Is Eric Church Trying Too Hard To Be A Rebel?

I have said before that Eric Church is one of the best artists in mainstream country, and I'll still stand by it. He always had a rebellious attitude so he fit right in when music row started the new fake "outlaw" bit. I'll admit unlike his friends Jason Aldean and Justin Moore, he does actually make unique, non-safe music that isn't poppy and doesn't talk about trucks. The thing is it isn't always country either. It doesn't have to be super country to be good, but to make music that isn't country at all and get it played on country radio isn't fair. Even the pop country truck songs try to hide a little steel guitar or something to make it somewhat fit the genre it's in. With Eric's new song "The Outsiders" there is little to no effort in trying to make it a country song. It is just a rock song put into country because Eric is known as a country singer. It is probably just to draw attention to him because his new album is coming out and he needed to do something really different to get noticed. He has every right to try new things and experiment with his music, but like in the case of Taylor Swift's music, country isn't the place for it.



It would be one thing if the song itself was great, but it really isn't. It is different, I think that is the word that describes it the best. I would rather listen to it than a lot of things on the radio, but that isn't saying much. I don't hate it but I don't like it either. The thing is, I think he is trying way too hard to be different. He wants to come across as this rebel outlaw badass, I get it. This song is just an anthem for his crazy hardcore fans who need something to fist-bump the air and shout along to. It's like a musical pep rally to get everyone in the crowd riled up. What exactly are they "outsiders" from though? Eric is one of the top 5 male vocalists in country music. He obviously has mainstream appeal and that's because a lot of today's country fanbase is made up of these rebellious, super tough-guy guys that are "tough" just because they drink, smoke, and fight. That's not really an "outsider," just a guy who wants to be "cool." Shooter Jennings (who doesn't even refer to his music as country) made a way more legitimate country sounding song called "The Outsider." The meaning is different but the theme is the same. In Shooter's song, the "outsider" is someone who tries to live as free as they can because they think differently than what others tell them to think. Critical thinkers, protesters, conspiracy theorists, etc. You can compare it to Waylon fighting for creative freedom over his music or Johnny Cash wearing black to remind everyone that the world isn't perfect. Those kind of people who break the rules for a purpose are the real outsiders, not some stoned Eric Church fan.



Then comes this song preview for a new song off Eric's album called "Waiting On Me To Cross That Line." It is so good. It sounds like his older and more country sounding songs. He kept the rebellious theme going but in a way that sounds natural and a lot less forced. See it just proves he can combine all of the aspects of a good country song and tell a story to make something I'd be very interested in listening to. If a single like this could catch onto the radio it would be great. If he can do it right I do think Eric Church can help spin country music in a different direction. Not by songs like "The Outsiders" but by songs like this. Is he trying to hard to be a rebel? Yeah maybe, we will find out when his album is released in February, but he has a vision and he knows what he's doing. If any dominating male in mainstream country can change things, it's him. Not because he has the best voice or wrote the greatest songs, but because he is the only one who is brave enough to do it.