Song Review – Jon Pardi’s “Dirt On My Boots”
Jon Pardi might be one of the performers we love to point at as being a party to repatriating mainstream country music with more palatable material as part of a new wave of traditional-leaning young talent, but as his new single proves, the effort to save country music is sometimes an imperfect one.
“Dirt On My Boots,” is possibly the worst song on Jon Pardi’s otherwise solid, but commercially pragmatic album California Sunrise, so of course some A&R lackey at Capitol Nashville figured it would be perfect for Pardi’s second single from the record.
Though banjo and fiddle can be heard on the track, so can the undeniable thump of electronically-generated drums and a blaring lead guitar more indicative of the arena rock world than country, making your country music mind short circuit from not knowing how to slate the song. Sonically, the problem with “Dirt On My Boots” is it’s neither here nor there.
Knowing the demographic that generally adheres to Jon Pardi fandom, they didn’t want to go full Sam Hunt on the song and tried to make sure there was something there to perk the ears of true country listeners, but this “neither fish nor foul” approach results in a song that feels confused and disjointed, and ultimately may not appeal to either the Pardianimals, or the passive pop country fans who otherwise find more contemporary sounds fetching.
Unfortunately no redemption can be found in the lyricism of “Dirt On My Boots”—it might be the song’s biggest offense. Construed by Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, and Ashley Gorley (it’s one of the few songs from California Sunrise that Pardi didn’t co-write), it’s basically about picking up a girl and hitting the town, then taking her home like just about every other pop country single by a male performer currently on the mainstream radio market.
Especially troubling are buzzlines such as “Gonna hit the club” and the urbanized annunciation of lines like “They gonna shine with you up inside” (about Pardi’s muddy tires, of course). Just like the music, the lyrics of “Dirt On My Boots” try to attract both country rats and city rats, but ultimately clash like a farm truck being parked valet, and may send both sets of listeners scattering. The song is also unflattering to Pardi’s vocal tone and range. But of course with the right promotional budget, anything is possible on corporate country radio, especially since Pardi has a new tour coming up with Dierks Bentley to peddle.
Pardi is better than this, and there’s plenty of evidence on California Sunrise to prove that hypothesis. But country music is still a business, and Rome was not built or torn down in a day. “Dirt On My Boots” does not significantly change Jon Pardi’s status as more part of the solution than the problem in country, especially after a Billboard article reveals he resisted the song being released as a single. But it is a misstep, and will make it more difficult to convert the naysayers to the Pardi camp.
Brandon F
October 10, 2016 @ 7:58 am
I heard this on the radio yesterday and my first instinct was “what the hell is this”? I was pretty disappointed to see it was Jon Pardi when the radio display showed the artist and title. How did he go from Head Over Boots to this? Did they even listen to the song or just think “well the first song with boots in the title worked, let’s go with this one next”?
Cody
October 10, 2016 @ 8:07 am
In my opinion, his second single should have been “Cowboy Hat”.
Amanda
October 12, 2016 @ 12:04 pm
Cowboy Hat is a fantastic song, my favorite on the album. I agree that his second single from this album era should have been Cowboy Hat. She Ain’t In It is a fantastic song as well.
AT
October 10, 2016 @ 8:10 am
This is definitely my least favorite track on the album. However, the amount of airplay it’s already receiving in my area is astounding – I’m hearing it 3+ times on one station in particular.
This article from Billboard really brings to life the fact that there are so many artists that record/release songs that aren’t necessarily them so they can satisfy labels.
From Billboard:
Mike Dungan is intent on making a star of a 31-year-old artist named Jon Pardi, whom he likens to “Buck Owens from a frat house.” The bulk of the music on Pardi’s sophomore album, California Sunrise, is “a lot more traditional than what’s being played at country radio,” says Dungan.
One track, though, is a hip-hop-influenced outlier called “Dirt on My Boots.” Dungan wants it to be the next single because he’s convinced it’ll be a “bona fide smash.” Pardi is resisting him, however, and, as if on cue, steps out of the elevator. Dungan good-naturedly puts him on the spot. “Don’t fight me on the second single, boy!” he says, laughing. “Don’t have a great f–ing song and then stand there and say, ‘I don’t know if it’s me!’ ” Pardi can’t fight the pressure. “All right, all right,” he says with a sigh. You can resist the don for only so long.
Full article: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7453261/2016-billboard-nashville-power-players-list
Acca Dacca
October 10, 2016 @ 9:26 am
I’ve never been on of those moral majority types that, when strongly believing an issue has ethical or qualitative issues, claims to myself and others that “deep down the other side knows they’re wrong.” Mike Dungan is a perfect example of this. Claiming that Luke Bryan was “unlike anything else out there”, Sam Hunt’s lyrics are “very country”, trying to convince Chris Stapleton to pursue a “contemporary sound” and that Jon Pardi’s new single is a “great” song just because it appears to be successful (while chiding Pardi about wanting to remain true to his roots) is indicative that this fool very much believes in what he’s doing. When I first read it I thought this article was a parody — it’s so myopic that it defies belief. The only thing he knows “deep down” is that he wants more money. If he were strapped to a chair he might admit (with caveats) that most of the music he’s peddling isn’t country, but he truly does not care. I’m not the first to say this, but it’s very apparent: THESE people are the problem, not the artists and not the fans (or at least not in the same way). I don’t like Sam Hunt, but if someone didn’t want to sign him and sell him as “country”, we wouldn’t have to deal with him. Etc., etc. This guy disgusts me.
Trigger
October 10, 2016 @ 9:33 am
Good find.
Daniel
October 10, 2016 @ 8:17 am
This song is flying up the chart for a non A list artist. I don’t like it but if it builds him momentum for other releases like Cowboy Hat or even She Aint In It, the. I’m all for it.
seak05
October 10, 2016 @ 8:20 am
This song is selling very well (so far), it hasn’t even cracked the top 30 on mediabase yet and it’s already cracked the top 100 on the all genre itunes chart. The real problem with hip hop influenced country is that people like it, and mainstream labels like things that sell.
Charlie
October 10, 2016 @ 8:25 am
Fuck it–gotta have one for the girlfriend, son!
Noelle
November 28, 2016 @ 10:00 am
I’m a girl and I love this song. And for all you Effen purists, I have a 4.0 degree in music from Carnegie Mellon University. stick that up your pompous asses
The Dude
June 19, 2017 @ 11:22 am
Willie Nelson and about 5000 other country musicians don’t have any degrees in music so I venture to say, they know more about making great music than someone with a stupid piece of paper…
Austin Lee
October 10, 2016 @ 8:28 am
I’m not too worried cause there is plenty of bullets left in the gun from that record. It’s definitely in the bottom two along with heartache for me but it’s still better than most of what’s on radio. I think the big takeaway from this is Jon didn’t write it so to me it’s not indicative of where he wants to go as an artist. This is nothing more than the label still showing him who’s in control. I hope it does really good though so he can put out something like we’re used to.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
October 10, 2016 @ 8:39 am
From a “music” perspective this is tolerable, inoffensive and maybe a bit forgettable but it’s not too bad.
From a “Country Music” perspective it’s a disaster.
The melody, production, and some of the electronic effects are kind of fun. The content is harmless and although pointless at least it manages to be better than the beer and trucks of the last trend.
Neither fish nor fowl is a great analogy for this.
Chris
October 10, 2016 @ 8:55 am
In all fairness, I don’t mind this track from the record. My least favorites are Heartache On The Dance Floor and Lucky Tonight. Cowboy Hat would have been the more logical move (and my personal favorite from the record), but if this gets Jon even more momentum in his career, so be it. The guy’s a straight shooter and his music has a certain amount of youthfulness (not the same as modernization) to it. But for real, Cowboy Hat needs to be a single at some point!
Benny Lee
October 10, 2016 @ 8:59 am
I could almost live with the electronic rhythm crap (i.e.- just pretend it’s not there), but the lyrical structure of the song completely destroys all interest I would ever have in trying to suffer through it.
Jon Pardi knows this is not country. I doubt he even likes it. I know it’s not easy to stand up for what’s right, but it must be done, or you end up with a disaster like this.
For the last time: hip-hop is not country; electronic music is not country; R&B is not country. They are different worlds. Stop trying to mix them together.
albert
October 10, 2016 @ 6:45 pm
”….. but the lyrical structure of the song completely destroys all interest I would ever have in trying to suffer through it. Jon Pardi knows this is not country. I doubt he even likes it. I know it’s not easy to stand up for what’s right, but it must be done, or you end up with a disaster like this..”
Exactly Benny Lee . STAND UP …..if you actually know the difference in good material and shit !!
Cameron
October 10, 2016 @ 9:10 am
Hope the success from this will allow him to release “She Ain’t it” or “Cowboy hat” as his next single. Honestly any other song from the album would have been better.
Cameron
October 10, 2016 @ 9:16 am
“She Ain’t in it” rather
Benjamin
October 10, 2016 @ 9:15 am
this song is tricky. Do I think it’s a great representation of who Jon Pardi as an artist? No. Do I think it was a wise decision to release it as a single? Yes. It’s catchy, it puts a smile on your face, and it is similar enough to his first single to keep radio listeners from being completely oblivious to who it is, but also different enough to show radio fans that he’s not a one trick pony. Someone else said it perfectly in the comments: this will hopefully open up the avenue where he can release the INCREDIBLE song on this record like “She Aint in it” or my personal favorite “California Sunrise” I watched an interview with Pardi and he likes this song, so I don’t think it was entirely the label forcing him.
Trigger
October 10, 2016 @ 9:54 am
There are two ways an artist can build a fan base, either through popular songs and mainstream channels, or creating a grassroots fan base based more on authenticity. Luke Bryan would be an example of the first, and Chris Stapleton would be an example of the second. Both are extremely successful and selling millions of records, but from different strategies.
The problem that you get is when you try to mix both, just like how this song tries to mix the traditional with the contemporary. Ultimately, you can end up with neither. You release a song like this and it can alienate your fan base, just like Pardi was concerned about in the Billboard article linked above. So even though it may garner you some more mainstream attention, it could erode your grassroots. The thing about grassroots is they’re always there for you (unless you burn them), while mainstream fans and attention are fleeting.
Jon Pardi already has a #1 song, and a #1 album. If he released “Cowboy Hat,” for example, it could go to #1 too, or it could meander in the Top 20, but still get him and his album more attention. But either way, it would keep the organic groundswell behind him in tact. By releasing “Dirt On My Boots,” he runs a risk.
What have we been learning from singles like “Head Over Boots,” “I Met A Girl,” and “Humble and Kind”? That country radio is becoming more accepting of these substantive songs? And what have we learned from the failure of the latest singles from Chase Rice and Thomas Rhett? That these party songs are starting to fall out of favor. The Music Row money changers are too slow to adapt. That’s why they always get caught with their pants around their ankles.
Especially now in this environment, I think you’re better off dancing with the one that brought you. I don’t doubt that “Dirt On My Boots” will be successful at radio. But at what cost?
bob
October 10, 2016 @ 9:24 am
Luke bryan started out traditional and now look at em’…jon pardi is just the new luke bryan, we must destroy him before he destroys us!!
Glen
October 10, 2016 @ 10:43 am
This is my most disappointing album of 2016 so far. I do like Pardi and I’ve seen him twice in concert, but this album is mostly bro-ish lyrics. There are only a few songs worth listening to. I think Write You a Song and the B-Sides album were better. Most of these songs, including Dirt on My Boots, are just not good enough lyrically, no matter how country the music and his voice is.
BwareDWare94
October 10, 2016 @ 11:04 am
I think I hear some autotune during the chorus, too. A truly terrible song and I’m heavily disappointed in Jon Pardi, regardless of who or who didn’t force this as a single.
Angelo Rinaldi
October 10, 2016 @ 12:16 pm
This song is so bad I actually prefer to listen to “Take Your Time” by Sam Cunt.
sbach66
October 10, 2016 @ 4:37 pm
This is the song that keeps me from buying this. (As I listen to Mo Pitney sing about “Country.”)
Dane
October 10, 2016 @ 5:24 pm
Actually, was one other just as bad (if not worse): Heartache On Dance Floor. These 2 songs just destroy an otherwise really good album.
Larry
December 17, 2016 @ 11:52 pm
I’m a professional musician, specializing in country music for over 40 years currently fronting my own show. Today you better be able to play it all from old Hank to Luke Bryan. Music is about life and change. If you don’t change you die. I love Pardies new album and applaud his vintage tone mixed with a contemporary rockin groove. Like all albums not every song is a winner but John Pardi is . My next cover of his will be Heartache on the dance floor. Love those minor chords!.
albert
October 10, 2016 @ 6:41 pm
Could not agree more , Trigger . This is just generic bro-crap trying to be all things to people who don’t care or don’t know the difference…musical wallpaper . I blame the artist completely on this one cuz he’s shown us that he DOES know the difference .
jmarsh
October 10, 2016 @ 6:43 pm
Horrible choice to kill momentum. Sad thing is “Cowboy Hat” would be the perfect pick, being a little contemporary while still appealing to more traditional fans. Still holding out for my pipe dream of “She Ain’t In It” being released as a single eventually.
Parth Venkat
October 10, 2016 @ 8:52 pm
Wow this is bad … i’ll give the rest of the album a spin though based on the comments
Summer Jam
October 10, 2016 @ 11:59 pm
I feel sorry for everyone saying this is a bad song. It’s not. Is it great? No. It is as country as his other work? Absolutely not. However, it’s one of my favorite tracks on this album. I love real country music just as much as the rest of ya’ll, but come on this is NOT a bad song. It’s just more pop country than what yall would expect to hear out of Jon Pardi. This song is still WAY BETTER than a majority of music being played on country radio. To say the least, I too am shocked they released this one over “Cowboy Hat”, but it’s still a good song and I hope it is a big hit for Jon, he deserves it in every way.
Corncaster
October 11, 2016 @ 2:57 am
Laughable. Can anyone see one of the riders in the video singing this? Me neither.
This is why people still sing old Hank. Because it’s not embarrassing.
The upthread theory that this is all about catering to buyers is correct. Which is a shame, but everybody’s trying to make a living.
Where’s the dirt on your boots on this song, Jon?
Chris
October 11, 2016 @ 7:58 am
I haven’t purchased this yet, but I probably will still do so.
If something is getting airplay on mainstream country stations, the chances are that it will gag me.
I’m a different Chris than the above poster who is saddled with my name and reputation.
Donny
October 11, 2016 @ 9:28 am
Its the worst song on his album but it’s not even that bad. Lots of fiddle and a little bit of steel. Miles better than anything else on the radio. Jon Pardi is always a stud.
Nadia Lockheart
October 11, 2016 @ 11:18 am
This track actually sums up my issue with the album as a whole: it gets the production and instrument right for the most part, but lyrically regressed to bro-country tropes.
The obvious exceptions are tracks like the title track and “She Ain’t On It”, and there are several fluffy love songs that have nothing new to offer but still sound solid.
But make no mistake: “Dirt On My Boots” embodies the rule, not the exception, in terms of songwriting on “California Sunrise”.
I’m feeling a Light to Decent 3 out of 10.
ThatFireGuy13
October 11, 2016 @ 3:30 pm
Just my opinion on the song, but to me his voice sounds bored in the song. He doesn’t seem to show any emotion when singing the lyrics. Pardi carry’s the tone of “let’s get this one over with.” Maybe I’m wrong. Still love Mr. Pardi though!
Summer Jam
October 11, 2016 @ 4:01 pm
Two mainstream country songs this year that the artist sounds bored on would be “You Look Like I Need A Drink” (Justin Moore) and “80’s Mercedes” (Maren Morris).
Biscuit
October 11, 2016 @ 11:11 pm
I’m shutting this tractor down, indeed. This thing sounds like an outtake from a Carrie Underwood album. Pardi is total bro country mode here, cringe-worthy.No thanks.
Craig
October 12, 2016 @ 6:11 am
Yes, it’s a dumb song. But it’s about dusty boots, which a lot of us rural types actually have, and I guarantee that you’ll hear this song all over the horse show circuit during drill team and free reining events. It’s upbeat, it’s fun, you can gallop around to it and the crowd will like it These songs have their place.
Amanda
October 12, 2016 @ 12:01 pm
This is probably my least favorite on the album. That being said, I’d rather listen to this than Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, and the like. He can do much better, but this is not a complete loss. It’s not my favorite song ever, but if it opens the door for him to release fantastic songs such as Cowboy Hat and She Ain’t In It as singles, I’m all for it. Jon Pardi is amazing.
TJ Neyland
October 24, 2016 @ 8:57 am
Spoiler Alert: This is going to be his 2nd Number 1.
Also guys this is a great song.
Lindsay Marie Jones
January 21, 2017 @ 5:46 pm
I freaking love this song…
The Dude
February 28, 2017 @ 9:43 am
Bubble gum country.
Maynard
March 24, 2017 @ 4:51 pm
It Sounds like a rip off of Sean Paul’s “Get Busy”. I think the hook/beat was taken and just slowed down a little. I called it first! Listen and compare. Let me know if im on to something please. This is correction to previous comment.
Ron
March 25, 2017 @ 2:35 am
Maynard, Thanks! It has kept me up at night trying to remember which song it came from. I think the minor cords are the same or at least the cord progression comes very close.
Maynard
March 25, 2017 @ 10:55 am
Hey Ron,
Well put! That is more accurate then what I said for what makes them sound similar. I swear the first time I heard the song it zinged my brain that I have heard that sound before! I caught the song two more times after that and the feeling kept growing. I started by humming the sound of the music to Dirt on My Boots, then after a day of having that stuck in my head i played with the phrase “till the early morn” from “Dirt on my Boots” and the lyric hit me (Turn Me on till the early morn). I did a google search and BAM FOUND IT!! It truly was driving me nuts. Glad to know im not the only one who felt they heard that sound before.
The Dude
May 17, 2017 @ 1:21 pm
I hated “Get a little dirt on my boots” the first time I heard it. The way he makes the phrase “get a little dirt on my boots” run together almost as if its all one word..Dumb sounding. Especially the corny, epic music at the end. God I hate this song!
Michael
May 19, 2017 @ 8:41 am
This is hilarious to read all these comments lol