock and his greasy hair as a punching bag, but he set himself up with this new “First Kiss” single, specifically sent to country radio. This song has been done, and done again, and then done some more, and then redundantly done until it was run into the ground, and just to make sure every single bit of life has been exhaustively squeezed out of this nostalgic concept before Kid Rock is forced to stop touring from liver failure, he’s done it one last final time. Hopefully, at least.
It’s not that this song is bad as much as it’s so incredibly tired and unnecessary. And to make it worse, Mr. Ritchie assures its redundancy by shoehorning one cliché lyric after another.
“I turn my stereo up and roll my windows down.” — Yeah yeah Kid Rock.
“Oh how I wish that I could go back in time.” — Don’t we all.
“We’d break up just to make up.” — Kill me now.
Meanwhile the music of “First Kiss” sits down in this tired old mid-tempo version of schlock rock that just feels like it’s going through the motions—Kid’s raspy vocals not completely unimpressive and attempting to instill some life into this incredibly worn-out shuck of a song, but in no way redeeming the effort. It’s not that the wheels are falling of just yet, but the tires are bald and it all feels like it’s running on borrowed time. At least that “All Summer Long” song had some life instilled into it from the Lynyrd Skynyrd and Warren Zevon samples.
One thing that sucks about this being Kid Rock’s re-entry into country radio is that his earlier dalliances weren’t all that bad when going back and giving them a second listen. “Picture” from 2003 with Allison Moorer / Sheryl Crow is an easy-to-admit-to guilty pleasure, and his cover of David Allan Coe’s “Single Father” wouldn’t stop you from listening.
As strange as it may sound, Kid Rock is actually in this unusual position to be able to come to country radio with some authority and possibly ruffle the feathers of this new cocksure class conspiring at the top of the charts. Greasy hair or not, Rock has always come to the country format with a level of respect most of country’s current artists can’t even comprehend.
Furthermore, Kid Rock has been known to speak out about things such as lip-syncing and Autotune in the past. Don’t get me wrong, Kid also has blood on his own hands from being one of the pioneers of country rap and other Cancerous trends in Americana popular music, but maybe that would put him in a position where the young pups who need a good slap on the backside would actually listen to him if he said there should be more respect for country’s roots, as he’s alluded to before when he said, “I think what country can do to better its image is to be more themselves to try not to be part of the pop world and not try to be part of the mainstream.”
But I guess that’s all wishful thinking. In the end “First Kiss” is being released to country simply to snag some attention for Kid Rock as his stock slowly dwindles and the support of rock radio continues to evaporate. There’s nothing country about it, and just like other “country” singles, it’s taking advantage of the fact that the format at the moment is a rudderless ship.
In a vacuum, this isn’t a terrible song. But from the amount of times it’s been done, it’s pretty much an immediate punch out.
1 1/2 of 2 Guns Down.
May 1, 2015 @ 9:51 am
First comment for the first time ever!
It is not a bad song, but like you wrote, it has been done to death and he really doesn’t give any new spin to the song.
May 1, 2015 @ 9:58 am
Waiting for the legions of Kid Rock fans to come call you a douchebag.
May 1, 2015 @ 12:49 pm
They haven’t had a chance to recharge the data plan on their TracFone yet this month, give them a few days.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:08 am
I liked this song better when it was called “Summer of ’69”
May 1, 2015 @ 10:30 am
Hahaha, you beat me to it! 😉
May 1, 2015 @ 1:54 pm
Damn you guys!!! Exactly what I as thinking.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:14 am
I’d rather listen to Kid Rock reminisce about being young than hear overaged country bros sing about acting young. But yeah, this song is cliched, overdone, and not at all original. In fact, that opening guitar riff + the lyrics are making me draw a ton of comparisons to “Summer of ’69”
May 1, 2015 @ 10:28 am
Kid Rock has already proven he’s better than this, anyway.
For as much criticism as he gets being branded a douche personality (which, frankly, he deserves most of it), in equal measure I’ve felt Kid Rock is much more discerning and respectful of genre contrasts when he mixes it up. Thus, I get the impression he truly was raised on country music and has a genuine appreciation of it.
“Blue Jeans and a Rosary” was a standout track on his “Rock & Roll Jesus” album, as was “I Am” from his eponymous album. Heck, “Drinking Beer With Dad” from his current album sounds genuine and really clicked with me. And while they don’t quite stand up to the originals of course, he has nonetheless done a respectable job at covering a handful of David Allen Coe and Bob Seger songs including “Hard Night For Sarah”, “Single Father” and “New Orleans”.
My main issue with Kid Rock over the years has been that, as much as you can tell he has a genuine appreciation of musicians across multiple genres and isn’t merely phoning it in…………you can say he embraces them TOO much to the extent he’s aggressively sampling from all these artists and, in result, his own artistic integrity or voice is lacking. Kid Rock just strikes me as a walking bulletin board often: injecting himself in so much but constantly rearranging to where you can’t help but wonder: “Where is YOUR voice?”
And, I’d like to think Kid Rock’s upbringing in Detroit, alone, can make for a powerfully intimate album. And I think he has tried to capture that in pieces across each of his albums, but he then defaults to star performer mode and laying out all of his influences on the table from rock and roll to Motown to country to rap. Thus, we rarely get a cohesive, intimate portrait of the guy.
*
“First Kiss” definitely doesn’t change matters.
This is basically just a meshing of “All Summer Long II” and Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69” (seriously: listen to each song back to back)……….except with the lack of a swelling hook. Not bad, all things concerned, but painfully pedestrian and derivative all the same.
At least I appreciate the imagery here more than most bro-country and metro laundry list songs as of late. It at least attempts to tell a story reminiscing on an old fictional sweetheart. But it falls short at distinguishing itself from the rest because the lyrics still smack as ad-libbed. Tom Petty has become the latest name-drop obsession as of late (Frankie Ballard and Canaan Smith immediately come to mind as others who have name-dropped Tom Petty in current hits)…………and lo and behold, we get a Tom Petty name-drop here too. It also sounded awkward to hear him refer to a Cheyenne in the first verse and then mention a Chevy in the chorus. Now I know the Cheyenne is a Chevy concept, but it still sounds awkward regardless. And, of course, the “I wish I could go back in time” sentiment.
*
Honestly, it certainly isn’t any stretch to market it to country radio. It does fit recent trends hand in glove.
I’d just rather see him push “Drinking Beer With Dad”, or something in the vein of “Blue Jeans and a Rosary”.
May 1, 2015 @ 5:01 pm
I agree with these sentiments and think Kid Rock has a ton of talent that he does let slip away sometimes by leaning toward his influences. I think you look over his career and look at moments like when he absolutely blew away every act at the MTV awards off the stage with “Bawitaba” back in his heyday of rap-rock or when he once again stole the show at the billboard awards with his acoustic performance of “Times like these”. I feel those songs were his true originality and there were a tone of other songs like “Blue Jeans and a Rosary” and I believe without a doubt that if “Picture” would have been sung by two traditional artists people would have been calling that a classic. He has a ton of good songs, but he has at times let influences have too much of an impact on his music I believe.
I have never understood the entire douchebag thing with Kid Rick, sure he had a persona during his rap-rock era, but overall he has always seemed to be a nice guy. He has always been respectful to the elder artists and have given a ton of independent acts a platform to shine. He raised his sone solely as a single father and each time I have ever seen him in an interview seems like a very nice and respectful kid. I see where he is very often a major contributor to charity organizations and seems to try and do a lot of good things for his home state. I think the persona he created gave an impression that is a lot different than the guy he was or at least the guy he became. That’s just my two cents.
May 2, 2015 @ 4:10 am
I have to say, Noah, that you more often then not echo my thoughts with your comments better than anyone else on this site. When I was reading this, I immediately thought about blue jeans and a rosary too. That’s a great song. I bet if you played that song for many of the country fans that come to this site and did not tell them who it was performed by, they would love it. Sure, kid rock does himself more harm than good at this point with his image, but he has, throughout his career, consistently come up with a handful of good to great songs per album . As far as this song, I don’t think it’s as bad as Trigger or most the other commentators here allege it to be. Sure, terribly derivitive, cliched and simplistic but it’s got a driving beat and it’s better than most rock and country songs on the radio today, so I’ll take it and enjoy it without feeling too guilty. …although he probably ought to write a thank you check to Seger (I hear Night Moves way more than Summer of 69).
May 6, 2015 @ 2:55 pm
Interesting.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:45 am
I still have hope for him.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:45 am
Kid Rock needs to stop blowing himself, but at least he knows who Jason Boland, Leroy Virgil, and Chris Knight are. Despite his failings, and they are legion, he has a lot more knowledge of and respect for good country music than most of the other cuntry superstars out there today.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:47 am
I’ll take the country boy band with higher-octave male duo harmony vocals over this crap any day. Just because he “knows” good music doesn’t give him a pass for making this.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:53 am
Whoopee.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:55 am
Heard another song off this album unfortunately called like something something fuckin die but it was abbreviated, it was pretty damn awful. And btw the next artist to use the line “Tom Petty on the radio” in there song will be getting beers chucked at their heads at there next concert by me.
May 1, 2015 @ 10:55 am
Kid Rock is the biggest fucktard of them all. What a fucking super douche.
May 1, 2015 @ 11:28 am
Trigger Trigger Trigger ….you should have stopped after your first three paragraphs . You’d achieved your goal ..you did us ALL the favor of not having to waste our time listening to the song CUZ YOUR WORD ON SONG REVIEWS IS PRETTY MUCH GOSPEL !!
WHY did you have to get into the alleged ‘reedeming qualities’ of KR and his musical experiments . This guy has NO business in ANY business , let alone the music business , which , granted , is pretty much ALL business now . “PICTURE” was more than just a long term nightmare-like vexation to spirits in every respect ….it was OUT OF TUNE all over . The one guy that REALLY needs Uncle Autotune’s help refuses it ? WTF ??? What bizarro world are we living in when KR is considered the potential new standard for country radio’s ‘traditional ‘ elements ? I’ll give him the hair , the hats , the duet with some solid female singers . But it ends there for me .
I’m becoming more convinced by the day that if you hang around rock/country stars and act like rock/country stars and look like rock/country stars then even the rock/county stars will believe that you are , in fact , a rock / country star ergo a DEAL with a label who assumes that you MUST be a rock/country star .
My first stop ” When I Get To Where I’m Going” is a meeting with Mr. Price . SURELY Ray has earned an “‘IN” up there with someone who can do SOMETHING about this musical mess down here before Nelly launches HIS assault . The format is more like a “rudderless” overcrowded ARK and someone needs to put a hole in it soon
May 1, 2015 @ 11:54 am
Easy, now Albert.
Trigger is just sayin’ KR has what amounts to top tier credibility in this environment of questionable integrity.
I think.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:02 pm
Yeah, I’m not touting the virtues of Kid Rock here. I try, however hard it might be, to find positive things to say even about the most damning artists and songs. Sometimes there’s nothing. Here, I actually thought Kid Rock tried to put a lot of inspiration behind his vocal performance. But in the end it was like putting lipstick on a pig. Where 20 years ago he was the worst of the worst, now believe it or not he’s a step above something like Bro-Country. That doesn’t mean he’s good by any stretch. But I’ve always found if you try to highlight what is good about someone, people are more likely to listen to you about what you feel is bad. And vice versa.
May 1, 2015 @ 3:42 pm
Hear ya Trigger .
BTW I got about halfway through the video – that was enough . SOOO generic in EVERY respect .
AND I didn’t think they had enough guitars in the band …..
May 1, 2015 @ 11:45 am
If you want some good country music from a Michigan singer, please look no farther than Whitey Morgan. New album coming in a few weeks. From the previews, it will be his best yet! As for Kid Rock, he is Kid Rock “forgettable” artist. The only song of his that is quality is “only God know why.” I don’t hate the guy, but at the end of the long day, when I am looking for some country soul, he is not where I go.
May 1, 2015 @ 12:11 pm
A wise man once said:
‘2015 is going to be very interesting. We could see Sturgill and Isbell songs on the charts at the same time. The peasants overrunning the castle.’
Let’s us just hope so.
May 1, 2015 @ 12:13 pm
Is the tune supposed to be comical?
if yes…. well done Kid Rock. Great parody!
Truck could have had bigger tires, and maybe a bit muddier, otherwise… outstanding job.
Think you’re being kind Trig, I would have gone full two guns straight down for this one.
May 4, 2015 @ 10:50 am
What if Kid Rock took Sturgill Simpson on a tour? Scary things might happen.
May 1, 2015 @ 12:18 pm
I can take or leave this song…I didn’t love it when it came out, but I wasn’t offended by it, like I was by Beautiful Drug, anything by FL/GA line
May 1, 2015 @ 1:10 pm
As a fellow Michigander, I just have to say that its not cold here all the time. That’s the only disagreement I have with this article. The soft-rock station has been playing this since January and it was boring then. It makes me a little sad that I’ll have to hear it all summer on the country stations too.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:27 pm
I agree with the article. But I don’t understand what you meant by Rock has always come to the country format In a level of respect the current artist don’t comprehend. Sure, older country artists respected the older rock artists and vice versa but I don’t know what rock has come to the country format currently that has really made it better. Another thing with the 80s arena rock sound infused in today’s country, anyone think this is cause the rock scene in LA is all but dead and these studio guys have infused their sound into The Nashville scene?
May 1, 2015 @ 1:58 pm
Please don’t misunderstand that I think Kid Rock has made country music better in any way, even with the songs I listed. All I was saying is I think Kid Rock knows what country music is. He grew up listening to Hank Jr. and David Allan Coe, and he knows what’s country, and what isn’t. I don’t know that I can say the same for Florida Georgia Line. Like Kid Rock, they grew up listening to country and hip-hop, but to them, is all one in the same. To Kid Rock, he saw them as completely separate, and even when he was mixing them together, he was patently aware of that fact. Florida Georgia Line on the other hand think the culture of “A little Hank, a little Drake” is the way it’s always been because they’ve never known music with genre distinctions.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:43 pm
Does the chorus to this song sound like Sheryl Crow’s Soak Up The Sun to anyone else? Honestly, I think Kid is showing up to the party 35 years or so too late. I could have sworn .38 Special recorded this song back in ’81.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:51 pm
Totally. That is what I was thinking about when I was listening. “Summer of ’69” not so much except in the nostalgic lyrical theme.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:44 pm
that his earlier dalliances weren”™t all that bad when going back and giving them a second listen.
I would say that’s the thing that’s the most disappointing about all this. Kid Rock respects the genre and he’s got a pretty good voice, judging from what I’ve heard. I always thought he would have a decent country song (if not album) in him if he really tried his hand at it.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:47 pm
I’ve watched the video more than a few times, mostly for the blonde and the late 70’s K10 stepside. Honestly I’ve owned a dozen of those 73-87 Chevy trucks, now at age 35 and still have an 85 K20 lifted on 35’s. Getting women in those trucks was easy and even now I still get smiles from the lady’s in town with the old truck but never with my new trucks. The first one I owned was an 86 GMC K15 High Sierra 4×4 with a 400 small block, cassette player playing old Hank Williams Sr and George Strait tapes, man did I ever stand out, LOL. Damn thing didn’t pass by gas stations.
May 1, 2015 @ 1:49 pm
Better than Hunt, Swindell & FGL put together
May 2, 2015 @ 1:13 pm
I agree
May 1, 2015 @ 1:53 pm
Average song, but got to admit enjoyed all the classic cars and trucks in the music video!
May 1, 2015 @ 2:15 pm
Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Kid! Let me be!
I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not listen to him with a mouse
I will not listen to him in a house.
I will not listen to him here or there.
I will not listen to him anywhere.
I do not like him, Bob Ritchie-U-am.
May 1, 2015 @ 2:18 pm
what happened to the edit button?
I do not like him, no son of hank-u-am
May 1, 2015 @ 2:25 pm
It’s still here. I’m seeing it.
May 1, 2015 @ 2:26 pm
I just posted again and don’t see it. No big deal.
May 1, 2015 @ 2:18 pm
He meant Kid Rock, not the genre of rock music…
May 1, 2015 @ 2:26 pm
I can’t stand Kid Rock. I lived in Detroit for 7 years and can’t stand him! I don’t even know who buys his fucking music.
The first time I saw Hank III was in 07 in Flint, MI at the Machine Shop (one of the best music venues in the world). I wasn’t sure if he’d sing “Not Everybody Likes Us.” He did and the crowd went crazy during the Kid Rock part.
May 1, 2015 @ 2:37 pm
At least he can still rock the goatee
May 1, 2015 @ 3:21 pm
Trig, when I began reading your blog, I loved it cos it was a place for you (and readers) to tout awesome new traditional country music. I discovered Sturgill, re-visited Alison Moore, and got schooled on the importance of Buddy Emmons because of your blog. Lately, it seems to just be a hater forum, just a place to type angry rants about “taking away OUR REAL country music”. These screeds are fine in measured doses, and in some cases warranted. But surely there must be some music out there worth touting ?!
May 1, 2015 @ 3:52 pm
Dane,
I appreciate your concern. This has been a pretty negative week, dominated by negativity around some major releases. The concern you show in your comment is the exact concern I’ve had for the last 48 hours resulting in great anxiety, and trust me when I say that NOBODY is more aware with the ratio of positive to negative on this site than I. If I has something positive to write today, I would have. I’m constantly listening to music, and make no mistake, it is my primary focus to try and find the next Sturgill Simpson, or the next artist nobody has heard of but will speak to people’s hearts in a new way never heard before, or to tell the story of an oldtimer lost from the modern-day conciousness. But it’s not just a desire to find that artist or the time spent searching for them that matters. That artist still has to be out there to find, that stellar album still has to be released, the story has to unfold. And even when I do find it, I have to be inspired to write and it and find the right words to describe it. Just because I want to write something positive doesn’t mean there’s something positive to write about. Yesterday I posted a review for a surprising new song from Love & Theft—a band I thought I would never have a friendly word for. Earlier this week I posted a review for an album by John Moreland that many are saying is their favorite so far this year.
I hope next week has more positivity, but I don’t control the news or the release cycle. But it is the top priority of mine to help in the discovery on new music for people.
Thanks for reading.
May 1, 2015 @ 4:13 pm
i like when Triggerman does reviews on throwback albums. haven’t seen one of those in a while.
May 1, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
I second this. That was a thought I had the other day when listening to the one album by the Dixons, wondering how many folks even knew about them.
May 1, 2015 @ 3:44 pm
It’s like any guitar-heavy music that isn’t indie/British is considered country now.
May 1, 2015 @ 3:47 pm
Sounds like summer of 69
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg
May 1, 2015 @ 4:23 pm
The redundancy of Kid Rock’s subject matter as well as the blatant ripping off of more talented artists has been well documented but I’ve never seen an artist actually rip off one of his own songs. The chorus is the exact same melody and chord structure of his 1998 single “Only God Knows Why”!
May 1, 2015 @ 10:10 pm
I know this is seen as one of the worst sins a true country music fan can commit but honestly, I’ve softened up on Kid Rock a lot over the last 2 years. Like many others I’ve talked to, they don’t / didn’t like him because of the Hank 3 feud but the way I see it, it has absolutely nothing to do with me or any of them. There’s no law saying you can’t be a fan of both. And while I am a bigger fan of Hank 3, I still like a good bit of Kid Rock’s music and this song is no exception. Sure, it’s not his greatest and it’s nowhere near the greatest song ever written but I like it.
May 2, 2015 @ 8:09 am
I’ve listened to whole album a few times. It’s basically innocuous music that’s not too hard on the ears. Some catchy hooks, some nostalgia, some introspection, nothing too heady or heavy. Backyard barbecue music. Hanging out at the lake music. Don’t want to have to think music.
First Kiss? Yeah, it’s cliche-laden and derivative. I still like it better than 99% of the stuff played on radio.
May 2, 2015 @ 8:48 am
And truth be told, every music genre needs songs like that. Not everything has to be moody and angst.
May 2, 2015 @ 8:32 am
Does every song that comes out now need to use an electronic drum beat? Instant disqualification from being called country, any use of EDB. There it it is right there. No amount of banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitar, etc, can compensate for the use of that heinous drum machine.
May 2, 2015 @ 10:19 am
Even though “First Kiss” isn’t really country, but I really like this song.
May 2, 2015 @ 10:50 am
I’ve always thought of Kid Rock as more southern rock than country. Haven’t listened to ‘First Kiss’ yet but going by stuff like ‘All Summer Long’ I’d definitely call him southern rock, not country
May 2, 2015 @ 11:26 am
I’ve said this before:
Great Singer – No but good
Great Writer – No but ok
Great Musician – No but ok
Great Entertainer – Yes and doesn’t ever mail in a performance and is very respectful to fans and all music genres.
Oh yes, Willie, Hank Jr., Leroy Virgil and many others in country music don’t seem to have a problem.with him.
I am probably one of the oldest visitors to this site and own pretty well own every Waylon record made as well as seeing him, Merle etc. countless times. Just saying that there is nothing wrong with not caring for a performer but you can try to be open minded.
May 2, 2015 @ 1:30 pm
I like Kid Rock. Sings a lot of songs about my region and I enjoy that. He’s not the most classy guy in the world but he certainly represents a certain demographic that excists here in the Rust Belt. I see him more Seger esque than I do country, but I’ve been to like 4 concerts of his and he puts on a helluva show.
May 2, 2015 @ 11:26 pm
Ha, kid never even acted country until he started up that bromance with Bocephus. I like some of Kids work, and on this particular album, the only stand out track is called Johnny Cash, but it is really good.
May 3, 2015 @ 9:08 am
I think you guys are all full of crap. NOBODY is more loyal to his fan or his home town and city. He is very talented. I love to listen to everysong he and Bob Segar have ever sang and I am 62 yrs old. They is nobody better. Can’t wait till the August concert in Detroit, sold out everyday and added dates to boot. We always go and take all our friends and kids and Grandkids.
So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
May 3, 2015 @ 10:42 am
Trig,
Wow, did you ever think that Kid Rock would be such a hot topic with opinions on both sides? Guess you’re working on the album review!!!
May 3, 2015 @ 12:30 pm
Not sure I’ll review the album, we’ll see. The reason I felt inclined to review this song is because it was released to country radio.
May 4, 2015 @ 7:13 am
Do you plan on looking at Montgomery Gentry’s new album Folks Like Us on June 9th? I know they’re not exactly a hot button for either great or awful music most of the time, but it’d be interesting to get your take on that album. I’m expecting a worse version of the Ronnie Dunn Peace, Love and Country Music hypocrisy (if we’re lucky).
As always, I know that you make no guarantees and only write when you’re inspired amidst your busy schedule, but I’m asking as always that you consider it. You’ve opened SCM up to many more mainstream reviews as of late (I’m still surprised we got Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney reviews at all), so I don’t think the album is irrelevant, even if it’s not exactly a milestone. I’m not going to hound you about it like I did Big & Rich (not that it worked anyway, you stubborn blogger you 😛 ), but I’m going to attempt to keep it in the conversation.
Also as always, patiently waiting here for a review. This time for Chris Stapleton! I know that you’re just torturing us with that copy sitting on your desktop.
May 3, 2015 @ 3:11 pm
Kid Rock > Luke Bryan
May 3, 2015 @ 4:03 pm
I Wouldn’t knock Kid Rock He is a good singer. I wouldn’t consider him country not in a long shot he is more of southern rock artist.
May 3, 2015 @ 5:08 pm
It was 81 in Michigan today! Also, Kid Rock blows!
May 4, 2015 @ 4:57 am
Still more country than Sam Hunt.
May 4, 2015 @ 6:40 am
Not sure what you mean by “specifically to country radio.”
There might be a special country mix of this song, but this was first serviced to active rock and hot adult contemporary/adult pop radio (and perhaps others – but those are the formats on which it charted). It’s meant to be a broad, all-encompassing song.
That said, it does have some alignment with what’s hot in country right now – so it’s not at all a bad fit for the current format.
May 4, 2015 @ 7:30 am
Well, if it has any redeeming quality, I think it leaves Zac Brown’s “Beautiful Drug” in the dust.
May 5, 2015 @ 7:22 am
I’m sort of a fan of Kid. He actually spends most of his off-the-road down time in Troy, Alabama, now. He bought some land north of Troy (just south of Montgomery) where he fishes and hunts. He has really embraced my local area and is not a recluse; he goes to Walmart and Best Buy just like the common folk. There’s an awesome story on RollingStone.com about his life in Alabama.
I like it that he has embraced country music and has been very unapologetic about doing so.
May 6, 2015 @ 6:22 am
Kid Rock is not a country singer but it is clear he was looking for a sure hit song on this album something that would be catchy on the radio bearing in mind his last album did not go platinum, something he is not used to pressure was on. I actually like kid rock he is a genuine guy and I have met him in person. But I have to say First Kiss is lazy, safe and cliched it is a bad album aimed to sell. But I think it is hard to over critise someone who made one of the biggest albums of this millennium, Devil Without a Cause. Appreciated in the back drop of the rap rock era it was genius and still is. Rock was the master at this craft , but that is it his time was then, that was his genre a genre that was over and done, a fad. Everything Rock has had produced since rap rock ceased since has been too forced and constipated but you cannot blame someone for trying to get longevity and make a living. It is both harmless and hopeless but it will keep him in the game until next time round. It will likely shift him another million units
May 8, 2015 @ 7:33 am
The problem with this song isn’t that it does not break new ground. It’s mindless entertainment, like an action flick that you have to suspend all disbelief in order to enjoy. The issue is that it will be played on Country radio. Every time someone blends notes by bending guitar strings Nashville and Labels alike, think they should throw it on country radio. There is nothing structurally country about this. Not his voice, not the phrasing, not the cadence…nothing. I couldn’t be happier that the clicks of the 80’s have diminished but you can’t just throw open your arms and take in every stray offer. For heavens sake, why don’t we throw some pepperoni on the top of a Sheppard’s Pie and declare it Irish Pizza??
May 11, 2015 @ 4:26 pm
The song isn’t Summer Of 69 it is Hold On Loosely by 38 special.Both songs used its chord progression. Kid only uses it at start and in middle of song but it has an originally riff to go with it. Every samples and borrows not that many chords artist just make slight changes. Both Zeppelin and GNR being sued .if you go to Who Samples Who site. The Beatles sampled ,Zeppelin sampled or just covered old blues songs and changed title. Cat Scratch Fever and Smoke On The Water sound the same. He was a rapper.,so he gonna sample for a backbeat or hook He samples a lot you just don’t pick up on it cuz kid alters the song like hillbilly stomp is queens we will rock all swamped funked up.