Name dropping classic country singers in mainstream country songs is always something I hate. It's never saying what an impact the singer had on their life, it's almost always just a way to make a rhyme work, and of course to sound cool and make your music "countrier." Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of songs out there that do talk about a country legend in a way that shows the importance of them in that singer's life, usually not in mainstream though. They usually just use it to make George Strait rhyme with tailgate, or (in the case of Jason Aldean's "Dirt Road Anthem") George Jones rhyme with dirt road! Okay so if you are going to use a legend's name in a fun way how should it be done? Funny you should ask.
"Johnny Cash"- Jason Aldean
It should not be done like this. This song is about a guy who loses his job so he picks up his girl (in a sundress of course) and they go rocking down the highway listening to Johnny Cash. Okay, but why though? Is it really necessary to name drop Johnny Cash? The reason is because by saying "Johnny Cash" or any other country legend's name in a pop country song it fools the listener into thinking they are badass. No really, I think people like to hear a legends name in a song because it paints some illusion that the song has something to do with them. So they think they are cool for listening to a song about a legend. In reality it's just a way to get a good rhyme and cover up the suckiness of a stupid cliche pop country song.
"Hank William's Records"- Hellbound Glory
This song is one of the first songs that turned me onto this band. Besides the fact that this does in fact sound like a real country song, the name drop is very well done. It's about a drinking away a past love in an apartment whilst blasting some old Hank, with some very choice words to the landlord who doesn't like it. This song is fun, upbeat, and hilarious. It's what we need more of these days, just a good ole country song.
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