Toby Keith – I Need To Hear A Country Song

Introduction:

In the ever-evolving world of country music, trends come and go. But in 2011, country music icon Toby Keith released a song that resonated with fans yearning for the genre’s roots. “I Need To Hear A Country Song” became an anthem, a plea for the return of the traditional country sound that many felt was fading away.

The song was the lead single from Keith’s fourteenth studio album, “Unleashed”. Released in October 2011, the album was a return to form for Keith, featuring the kind of barroom country and storytelling that had made him a star. “I Need To Hear A Country Song” perfectly embodied this direction.

Keith wasn’t alone in writing the song. He collaborated with Bobby Pinson and Scotty Emerick to craft the lyrics that painted a picture of a world filled with pickup trucks, small towns, and heartbreak. Keith himself served as a co-producer alongside Dann Huff, ensuring the final product delivered the classic country twang that fans craved.

The release of “I Need To Hear A Country Song” was met with commercial success. The song quickly climbed the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, reaching number one and holding the position for three weeks. It also achieved crossover appeal, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This dual-chart success solidified the song’s popularity across genres.

Critical reception for “I Need To Hear A Country Song” was generally positive. Reviewers praised the song’s celebration of traditional country music, with some even calling it an anthem for the genre. While some critics noted the lyrics’ familiarity within the country music sphere, they also acknowledged the song’s effectiveness in capturing the essence of what many fans loved about the genre.

“I Need To Hear A Country Song” stands as a tribute to a specific era of country music and a reminder of its enduring influence. It secured its place not only on the charts but also in the hearts of country traditionalists, solidifying Toby Keith’s status as a champion of the sound.

Video:

Lyrics:

“I Need To Hear A Country Song”

I need to hear a melody
The sad with three part harmony
A bar room jukebox symphony
I need to hear a melodyI need to hear a song that’s blue
Enough to break a heart in two
After what you put me through
I need to hear a song that’s blueYeah make it lonely
When you do it
I’ll know somebody else
Out there’s been through it
Instead of hurting by myself
Man I’ll just sing along
I need to hear a loser crying
Songs about a love that’s dying
Lyin’ cheatin’ to the bone
Three chord stone cold country songI need to hear a drinking tune
With cowboys howling at the moon
In some swinging door saloon
I need to hear a drinking tune

Yeah make it lonely
When you do it
I’ll know somebody else
Out there’s been through it
Instead of hurting by myself
Man I’ll just sing along
I need to hear a loser crying
Songs about a love that’s dying
Lyin’ cheatin’ to the bone
Three chord stone cold country song
Yeah country song
Three chord stone cold country song