Single Review: Eric Church, “Talladega”

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“Talladega”
Eric Church

Written by Eric Church and Luke Laird

Nostalgia works a lot better when the one indulging in it has put some time and distance between them and the memories.

“Talladega” celebrates the memories of a youthful road trip, but does so with tinges of melancholy. It doesn’t glorify or idealize the past, but there’s a sense of somberness that acknowledges that your youth is not something you can simply return to.

Whether you actually want to or not isn’t really the point. You can be happier now than you were back then, and still long just a little bit for a time in your time where your future was the road ahead and you got your first shot behind the wheel.

Church captures those feelings perfectly, with all the inherent contradictions. This is one of his best singles to date.

Grade: A

10 Comments

  1. I absolutely love this song, it’s probably my favorite song from Eric Church. It’s one of those rare songs that affects me on a sort of spiritual level that I can’t even explain. I’ve never been to Talladega, but I think we all have a “Talladega” of our own.

  2. Love this song. When I hear it, it stays on my mind the entire day. And in this case, that’s a good thing. As sappy as it sounds, I walk around humming it and it puts a smile on my face. Very happy that it’s had the success it’s had on radio. Unlike most male singers today, Church continues to challenge himself by not putting out the same sounding songs over and over. Glad it’s paying off for him.

  3. Totally agree with your review of this song, this is by far my favorite track off Church’s latest album. Overall the album left me feeling pretty “meh”, but Talladega is one of the finest songs Church has cut in his career.

  4. Kevin,

    You are a little late for this song. Eric has already released a new song. :)

    Either way, another great review from the master. It is a good, bittersweet, song. Eric performs at his best when he allows a little bit of sincerity to mix with the swagger. That is why I loved “Cold One”.

    I do miss his “Sinners Like Me” sound, but as long as his lyrics stay strong, I can safely ignore his new sound without guilt.

  5. “Talladega” reminds me of “These Boots” in the sense of regret, except “Boots” is full on regret for the past. Both songs mention road trips in different context. I still love “Boots” more, but both songs have great lines.

    “Boots”: See California where God paints the sky
    “Talladega”: Life is about those days that do

    When I first saw the title, I thought it would be a NASCAR tribute song. I was pleasantly proved wrong.

  6. Yeah, I love this song. It’s no “Over” or “Hungover and Hard Up,” but it’s definitely the closest thing to a “Chief” song that he cut for The Outsiders.

  7. Thomas,

    It is funny. Concerning his last two albums, I have not hit the repeat button for the 12th song on the albums. “Over” had great imagery, but the song never clicked for me.

  8. I just really like the folky production. It feels like Church’s take on the sort of thing JTE might sing, and I love JTE.

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