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Lady Antebellum Release “Ocean” and Announce Next Studio Album

Ocean Lady Antebellum

Opening with a stirring and solo piano melody, Lady Antebellum’s “Ocean” immediately sweeps listeners away. Much like the tide, the song ebbs and flows musically, cresting over the piano and the group’s unmatched harmonies. Featuring Hillary Scott on lead vocals and Dave Haywood on piano, the song is a lush and harmonic, showing the trio shining in its simplicity.

“It’s such a cinematic and theatrical melody with a message that became the cornerstone of this record for us,” Scott said in a press release. “Ocean is all of the things that we think and feel when we hear the word. This album is immersed in life stories about barely keeping your head above water all the way to those times that make you feel like everything is smooth sailing.”

The song, written by Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, and Abe Stoklasa, would not have sounded out of place on Scott’s solo project, Love Remains. “Here you are / Next to me / So much beauty at my feet,” She sings. “All I want to do is swim / But the waves keep crashing in / No I’m not afraid to drown / Take me out, take me down / I’m so tired of the shore / Let me in / Baby you’re an ocean / Beautiful and blue / I want to swim in you.”

Today, Scott, Haywood, and Charles Kelley announced their forthcoming album, also titled Ocean, due out November 15. The album marks the band’s first full-length release with Big Machine Label Group. It also marks their first collaboration with famed Nashville producer Dann Huff. “There’s this theme of returning to the core of who we are — as writers, vocalists, and people — that came out in each of these songs,” Haywood said in a statement. “Our time in the studio with Dann had an excitement that felt like we were making our first album all over again.”

Ocean features a bevy of Nashville’s hottest songwriters, including Ryan Hurd, Sarah Buxton, Dave Barnes, Corey Crowder and more. The record will also feature a collaboration with Little Big Town, written by Daniel Tashian, Tenille Townes, and Kate York. Skip straight to track eleven for that highly-anticipated track, “The Thing That Wrecks You.”

Lady Antebellum, Ocean Track List:

1. “What If I Never Get Over You” (Sam Ellis, Jon Green, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz)
2. “Pictures” (Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Sarah Buxton, Corey Crowder)
3. “Crazy Love” (Charles Kelley, Nathan Chapman)
4. “You Can Do You” (Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Corey Crowder, Jordan Schmidt)
5. “What I’m Leaving For” (Sam Ellis, Micah Premnath, Laura Veltz)
6. “Be Patient With My Love” (Charles Kelley, Dave Barnes, Ben West)
7. “Alright” (Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Busbee, Justin Ebach)
8. “Let It Be Love” (Hillary Scott, Jordan Reynolds, Amy Wadge)
9. “On a Night Like This” (Dave Barnes)
10. “Boots” (Charles Kelley, Ross Copperman)
11. “The Thing That Wrecks You” feat. Little Big Town (Daniel Tashian, Tenille Townes, Kate York)
12. “Mansion” (Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Miller)
13. “Ocean” (Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Abe Stoklasa)

To keep up with Lady Antebellum, follow them on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook. Their new album, Ocean, is available for pre-order at all digital retailers.

“Ocean” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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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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Lady Antebellum Depict A Not So Perfect Relationship in “Pictures”

Lady Antebellum Pictures

Award-winning country trio, Lady Antebellum debuted their newest song, “Pictures” earlier this morning and it comes at a time where picture-perfect lives broadcasted on social media are usually quite different from reality.

The “Need You Now” singers sculpt a couple who advertise a flawless relationship through the lens of a camera, and the eyes of everyone around them, but disguise their complications experienced behind closed doors well. The relationship has since ended, but this couple looks back at the pictures and realizes how happy they look in them, but that wasn’t always the case. This bluesy, breezy slow jam projects vulnerability but leaves fans swaying while Scott sings lead and Kelley harmonizes:

“Yeah, we sure looked happy in pictures / The camera doesn’t show the way it hurt / No, that ain’t the way I remember it happening / In between the flashes it was sad, it was tragic / Yeah, we sure looked happy in pictures,” they sing in the chorus.  The song details specific photographed events then painfully recalling the feelings endured off-screen. “There’s one on my phone that I can’t erase / But you’d never know by the smile on my face / That inside I was dying, later that night I’d be crying / The last one before ‘goodbye’, they sing. “No photo evidence, not a single proof / Of all the hell we went through.”

This slow jam comes shortly after the release of “What If I Never Get Over You” and it is the second song released from a forthcoming album, details unannounced.

To keep up with Lady Antebellum follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Pictures” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more recently released music here on our “New Country Music” playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Lady Antebellum’s Haunting Visuals for “What If I Never Get Over You”

What If I Never Get Over You

Just last week power trio, Lady Antebellum released their new single, “What If I Never Get Over You.” The new track is reminiscent of their 2011 hit, “Need You Now,” with emphasis on the powerful vocals and heartbreaking vulnerability that only Lady A can deliver. To elevate the lyrical message, they premiered a music video to go along with the single.

Directed by Sarah McColgan, the video portrays the broken relationship that both Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott sing about, as Dave Haywood adds the necessary melancholy instrumentation. Kelley and Scott trade verses, as images of memories of a broken relationship and the break-up, flash before our eyes. The trio and the actors portray the hurt and the anguish that is all too familiar when you’re missing the person you were once in a relationship with.

As Lady A shared via their Twitter, the song showcases “so many universal truths […] and really takes [them] back to [their] beginning as a band.” Both the song and the visuals are relatable for anyone who has tried to put their lives back together after suffering a heartbreak. Lady Antebellum effortlessly illustrate these emotions that run through past lovers minds in the enticing, but haunting new video.

Lady Antebellum will continue playing shows across the United States throughout the summer. The supergroup continues their Las Vegas residency, ‘Our Kind of Vegas’ at the Pearl Concert Theater with dates set for May and August. For tickets and more information, head to ladyantebellum.com.

To keep up with Lady Antebellum follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“What If I Never Get Over You” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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[Watch] Lady Antebellum Perform ‘Hurt’ on ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’

Lady Antebellum on Late Night with Seth Meyers

Photo by Lloyd Bishop/NBC

Seven-time Grammy award-winning trio, Lady Antebellum returned to Late Night with Seth Meyers last night, performing an emotional rendition of “Hurt” off their number one selling album, Heart Break. This was the group’s first major television appearance since signing with their new label, Big Machine Label Group.

Written by Ben West, Jon Green and Melissa Peirce, “Hurt” is one of only two songs on Heart Break that the trio did not personally pen. In a mini docuseries featured on the band’s Facebook page titled “Heart Break Stories,” they shared how this record came to be the “dark horse” of the album.

“There was a song Charles brought back up that we’d been pitched in the past and I remember hearing it maybe a year ago,” recalls the trio’s Dave Haywood. “We tried it a couple of different ways. At first I was singing the song and it just felt like it didn’t have quite as much vulnerability” added co-lead vocalist Charles Kelley. It wasn’t until the group’s producer, Busbee, combined a selection of string instruments to draw out the song’s true emotion that the trio knew this song was fit for their seventh studio album.

Hillary Scott, lead vocalist, emphasized how emotional this record is for her to sing. Sharing the meaning of “Hurt”, Scott said, “Those moments of when you’re in a relationship a little bit more than the other person was and how hurtful that is.”

While warming up for their Late Night performance backstage, the group shared a video on Instagram of the preparation in their dressing room, rehearsing “Hurt” while Scott was in the hair and makeup chair with Kelley and Haywood on the couch.

Closing out the show, Seth Meyers introduced the performance, “Tonight’s musical guests are a seven-time Grammy winning trio and a 2018 CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominee. Performing “Hurt,” please welcome to the show Lady Antebellum.” Backed by two electric guitars, bass, drums, piano, a cello and Haywood on acoustic guitar, Scott and Kelley stunned with their vocals.

Over the course of their career, Lady Antebellum has accumulated more than 18 million album units and nine #1 hits to their name, both ACM and CMA “Vocal Group of the Year” trophies three years in a row and countless other honors.

Their co-headlining ‘Summer Plays On Tour’ with Darius Rucker hit New York this past summer. Check out our recap of the high-energy show here. The tour wraps up this fall. For dates and more information, visit www.ladyantebellum.com.

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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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The Summer Plays On Tour Heads to Long Island

Russell Dickerson Summer Plays On Tour

Jones Beach concerts are a staple for Long Islanders and New York City patrons alike each summer, setting up tents and BBQing while chugging beers and dancing along to music blaring out of the speakers of their tailgates.  Although Saturday morning brought heavy rain, the clouds cleared away just in time for the afternoon tailgaters to head to the parking lots and set up their spots.  By the time the Summer Plays On Tour kicked off the sun was shining brightly over the sparkling waterfront venue.

The Summer Plays On Tour

Russell Dickerson took the stage for his 30-minute opening set, which included the biggest hits from his debut album, Yours including “Billions”, “Float” and “Every Little Thing”.  The energy he brings to every single performance is unmatched, he spins and jumps around the stage as if the music can not be contained inside his body.  Making this night extra special, Dickerson had 80 friends and family who all live in the NY area attending that night, showing their pride in the rising star. “It’s my absolute pleasure to be kicking this thing off here tonight,” he says of the Summer Plays On Tour. He closed his set thanking the country music fans for making “Yours,” his very first number one at country radio before singing the love song, allowing the audience to take the lead at the end.

Darius Rucker Summer Plays On Tour

Next up, Darius Rucker who is no stranger to the Jones Beach stage played all of his biggest songs as the sun set over the venue.  Kicking things off with “Homegrown Honey”, “Radio” and “Alright” Rucker knows how to create a set that features some of the best songs from his earlier records as well as highlighting his most recent hits like “If I Told You”.  He told the audience “Everyone in my camp says I have to sing this song on tour, I think it might be the next single so let me know what y’all think of this one” before singing “Hands On Me” off his latest album, When Was the Last Time.

Fans know that when they are attending a Darius Rucker concert they are bound to be hit with some of the classic Hootie and The Blowfish singles that catapulted him to stardom in the 90’s.  On this particular night, Rucker sang “Let Her Cry” and “I Only Wanna Be With You” and each time he sings those oldies, the crowd goes absolutely wild.  “This guy is my very best friend in the business,” Rucker said as he introduced front man for Lady Antebellum to the stage to sing their cover of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s “Straight to Hell” which also features Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.  The hilarious western video played in the background while the two buddies sang the heck out of the song.  Closing his set with “Wagon Wheel” the crowd erupted into a giant sing-a-long swaying to the smash hit.

Lady Antebellum The Summer Plays On Tour

Headlining the night, Lady Antebellum took the stage and the trio has never sounded better.  Their harmonies shined on their classic songs such as “Dancing Away With My Heart”, “Our Kind Of Love” and “I Run To You” while they kept the energy up by performing “You Look Good” and “Downtown”.  Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood come together each tour as the quintessential hitmakers, bringing their live show to the next level each year.  The fans know and love their music and always show up to sing along.

The biggest highlight of the night was when Hilary Scott acknowledged a cardboard cut-out of our buddy, Nick McElhatton, who is serving our country right now.  Scott asked to get a camera on the group stating “He is obviously protecting our freedom, keeping us safe in the greatest country in the world and I want to dedicate this next song to this man, this is “American Honey”.  Watch the emotional moment above.

The Summer Plays On Tour

Darius Rucker and Russell Dickerson joined Lady Antebellum for an encore that was one for the books, performing Hootie and the Blowfish “Hold My Hand” then Dickerson highlighted his talent while singing Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” as a duet with Scott.  After their song Kelley and Rucker even commented “`Don’t be comin’ up here tryin’ show off” Kelley laughed as Rucker said, “Who do you think you are young man” truly impressing not only the crowd but his tourmates as well.  They closed with Lady Antebellum’s “Love Don’t Live Here” and had 15,000 people on their feet, thankful for a night of incredible country music. For the rest of the Summer Plays On Tour dates click here.

 

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#TBT Our Favorite ACM Collaboration Performances

This Sunday night, live from Vegas the Academy of Country Music Awards are set to take place, bringing incredible performances from Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, and many more.  On this #TBT let’s take a look back at some of our favorite collaboration performances and moments from the prestigious award show.

At last year’s ACM Awards, Florida Georiga Line sang their most recent single “God, Your Mama and Me” with help from boy band Backstreet Boys then they all did the iconic dance to “Everybody” together, making a memorable moment for all watching.

ACM Best Moments

Ethan Miller Getty Images

 

Back in 2014, Hilary, Charles, and Dave of Lady Antebellum collaborated with Stevie Nicks to sing the title track from their 2013 album Golden.  The addition of Nicks’ voice to their already incredible harmonies made for quite the performance.

ACM Best Moments

Getty Images

 

Power vocalist Carrie Underwood took the stage to perform with rock icon Steven Tyler.  They sang her single in 2001, “Undo It” then finished their performance with “Walk This Way”.  This moment was a definite highlight of the 2011 ACM Awards.

ACM Moments

Ethan Miller Getty Images

 

One of our all-time favorite duets, Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson are reviving this 2007 collaboration this Sunday night at the ACMs.  Back in 2007, they performed a heartfelt, emotional rendition of Clarkson’s “Because of You”.  Which song do you think they will sing together this year?

ACM Best Moments

Photo Credit: Mark J. Terrill

 

Brad Paisley joined by John Mayer performed “Beat This Summer” at the 49th Annual ACM Awards back in 2013.  The duo went head to head shredding on their electric guitars, wowing the viewers.

ACM Best Moments

Getty Images for ACM

 

Which collaborations would you love to see on Sunday night? Tweet us @NYCountry Swag and let us know!  Be sure to follow along as our team LIVE Tweets the show Sunday at 8 PM ET.

 

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Save-the-Dates: Major Country Music Tour Announcements…

Over the past few days, some of our favorite country acts have announced their 2018 tours and they are all heading to the metro area!

First up, Lady Antebellum announced they will be co-headlining with Darius Rucker and bringing Russell Dickerson on the road.  The “Summer Plays On Tour” will stop at PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey on August 3rd and Northwell Jones Beach Theater on August 4th.  Tickets and more info available at LadyAntebellum.com

Lady A Tour Announcements

 

Announced last night at an intimate show at the Exit/In in Nashville, Keith Urban will release his new album early this year and is hitting the road with Kelsea Ballerini.  The “GraffitiU World Tour” heads to Barclays Center on October 27th.  Tickets and info here.

Keith Urban Graffiti U Tour Announcements

 

Last but not least, earlier today Jason Aldean announced a 34-city “High Noon Neon Tour” featuring rising stars, Lauren Alaina and Luke Combs. The tour stops at the iconic Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 11th.

Jason Aldean Tour Announcements

 

Be sure to be following us on Instagram for the latest and greatest in NYC Country news, ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests & more!

 

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Top 10 Country Christmas Songs

NYCS Country Christmas

It is officially the holiday season. While you drive to the mall or while online shopping for your friends and family check out our favorite holiday tunes by country music superstars.

    1. “Glow” – Brett Eldredge
    2. “Under the Weather” – Chris Young
    3. “Mele Kalikimaka” – Kacey Musgraves
    4.  “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Little Big Town
    5. “The Christmas Song” – Reba McEntire
    6.  “Deck the Halls” – Rascal Flatts
    7. “Oh Holy Night” – Lauren Alaina
    8. “What Are You Doing New Years Eve” – Lee Ann Womack
    9.  “Little Drummer Boy” – Jennifer Nettles
    10.  “My Favorite Things” – Kelsea Ballerini

For more of our favorites follow our NYCS Country Christmas Spotify Playlist.

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