Song Review – Luke Bryan’s “Most People Are Good”
I’m sorry, but Luke Bryan’s “Most People Are Good” is a good song. It’s a really good song. And we’re all just going to have to deal with that in whatever way we individually see fit, however painful it might be. That means you, staunch country traditionalist, with your fingers hovering just above your keyboard while trolling Facebook, waiting to type “Never Heard of Her” whenever Luke Bryan’s name or his Gomer Pyle grin comes flashing by in your news feed.
That means you, stuffy NPR-listening dedicated follower of all things independent in genteel Americana. That means you, punk gone country crust punk kid who now counts themselves a Don Williams convert. Because if I have to eat a big heaping helping of green eggs and ham on this one, then dammit, you’re gonna have to pick up a fork and join me. It’s only fair. Because however many battles we’ve fought with ol’ Luke over the years, he deserves more than a pass on this one, he deserves a handshake, and a pat on the back.
“Most People Are Good” is not just a good song, it’s a good country song. It’s by far and away the best song from Luke Bryan’s latest record What Makes You Country, and maybe the best from Luke Bryan since he made the transition as mostly a songwriter to a performer in the late oughts. And now we’re able to call “Most People Are Good” a good radio single, because it’s the latest selection from arguably the biggest current artist in “country” music to head to the airwaves.
“Most People Are Good” nestles down into a quieted half-time beat indicative of the old Gentle Giant himself, and delivers not just a meaningful message, but an amiable mood. Granted, the songwriting here is nothing special, at least if you’re looking for a story, or quick-witted turns of phrase. It’s just a series of affirmatives similar to the Tim McGraw/Lori McKenna song “Humble and Kind.” But that song went on to win Song of the Year in a number of venues, and deservedly so. And if “Most People Are Good” did the same, it would be hard to argue against.
The biggest problem with “Most People Are Good” is Luke Bryan. Not that he sings it poorly, in fact he does a fine job with the composition written by David Frasier, Ed Hill, and Josh Kear. It’s that similar to Florida Georgia Line’s “Dirt,” the difficulty will be for most non-mainstream listeners to remove the bad taste in their mouths to even give a song like “Most People Are Good” a chance. But like “Dirt,” Luke Bryan doesn’t just deserve credit for cutting the song, he deserves accolades for showing some leadership for releasing it as a single. Does it make up for all the damage he’s wreaked on country music over the last decade? Of course not. But frankly, it can mean more in the grand scheme if Luke Bryan releases a quality single that’s sure to go #1 than it does if your favorite little indie band writes a better song that never gets served to the ears of the masses.
And something else remarkable about “Most People Are Good” is the line, “I believe you love who you love ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of.” None of the online outlets yelling at country artists to take a more forward-thinking approach to social issues will ever give Luke Bryan and the songwriters any credit for including a line like this in a major song, when they should be raising his name and this song to the roof if they actually cared about social change through music as opposed to just scoring body blows and venting anger against their enemies in pointed political take downs.
You don’t change the world through music by singing polarizing protest songs that do nothing more than preach to a choir and push away the audience that the message is needing to reach. Protest songs have their place in the musical landscape too, don’t get me wrong. But Margo Price is never going to help close the wage gap by equating the formation of the United States to the institutionalized enslavement of women, not only because it’s just not true and is delivered in an angry and ugly manner, but because nobody’s listening, especially those who supposedly need to hear it.
Luke Bryan isn’t coming out for gay or interracial marriage here necessarily. He’s just simply saying, “Hey, if two people love each other, who gives a damn? Good for them. None of my business.” And it’s these types of messages served in a simple, nuanced, and respectful manner that actually help cause the slow eroding of prejudices most all rational and cultured people agree should be put in humankind’s past.
Truth is, Luke Bryan always includes a few pretty good songs on his records, and we’ve said this for years. They’ve just never made it out as singles. And as the album concept continues to erode in the mainstream, singles become even more important, just as the importance of album cuts diminishes. The lead single from Luke Bryan’s latest record “Light It Up” was nothing short of a disappointment, despite the gerrymandering of it to #1 on radio. Make no mistake, there is an economic and strategic reason behind releasing “Most People Are Good” as a second single. But if the tea leaves are reading that the appetite of the public is for better songs, this should be read as a positive prospectus for the future of the mainstream.
One of the most dangerous things you can fall prey to when trying to assess the current pulse of country music is to let your perspective fall behind the timeline. Remember when people thought the worst thing going on in country music was Lonestar singing songs about sippy cups, when waiting in the wings was Taylor Swift ready to win two CMA Entertainer of the Year awards in three years? Remember people hard cursing Kenny Chesney when Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” was shattering records? Things are constantly shifting, and in just the last couple of months, they’ve shifted in a more rapid pace in country music than in the history of the genre.
There is no reason to believe Luke Bryan has turned a corner, because there are plenty of indications on What Makes You Country that he hasn’t. But how many wrote off the career of Tim McGraw due to his early output, swore off Miranda Lambert after Platinum, and now see these two as some of the best names in the mainstream? Nobody knows what the future holds, and if “Most People Are Good” finds success—which it should—then the likelihood is we’ll hear more singles like this from Luke Bryan and others, just as its failure will give the industry the excuse it needs to never go down this road again.
That’s why it’s dependent on all of us that care about the institution of country music to support songs like “Most People Are Good,” if in name only. You don’t have to listen to it, and you certainly don’t have to submit your credit card info to the Luke Bryan Fan Club. But if the people of country music let it be know that this is what you would rather hear representing country music, then maybe next time you’re trying to explain to your co-worker or cousin, “Yeah, I like country music, but not that country music,” you won’t have to be so embarrassed, or burdened by needing to load up on qualifiers.
“Most People Are Good” is a song of hope, and a song about searching out the good in life as opposed to always focusing on the negative. It’s a timely message, and allows for the listener to take a deep breath in a tumultuous world. It’s a message not just worthy of a wide ear, it’s also one that’s important to take to heart in the effort to save country music.
Fueled by Busch Light
February 1, 2018 @ 12:33 pm
“Truth is, Luke Bryan always includes a few pretty good songs on his records, and we’ve said this for years. They’ve just never made it out as singles.”
At this point I realized I very rarely even dive into their albums because of what’s released on radio and perhaps each of these albums do have some redeeming qualities. Has there been an article written to look at the best (songs) of the worst (artists)? No doubt Luke has a good voice and can belt out a few good tunes (Do I, Someone Else Calling You Baby, etc), but I’ve probably missed some good songs by him and the others once I gave up on them
Trigger
February 1, 2018 @ 12:46 pm
When They Don’t Suck: Bad Country Star’s Good Album Cuts
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/when-they-dont-suck-bad-country-stars-good-album-cuts/
Before They Sucked: Big Country Stars at the Start
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/before-they-sucked-big-country-stars-at-the-start/
Per Tore Gresseth
February 1, 2018 @ 5:12 pm
Would love an update version of these!
Kev
February 2, 2018 @ 1:51 am
“Before They Sucked” … that’s quite a sad read really, especially thinking of Blake Shelton. His first couple of albums were great. Horrible to think of what’s he’s turning out now in comparison!
North Woods Country
February 1, 2018 @ 1:04 pm
His initial sellout album being Tailgates and Tanlines, I’d say “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” was his last great single, but there were two excellent album cuts on that record–“I Know You’re Gonna be There” and “Tailgate Blues.”
AV
February 1, 2018 @ 2:29 pm
Love tailgate blues
Luke
December 20, 2023 @ 9:48 pm
Obviously never been to church nor tried going to school for education. Otherwise you’d be singing a different tune.
Luke
December 20, 2023 @ 9:56 pm
For anyone who think most people are good, try going to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormon church). Caution though, your life will be destroyed if you do go. This religion is destroying our country.
GrantH
February 1, 2018 @ 12:33 pm
Probably the best single he’s released since “Someone Else Calling You Baby” all the way back in ‘09. I cant stand the dude but in the big scheme of things Luke Bryan having GOOD hit singles is what’s best for country music in this era.
Clint
February 1, 2018 @ 12:38 pm
It really does remind me of a classic Don Williams song..never thought I would be able to compare Luke and Don.
Great song choice for a single
Fuzzy TwoShirts
February 1, 2018 @ 2:33 pm
Luke Bryan simply can NOT sing well. his upper register is maybe decent (or was decent 9 years ago) but he has no control, no phrasing and is simply a shitty singer with a subpar voice.
It;s not as noticeable on his trashy songs but this song makes it very obvious that he hasn’t practiced quality singing in a long time.
Summer Jam
February 1, 2018 @ 6:51 pm
Brad Paisley has no vocal range either (worse than Luke Bryan) but look at how great his music is…hes always kept it country no matter what.
Fat Freddy's Cat
February 1, 2018 @ 12:40 pm
Gotta agree with ya Trigger. That is a good song.
I’m not going to get my hopes up too far yet, but maybe somebody is hearing us? I hope some of our folks can show some support for this kind of song; giving it some positive feedback might get us more good songs.
Dana M
February 1, 2018 @ 12:40 pm
I tried to give his album a listen but the first three songs were atrocious that I never made it to Most People Are Good. I do find often times major artists will try to sneak in a few good ones in their albums, so glad to hear Luke hasn’t completely abandoned country.
James
February 1, 2018 @ 12:44 pm
“Things are constantly shifting, and in just the last couple of months, they’ve shifted in a more rapid pace in country music than in the history of the genre.”
Are you saying it’s moving in a good way?
Trigger
February 1, 2018 @ 1:49 pm
I think it is moving in a good and bad way, and I think this is because of the new paradigm of streaming and playlists. Playlist placement is allowing artist without the proper vetting and really poor pop songs to step in front of more established artists, and in some respects established artists are looking to fall back on more substance and strong fan bases to insulate themselves from trends and the moods swings of streaming. Going to have a more in-depth article on this soon.
Aggc
February 1, 2018 @ 12:45 pm
Never heard of her.
North Woods Country
February 1, 2018 @ 1:06 pm
I think you’re ovreselling it a bit. That being said this will be good for radio.
Steve
February 1, 2018 @ 1:08 pm
Actually not a fan of this one, and I defended songs by him even on his previous album. I didn’t find a single song to enjoy from this latest album. But hey, to each their own.
Kross
February 1, 2018 @ 1:09 pm
good review, and thank you for explaining the problem with most protest songs much more eloquently than I have ever been able to do. Let’s hope this song does well and maybe causes LB to slightly change musical directions going forward.
Corncaster
February 1, 2018 @ 1:11 pm
Very sweet. This should play very well to all the mamas listening to the radio.
Cynical? Not entirely. To me this is just pat and pollyannish. One of the things I respect in country music is its unflinching honesty. I’m lonely. You lied. You hurt me. I miss you. All my rowdy friends are coming over tonight. And so on. Even ol’ Wheeler, “f*** y*** b**ch,” is as country as a stone. Who can deny being angry like that? We’ve all been there.
“The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” — Solzhenitsyn
And as for the lines in the song, these are the ones that ring truest:
I believe kids oughta stay kids as long as they can
Turn off the screen, go climb a tree, get dirt on their hands
I believe we gotta forgive and make amends
Cause nobody gets a second chance to make new old friends
I believe in working hard for what you’ve got
Even if it don’t add up to a hell of a lot
David Frasier and his co-writers deserve a nod of recognition for those lines, even if they are just a list. But this?
I believe you love who you love
Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of
This is only half-true. Sometimes we mistake love for lust, sometimes we love for the wrong reasons, and sometimes we regret it for really, really good reasons. That’s the kind of honesty and detail we deserve from our writers, in my opinion.
albert
February 1, 2018 @ 5:32 pm
”The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” — Solzhenitsyn”
Thank God ….I thought it was just me
JB
February 2, 2018 @ 10:32 am
Great point there about the lazy “love who you love” line
Josh
February 13, 2018 @ 11:49 am
While we are picking nits: “I believe in working hard for what you’ve got
Even if it don’t add up to a hell of a lot” doesn’t make much sense either. What’s to believe in about working hard and being poor?
Dooley
February 1, 2018 @ 1:37 pm
Isn’t it so much more fun, to discover good music in the most unusual places?
One may also be surprised by John Oates and his Arkansas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpC4wIeR6rQ
R2D2
February 1, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
Wow thanks for sharing this.. it has me intrigued for sure!
Cobra
February 1, 2018 @ 1:45 pm
I hate to be the guy who throws the sour note, but (and you touched on this a bit), the fact is that this shows what Luke Bryan is capable of. Yes, it is a good song and this isn’t meant to take away from that, but it just makes it all the more difficult to stomach what he’s become. It’s not like with Florida Georgia Line who clearly aren’t capable of any better (“Dirt,” aside). It’s not like with Sam Hunt who couldn’t put out a song that even sounds the faintest bit country. Here’s a guy who, as you and others have said, has some decent, dare we say, even good, album cuts. A song like this from Luke Bryan as a single is a rarity. Almost unheard of. That makes it kind of a kick in the pants when he puts out songs like “Light It Up.”
Seak05
February 1, 2018 @ 1:51 pm
I like the song, but like Rhett’s “marry me” it gets a little boring in the repetition. But I’m happy it got released as a single.
Jordan
February 2, 2018 @ 12:03 am
Any song gets boring with enough repetition.
Toothless
February 1, 2018 @ 1:52 pm
If Luke really is changing his stripes to release better music, we’ll need to endure at least two more horrid singles from the current LP, at 50 weeks each on the chart, before a new album comes out.
Trigger
February 1, 2018 @ 4:14 pm
Beyond releasing this single, I don’t think there is any reason to believe Luke Bryan is changing his stripes. After “Most People Are Good,” he will release another bad single, because that’s all that’s left on his current record. But if it succeeds, if the song wins an award or two, perhaps his next album will show improvement.
Cool Lester Smooth
February 1, 2018 @ 2:11 pm
I passionately hate Dirt, and prefer trash songs like Sun Daze.
Dumb as Sun Daze is, it sounds authentically FGL. Dirt sounds phony,
Luke, meanwhile, pulls this song off.
VMC_Mike
February 1, 2018 @ 2:20 pm
Sounds like something Clay Walker would have cut in the late ’90s.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
February 1, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
“I believe kids oughta stay kids as long as they can.”
of course you do, because if they grew up they wouldn’t buy your shitty music anymore.
Hillbilly
February 1, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
Who cares about Luke Bryan and modern “pop-country” singers like Sam Hunt, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and Chris Stapleton? Real country music died in the late 1950s when the Nashville sound was invented.
albert
February 1, 2018 @ 5:35 pm
Jesus ….I’m sorry to hear that Hillbilly
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 1, 2018 @ 3:20 pm
The title of the song is a lie.
Ulysses McCaskill
February 1, 2018 @ 4:58 pm
Thank you Lord Stirreth the Pot.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 1, 2018 @ 8:02 pm
This is a platitude in the form of a song. And it happens to be a platitude with no basis in reality.
Jtrpdx
February 1, 2018 @ 8:47 pm
Comment of the month, Ulysses!
Desperado Destry
February 2, 2018 @ 7:55 am
I was waiting for a comment like Honky’s… was about to say the same thing myself. I deal with real people in the real world everyday and watching this had me wanting to laugh. Truth is… most people aren’t good… and that’s really damn sad. That said however… it’s good to see some storytelling and I think Luke did a pretty nice job.
Sami
February 1, 2018 @ 3:34 pm
I say we give him treats and lots of praise! Maybe even get started on clicker training! GOOD BOY!
Bill Roy
February 1, 2018 @ 3:45 pm
Its just another list song. Nothing of true substance to me.
Jordan
February 2, 2018 @ 12:09 am
As much as I want to agree that list songs lack substance, they can still tell a story. It just depends on if you want to read into the message or take the lyrics at face value. This is a list song with deeper meaning.
I can’t believe I’m defending Luke Bryan. 2018 is a weird year already.
Bill Roy
February 2, 2018 @ 2:42 pm
You die a hero or live long enough to become the villian…
Bill Weiler
February 1, 2018 @ 4:16 pm
The vocals are pleasant and the song makes one feel warm and fuzzy like rainbows, unicorns, puppys and long walks on the beach. And? A good voice (they are a dime a dozen) and a bland non-threatening song written by a modern day Nashville version of the Brill building machine is 100% pure Zipity-Doo-Da. Sorry, totally disposable ear candy.
Abel
February 1, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
I quit listening to the radio awhile ago. The endless list of vapid generic male country singers with hip-hop sounds just turns me off. However, Most People Are Good is one of the few songs I will not switch on. Just wish it was the worst song from country’s “Biggest Star” instead of his best.
Clyde
February 1, 2018 @ 4:35 pm
It’s a pretty good song, but what the hell, did they throw out all the telecasters and pedal steels in Nashville?
NJ
February 1, 2018 @ 4:38 pm
Now I’ve ever actually heard a Luke Bryan song before this so I have nothing to compare this track with.
But seriously….. this sounds like the worst of 90’s country and I shudder to think how bad the rest of his music must be
Marie
February 1, 2018 @ 5:11 pm
I like Luke. Have even seen him in concert. Good entertainer and I’m a fan . I do like some of his songs BUT not this one. I just don’t like the song or the way he sings it.
Deryk
February 1, 2018 @ 5:13 pm
Cmon, man. This song is not good. Why is this even up for a discussion on this site? Who are you trying to impress with a review like this exactly? There are so many better things you could be reviewing and writing about instead of pop garbage like Justin Timberlake and this mess.
Trigger
February 1, 2018 @ 6:09 pm
This is a good song, and it’s up for discussion on this site because I’m not some nose-in-the-air elitist who thinks that anything mainstream or from Luke Bryan immediately means it’s bad. I don’t just care about my own listening habits, I care about the music others are listening to as well, and want them to feel fulfilled and enriched like a song like this can. This song really touched me and reminded me a lot of the feelings I had when listening to Don Williams. If people think I’m a hack or a sellout for saying so, oh well. They thought the same when I reviewed Florida Georgia Line’s “Dirt” and said it was my demise, and here I still am. I’m not running popularity contest, I’m here to share my honest feelings regardless of how they’re received.
And nothing else was not covered just because I chose to cover this. That’s a common misconception. When you write from passion and you’re dedicated to the cause like I am, you can write as much as a team of a dozen staffers and an editor, which I do. I don’t ignore anything. I write about everything I’m passionate about. I never take a day off, never take vacations, work day and night, and post more content in a week than most writers deliver in two months. Don’t you worry about my priorities.
Leroy
February 1, 2018 @ 7:25 pm
Don’t you sometimes get other people to write for you? Tell them to write their own review and submit it for your approval. Bands could pay you for the promotion. Advertisements made to look like reviews. Trick em and get paid for doing it, just keep feeding them and feeding them content. Watch albert lose it having to stay up all night writing his essays.
Trigger
February 1, 2018 @ 8:08 pm
1) I like Albert’s essays.
2) There’s a thing in the blog world called “Sponsored Posts.” Companies solicit websites to post content about a pair of sunglasses, or a time share property, or a ticket site, etc. I love to get those solicitations because it gives me a vehicle to vent my unresolved anger from my piss poor childhood.
3) I only make it look easy to write articles. In truth, even a simple news story can be very hard and time consuming to compose. I hear from folks all the time that want to contribute. They stare at a screen for two hours, and never do. I wrote 85 positive album reviews in 2017. That doesn’t include song reviews, negative reviews, other features, news stories, album announcements, lists, etc. etc. It’s cute when folks who’ve never paid a penny to read this site try and tell me I’m not doing enough for the cause.
62MLS55
February 2, 2018 @ 8:55 am
I agree with you, Trigger. Not that my opinion matters to anyone else (and I don’t care) — but I believe the message here, along with the recording and production, resonates with a large audience of people who feel that mainstream radio doesn’t give a flying you know what about what they want to hear — which is why most of those folks have turned off the radio. I for one would never have heard this song if you hadn’t brought it to my attention. While Luke Bryan isn’t someone I would normally stop and give a listen to due to the bro country crap he’s done, I’m glad you pointed this one out. I like a lot of the lines — particularly “I believe if you just go by the nightly news your faith in all mankind would be the first thing you lose”. Truth. I do believe most people are good. Nice call on this one.
albert
February 1, 2018 @ 5:23 pm
One of Luke’s countrier-sounding songs , for sure , and his vocal performance respects the message .
And a fine message it is …in the same way that ” Humble And Kind” was . A little too generic , a little too safe and , in that way , pandering . So yeah …..credit where its due ….Luke finally sings something palatable ….even if Don Williams already made a career of this kind of song and there’s no fresh take on Luke’s offering .
Points to Luke Bryan for growing up …..and for hopefully waking up some of his fans to other song subject matter .
DJ
February 1, 2018 @ 5:34 pm
I like the lyrics, the melody is ok but his voice ain’t.
Gina
February 1, 2018 @ 5:38 pm
I still can’t deal with his voice but if the current wave is influencing the kind of music he’s releasing, that’s only a good thing. If he’s going to sell out stadiums then he might as well be singing some good songs. Things are changing, I believe.
Mo Crawford
February 1, 2018 @ 6:02 pm
A bit cheesy…if you need lyrics like this you’re a special kinda moron
Jtrpdx
February 1, 2018 @ 8:55 pm
Completely agree. Although I also get trigg’s and others’ poInt that it is worthy to note that this is a lot better than other Luke Bryan songs, so there is that. This song was, from its inception, designed to be a sappy hallmark card made specifically to pull at the heartstrings of children and women. Great marketing ploy, and a better song than the Like Brian norm, but that’s about it.
Aggc
February 1, 2018 @ 6:28 pm
I’d be more into this if he had a good voice and could actually sing without electronic modification. I don’t remember what awards show (maybe last year’s CMT) but it was painful to watch. It was as if someone with talent called him out of the audience to sing along and then later regretted it. I think he’d make a good bartender.
Big Cat
February 1, 2018 @ 7:51 pm
I think it sucks. Get some good wine with that cheese. Reeks of a Humble and Kind copy cat to me. The song writers didn’t hit authenticity for me. Just my opinion.
Lynn
February 1, 2018 @ 7:54 pm
Great, perhaps Trigger can find a Biily Ray Cyrus song we missed and extol its greatness to the un-educated ear (us). Standing by…
Dave
February 2, 2018 @ 1:58 am
Trail of Tears
Jacob W.
February 1, 2018 @ 9:04 pm
This ain’t that good at all. Very cookie cutter. Cut and paste modern situations into Don Williams I believe in you, but make it more commercial like Garth Brooks we shall be free and this is what you get. It’s like Luke is kissing up to the radical left because he has skeletons in the #metoo closet.
Joe
February 1, 2018 @ 9:19 pm
I have to say I’ve never understood how many people judge a song by the artist instead of basing it on the song itself. Thank you Trigger for having the courage and balls to call a good song a good song.
The Dot
February 1, 2018 @ 9:42 pm
It’s not bad. I have to give him credit for not singing about a tailgate. Or a fish. Or a phone. I wouldn’t turn it off 🙂
Luckyoldsun
February 1, 2018 @ 10:29 pm
I can’t really object to the song and and its inclusive sentiments–or the recording.
I just can’t say I like it. It’s a bit trite and bland. I’ve heard it exactly once, but there’s nothing about it that makes me want to hear it again. Unlike, say, Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy” (“Beer is Good/God is Great.”) from a decade ago. That song had enough things going on and sly lyrics, that it made you want to hear it more than once.
Thomas Augeri
February 1, 2018 @ 10:36 pm
He’s always managed to release at least one single I really liked from his even his recent albums. Fast from Kill The Lights, Roller Coaster from Crash My Party, and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye from Tanlines and Tailgates were all great. They just didn’t become big hits. I really hope this one does.
Lone Wolf
February 1, 2018 @ 11:23 pm
Trig, as I was reading the title of this article I had a feeling you would be fair and give LB credit where credit is due. I’m liking this song more and more but haven’t heard it on the radio enough for it to be overbearing. It’s a nice piece with a nice message. The last song I heard from him that tugged at me was ‘I Knew You That Way’ from ‘Tailgates & Tanlines’. I’m thinking the follow-up single won’t have the same resonance, which seems to be his Achilles heel. I got more out of this song than I thought and glad I did.
Justin Adams
February 2, 2018 @ 5:20 am
Im not a fan but I did like Little boys Up and dogs get old off his last album
hayes
February 2, 2018 @ 6:13 am
Major respect to you for writing this review. I’ve never been a Luke Bryan Fan but feel like this song is quality and when a site like this can objectively call it quality, you deserve respect and a shout out.
Charlie
February 2, 2018 @ 10:28 am
I don’t mind a few of his songs–most mentioned above. And it is encouraging that this is a single release.
Most people really are good. Most Luke Bryan songs are really bad. Most People are Good is mostly bad, though. Grading it not on a curve gives a more realistic 3/4 guns up score.
Don Williams? Please. It’s a Bruce Springsteen song if Bruce Springsteen purposely tried to write lyrics that got him laughed out of the studio.
Platitudes. I like tying up compex things with simple wording. But just dolloping them out, line after line–it’s too many toppings and not enough ice cream.
jeffmugs
February 2, 2018 @ 11:33 am
Pretty good Mac McAnally impression.
Andrew
February 2, 2018 @ 11:34 am
Gotta disagree with the review Trigger. This is a decent song but not as a country song. The lyrics are pretty good but it’s essentially just a pop ballad instead of a pop party anthem like “Country Girl Shake For Me”. Nothing country about this.
Bill
February 2, 2018 @ 11:37 am
Meanwhile, the new (final?) Montgomery Gentry album dropped today featuring the first single Better Me with Troy Gentry on lead vocals. Not a big fan and yes I know about his infamous and cruel bear shooting but bittersweet lyrics and still more country than Sam Hunt.
James
February 2, 2018 @ 5:28 pm
Montgomery Gentry is great and it wasn’t a cruel bear shooting, it was just caged in instead of in the wild
Mike Honcho
February 2, 2018 @ 3:38 pm
Am I reading too much into your review, or does the line supporting gays make this a good song in your eyes, and the rest is hollow platitudes to support that line?
Birel
February 6, 2018 @ 5:16 pm
It has everything to do with him liking the song.
Ray
February 2, 2018 @ 3:54 pm
I never shoot down an artist who is able to make a HUGE living singing music. Do I love the majority of what is called “country music” nowadays? No. Do I blame less-than-great singers for finding a “formula” and sticking with it while they make millions? No. But I think the tide is turning that you can only sing the same song so many times before your audience moves on to the next Sam Hunt.
I think Luke is a likable enough guy. He has been blessed with a good head of hair, good teeth and hips that women like to see wiggle. It also appears at the ripe old age of 40 that LB is realizing that you can only sing about “country girls on a backroad with her barefoot on the dashboard” so many times. I think the new song is one of the best of his career. It has a good message and shows maturity as an artist. Like Dierks Bentley’s “Woman, Amen,” it is a step up from their past few singles.
mr. troll
February 2, 2018 @ 5:38 pm
never heard of her
Rob
February 2, 2018 @ 8:06 pm
Oh my God.. They got to you. The Schlock-Meisters have infiltrated SCM and brain washed Trigger.
It looks like a good majority of you are falling right in line behind him.
3 years ago this crap would have went right into the trash heap with all the other “feel-good hug you mama, I’m just a simple man” cheese dick songs. Now all the sudden this is Luke Byron’s “He stopped loving her”
This is not a good song. It’s not a pimple on the ass of a good song.
Quick, go put on “Purgatory” and cleanse your eardrums. And don’t even think about going back and relistening to those Florida Georgia Line records to see if there’s something you missed.
Barry Cheavers
February 2, 2018 @ 8:15 pm
“Saving Country Music’s purpose is spelled out in its name. It offers news, opinion, reviews, artist profiles, music history, and the ALWAYS POPULAR OFF-COLOR POP COUNTRY BASHING”
This song is straight up pop. Some of the lyrical content may be good, but that is overshadowed by how over produced and generic this song is. Just because it may be one of Luke’s “best” doesn’t make it good. The song is awful. It’s shocking how many people in the comments are in agreeance. A song like this, I’d expect more bashing and less praising. I guess I just don’t it.
Leigh Ann Freeman
February 3, 2018 @ 10:05 am
Yes, yes and yes! I literally made the statement yesterday “ I actually like Luke Bryan’s current single”. My friends looked at me like I had sprouted antlers. Everything in this post is almost exactly how I feel. I am not ashamed to admit Tailgates and Tan-lines but his albums have each gotten progressively worse. I guess it will be another six years before I find another song by him that is worth listening to. That being said I believe that we should give credit where it’s due. This is a good song and we should appreciate it. I’m glad I’m not the one one who feels this way.
Megan
February 3, 2018 @ 2:26 pm
Well-written review, and this is a good song. You people who can’t admit it’s a good song because its not country enough are not appreciative of good music. I understand not liking this because it’s generic, or because of Luke’s less than astounding vocal ability, but saying it’s not good because it’s not country enough is a mark of narrow-mindedness. You don’t have to enjoy it, that’s a matter of personal taste, but something can be modern, or pop country, or straight pop, or even produced by Luke Bryan himself, and still be quality, and this song is quality. And if we bitch about everything released in the mainstream with no regard to the songs with substance, we become the same old farts and jackasses that Blake Shelton was referring to. I don’t want to be one of those. It causes me to miss out on good songs.
Jack Williams
February 3, 2018 @ 5:25 pm
True story. My daughters and I were in the car going out to lunch. We were listening to one of their pop country stations (their turn) and this song came on the radio. My older daughter and talked a little about it. We both thought it was a little sappy. I then said something to the effect that it sure was better than any of that bro country stuff they play on the radio, though A little later, my younger daughter brought that song up and mentioned Luke Bryan as the singer. My older daughter and I both said “no, that wasn’t Luke Bryan.” Now, I know the sound of Luke Bryan’s voice. I actually like his tone. It’s his song choice that I find revolting. I totally missed that it was him singing. I think that was because the song is such a departure from what I’ve heard from him since he went full bro.
After lunch, we got back in the car. After hearing a little of what was playing on the same country station, I said out loud something like “Oh My God! They’re playing a country song!” Turns out it was Suds In The Bucket by Sara Evans. Good twangy vocals. Traditional country instrumentation. Fun little song. Never heard it before as my somewhat familiarity with pop country radio only goes back to about 2005 and this one came out it in 2004.
Jack Williams
February 3, 2018 @ 5:44 pm
By the way, I hadn’t read this article until today hours after hearing the song. My initial reaction when this was posted on Thursday after reading the summary was “Oh really? Luke Bryan put out a song that might be decent? Yeah, I couldn’t give a shit.”
I’d say this song takes me back to a time in the not too distant past when I would listen to the country radio station (once again, not out of choice) and would often roll my eyes because the songs seemed to be safe and sappy and with no edge. But I wouldn’t get quite so angry and frustrated, like I do now.
Rob
February 3, 2018 @ 9:41 pm
Shit sandwich.
Strait Country 81
February 4, 2018 @ 3:42 am
Hopefully his fans are the crazy christian type will boycott his music and make themselves useful for once.
James
February 4, 2018 @ 9:00 pm
I am! I would if I was a fan of him
Corey
February 4, 2018 @ 8:45 am
If I got stuck listening to corporate country radio, through no fault of my own, and this song came on…I might even get caught singing along. There’s a hell of a lot worse out there.
Cowboyal
February 4, 2018 @ 12:35 pm
“Song review”?
I believe this is a misleading statement.
I read 13 paragraphs – there is no mention of whether this is a slow, mid-tempo or fast song, what instrumentation is used – is there a steel guitar playing? Is there a fiddle?
This really does not qualify as a “song review”.
James
February 4, 2018 @ 8:59 pm
He’s got a point
Derek Joists
February 6, 2018 @ 3:12 pm
Reminds me of this pop nonsense from a few years ago…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4YHDPsgUx8
Birel
February 6, 2018 @ 5:15 pm
Terrible song, terrible lyrics.
Next up, Luke sing raps about white privilege and Trigger goes wild. Best Luke Song ever!
Mike Honcho
February 7, 2018 @ 7:19 am
Ive heard this song a few times now, and I hate it more every time. Shit song with a turd singer. I don’t get it.
ENOTTY
February 19, 2018 @ 7:29 pm
My main problem with this song is that it’s boring and uncontroversial, and since I am in a more cynical mood, likely crafted to be least offensive, and thus commercially successful, song one could possibly produce.
There’s literally not a single lyric in there that will offend the vast majority of Americans. 62% of Americans support gay marriage (according to Pew), and the lyric is written so vaguely that it’s easy enough to argue the lyric isn’t about gay marriage at all, thus ensuring there’s a place for gay marriage opponents to find themselves in the lyric.
At least the ham-fisted Brad Paisley takes risks with his art.
Dan
February 28, 2018 @ 10:19 am
Luke who…?
I guess it has some good points to the song, but at a cost of sponsoring a side of society that don’t deserve consideration while being immoral….
Brandon
March 22, 2018 @ 10:47 am
I don’t care what anyone thinks about the song or Luke Bryan, I just want to say what an excellent piece of writing this review is! Thank you…