Comments on: Single Review: Jason Aldean, “Dirt Road Anthem”

By: Sweetcheeks

Sweetcheeks — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:49:50 +0000

I’m pretty sure that this song does not describe what happened to me or many of my friends from freshman to senior year in high school. And I am glad for that too – the kind of life described in this song seems pathetic and awful.

By: Patricia Gehrig

Patricia Gehrig — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:10:38 +0000

I think anyone that can sing would be able to believe in this song because i think that this song is like what happens to high school students from freshmen year to their Sr year!!!!! :) :)

By: Ali

Ali — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:31:34 +0000

It started with the corus, which I liked a little, even if it was filled with dead horse country cliches, if only because Aldean’s singing is decent. I thought it would be good for a few listens, and then promptly forgotten, like many of his songs. Then he started rapping and my soul died a little. Then I heard that there was a remix with Ludacris, and my soul went down to the local soul bar, drank a lot of Jäger while ranting about the song, got into a fight with a bunch of guys who broke its nose, and passed out in an alley somewhere. I’ve yet to find it and hope it makes its way back soon.

I am about as close to being a bleeding heart liberal as you can get without, you know, being a bleeding heart liberal, and am a fan of progress, but this is not the kind of progress we need.

By: Danny

Danny — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:26:25 +0000

Sweetcheeks,
Here is my opinion, people that play music, write it, or sing it, look at it as art, the average joe just wants a cool song they can relate to. Our band argues over songlists for covers, I hear all the time, “any band can play that”. They want something that showcases what they can do. If there are 500 people at our show, and there are 10 musicians in that group, there are only 10 people that know that a song is hard to play. The other 490 just want a song they can dance to or relate to. Same thing with songs on the radio.

By: Sweetcheeks

Sweetcheeks — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:06 +0000

So the songs that country universe rates poorly are often songs that get requests? So what? It hardly says anything other than Country Universe and many radio station listeners have a different view on what music they would like to hear.

I do sometimes wish music writers who criticize songs that are likely to be hits would take the time to ask why these songs resonate so well with so many despite their apparent failure to withstand critical scrutiny. I think that might provide some insight.

In some sense though maybe Danny is right. “Dirt Road Anthem” isn’t intended to be art, or even to have lyrics that stand up to critical scrutiny. Its intended to be a hit. And it succeeded by that standard.

Of course it is fair to judge the song by the standards of critics, too. A song surely is not protected from a bad review merely because it hits #1. I think its important to do so so that people can think about music more intelligently. But at the same time I wish we would talk about “why are songs that are critical failures so frequently chart successes?”

By: Danny

Danny — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:37:07 +0000

Gator,
Just so ya know, I really wish you were here when you called me an ignorant idiot…..but you’re a keyboard rambo. I’m just tired of reading these guys bash a lot of decent songs. If they did it with class, it would be different, but they don’t. The songs they bash….are the songs I get requests for, and are the ones I play.

By: Gator

Gator — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:04:28 +0000

Danny,

You are being a very ignorant idiot. Yes some of the songs they give bad review do well, mainly because of the name that has been attached to it, but also song like “If I Die Young” “Stuck Like Glue” “Long Hot Summer” and even Jason’s current single “Tattoos on this Town” have all gotten at least a B for a grade and are among the biggest hits around currently. As for you album comment, if you look places besides here you’ll notice most albums they give bad reviews are receiving bad reviews left and right.

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:12:06 +0000

It really looks like every song that does well, you guys have given a bad review.

That’s not true. Just read the archives.

I’m really not sure why anyone would even have you guys do reviews…..if you’re NEVER right!

Nobody’s ‘having’ us do reviews – We do this independently. The fact that a song becomes a hit doesn’t mean the review was wrong, especially since the reviews rarely make chart predictions.

By: Danny

Danny — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:01:13 +0000

….But it isn’t a bad song! That is only your opinion! I really think these reviews suck, is that a fact, or an opinion? It really looks like every song that does well, you guys have given a bad review. I’m really not sure why anyone would even have you guys do reviews…..if you’re NEVER right! I’m gonna start buying every album you guys give bad reviews….as it is for sure gonna be #1!

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:25:09 +0000

Im guessing that since the song went to number one and stayed there for WEEKS that now you guys are eating your hats.

‘Fraid not. I still feel the same way about the song as I did when I first heard it, and I kind of expected it go number one in the first place. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a bad song has gone number one.