rjz
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Post by rjz on Nov 22, 2013 9:42:31 GMT -5
I definitely think the hook "drink a beer" is corny and detracts from the depth of the song. I don't care how passionately Luke sings this or what the theme is, I just can't be heavily moved by a song with such a hook. I guess this is how a ballad about death with a weak melody can be successful on today's country radio stations... by tossing in a common country theme. Thank you for articulating my feelings exactly. I feel like many fans and Country radio are embracing the song so heavily because of just how un-country and artistically corny/formulaic his last few have been. Kind of like "Thank God we can play Luke again in good conscience". Of course-not minimizing anyone's love for the song, or Luke's personal connection; I just see the beer reference as pandering, and I think it is lazy to do so, when the lyrics could have been SO much better. Toasting someones memory is a very human experience, but IDK, it just seems like the simple nature of the Drink a Beer line highlights the beer vs the true meaning-whereas if the lyrics wrapped up the beer line in a much more meaningful way, it could be an A song for me instead of just a C+
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churchchoir
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Post by churchchoir on Nov 22, 2013 10:25:26 GMT -5
I certainly don't mind ballads or songs about death, nor do I mind songs with poor lyrics. My criterion is basically that a song should either have a good melody or good lyrics. If it has both, I consider it especially great. The reason I don't mind most of the songs with bad lyrics that most people on here despise is because I enjoy the melodies. However, when a song like this come along and have what I see as virtually no melody and disposable lyrics, I can't find anything to like about the it.
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layne
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Post by layne on Nov 22, 2013 10:41:13 GMT -5
I've tried to like this but he's put out so many juvenile sounding songs I can't take him seriously here. I'm sure I'm in the minority but I don't really feel his passion on the studio version of this song. It really just sounds like him singing any other lyric to me.
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matty005
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Post by matty005 on Nov 22, 2013 11:23:48 GMT -5
I definitely think the hook "drink a beer" is corny and detracts from the depth of the song. I don't care how passionately Luke sings this or what the theme is, I just can't be heavily moved by a song with such a hook. I guess this is how a ballad about death with a weak melody can be successful on today's country radio stations... by tossing in a common country theme. Thank you for articulating my feelings exactly. I feel like many fans and Country radio are embracing the song so heavily because of just how un-country and artistically corny/formulaic his last few have been. Kind of like "Thank God we can play Luke again in good conscience". Of course-not minimizing anyone's love for the song, or Luke's personal connection; I just see the beer reference as pandering, and I think it is lazy to do so, when the lyrics could have been SO much better. Toasting someones memory is a very human experience, but IDK, it just seems like the simple nature of the Drink a Beer line highlights the beer vs the true meaning-whereas if the lyrics wrapped up the beer line in a much more meaningful way, it could be an A song for me instead of just a C+ I have to respectfully disagree. I lost a dear friend in Afghanistan last summer and after Steve's funeral, "Steve" (it was actually his wife) bought everyone a round of his favorite beer. It was both touching and fitting for him and not in anyways corny. I know that most beer songs are more about partying and getting drunk, but you can have a song that is both well written and mentions beer. The thought that just because beer is referenced makes it pandering is 100% wrong in my eyes (though I will agree it does happen to be true a lot, but it doesn't have to mean it is that way all the time).
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rjz
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Post by rjz on Nov 22, 2013 19:53:18 GMT -5
^^Sorry for your loss :(
Hey, when my mom died, we had an open bar at her wake; and she received many a toast.
My point wasn't that I objected to alcohol being mentioned, or the idea of toasting someone-like I said; it is a very human experience. I don't think it is corny at all (that statement is referring to his last few songs).
I think naming the song Drink A Beer and the chorus just seems like Luke couldn't help himself highlighting that element in the song. I don't dislike the song-it's decent. But I don't think it is A material musically or lyrically.
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Kanenrá:ke
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Nov 23, 2013 9:57:54 GMT -5
That doesn't make any sense about dying in a parking lot (and yes I get the Lee Brice song reference - I still don't get what your friend is saying). Anyway, many guys bond over drinking beers and having a beer in honor of a friend who has passed makes perfect sense in my world. I agree with this. Even with all these party-oriented songs about drinking beer on today's country radio, this is definitely a perfectly acceptable way of using a lyric about beer as well. In other words, I don't think the consumption of beer in this song is used in a nonsensical or disrespectful way. It's not as if the song would've been more appropriate if it had been "Drink a Sprite" or something. I guess I should explain a bit, and sorry for not doing so sooner as I was sick yesterday. My friend and I had been listening to all the singles released this year in order to determine a top 50 of the year. Listening to the singles on shuffle this was the play list... "Chillin' It" "Boys 'Round Here" "That's My Kind Of Night" "Ready, Set, Roll" "The Booze Cruise" "Parking Lot Party" "Drink A Beer" After all those horrible songs, not only was she ready to kill me for making her listen to them, she was also not feeling too generous to whatever came next. When DAB came on she was actually really enjoying it up until the hook came in which is where she made the comment. She felt that it was a great song that was ruined by a cliched hook. I feel for myself that it's a decent song but I'm not feeling like Luke connects to the lyrics or brings them to life in anyway. I'm not against drinking in somebody's memory but the way this is put together for me sounds more calculated than inspired. A great song that has a similar theme is Tracy Lawrence's "If I Don't Make It Back", that one I feel got the sentiment across much better.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 23, 2013 12:48:09 GMT -5
I agree with this. Even with all these party-oriented songs about drinking beer on today's country radio, this is definitely a perfectly acceptable way of using a lyric about beer as well. In other words, I don't think the consumption of beer in this song is used in a nonsensical or disrespectful way. It's not as if the song would've been more appropriate if it had been "Drink a Sprite" or something. I guess I should explain a bit, and sorry for not doing so sooner as I was sick yesterday. My friend and I had been listening to all the singles released this year in order to determine a top 50 of the year. Listening to the singles on shuffle this was the play list... "Chillin' It" "Boys 'Round Here" "That's My Kind Of Night" "Ready, Set, Roll" "The Booze Cruise" "Parking Lot Party" "Drink A Beer" After all those horrible songs, not only was she ready to kill me for making her listen to them, she was also not feeling too generous to whatever came next. When DAB came on she was actually really enjoying it up until the hook came in which is where she made the comment. She felt that it was a great song that was ruined by a cliched hook. I feel for myself that it's a decent song but I'm not feeling like Luke connects to the lyrics or brings them to life in anyway. I'm not against drinking in somebody's memory but the way this is put together for me sounds more calculated than inspired. A great song that has a similar theme is Tracy Lawrence's "If I Don't Make It Back", that one I feel got the sentiment across much better. That's the exact song that came to mind when I read these above comments. "Drink A Beer" is a good song, but I think the title and lyrics (Not that the lyrics are bad) keep it from being a great song. Which I believe "If I Don't Make It Back" is. Something about those lyrics and Tracy's delivery really sell that song. That last chorus with the closing fiddle is defiantly powerful. Still think its one of the best songs released to country radio in the past twenty years....But of course it only peaked at #40 on mediabase!
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Dec 1, 2013 13:22:56 GMT -5
I agree that this doesn't quite scale to the same heights as "If I Don't Make It Back", but I feel that Luke connects all right with this song. I hear subtle changes in his voice — it's a little higher and smoother than he usually is — that I feel show that he's got at least some degree of interpretation.
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Dec 23, 2013 14:57:02 GMT -5
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Post by areyoureadytojump on Jan 6, 2014 21:15:46 GMT -5
The lyrics for this are cringe-worthy.
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Jan 8, 2014 12:54:45 GMT -5
Crash My party returns to the top of the country albums chart with 43,000 sold.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2014 0:57:41 GMT -5
Haven't really been following the charts since basically Christmas or so (busy, out of the country, no internet, etc), but for as well as Cole Swindell and David Nail have been doing, it looks to me (from the current updates) that Luke is doing better. He's ahead of Nail on MB now, and I don't know if Cole will manage to stay ahead.
I still think all 3 songs can get to #1. But unless Luke slows down a little bit, both Cole and David may have to put their hopes in following Luke at the top of the charts. And who knows, this could wind up as a 2-3 week #1 hit, maybe even longer..
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Jan 11, 2014 16:18:08 GMT -5
Following Luke's daily updates, I don't see how "Drink A Beer" is not at least a 3 week chart topper. Both "Stay", and "Drunk Last Night" will be gone by the time "Drink A Beer" gets to the top 2. I don't see The Band Perry going #1, or Darius Rucker. "Sweet Annie" has seemed to caught fire recently, but that would be the song that gets replaced by DAB if I had to guess. Plus it's clear of Cole Swindell and David Nail now. The sales are also through the roof for "Drink A Beer (Though everything by Luke of FGL seemingly is) as well.
I thought that this would be a huge hit, but I didn't know how big exactly. It will be interesting to see if "Drink A Beer" becomes a 4 or 5 week #1 single. We have not seen that recently in country music on the Billboard Airplay or Mediabase charts (Though "Stay" caught a break peaking during the layoff). To be honest I would love to see more songs stay at #1 longer than the 1 week trend we have gotten (Especially on Mediabse). Then maybe we would see more songs get shut out of #1 and have to settle for a #4 peak or whatever it may be. I know that times are changing but I wonder if the charts will continue to get even more manipulated than they are now. I know being a long time follower of the Mediabase chart; it's becoming less fun to chart watch as time goes on.
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churchchoir
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Post by churchchoir on Jan 11, 2014 17:23:04 GMT -5
If DAB follows "Sweet Annie" to #1, then that would mean Luke would jump from #9 to #1 in three weeks, though. ("Stay" looks like it's done and will be replaced by "Annie" at #1 next weekend, so Luke would be #1 the weekend after). I just don't see that happening. I think TBP will be able to sneak in a week in between, maybe just a Mediabase-only #1, but still I don't think Luke will get to #1 in two weeks. I do agree that "Drink a Beer" will be a multi-week #1. Maybe he'll get three weeks at #1 on Billboard, just like "Crash My Party," and some of the smaller hits like "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" and "Friday Night" will sneak in Mediabase #1s during that time. Four weeks just seems impossible. That only happens these days when the song first hits #1 during Christmastime.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Jan 11, 2014 17:33:21 GMT -5
I could see "Drink A Beer" following "Sweet Annie", but I think that SA might get a second week at number one. That surprises me, as I thought it would peak #3 at the absolute highest initially. I don't think a 3-4 week run is out of the question for DAB right now. It's really popular, and the top of the chart is fairly weak right now.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Jan 11, 2014 18:38:33 GMT -5
"Drink A Beer" sits at #6 today on Mediabase. If you take "Stay" and "Drunk Last Night" out of the discussion, as they have both peaked, then you got "Radio", and that will not be in Luke's way, and "Sweet Annie" will be #1 either next week or the week after. "Friday Night" I just can't vision being a #1 single, the song is so old and really hasn't had super stellar weeks (Though it hasn't shown sign of losing it's bullet either). Plus it has just too much competition surrounding it. That means Luke only has to leap frog "Don't Let Me Be Lonely". Right now I think The Band Perry will miss out of that #1 slot on both charts, but that's purely based on a gut feel by my part. I think the reason I'm thinking that way is that's the way I feel it should be. It should be interesting to see how it shakes out the next month or so.
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churchchoir
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Post by churchchoir on Jan 15, 2014 12:23:21 GMT -5
I think sabre14 might be right about this song being #1 next weekend. If TBP doesn't start gaining much more later this week, I don't think it will go to #1 at all. Then, ZBB will get to #1 on both charts this week and both DLMBL and SA will begin falling next week. I guess I overestimated Big Machine's power. I'm used to their monstrous pushes always getting their songs to #1, but unless the big push for DLMBL kicks in later this week, then Big Machine will have their second failed #1 Mediabase push this year.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2014 13:26:23 GMT -5
^Big Machine must only push if your name is Taylor and you sing pop music.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Jan 15, 2014 13:45:04 GMT -5
I actually was worried my prediction would be wrong yesterday. After looking at The Band Perry's numbers I thought there's still a good shot it would go #1. But today is certainly a sign that "Drink A Beer" is a locomotive that can't be stopped. I do agree that this is Big Machine Label Group we're talking about here, and Scott Borchetta seemingly could work his magic or manipulation (However you want to look at it). But there is still many days to go before the end of next week. Right now I still say "Drink A Beer" will leap "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" for the #1 spot but I'm not exactly brimming with confidence. It should be a very close race.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2014 16:01:00 GMT -5
As each day passes, it does look more and more possible that Luke could take over #1 as early as the end of next week. Obviously Tuesday's chart (Monday is MLK Jr. Day), dated 2/1, will go to either ZBB or TBP (and ZBB definitely has the edge there, although neither has really gained much, if anything, so far this week), but Luke might be in the running for #1 on the 2/8 chart. Normally I would've said he wouldn't be able to get there, but the ZBB and TBP tunes are completely flat right now. Furthermore, "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" looked almost done back on December 9 (12/21 chart), when it lost 750k and 132 spins for the 12/2 - 12/8 tracking week. It needed a rescue and probably quite a bit of effort from Republic Nashville's part to get it as high as it currently is. For whatever reason, DLMBL isn't getting #1 conversions at enough stations...it would seem that it is still in top 5 or top 10 rotation at quite a few stations.
And suddenly, Luke is only 4.5 million behind the ZBB song on Mediabase, and he's gaining each day. Spins-wise, "Drink A Beer" trails "Sweet Annie" by about 640...and Luke's current 7-day bullet is 665. Cole Swindell and David Nail are still doing well, but they might not peak for another month or so, so Capitol might as well keep Luke rolling right along, because the #1 window for DAB looks to be pretty large. And if Luke gets there a week earlier (2/8 chart instead of 2/15), that could just mean an extra week at the top for him. This song could easily get 3, maybe even 4 weeks at #1, with the way things are shaping up.
I don't know if I'm quite ready to predict that full scenario yet. But it's really hard to see the ZBB or TBP tunes continuing to hang in there next week. I'll say the ZBB gets the #1 on both MB and BB this weekend, which means Luke could certainly take over by the end of next week. I am sure that Republic Nashville wants to get TBP to #1 on MB, but the numbers aren't there yet, and they are running out of time.
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churchchoir
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Post by churchchoir on Jan 21, 2014 20:13:25 GMT -5
I predict this will come in at #4 or #5 on Billboard, behind Cole Swindell, David Nail, and possibly Eric Paslay in audience. Luke Bryan is co-hosting the Helton countdown after Eric Paslay and David Nail, so his label will be able to keep the song going for a few more weeks. I can see the Mediabase and Billboard charts having different #1 songs for the next few weeks. A scenario that I see as possible is that David Nail and Cole Swindell will sneak in weeks at #1 before Luke on Billboard, while Luke gets this coming Sunday on Mediabase and then Cole and David can manipulate the Mediabase points system to get weeks at #1 on that chart in the subsequent weeks. Either way, I don't think "Chillin' It," "Whatever She's Got," or "Drink a Beer" will miss #1 on either chart. They're just all too huge of hits for such a fate. I think Eric Paslay will be the one to fall short of #1, not due to running out of steam, but just due to too much competition in the top 5 right now.
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Jan 29, 2014 13:03:34 GMT -5
#1 in Canada! Would that be a Molson or a Labatt?
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LBTrocks
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Post by LBTrocks on Jan 29, 2014 14:00:26 GMT -5
I certainly don't mind ballads or songs about death, nor do I mind songs with poor lyrics. My criterion is basically that a song should either have a good melody or good lyrics. If it has both, I consider it especially great. The reason I don't mind most of the songs with bad lyrics that most people on here despise is because I enjoy the melodies. However, when a song like this come along and have what I see as virtually no melody and disposable lyrics, I can't find anything to like about the it. I like the melody and the lyrics of Drink A Beer, but I completely agree with everything else you said here. If I enjoy a melody, I will be apt to listen to a song even if the lyrics aren't that good.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Jan 29, 2014 15:23:24 GMT -5
#1 in Canada! Would that be a Molson or a Labatt? I'm a Labatt guy myself ;). But that just might be because their U.S headquarters is located here.
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joey2002
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Post by joey2002 on Feb 2, 2014 3:11:31 GMT -5
"Drink A Beer" is having a pretty remarkable chart run – consistently huge gains leading to it zipping up the chart in just 13 weeks. In the "old days" a song like this would spend 4 or 5 weeks at #1, but in this "1 week era", it looks like Luke's time at the top will be limited. David Nail grabbed the #1 spot last week, and "Friday Night" had a ridiculous push this week to jump ahead and make it to the top. Cole isn't far behind Luke, so there isn't much time to spare. It's like a kids soccer league where everyone gets a trophy...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 22:09:01 GMT -5
Luke did get the Billboard #1, and I made a pretty good call in my projections: My projections have Luke finishing less than 200k ahead of Eric. I posted that on Sunday night. The actual gap was 198k. Eric Paslay gained 7 million on MB which translated to a 4.9 million BB gain, but Luke's 2.6 million gain kept him just ahead, barely. "Drink A Beer" will easily get a 2nd week at #1 on BB and an "official" 1st week at #1 on MB this weekend, but I don't think it'll get 3 weeks anymore, mainly because UMG elected to get David to #1 before Luke (which I hadn't foreseen, given the release date of David's album) and then we had the whole Paslay fiasco last week. Based off how things were trending from Thanksgiving and all the way through the first 2 weeks of January, you would've thought Luke would get the past 3 charts at #1 (including the current one), and then David would've snagged a week, followed by Cole. But with the way things have shaken out, Luke will probably get the 2 weeks BB/1 week MB scenario, and then Cole Swindell will take over.
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Feb 8, 2014 13:06:36 GMT -5
New MediaBase record: 59.8 million audience impressions. Will Drink A Beer finish with 60? Stay tuned!
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onebuffalo
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Post by onebuffalo on Feb 9, 2014 15:13:47 GMT -5
Luke Bryan becomes the 60 million audience impressions man. Today's update gives him 60.2. Unbelievable!
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kml567
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Post by kml567 on Feb 9, 2014 15:16:41 GMT -5
Record breaking 60.148 million. :o Luke holds the Mediabase record for highest spin total (TMKON) and highest AI ever (DAB).
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joey2002
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Post by joey2002 on Feb 9, 2014 16:04:44 GMT -5
Luke Bryan becomes the 60 million audience impressions man. Today's update gives him 60.2. Unbelievable! Nice, but when the "highest audience" record keeps getting broken every few months, it starts to lose meaning.
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