songs

5 Of The Best Name-Dropping Songs in Country Music

As a genre, country music has never been one to shy away from calling out its heroes in song. In fact, there are tons of country songs that drop the names Willie, Waylon, Hank, and George. Some newer artists will shout out Kenny or Keith or Carrie, but lately, we’ve been noticing a new trend in our favorite tunes. Rather than mention an artist by name, some of country’s hottest stars are mentioning their songs or their favorite lyrics in those songs.

In his song, “Raised by the Radio,” Mitch Rossell says, “Nothing reminds you of who you are like hearing a song that reminds you of where you’ve been,” and we couldn’t agree more. Here at NYCountrySwag, it was Walker Hayes’ new track “90’s Country” the inspired this list, so here are some of our favorite country songs that namedrop other country songs.

Walker Hayes – 90’s Country: Walker Hayes’ most recent release “90’s Country” is a prime example of the trend, artfully mentioning 22 different songs within its lyrics. Written by Hayes, Shane McAnally, and David Garcia, Hayes cleverly flows from famous song titles to famous lyrics in his signature spoken-country style. He mentions songs we love, songs we forgot, and songs we want to listen to immediately. Some of the most famous songs Hayes mentions from arguably the best decade of country music include: “Strawberry Wine,” “Amazed,” “Check Yes or No,” “Friends in Low Places,” and “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” Some songs you may have forgotten about (or never heard!) that Hayes drops into this track include “Vidalia,” “Daddy’s Money,” “Wink,” “Jukebox Junkie,” and “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer.” To give a listen to Hayes’ “90’s Country” and all the songs that inspired it, check out his fantastic Spotify playlist here.

Old Dominion – Song for Another Time: Like “90’s Country,” musical mastermind Shane McAnally had a role in “Song for Another Time,” co-producing the track written by Old D’s Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, and Trevor Rosen, along with Matt Jenkins. The song was the band’s second number 1 on the Country Airplay chart, telling the story of a breakup through song titles. On the track, Old Dominion calls out over twenty songs, including country classics like “Marina Del Rey,” “Small Town Saturday Night,” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” in addition to other genre’s classics like “Dancing on the Ceiling,” “Paradise City,” and “Candle in the Wind.”

Lady Antebellum – And the Radio Played: While Lady Antebellum’s “And the Radio Played” wasn’t a huge hit for the band, being released as a track on the deluxe edition of their album, Golden, it still deserves a place on the list. Written by Lady A. with Josh Kear and Nathan Chapman, the song takes listeners on a musical journey through the decades, with the first chorus hitting the oldies, the second hitting the 1990’s, and the third touching on the 2000’s. Songs referenced in the first chorus include “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” “Smoky Mountain Rain,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” while the second chorus introduces “the Dance,” “Strawberry Wine,” “Does He Love You?,” and “Amazed.” Lastly, the third chorus is like listening to SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry channel, mentioning hits like “I Hope You Dance,” “Before He Cheats,” “The House That Built Me,” and “Don’t Blink.”

Mitch Rossell – Raised by the Radio: Mitch Rossell has become known for being Garth Brooks’ protege, and the man responsible for writing one of Brooks’ most recent #1 hits, “Ask Me How I Know.” With just an acoustic guitar, Rossell opened for Brooks’ sold-out, world tour, performing a slew of songs including “Raised by the Radio.” The track recalls songs that “raised his glass,” “saved his life,” and “even helped him get lucky a few times.” Some of the songs mentioned in this song include “Blue Clear Sky,” “She’s in Love with the Boy,” “Life is a Highway,” “Walk the Line,” “Love Like Crazy,” and “Live Like You Were Dying.”

Brad Paisley – This is Country Music: On “This is Country Music,” Brad Paisley discusses the merits that make country music unique, it’s genre-bending rules challenging societal norms. “It ain’t hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns, or mama, yeah that might be true, but this is country music, and we do,” Paisley sings, the song ending as a tribute to country music. In the last minute of the song, Paisley mentions a ton of country classics, including “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Amarillo by Morning,” “Stand By Your Man,” and “God Bless the USA.”

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Venture with Michael Ray in Miami for “One That Got Away” Video

 

Rising country star, Michael Ray premiered his music video, yesterday, for his new single “One That Got Away” off his sophomore album Amos. (Catch our first impression of the album here.) Currently, the track is climbing the music charts and fans are loving the cool, catchy vibes of the song, as the singer consistently performs it at his live shows.

The video paints a perfect visual for the flirty song, showcasing Miami, Florida as a key component in telling the love story. Check out the captivating video below. Ray explains in a recent press release,  “We wanted to treat Miami as its own character in this video because we felt that this city really had a personality and an energy of its own — reminiscent of the energy I feel on stage night-after-night, city-after-city when we play this song live.”

Between utilizing authentic Miami locals, showcasing South Beach nightlife at its best, and the fun romance between the singer and a female bartender, Ray brings the lyrics to life, creating an unmistakable charm throughout the entirety of the music video.

The entertainer plays a disgruntled tourist, who is swept away by a beautiful stranger when she offers to show him how the locals view Miami. Admittedly the woman may be out of Ray’s league and the relationship may be short-lived, but the memories and magic of the night make it all worth it, as the lyrics state, “she might only be mine tonight / but that’s alright, that’s okay / she’s gonna be one hell of a one that got away.

Following the release of the music video for “One That Got Away,” the singer will be opening up for  Old Dominion on their extended Happy Endings World Tour,  accompanied by Brandon Lay, beginning this Fall. Keep checking our calendars, as we will be sure to add any potential New York dates.

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“Just Another Thing” Maren Morris Does Well, Opening for Niall Horan

Maren Morris

Grammy award-winning artist Maren Morris put on a show to remember at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Amphitheater last night, opening for pop singer-songwriter and former member of One Direction, Niall Horan. The two kicked off The Flicker World Tour earlier this year in Australia followed by stops in South America, finally making their way to the United States in July.

Morris originally collaborated with Horan on his debut solo album Flicker, for their duet “Seeing Blind” which they performed together for the first time at the 51st Annual CMA Awards last Fall. The lights came on and Morris entered the stage greeting the crowd with enthusiasm, beginning her set with a brand new unreleased song titled “The Feels.” She then made her way into “Just Another Thing” off of her gold-certified album HERO. Morris’ current single to country radio “Rich” was up next which is currently climbing the charts and on the verge of entering the top 10.

“Earlier this year, I got my first ever number one. I didn’t ever think it was gonna be this song because I was going through something tough at the time, so if you’re going through something heavy, this one’s for you,” Morris shared with the crowd while introducing “I Could Use a Love Song.”

Morris continued to perform three more songs from HERO ahead of checking in on the crowd. “Let’s pick it up on this one,” she said before playing her second single “80s Mercedes.” Morris prefaced “My Church” by sharing, “I knew the day I wrote this song that it was a really momentous, special thing to me and I didn’t care if anyone else heard it. I just knew that it was good for my soul to get it out on pen and paper. I’m glad that people heard it though and responded positively to it, but this is always gonna be one of my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of as a human being.”

Forty-five minutes later, it was time for Morris to play her last song of the night. Before playing the platinum-selling single she is featured on with producer Zedd, she thanked the crowd, “Thank you so much for spending time with us. This is our last song and this song has changed my life forever this year, so I wanna hear your voices on it, okay New York?” “The Middle” recently broke the record for most weeks at number one on the dance charts.

Later that night, Horan brought Morris back out to play their duet “Seeing Blind” by introducing her as “The queen herself.”  The Flicker World Tour will come to an end on September 23rd in West Palm Beach, FL.

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Swag Sessions: Featuring Everette

We first saw Everette during CRS this past February when they took the stage in front of hundreds of industry professionals to sign their record deal with Broken Bow Records.  Brent Rupard and Anthony Olympia, who make up the duo just released their debut EP earlier this summer and the Kentucky natives combine grit and rhythm to create their own brand of modern country music.

In our most recent Swag Session, the duo joined NYCountry Swag at Mondrian Terrace to perform two songs from their recent EP as well as chat with Founder Stephanie Wagner about their new music and how they landed on the band name Everette. Watch the full Swag Session above and take a listen to the band’s EP below.

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Kip Moore Lyrics To Use For Instagram Captions

Kip Moore has released some of the best albums, we definitely consider him one of the most underrated artists in the business. We have the perfect Instagram captions for you the next time you see him live. From falling in love or just being around friends on a weekend, Moore has nailed every thought that would fit right into your Instagram post.

 

Here are some of our favorite Instagram worthy Kip Moore lyrics:

 

  1. “Now your lips do something to my kiss; make me want you more and believe again” – Magic

  2. “Worry ’bout tomorrow when tomorrow comes, tonight we’re just worried about having fun” – Wild Ones

  3. “Let’s wake the town that never stops sleeping. You got the kiss that tastes like honey and I got a little beer money” – Beer Money

  4. “And I caught this feeling that I can’t explain; got my heart speeding, every time she says my name” – Good Thing

  5. “My heart you ain’t gotta steal it, it’s all yours so just come and get it” – Come And Get It

  6. “Come hell or high water I still believe I can win. Just call me the comeback kid” – Comeback Kid

  7. “Cause we’ll be up all night, keeping up the moon. I Just wanna dance, baby dance with you” – Up All Night

  8. “On that dropped tailgate, on a summer night, somethin’ bout beer sittin’ on ice” – Somethin’ Bout A Truck

  9. “Life’s a long and winding ride, better have the right one by your side” – Hey Pretty Girl

  10. “Well, maybe I’m reckless, maybe bad luck, hell maybe I’m way too much about having fun” – Reckless (Still Growin’ Up)1.

  11. “Hey, if you wouldn’t mind, if you see her out tonight, tell her she’s mine.” – She’s Mine

  12. “If you were my last night I ever had on wheels, I woulda drive you like I stole ya.” – Last Shot

  13. “He sure didn’t make no mistake when he put that angel on Earth.” – More Girls Like You

  14. “Proudly love you ’til the day I die” – Plead The Fifth

  15. “And the sun still shines all the time and the sky’s still blue.” – It Ain’t California

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collectionby NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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10 Country Songs that Honor Our Beautiful Country

September 11th, 2001 will always be remembered as the most somber day in American history however the way our country came together is something to marvel at. While the world reflects on those 2,966 lives lost on that dreadful day, most people can remember exactly where they were the moment the tragic events took place.

Memories just like music have a power to unite people, communities and our country. The country music community is one that always rallies around their pride for America and can often be found raising our flag high and chanting “USA, USA” in-between songs at concerts.

Country musicians have a passion for their country, our military, and their freedom showing this pride through their songwriting. In honor of the 17th Anniversary of 9/11, we’ve compiled a list of 10 patriotic country songs that help to honor our great country, the lives that were lost on that day and our heroes who continue to inspire us.

 

“American Soldier” – Toby Keith


“Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” – Toby Keith


“Dress Blues” – Zac Brown Band (Jason Isbell cover)


“Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” – Alan Jackson


“It’s America” – Rodney Atkins


“Only in America” – Brooks and Dunn


“Some Gave All” – Billy Ray Cyrus


“Soldier Song” – Gloriana


“Where the Stars and Stripes and The Eagle Fly” – Aaron Tippin


“God Bless the USA” – Lee Greenwood

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Jake Owen Conquers Lower Broadway in “Down to the Honky Tonk” Video

Jake Owen always says you have to have a good party song and he has quite the list himself. Known for his own party songs like “Beachin”, “Real Life”, and “American Country Love Song” he surely knows how to pick them. In his video for his newest single “Down to the Honky Tonk”, Owen transforms into the king of downtown Nashville. The video takes you on a crazy, good-timing tour of the city’s famous Lower Broadway bar scene in the early hours of the morning.

Written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally, the song is all about how Owen might not go down in history, but he sure knows how to feel like he’s on top of the world, or at least on top of a bar somewhere. The video is filled with pedal taverns, bachelorettes and plenty of characters with colorful personalities. The neon-themed video highlights the insanity of the downtown strip as Owen visits Broadway staples like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Honky Tonk Central. Dancing on top of bars, crowd surfing, and drinking…a lot, the video highlights a good time in the chaos of downtown.

“Down to the Honky Tonk” follows Owen’s previous single, “I Was Jack (And You Were Diane),” the John Mellencamp-inspired hit which became Owen’s first Number One hit since 2016. Both new songs are expected to be part of a new upcoming album with Big Loud Records. Owen is currently out on his ‘Life’s Whatcha Make It’ Tour with Jordan Davis and Morgan Wallen, with dates scheduled through November 3rd in Pensacola, Florida. The entertainer will also be featured as a celebrity panelist, alongside Travis Tritt and Shania Twain, in the USA Network’s Real Country singing competition, which is set to premiere on November 13th.

Want to Win a VIP Trip to catch Jake Owen in New York City? Click Here for details and enter to win.

 

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Dierks Bentley MSG

NYC Fans Loved Dierks Bentley’s Sold-Out Madison Square Garden Show

Dierks Bentley Madison Square Garden

Photo Courtesy @Dierksbentley Instagram

For every artist, playing in a city such as the Big Apple brings its own charm and unique feelings whether they are playing a small showcase at Rockwood Music Hall downtown or in the case of LANco, Brothers Osborne and Dierks Bentley on Saturday night, their very first sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. The Mountain High Tour made its second trip to the metro area on Saturday night, the first being back in May where we attended the show at PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey during the opening weekend.

Back in June during his album release week, Bentley told fans at an intimate event “We’re playing the biggest honky-tonk in the world, MSG, that is right at the top of my bucket list, bigger than any dream I could ever dream.” His dream came true, selling out the arena and giving the venue one hell of a show.

Earlier today when we posted this incredible photo on Instagram, fans told us their favorite parts of the show. @acolaluca1108 commented “Brothers Osborne playing “Ain’t My Fault” was fantastic especially when the whole crowd sang along” while @kooocheee said “Best concert I went to this summer! Danced the whole time! “Burning Man” was amazing”.

Some other highlights that fans commented including @gdow68 mentioned “Hot Country Knights was hilarious!!! Whole show was just amazing!!” and @rachel.elena said “The whole show was amazing! You could tell how huge playing the Garden was for all of the acts!”

Dierks Bentley Madison Square Garden

Photo Courtesy @Dierksbentley Instagram

The biggest fan favorite moment of the night was, however, the encore when Bentley takes the stage dressed in full pilot gear to end the night with his smash hit “Drunk on a Plane”.  @cassie736 said “Amazing show!! I loved “Drunk On A Plane” and how he dressed up in the pilot outfit”.

At one point in the night, Bentley listed all of the smaller venues that he has played in Manhattan including Joe’s Pub, Hammerstein Ballroom, Irving Plaza and even some places in Brooklyn “…just to make sure we crossed off all of the boxes and every step on the way to the biggest honky-tonk in the entire world Madison Square Garden, when I say we, I mean we, because you guys have been there for us all along the way”

New York City fans were happy to have The Mountain High Tour make Madison Square Garden one of its stops before the tour is over later this month.  For remaining tour dates head to: https://www.dierks.com/tour

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Delta Rae

Delta Rae’s Beautiful Video for “Do You Ever Dream?”

Delta Rae made a triumphant return to country music with the release of their new song, along with a beautiful visual representation to match.  On a whim they flew to Iceland to shoot with film-maker, Law Chen, who directed their first music video, “Bottom of the River”. Chen always wanted to shoot in Iceland, making this the perfect opportunity for both creative teams to collaborate once again. “We picked the song that spoke to us the most at the moment, “Do You Ever Dream?” which perfectly fit Iceland’s surreal landscape,” the band states in a recent press release.

“Do You Ever Dream?” was co-written by lead vocalist Brittany Hölljes and her brothers/bandmates Eric and Ian. It’s a hair-raising ballad written about Brittany’s relationship with someone who didn’t share her vision for the future. The video is a pure representation of the song, showing the emotions of desire and love fading away. Brittany as the lead role can first be seen in Delta Rae’s hometown of North Carolina before transitioning to her dreaming, following a mysterious male figure into a breathtaking view of Iceland. She is seen chasing the figure barefoot throughout the video before following him off the edge of a cliff, where she then wakes up to the reality she lives in. Realizing the relationship is over, she drives away leaving it in her rearview.

“Filming in the wilds of Iceland was one of the most creative experiences of our lives and it has jumpstarted the next chapter for the band, The Delta Rae Revival, which is proving to be our most ambitious and creative yet, ”Hölljes says.  Earlier this week, Delta Rae played the first night of their 16-week residency at The Basement in Nashville. For those who missed this sold-out show, you can catch The Delta Rae Revival every Wednesday until December 19th in Nashville.  We first learned about the band and their inception earlier this year during our Swag Spotlight, read more here.

 

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Sugarland’s ‘Still the Same Tour’ feat. Frankie Ballard & Lindsay Ell

Sugarland Still the Same Tour

New York and New Jersey fans alike headed to the Prudential Center on Saturday night to witness the captivating musical duo Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland perform their second to last show on the ‘Still the Same Tour,’ accompanied by openers, Lindsay Ell and Frankie Ballard.

Sugarland Still the Same Tour

Powerhouse, Lindsay Ell took the stage first, sharing with the crowd that this will be her last performance on the tour. She entertained fans with songs like “Waiting on You” and “Champagne”. The singer ended her set with her top 20 single, “Criminal,” co-written by Bush, just after expressing her gratitude to the fans. “Thank you, everyone and country radio for changing my life with this song. This is”Criminal” y’all!”

After a short intermission, Frankie Ballard and his Wildcat Band energetically took the stage. Pumping up the crowd throughout the entire performance, Ballard’s set was the perfect combination of his smash hits, cover songs, and engaging moments with the crowd. Singing his hits, “Helluva Night,” “It All Started with a Beer,” “Sunshine and Whiskey,” and “Young & Crazy,” the singer’s funky style and electric demeanor was evident.

Sugarland Still the Same Tour

One of the most charming moments with the entertainer was when he admitted to the audience that he “missed [his] spot in that verse,” laughing, while stating, “When they [singers] say ‘How’s everyone feeling out there,’ it’s just a way of covering up their tracks.” Between, Ballard’s humbleness, his image, and his artistry, fans showed their love for the performer the entire set.

The incredible night of music continued, as the stage lit up with a colorful, carnival-like backdrop, unveiling the headliners of the night, Sugarland, as they jammed to their title track “Bigger” off their recently released album. Their set featured an impressive 20 songs, including their most recent single “Babe,” and hits, “Stay,” “It Happens,” “Stuck Like You,” and “Lean It On Back,” with two more songs for the encore performance.

Sugarland Still the Same Tour

Additionally, Nettles and Bush, each took time to discuss their solo projects, that were worked on, during the duo’s 5-year hiatus. Bush sang his fun-loving single, “Trailer Hitch,” while Nettles belted her ballad “Unlove You.” The crowd was clearly loving both, as they sang, swayed, and snapped along to each performance.

Sugarland’s night was filled with highlights, such as their fun mash-up of their song “On a Roll” with Funkadelic’s “We Want The Funk” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” where Ell entered the stage on roller-skates, poking fun at the lyrics from “On a Roll.” The fans loved the impromptu end-of-tour prank and interaction Ell had on stage with the duo.

Sugarland Still the Same Tour

However, the night was stolen by the beautiful message that was inspired by the fan favorite song “Little Miss” from The Incredible Machine. The singers showcased a fan-made video for The Little Miss Project. The powerful message of The Little Miss Project is to start a dialogue that an individual is never truly alone. Supporting this mission, Sugarland utilized their musical platform to partner with World Vision in efforts to raise money for disadvantaged youth, even stopping to take a photo (on stage) with fans, who donated to the cause. Nettles shared “It’s a reminder that sometimes we have to slow down and save a life … It’ll be alright again.”

Sugarland truly brought their own level of talent and artistry to New Jersey, it was  an unforgettable night for fans of all ages, who were lucky to attend.

 

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