Exciting To Hear A New Hit Song

There was a time when Conway Twitty would call friends and say, “I just heard a song that’s not for me, but would be great for you!” Mike Curb could always get excited about the latest song he would be headed to the studio to record. Music Row publisher/producer Buddy Killen, like so many producers, would get a song in his mind and just go over the top with what he could do to make it a smash.

I’ve had a few brushes over the years, where lights go off when you hear a future #1. It’s rare, but cool when it happens. Thomas Rhett and Jon Pardi’s “Beer Can’t Fix” was that kind of song. The Jason Aldean/Carrie Underwood song was another obvious success.

Just heard one this week that got to me: “Midnight Crisis.” It’s a Jordan Davis/Danielle Bradbery duet. There’s something haunting about it. I always liked both of them. Played it once, then on Apple Music called up the song and played the video with closed caption lyrics. At the end it was a wow! Hope listeners get a chance to hear like I did on my SUV radio, listening to radio personalities Steve & DC giving it a spin upon my suggestion.

Not every song is a wow. But read the lyrics of a Morgan Evans song he did in Australia recently called “How Long,” an unreleased ballad. Very powerful. Great lines in it: “How many times did you say you loved me when it wasn’t true,” and “How long have you been waiting to talk our pictures down?”

The best thing about all this new music is that it has substance. Story songs, real life, real world stuff, heartfelt. I love some of the fun songs, but it’s about the ones written from a broken heart or great observations and sayings. “Ain’t nothing that a beer can’t fix,” a twist on many ’60s beer commercials with slogans like “Here’s to good friends, tonight is something special.” Remember that? Let it be Lowenbrau!

What’s up with Jimmy Buffett? Shows over for the rest of 2022? Doctor’s orders to rest and heal? Brief hospitalization.

The Route 91 Harvest Festival documentary “11 Minutes” is now streaming on Paramount +. It’s 200 minutes over four episodes. I’m sure it’s excellent; I just can’t seem to want to push the button and go there. Maybe soon.

The Super Bowl is just a sore subject with many. Taylor Swift would have been an excellent choice for the halftime show. The NFL has given marching orders to the bookers: Get us young viewers! Rihanna is excited about landing the spot, and good luck to her.

Will a Country artist get the national anthem? Maybe. Not going to make any suggestions, but there are many worthy singers on Music Row.

Luke Bryan has been stopped by Hurricane Ian. This was his weekend to play the Live Nation dates in Florida. Those three shows have now moved to November.

All hype aside, what is the future of “Monarch?” Three episodes have been revealed and three more to go. What will FOX do?

Playing songs at home, your office, the kitchen, OK. There is still nothing like hearing a great song on the radio in a vehicle with a great sound system. Platinum Ford Expedition playing “How Do You Like Me Now?!” after “Midnight Crisis.” Both sounded great. The vibrancy of radio with live, good hosts is so much better than canned, pre-packaged radio. So much better!