“Body Like a Back Road”
Sam Hunt
Written by Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne
This song is ridiculous.
At least when Brad Paisley sang “Ticks,” he was trying to be funny. Sam Hunt is being quite serious when he compares a woman to a back road.
He should’ve realized when he had to repeat the curves metaphor in the second verse that there simply wasn’t enough of an idea here to stretch out into a full song. I’d say he’s lowered the bar for country music, but honestly, I haven’t seen that thing in years.
I’m off to listen to Hearts in Armor as a palate cleanser. Have a nice day, everyone.
Grade: F
Pretty ironic, in light of this single, that one of the defenses of Sam Hunt I saw being bandied about in the early stages of his career was that “he’s urbane and sophisticated and doesn’t objectify women like the bros do.”
I still haven’t figured out how Sam Hunt gets classified as a country singer. He is but one of the many people whom I think would have never made it in Nashville had country music not been derailed by the blackballing of the Dixie Chicks. If what I have read about him is true, he wasn’t even that big of a music fan in general and he only went to Nashville in the first place because his budding pro football career flamed out in training camp.
“He says, ‘I don’t believe in money, but a man could make him a killin’…I hear down there, it’s changed, you see, well, they’re not as backward as they used to be.'”
…sticking to metaphors: a song like a trash can.
Well, to paraphrase what Mark Twain said, and judging by this alleged song, reports of Bro-Country’s demise are greatly exaggerated.
The fact that five (FIVE!) writers are responsible for this garbage is just appalling. A Shane McAnally attribution used to be a signpost of at least some artistic cachet, but now I think he should be forced to take a sabbatical from songwriting to help get his mojo back.
I just don’t get this guy’s popularity. A friend told me that on some radio station where listeners call in their requests, he’s #1.
Like the pistolero I am unsure what makes him a country singer. He had a big hit over on this side of the Atlantic with “Take Your Time” a few years back, and I honestly didn’t know he was a country music artist until much later. I didn’t hear it in his voice or in his music then and I don’t hear it now. What I do hear is an uninteresting song, with no real hook to draw me in and sorta gross lyrics to push me away. I actually liked “Take Your Time” (what? It’s catchy) but this is terrible.
My granddaughter loves this song and Sam Hunt! Sad she will never know what real country was like because this will be all she knows. However, don’t think she cares about genres, it’s all about just the song for her and her friends. I personally can’t stand this guy and this song is terrible!
The only real explanation I have for Sam Hunt being the #1 requested anything, anywhere and that he’s apparently a hit with anyone’s granddaughter is that he’s cute? He’s got the smile and the jawline and the hair and the muscles, which is something people like. I wish they’d just Google him and not get him radio support just ’cause he’s a cutey though.
Well, it looks like this song isn’t going anywhere any time soon, so I made a new version in hopes of easing the pain…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnsDEmc4_AM
So…
#1 for 7 weeks on the country streaming chart and hot country songs chart, 8 weeks on the digital sales chart, and already at #16 on the Billboard 100 and #6 on the Country Airplay charts after 8 weeks. Apparently this is country music, y’all.