Song Review – Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It”
The mood has shifted on mainstream country radio, at least for the moment. And as spring rounds the corner, so does a renewed sense that perhaps a rebirth is occurring in country as better songs are blooming on the radio charts all over the place. Of course there a few weeds in the garden, snakes lurking under the bushes, and invasive species always looking to pop in and take advantage of country music’s lush, fertile soil. But if you’re stuck like a broken record saying all mainstream country sucks, you’re missing the bigger picture at the moment.
Add Blake Shelton to the participants of 2018’s rebirth on the radio, which has been fertilized by some of the biggest names in the genre releasing their best songs from their recent records. In Shelton’s case, it was one of his best records in years to begin with. The opposite assessment was the case in previous years when you could spot what the radio singles would be based off the gag reflex you felt the first time you heard something. But the paradigm has shifted, as it tends to do. And instead of some of country music’s worst offenders racing each other to the bottom, they’re now pushing each other in a more positive direction.
Look, I get it all the traditionalists out there that bristle at the mere mention of Blake Shelton’s name. You can’t stand his Blake Shelton face. You can’t stand his Blake Shelton hair. You hate his stupid Japanese-made Takamine guitar, and the fact that he called you and old fart and a jackass. You hate that he’s not much more than a reality TV star these days posing as a country performer.
But none of this changes the fact that “I Lived It” is a really solid offering, and how astounding it is that it made it to country radio, and is receiving solid traction. No, this is not the best song you’ll hear in 2018. It’s far from it. Yes, it leans heavily on the whole nostalgia trip that so much of today’s country relies on to stir emotions in passive listeners. But don’t let your gaze overshoot the fact that this is Blake Shelton reminiscing on a time that has become foreign to many of today’s Millennial country listeners, and even makes reference to that in the hook of the song.
You can’t mistake that the drone of a steel guitar creates the sonic bed for “I Lived It,” along with acoustic guitar. Sure it’s list-tastic like a lot of pre-Bro Country material, but this isn’t just one of those songs that you say is better than most on country radio so you give it an ‘A’ for effort and move on, it’s better than even some of the best songs on country radio, and dare I say better than some of the stuff you hear coming out of the independent realm. “I Lived It” is a good song, period.
We very well may be witnessing a fracturing of the country music format. For years the chatter was that country needed to split between classic and more contemporary music. Instead what you have here is radio country continuing to support established stars with more subsnative music, while it’s the streaming realm is the one that is veering so far into pop, hip-hop, and EDM, it’s unrecognizable to what country music is supposed to be. Radio, and its established stars know they need to delineate themselves from all the EDM intros and hip-hop annunciations to offer something that’s an alternative to the other music out there in popular culture, and something that isn’t as susceptible to trends.
Young people don’t listen to radio. They stream Spotify’s playlists. It’s slightly older people who still listen to the local radio station, like the ones a song like “I Lived It” very directly appeals to. Culture right now is so damn contentious, people are turning to country to escape the divisiveness and remember a better time, and to be reminded there’s still good out there.
“Most People Are Good” by Luke Bryan will be a #1 song on country radio soon. “Five More Minutes” by Scotty McCreery just was. Chris Stapleton’s “Broken Halos” is all of a sudden a radio hit, and soon Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It” will be as well. It may not be your flavor of Beechnut, but contrast this between the “Chew tobacco, chew tobacco spit!” of “Boys Round’ Here” from Blake Shelton. That song was released five years ago now, right after Shelton made his “Old Farts and Jackasses” comments. You can’t listen to that, and then run through “I Lived It” and not say we’re experiencing substantial improvement.
Perhaps a spring bounty of subsnative country singles will give way to the wilting swelter of terrible summer anthems in the coming months. We’ll just have to see. But it’s hard to not be encouraged, and it’s helpful to be encouraging to songs like “I Lived It” in hopes this is what takes over the country music garden, and shade out that last pockets of Bro Country and Sam Hunt influence looking to take root.
Ghost of Bro Country's Past
March 12, 2018 @ 8:53 am
What a terrible song, where is the boys round here blake shelton? Country music is dying with boring music such as this, bebe rexha taking over the charts cause of it. Bro country was fun.
sheesh pshhhh
March 12, 2018 @ 9:17 am
bitch moan repeat
Leila
March 12, 2018 @ 11:00 am
Hey it’s gett back to telling it the way it really was growing up!
Country people like to remember our life isn’t like gang bangers and rappers talking rape and murder!
Therealbobcephus
March 12, 2018 @ 3:14 pm
^ love you willingness to throw entire music genres under the rug here, and by proxy “non country ppl”.
LISA LATHAM
March 12, 2018 @ 1:49 pm
I love me some BS
But I think He is going towards more soft pop like the rest.
But I do miss
Alan J George S Kenny R
That was country. It will never return as we knew it.
Geneva Bailey
March 13, 2018 @ 1:11 pm
Love love love it!!!!
Poolio
March 12, 2018 @ 9:26 am
I bet his truck is loud.
I beleev most coments are good n Lil Dale otta kwalafi fur saint hood
March 12, 2018 @ 2:18 pm
teech a yankee to drive point triggs car north
Tom Smith
March 12, 2018 @ 9:27 am
If the average person heard this they would say “That’s a country song.” It’s far from a being a touchdown, but at least this song moves the ball in the right direction.
King Honky Of Crackershire
March 13, 2018 @ 5:02 pm
The average person would say “Body Like A Backroad” is a Country song.
Sammy
March 12, 2018 @ 9:30 am
Bro, you seriously need to get over the “old farts and jackasses” thing. It’s not that deep & it’s annoying af to see something so irrelevant every single time you review him. Blake Shelton puts out decent music & it’s okay to like it. You don’t have to be super extra to try and prove that you’re somehow above everything. Just review the song without all that.
Anyway, it’s a good song. I’m a millennial and a city kid so I can’t relate to it directly but I really love this song. I love the imagery the lyrics paint and the video is good too. It would be bigger if Blake bothered to promote it at all but I’m glad it’s being well received regardless. Blake’s a good dude and is talented. I’m glad he continues to do well.
Trigger
March 12, 2018 @ 10:28 am
Am I not over the whole “Old Farts and Jackasses” thing, or am I trying to use my position to try and tell others to get over it?
Sammy
March 12, 2018 @ 12:03 pm
Nah it definitely seems like you’re not over it but if that’s what you need to tell yourself…
Music Jedi
March 12, 2018 @ 1:01 pm
“You hate that he’s (Blake Shelton) not much more than a reality TV star these days posing as a country performer.” If a lot of people see Blake like this today – isn’t the same going to be said about Luke Bryan now that he is a coach on the resurrection of American Idol?
Therealbobcephus
March 12, 2018 @ 3:17 pm
I hope so with regards to Luke. And I definitely will hold it against Blake that he stood on the opry stage and called country music fans old farts and jackass’s.
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 10:16 am
The problem with your comment Therealbobcephus is that Blake never did that. That is not true. The comment you are referring to was taken out of context from an article in an interview he did years ago. He did not mean older country music artists either. Now he does kidding call his fans country music freaks. 😂 That’s the name of his tour. Maybe thats what you mean. Or him and Trace do the A**hole song to each other in concert which is so funny. 😂
JohnWayneTwitty
March 13, 2018 @ 6:05 am
Blake Shelton is a hack. Shit on your genre, make pop bro frat boy millenial garbage, contribute to a televised karaoke contest, then make half assed country music when it’s profitable again.
Fuck Blake Shelton. That bridge has been burned and there is no rebuilding it..
Sammy
March 13, 2018 @ 11:41 am
Lmfao and y’all have the audacity to call us millennials sensitive snowflakes all the time yet you stay mad over something so trivial that was said literally years ago… Blake doesn’t owe you a damn thing, get over it. Don’t like him? Don’t listen. But here you are actively seeking him out just to spew dumb crap over something so stupid.
JohnWayneTwitty
March 13, 2018 @ 9:27 pm
I never called you a snowflake.
Bob Loblaw
March 12, 2018 @ 9:31 am
It seems Blake and Luke have been listening to a little Don Williams…
Jeremy
March 12, 2018 @ 9:33 am
I hate Blake Shelton with a passion, but I listened to this with an open mind. My initial reaction was that this is so boring and bland. t really is. His voice doesn’t compel me in the slightest. I simply don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth. It’s a harmless song that he’s only releasing to make people think he’s still somehow country. The “Sexiest Man Alive” is more like the biggest fraud alive. 0/10
Marc
March 12, 2018 @ 10:21 am
“I hate Blake Shelton with a passion.” With that alone you deserve 10/10 and 2 guns up.
The Senator
March 12, 2018 @ 3:18 pm
Just about my feelings on Shelton. To me, he’s blander than unseasoned stale white rice and I agree that his delivery does no favors to the material.
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 10:00 am
Jeremy you obviously do not have an open mind about Blake but who cares what you think. Or anyone else with negative opinions about Blake. He doesn’t need you. Blake literally has millions of fans and he’s worth millions so he’s doing something right.
Trigger
March 13, 2018 @ 11:08 am
Be careful measuring success via money and fandom. There are much more important things in life.
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 11:20 am
True. You are right Trigger but I think Blake has finally find happiness in his personal life with Gwen Stefani and her boys. He sure looks very happy these days. That is the most important thing in life. Family. Blake has that with Gwen now .
JohnWayneTwitty
March 13, 2018 @ 9:29 pm
Oh my God…
Charlie
March 12, 2018 @ 9:36 am
I happened to hear this one yesterday. The first verse seemed to be headed firmly in the laundry list direction, but the second verse righted the ship a bit. Still not what I would call good, but I know there’s a 99% chance there’s nothing better tempting me to punch the button.
That said, what BS has done has made him irrelevant to actual country music. The best thing he can do is to step aside so his label can spend the money wasted on him on some new talent. I’m sure the CMA’s have another middle-aged “Best New Artist” candidate with 10 years in the game that could’ve recorded this song.
And funny that he’s recording an old fart song like this in the first place.
Kevin Davis
March 12, 2018 @ 9:51 am
“money wasted on him”? What on earth are you talking about? The guy has 30 million followers on social media. It’s not money wasted at all. It’s called a sure bet, whether you like or not.
Golddust
March 12, 2018 @ 9:50 am
Of course, then there were the iHeart awards the other night. I didn’t watch, for obvious reasons, but I did check out the winners.
Country Song of the Year:
“Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt — WINNER
“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi
“Hurricane” – Luke Combs
“Small Town Boy” – Dustin Lynch
“Unforgettable” – Thomas Rhett
No wonder iHeart is in trouble! I do like this new song by Blake. Unfortunately, right after I heard it on the local Baltimore channel the other day, they played the Bebe/FGL mess so I went back to my Travis Tritt CD.
Jordan
March 12, 2018 @ 9:50 am
Mainstream radio is definitely trending in the right direction. Besides the ones you have reviewed, Thomas Rhett, Michael Ray and Cole Swindell are all showing promise as well with their current singles, which blows my mind considering how bad they have been in the past.
Patrick Bluhm
March 12, 2018 @ 10:00 am
As a millennial I am very different from my generation. I appreciate traditional classic country a lot more than what is played on the radio today. That being said I am encouraged by the amount of country stars that are releasing solid singles at this time on country radio. As for the song of both I think it is a very solid track I would give it an 8/10. Hopefully this trend continues for the rest of mainstream country.
(Me and) Paul
March 12, 2018 @ 10:09 am
My hunch is that this trend of all the initial bro country artists moving in the direction of some more substance is only because more and more of them are becoming eligible for their AARP card by the year. Aldean, Bryan, and Shelton might be looking for some legacy protection as they realize they can’t sing about partying with people in their twenties forever. Meanwhile all of the younger artists are continuing to set new lows for terrible country music. It would be great if this were an actual turning point for mainstream country but it’s hard not to be skeptical
Jordan
March 12, 2018 @ 10:48 am
All three of them had some solid music early in their careers, so I don’t think it’s really fair to categorize them in the same crowd as FGL, Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion, etc. I think it’s more so that they got caught up in trying to remain relevant during the bro-country era.
Big Red
March 12, 2018 @ 1:13 pm
You make a good point. Funny timing, but I heard Blake Shelton’s “Austin” the other day for the first time in years. (It’s 17 years old now!) It reminded of what Blake used to be like.
Benny Lee
March 12, 2018 @ 10:25 am
More talk-singing. This song sounds like everything else. Again.
Sure, it stinks less than a lot of the other garbage in the pile, but it’s still garbage. It still needs to be thrown out.
Every time the “industry” circles back toward “traditional” sounds, it gets less traditional, and the trend is reversed quicker than ever before.
GrantH
March 12, 2018 @ 10:36 am
I’ve noticed that most of these new “good to decent” songs that have been coming out recently from some of the previous “worst” bro-country offenders are ballads. Kinda reminds me of what was popular from the late 90’s to mid-2000’s. This seems more like a revival of the safe and tame “soccer mom” country era than a true return to traditional roots.
albert
March 12, 2018 @ 10:39 am
Good breakdown on a ” solid” song above Trigger .However lets not overlook or underestimate the impact that the success of all of the alt/indie ” Americana ” acts have had on the music row boys . They cannot ignore the following the Margo Prices , the Isbells , the Simpsons and , of course , the Stapletons have garnered through sheer hard work , integrity and commitment to music they KNEW people wanted desperately . OR the exposure and wins at award shows . If we agree that Nashville is all about trend I think its easy to see that his is what’s happening here .
However saying all of that , we can’t argue that we are hearing some far better material regardless of the reasoning and/or -the ‘business’ behind it. I’m most happy about this for the sake of the honest songwriters who really have something to say ….something substantive ….something sincere , timelss and heartfelt and who are actually seeing opportunities to share the work.
BS has much ….MUCH to atone for and he’s obviously a puppet singing whatever the powers that be think he SHOULD sing to make $$$ and we shouldn’t be foolish enough to think that if K-POP landed a song on country radio which became popular BS wouldn’t be all over it , as ridiculous a scenario as that surely sounds . This song works for his limited vocal range , it works for his age , as he creeps up on the ‘old fart and jackass ‘ territory he so unceremoniously lambasted so recently . ( ” Kinda ironic isn’t it Blake ..?” )
A fair rating in my estimation , Trigger , based on the integrity of the song lyric and arrangement ( didn’t notice writer credits ).
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 7:23 am
That “comment” was years ago and taken out of context in an interview. Blake did not mean older country music artists anyways. Blake is very respectful of older music artists. I am sure he meant critics. I do recall Blake performing at The Grammys with Merle, Willie, and Kris AFTER the comment was made so obviously they didn’t care. Also Blake went to a Ray Price concert AFTER the comment and they both made positive comments about each other. Blake apologized at the time and he really did nothing wrong . So time to move on.
albert
March 13, 2018 @ 6:14 pm
BUT Blake continued to back up the comment with some of the worst music forced upon us by ‘country radio ‘ in recent years .
OlaR
March 12, 2018 @ 11:22 am
Four songwriters for a….well…”solid” song.
Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip & Ross Copperman.
Looks like there are only a handful of songwriters left on Music Row. More of the same.
No reason to listen to “I Lived It” again.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 12, 2018 @ 11:44 am
“the music isn’t as shitty as usual therefore there’s been a change for the better.”
oh how I wish this is true.
truth be told it’s a ridiculous thing to say.
the music is neither good nor is it Country.
Messer
March 12, 2018 @ 1:52 pm
I’m not a big fan of this song although I do believe that it’s above average for modern radio country, but what genre would you consider this song if it isn’t country?
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 12, 2018 @ 1:58 pm
Adult Soft Rock, adult contemporary, easy listening, soft pop, or just really bad
Messer
March 12, 2018 @ 2:12 pm
Ok thanks for your reply. Whenever I think of genres I tend to just think in terms of country, rock, pop, hip hop, rap, etc… I never really think of any of the ones you mentioned. If I came across as trying to say you were wrong, I wasn’t trying to. I was really wondering what it could be considered haha
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 12, 2018 @ 11:51 am
“But if you’re stuck like a broken record saying all mainstream country sucks, you’re missing the bigger picture at the moment.”
Actually I think I see it clearly.
somebody wants me to think that because the new Cole Swindle song isn’t as trashy as the last one that I should be happy to take my Ray Price and my Louvin Brothers off the cd player and turn on a radio station…
And the answer: heck no.
Because Cole Swindle will never release a song good enough to justify that.
because he’s a zero talent embarassing white dude who probably should play an embarassing dad on a nickelodeon tv movie about kids who are embarassed by their unrealistically goofy parents.
Jason Aldean? no. sorry, nu-uh.
The only way to make listen to music, is to make the music good, entertaining, and fun.
and right now Country Radio doesn’t do that.
“not as shitty as usual” just doesn’t cut it for me.
period.
because I have a phonograph, a stack of 45s and 78s, an Amazon Alexa full of songs…
and I can listen to Kenny Price and the Statler Brothers whenever I please.
Why would I ever take time away from that to hear Jason Aldean?
what do you think?
Jordan
March 12, 2018 @ 12:06 pm
Nobody is telling you to listen to country radio, and nobody is saying it’s even the gold standard for country music at the moment. The point is that it is trending upwards and becoming more similar to what we do consider the gold standard.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 12, 2018 @ 12:20 pm
wrong.
They guy who called me an old fart for not liking rap in my Country Music releasing a song that isn’t as shitty as the song that goes “chew tobacco chew tobacco chew tobacco spit” does not mean we’re closer to the “Gold Standard.”
It means that the guy who called me a jackass for wanting better songwriting than “Boys Round Here” released a new song, which when compared to “Blackboard of My Heart” or “Flowers Never Bend with The Rainfall” or Bobby Bare’s new “Trouble with Angels” is just as bad as “Boys Round Here” was.
and I don’t care how many songs he releases. he’s the guy who called me an old fart and a jackass.
and I won’t ever respect him and his shitty opinions and his stupid music.
and if you think that Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton releasing songs that aren’t as bad as usual means that we’re trending back towards the golden era you’re kidding yourself.
Barry Cheevers
March 12, 2018 @ 12:58 pm
Nailed it again, Fuzzy.
King Honky Of Crackershire
March 12, 2018 @ 2:09 pm
Fuzzy TwoShirts is not fake news.
albert
March 12, 2018 @ 2:40 pm
I hear your pain F2S . And you have a right to it , as do we all .
Consider this ,however .
A generation of ” country’ listeners has been raised on BRO-SHIT ,POP-country shit , and straight up POP shit which has somehow conned its way on to the country charts
A song like ol BS has just released may not be the country WE know and love …but to the uninitiated young ears that only know the Bro-Crap , its , at least , an introduction to some something which carries a semblance of worth ….of ‘real’ . That’s not me letting BS off the hook for being a huge part of the cause of the aforementioned non-country ‘country’. That’s me saying ” Well thank goodness these kids are going to get a chance to hear something with more substance than they are used to . AND maybe a few of these efforts will inspire the next generation of aspiring writers to understand that there’s hope for a GREAT song in a changing climate .
I don’t believe most music row ‘stars’ would know a great tune at all ….I believe they sing what someone tells them will sell ( Underwood , Shelton , Aldean , FGL , etc..) . And that’s pretty-much their input where big money labels are involved . BUT I do know a lot of songwriters with and without track records who have some incredible material at the ready should a trending towards better material develop .
So I’m OK with a song like this which , at least , tries harder than the Sam Hunt shit to connect listeners to what country was and SHOULD be.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 12, 2018 @ 2:55 pm
the “FGL and Luke Bryan are gateway Country to turn people on to better stuff like Turnpike Troubadours and Hank Thompson” trope has been bandied around for a long time.
Franky: it’s wrong.
I get what you’re saying, Al. I won’t say it’s wrong because it’s not.
But it doesn’t do a thing for me and my record collection.
albert
March 12, 2018 @ 3:14 pm
”The “FGL and Luke Bryan are gateway Country to turn people on to better stuff like Turnpike Troubadours and Hank Thompson” trope has been bandied around for a long time.”
I can’t agree with the theory posited above at all .
But I really don’t care if young listeners want to chase country back to the Hanks . I only care that the elements that make REAL country music great are present on country radio …in newer material from newer writers …..newer vocalists and equally as importantly , in musicians committed to learning to play the traditonal country instruments .
I totally appreciate country’s roots ….and yeah …periodically I’ll revist them by way of George or Merle , Chet’s pickin , Hanks’ Greatest Hits , Loretta’a stuff -old and new – ….and , of course tons of bluegrass which has ALWAYS featured great singers and pickers who respect the roots . At the same time , I’m totally inspired and grateful when I hear younger guy like Adam Wright pen a song like ” So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore,” which gets nominated for a Grammy . I love everything I’ve ever heard by Cody Johnson . I don’t wanna listen to the older artists 24/7 . I want to hear new guys who are completely inspired by the roots and honour it by writing songs as good as or better than the ones that inspired them . I want to know that country songwriting and performing is in good hands and the traditions will be guarded and nurtured …..not totally ignored , as they have been for so long now .
Kevin Smith
March 12, 2018 @ 1:28 pm
It is a Country song folks. It has the hallmarks of a country song. Is it gonna revolutionize radio? Probably not. But to be accurate, its a “country”song. No rap, pop or EDM here. If you can’t admit that, then you are waaay too narrow-minded. Its a fair move for Blake in the right direction.
Dennixx
March 12, 2018 @ 1:38 pm
If you like your Blake Shelton..you can keep your Blake Shelton.
PT Barnum said it first.
Ulysses McCaskill
March 12, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
I might get heat for saying this, but a lot of the mainstream guys are quite talented. It’s just they so infrequently use that talent for anything of substance that is one of the biggest problems.
Blake has a pretty good voice, I just wish he’d focus on putting out more meaningful music. This song is trending in the right direction.
Bill Roy
March 12, 2018 @ 2:29 pm
I’m waiting for an April fools on most of the recent reviews.
Cosmic Cowboy
March 12, 2018 @ 3:29 pm
This is crap!!!
Jackie
March 12, 2018 @ 3:54 pm
Just saw Blake in concert. He was a true COUNTRY entertainer. When he sang I Lived It, you felt like he was back in his childhood and you were right there with him. Love me Blake.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 12, 2018 @ 4:30 pm
Please tell me more about how he demonstrated his “Country” lifestyle by rapping about trucks and insulting Country Music fans.
Raymond
March 12, 2018 @ 4:35 pm
I don’t think he does that in concert though.
Trigger
March 12, 2018 @ 5:11 pm
That was five years ago. Tell me you haven’t done dumb shit in your past, Fuzzy. People change. People grow. We all try to improve every day. Forgiveness is a virtue. Get over it and open your heart to a song. Or be a pissed off stick in the mud the rest of your life.
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 7:07 am
Exactly Trigger. It was years ago. Time to move on. Blake actually stays off of Social Media as much as possible now. When he is on SM it’s all related to his music career, The Voice, and his other businesses. Anyone who knows Blake or has met him has said he is a genuine nice country guy from Oklahoma.
Strait Country 81
March 12, 2018 @ 4:18 pm
I think this is a meh song.
Tim McGraw collapsed on stage last night so there’s something positive in mainstream country.
Raymond
March 12, 2018 @ 4:36 pm
Oh wow that’s messed up you think that’s good he collapsed.
James O
March 12, 2018 @ 5:06 pm
Chew tabaca chew tabaca chew tabaca speeeit! I actually kinda like that line
RD
March 12, 2018 @ 5:25 pm
I’m sure he’s fine. I bet his skinny jeans were just a little too tight. He’ll be back out there soon, crooning all the hits.
Strait Country 81
March 12, 2018 @ 6:46 pm
He was only dehydrated so it’s not like he died.
Problem with people these days can’t take a joke.
Ulysses McCaskill
March 12, 2018 @ 10:18 pm
I can take a joke just fine, but making light of someone collapsing is not cool.
RD
March 13, 2018 @ 5:49 am
Dehydrated = Back on the sauce
King Honky Of Crackershire
March 12, 2018 @ 4:20 pm
Horse crap smells less foul than dog crap. Let’s all have a big ol plate of horse crap for supper.
This song sucks, and isn’t Country. It even has that same boom boom chick cut beat that all this other crap has.
It’s sad how all you folks allow Nashville to move the window, and then you adapt to it by moving with it.
Trigger
March 12, 2018 @ 5:09 pm
This song is country. You may not like it, but it’s country. If you think otherwise, you have to seriously question if you know what country is.
King Honky Of Crackershire
March 12, 2018 @ 5:21 pm
No it’s not.
You honestly have no business telling what Country is. I know your past. I don’t mean offend, but you’re a Johnny-come-lately to Country Music and you know it.
hoptowntiger94
March 12, 2018 @ 5:43 pm
I’ve learned more about country music from reading Trig’s (Kyle’s) site the last 8 years than I did from country radio all my life.
Ulysses McCaskill
March 12, 2018 @ 10:21 pm
Yes Honk, we all know you invented traditional country and are the soul judge of what fits into the neat little stratosphere it occupies.
Corncaster
March 12, 2018 @ 4:38 pm
I’ll take it.
DJ
March 12, 2018 @ 4:46 pm
His designer denim wear isn’t very convincing.
Summer Jam
March 12, 2018 @ 5:15 pm
This is a great REAL country song, just like Luke Bryan’s latest effort. I hope all the superstars like Bryan and Shelton keep putting this kind of real country music out as singles, maybe it will inspire all the other pop country shitheads to start digging deeper. Im not a big fan of Shelton, but this is a great song that is pretty country sounding. Ill give it a 8/10 rating, would be a 10/10 if there was fiddle and steel guitar in it.
Rob
March 12, 2018 @ 5:32 pm
What is country? As Johnny cash said what is truth.
Done here.
Eduardo Vargas
March 12, 2018 @ 7:13 pm
God so much bitching simply because he’s Blake Shelton
Get over yourselves folks
Biscuit
March 12, 2018 @ 7:44 pm
This is every bit as adult contemporary as “The Baby” was in 2003. That’s Blake’s niche, along with Tim McGraw. It’s McCountry music, mass produced to move a lot of units, high in calories and will do when you’re hungry and don’t have many options, but long term, is not very nutritious for you. For people who prefer Steak Night, they don’t enjoy ingesting McCountry as much.
Jack Williams
March 13, 2018 @ 6:21 am
OK. I listened to it. I wasn’t repulsed like I was with Boys Round Here. I think it’s the country radio equivalent of hearing a middling Foreigner song (as opposed to an awful Foreigner song) on a classic rock station. Not bad is pretty good for the radio. Not that it’s ever my choice to listen to the radio.
Sam Cody
March 13, 2018 @ 6:32 am
Is that a Target® ad?
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 6:54 am
Very fair review from Trigger. I love the song ILI. It is a very nostalgic country song. To those of you being negative you really need to go to a Blake Shelton concert. I just went and he’s an amazing live entertainer regardless of whether you might like him or not. Trace A.
and Blake do a song set together that is great. Blake vocals sound great live in concert which is something that can’t be said of other country artists. Love his album TS. Not a bad song on the whole album.
Jinmo (Asian Country Fan)
March 13, 2018 @ 9:32 am
Will you review Kelsea Ballerini’s new single “I Hate Love Songs”? It ain’t country, but it’s a good pop song pretending to be country-pop. Sort of mature too, compared to the singles off of her debut album
Ava
March 13, 2018 @ 10:04 am
Only change I would give the review is that I would have given it a 10/10. ILI is a true country song.
ExcitedSouthnr
March 13, 2018 @ 11:31 am
Substantive…you misspelled this as “subsnative” twice in this article and I think I’ve seen it spelled that way before in some of your other articles.
Huntermc6
March 13, 2018 @ 4:21 pm
I like this, it’s not Blakes best effort but much improved over his last 5+ years of music. Hope he trends back into this direction.