Comments on: Single Review: Eli Young Band, “Even if It Breaks Your Heart”

By: Chris B

Chris B — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:24:36 +0000

Thanks Ben.

Must have stuck in my head from his performance opening for the Pistol Annies. I KNEW when I heard The Eli Young version that it was a remake.

Anyone know why Will always chews gum when singing?? lol I found it to be a bit distracting.

He has a great raspy voice though, wish I would have been at House of Blues when he sang with Fogherty.

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:23:55 +0000

Chris,

The song was written by Will Hoge and Eric Paslay, originally recorded by Hoge. The single is heavily influenced by 80s pop-rock, but it wasn’t written or performed by an 80s act.

By: Sweetcheeks

Sweetcheeks — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:13:42 +0000

A lot of country fans of today grew up on 1980s pop music so I think it makes a lot of sense for today’s country singers to find inspiration in 1980s pop. Sweetcheeks.

By: Chris B

Chris B — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:45:05 +0000

So who originally wrote or performed this song?? Will Hoge or was it an earlier 80s song by someone? I KNOW I have heard it previously and I was thinking it was an old rock song. BUT, I did get to see Will perform at the Crystal Palace in Bakersfield when he opened for the Pistol Annies. Maybe that’s why it stuck in my head. ;)

By: Jonathan Keefe

Jonathan Keefe — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:12:40 +0000

Looks like this is one of iTunes’ free downloads for the week, for those who might not want to drop the proper $1.29…

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:57:52 +0000

…poor mastering at this day and age, when you can make blockbuster-movies out of cartoons starring shape-changing trucks, cars and other vehicles. who would have thought that was possible – the mastering blunder, i mean.

as for the song – it’s sounds good in a poor way. the eli young band displays their signature sound – again in poor way – just the way i and probably most of their fans like it. of course, it ain’t remotely country, but what the heck, you can’t expect music that left the honky tonks for big arenas some time ago to sound very similar still, can you.

By: Dan Milliken

Dan Milliken — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:15:58 +0000

Really terrific review, right down to the engineering whack job.

The Will Hoge version is one of my favorite tracks of the last several years, largely because of the raspy vocal – how it adds to the song’s sense of history, and how it contrasts with the smoothness of the melody. Without that, the song’s plainness is more obvious, and the way Eli has tweaked the verse melody removes some more of its color. But I still like it all right, and it’ll certainly stand out on the radio. So basically what you said.