After achieving 40 top 10 hits- the fortieth being his current single, “We Were”, Keith Urban surprised fans with a new version of the ballad. Fellow CMA-nominee for coveted Entertainer of the Year title (November 13th, 2019), Eric Church joined Urban on the new duet. The track was written by Church along with Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell.

Urban teased the duet on October 19th, sharing videos and photos of the two artists in his home studio. “I love his voice!” Urban can be heard on camera excitedly, watching Church cut the vocals from the booth. He sits by the mixing board, appearing to be helping with the production of the new collab.

The song starts out the same way it does when you hear it on the radio. Urban always picks songs that don’t fit the cookie-cutter radio formula, always choosing songs that speak directly to him. The song is a reflective, mid-tempo song about the past and what life was like then and what was like now. “I am who I am, I just miss who I was when we were,” he sings on the chorus.

The lyrics are the same in both versions of the song. In the new version, it isn’t until the second verse does Chuch’s voice kick in. The song is mixed so well that for a moment, it’s hard to tell it’s Church singing. Once he finishes the first line of the verse, it’s easy- and wonderful to hear his traditional outlaw country voice shine on the track. He makes it more rock, and it’s an infusion of both artists’ sounds.

On the second chorus, Church takes the lead with Urban singing background vocals over him. There’s some harmony, but it’s more of stacks of combined, mixed vocals taking over the track. Both Urban and Church have very distinctive verses, so it is easy to decipher who is singing which part.

Sometimes a post-success single remix isn’t necessary, but the new version of “We Were” actually brings something new to the song. Church and Urban should try singing together more often because their voices blend perfectly together. Their last collaboration, “Raise ‘Em Up” hit the top of the country radio charts, back in 2015, proving fans love the duo together.

To keep up with Keith Urban, find him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Eric Church, find him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“We Were” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music 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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