Kane Brown - "Heaven"

[sabre14]

Artist: Kane Brown
Single: "Heaven"
Writers: Blake Anthony Carter, Matthew McGinn, Lindsay Rimes
Album: Kane Brown (Deluxe)
Label: RCA Nashville
Impact Date: November 13th, 2017

WBEE'S "Music Meeting Song of the Day" and Billy Kidd (PD) did confirm to me that "Heaven" is the next single from Kane Brown.

[.indulgecountry]

Wow, this is a great song. I should probably actually just listen to his debut album because I've liked most of the songs I've heard from it, lol.

[seak05]

a) this is going to be a massive hit

b) if this doesn't get sent to pop radio I'll be stunned (and it IS a pop/r&b song)

[Kentucky25]

Yeah this is gonna blow up. With What Ifs momentum he’s going to become a real player in Country music

[LBTrocks]

I really wish they would have gone with "What's Mine Is Yours" instead because it's actually incredible.

This one is decent, but I don't think it's a really good song for his voice and I think it's a bit generic. Makes sense they would go with it though, it seems like a pretty safe choice.

[Kurt]

Went to listen to this on Spotify and was surprised to see it was only on the deluxe edition – does country radio get deluxe-only singles very often? (Pop doesn't; Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" is the most obvious example of it in the past few years that I can think of.)

edit: oh, I see it was a re-release this month, so that changes things a bit.

[maine]

Oct 19, 2017 20:16:35 GMT -5 Kurt said:

Went to listen to this on Spotify and was surprised to see it was only on the deluxe edition – does country radio get deluxe-only singles very often? (Pop doesn't; Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" is the most obvious example of it in the past few years that I can think of.)

This is sort of a re-release. His debut came out in December last year, but when "What Ifs" got big, they decided to put out a deluxe edition with 4 new tracks a few weeks ago. 

[seak05]

Oct 19, 2017 20:16:35 GMT -5 Kurt said:

Went to listen to this on Spotify and was surprised to see it was only on the deluxe edition – does country radio get deluxe-only singles very often? (Pop doesn't; Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" is the most obvious example of it in the past few years that I can think of.)

edit: oh, I see it was a re-release this month, so that changes things a bit.

Yeah this is akin to Rhett adding star of the show as part of a delux tangled up re-release & that was the single.

[dm2081]

This is will definitely be a huge hit, so it probably was the best choice considering the sales so far. But I was hoping for "What's Mine Is Yours" - what a beautiful song.

I will not be shocked if Kane is the biggest star in the genre 5 years from now.

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2017 21:48:40 GMT -5 dm2081 said:

This is will definitely be a huge hit, so it probably was the best choice considering the sales so far. But I was hoping for "What's Mine Is Yours" - what a beautiful song.

I will not be shocked if Kane is the biggest star in the genre 5 years from now.

I think Kane Brown will probably be about equal with Sam Hunt in terms of popularity, but otherwise I agree.

[rsmatto]

Oct 19, 2017 21:56:28 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

Oct 19, 2017 21:48:40 GMT -5 dm2081 said:

This is will definitely be a huge hit, so it probably was the best choice considering the sales so far. But I was hoping for "What's Mine Is Yours" - what a beautiful song.

I will not be shocked if Kane is the biggest star in the genre 5 years from now.

I think Kane Brown will probably be about equal with Sam Hunt in terms of popularity, but otherwise I agree.

That’s if Sam wants to be a star that long. Thomas Rhett should b ein this conversation as should Jon Pardi and hopefully a female artist or two.

[Deleted]

This song and "What Ifs" are far better than his other offerings.

I think he definitely CAN be a big country star but will he want to be? With the remix of "What Ifs" alluding to maybe a non-country push as well as some thoughts here that this could be pushed to pop as well, will he focus more on that? What about Sam?

As the genre moves at least a little more traditional, could these artists decide just to jump to pop? Or do like Taylor Swift did before she jumped and kind of give some of each on her CDs?

Then again, as long as folks like The Highway insist on shoving random things down their deep-pocketed listeners' throats (like that Sam Hunt EDM "Top Down"), I think anything in this genre is possible.

I think radio has shown interest in returning to a more defined country sound--just look at the success of Midland, Jon Pardi, Luke Combs and how much they want to play "Drink a Little Beer." But if the artists aren't providing material that coincides (Luke Bryan) then it won't happen.

[seak05]

I think it's hard to predict stardom 5 yrs from now. Besides as several have said, it's an open question of whether Sam (and Kane) will want to remain in country. Sam and his team have already pushed to pop/HAC radio several times. Kane is only 23, and I could easily see an attempt at a crossover push for him as well.

[CoJoFan]

This was top 10 all genre on iTunes after the deluxe album was released.

[rsmatto]

Oct 20, 2017 8:20:38 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

This song and "What Ifs" are far better than his other offerings.

I think he definitely CAN be a big country star but will he want to be? With the remix of "What Ifs" alluding to maybe a non-country push as well as some thoughts here that this could be pushed to pop as well, will he focus more on that? What about Sam?

As the genre moves at least a little more traditional, could these artists decide just to jump to pop? Or do like Taylor Swift did before she jumped and kind of give some of each on her CDs?

Then again, as long as folks like The Highway insist on shoving random things down their deep-pocketed listeners' throats (like that Sam Hunt EDM "Top Down"), I think anything in this genre is possible.

I think radio has shown interest in returning to a more defined country sound--just look at the success of Midland, Jon Pardi, Luke Combs and how much they want to play "Drink a Little Beer." But if the artists aren't providing material that coincides (Luke Bryan) then it won't happen.

I doubt they follow Taylor to pop. Just not those kind of artists.

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2017 21:01:13 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

Oct 20, 2017 8:20:38 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

This song and "What Ifs" are far better than his other offerings.

I think he definitely CAN be a big country star but will he want to be? With the remix of "What Ifs" alluding to maybe a non-country push as well as some thoughts here that this could be pushed to pop as well, will he focus more on that? What about Sam?

As the genre moves at least a little more traditional, could these artists decide just to jump to pop? Or do like Taylor Swift did before she jumped and kind of give some of each on her CDs?

Then again, as long as folks like The Highway insist on shoving random things down their deep-pocketed listeners' throats (like that Sam Hunt EDM "Top Down"), I think anything in this genre is possible.

I think radio has shown interest in returning to a more defined country sound--just look at the success of Midland, Jon Pardi, Luke Combs and how much they want to play "Drink a Little Beer." But if the artists aren't providing material that coincides (Luke Bryan) then it won't happen.

I doubt they follow Taylor to pop. Just not those kind of artists.

What does that mean? I doubt when Taylor released her first album--which was through and through COUNTRY, albeit with pop influences--anyone could have anticipated in a short ten years she'd be making downright hip pop with no semblance of her country roots. Listen to a song from her first album back to back with a current release. That's a complete 180 that I have trouble believing anyone could have predicted.

Sam and Kane, on the other hand, are making music that already is 50-80% pop/R&B, while also actively promoting their songs to those stations, so I fail to see how it would be so farfetched to envision them crossing over at some point. Regardless of the "kind of artists" they are, whatever that means.

[.indulgecountry]

Oct 21, 2017 12:33:11 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

Oct 20, 2017 21:01:13 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

I doubt they follow Taylor to pop. Just not those kind of artists.

What does that mean? I doubt when Taylor released her first album--which was through and through COUNTRY, albeit with pop influences--anyone could have anticipated in a short ten years she'd be making downright hip pop with no semblance of her country roots. Listen to a song from her first album back to back with a current release. That's a complete 180 that I have trouble believing anyone could have predicted.

Sam and Kane, on the other hand, are making music that already is 50-80% pop/R&B, while also actively promoting their songs to those stations, so I fail to see how it would be so farfetched to envision them crossing over at some point. Regardless of the "kind of artists" they are, whatever that means.

Taylor Swift had two big crossover pop hits ("Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song") on her debut album, so going by your logic, everyone should've seen it coming. Kane Brown hasn't even had one crossover hit yet; people are speculating that "What Ifs" might go to CHR because of some new remix, but there's been no confirmation on that yet, and it's also not a guarantee it'll be a big crossover success even if it is released. Lately the pop crossovers have been few-and-far-between.

Also, the "50-80% pop/RnB" claim is a product of the current times we live in. 11 years ago when Taylor Swift got her start, people weren't talking about how "country" her debut album was, and plenty were having the same feelings you are having now about Sam Hunt and Kane Brown's music. And going back even further, people said the same things about Shania Twain and Garth Brooks in the late 90s/early 2000s. It happens in every time period and it's all relative.

[seak05]

Oct 21, 2017 12:54:08 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Oct 21, 2017 12:33:11 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

What does that mean? I doubt when Taylor released her first album--which was through and through COUNTRY, albeit with pop influences--anyone could have anticipated in a short ten years she'd be making downright hip pop with no semblance of her country roots. Listen to a song from her first album back to back with a current release. That's a complete 180 that I have trouble believing anyone could have predicted.

Sam and Kane, on the other hand, are making music that already is 50-80% pop/R&B, while also actively promoting their songs to those stations, so I fail to see how it would be so farfetched to envision them crossing over at some point. Regardless of the "kind of artists" they are, whatever that means.

Taylor Swift had two big crossover pop hits ("Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song") on her debut album, so going by your logic, everyone should've seen it coming. Kane Brown hasn't even had one crossover hit yet; people are speculating that "What Ifs" might go to CHR because of some new remix, but there's been no confirmation on that yet, and it's also not a guarantee it'll be a big crossover success even if it is released. Lately the pop crossovers have been few-and-far-between.

Also, the "50-80% pop/RnB" claim is a product of the current times we live in. 11 years ago when Taylor Swift got her start, people weren't talking about how "country" her debut album was, and plenty were having the same feelings you are having now about Sam Hunt and Kane Brown's music. And going back even further, people said the same things about Shania Twain and Garth Brooks in the late 90s/early 2000s. It happens in every time period and it's all relative.

You are right, it's pure speculation on Kane. Sam has already sent 3 songs to pop/HAC radio though & scored a decent amount of crossover success with BLBR, so I don't think it's ridiculous to say that Sam/his label are at least looking & thinking about that direction.

You are also right about the sound/radio/and changing times...but Sam and Kane are definitely more at that pop friendly end of the spectrum. For instance I'd be stunned from a sound standpoint if Pardi tried to crossover, it wouldn't surprise me, given the sound they like, from Sam or Kane.

[Deleted]

Oct 21, 2017 12:54:08 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Oct 21, 2017 12:33:11 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

What does that mean? I doubt when Taylor released her first album--which was through and through COUNTRY, albeit with pop influences--anyone could have anticipated in a short ten years she'd be making downright hip pop with no semblance of her country roots. Listen to a song from her first album back to back with a current release. That's a complete 180 that I have trouble believing anyone could have predicted.

Sam and Kane, on the other hand, are making music that already is 50-80% pop/R&B, while also actively promoting their songs to those stations, so I fail to see how it would be so farfetched to envision them crossing over at some point. Regardless of the "kind of artists" they are, whatever that means.

Taylor Swift had two big crossover pop hits ("Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song") on her debut album, so going by your logic, everyone should've seen it coming. Kane Brown hasn't even had one crossover hit yet; people are speculating that "What Ifs" might go to CHR because of some new remix, but there's been no confirmation on that yet, and it's also not a guarantee it'll be a big crossover success even if it is released. Lately the pop crossovers have been few-and-far-between.

Also, the "50-80% pop/RnB" claim is a product of the current times we live in. 11 years ago when Taylor Swift got her start, people weren't talking about how "country" her debut album was, and plenty were having the same feelings you are having now about Sam Hunt and Kane Brown's music. And going back even further, people said the same things about Shania Twain and Garth Brooks in the late 90s/early 2000s. It happens in every time period and it's all relative.

"Teardrops" and "Our Song" are country songs. Sam Hunt and Kane Brown aren't even in the same galaxy as those songs. Pop radio played them because they were popular and Taylor blew up. For pop fans, they were something different because they were relatable, heartfelt, and geared at the right crowd. Sam's songs, at least (as well as Thomas Rhett, Lady A, and FGL being the others with recent attempted crossover) share few characteristics of the GREAT country songs of the 2000s, which Taylor's WERE. I'm not saying you can't like those songs, but it's no surprise that recent country crossover attempts have essentially failed.

Why would pop fans crave the current crossover attempts when they A) aren't really that unique and B) don't really provide any differentiation from the music they are already listening to in the first place?

[rsmatto]

Oct 21, 2017 14:49:03 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

Oct 21, 2017 12:54:08 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Taylor Swift had two big crossover pop hits ("Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song") on her debut album, so going by your logic, everyone should've seen it coming. Kane Brown hasn't even had one crossover hit yet; people are speculating that "What Ifs" might go to CHR because of some new remix, but there's been no confirmation on that yet, and it's also not a guarantee it'll be a big crossover success even if it is released. Lately the pop crossovers have been few-and-far-between.

Also, the "50-80% pop/RnB" claim is a product of the current times we live in. 11 years ago when Taylor Swift got her start, people weren't talking about how "country" her debut album was, and plenty were having the same feelings you are having now about Sam Hunt and Kane Brown's music. And going back even further, people said the same things about Shania Twain and Garth Brooks in the late 90s/early 2000s. It happens in every time period and it's all relative.

"Teardrops" and "Our Song" are country songs. Sam Hunt and Kane Brown aren't even in the same galaxy as those songs. Pop radio played them because they were popular and Taylor blew up. For pop fans, they were something different because they were relatable, heartfelt, and geared at the right crowd. Sam's songs, at least (as well as Thomas Rhett, Lady A, and FGL being the others with recent attempted crossover) share few characteristics of the GREAT country songs of the 2000s, which Taylor's WERE. I'm not saying you can't like those songs, but it's no surprise that recent country crossover attempts have essentially failed.

Why would pop fans crave the current crossover attempts when they A) aren't really that unique and B) don't really provide any differentiation from the music they are already listening to in the first place?

Quite simply, Kane Brown doesn’t have a voice for pop radio. Maybe processed for an EDM DJ track. There’s plenty on his album that’s country “Cold Spot” is one. Have you even listened to pop radio? It’s far different than Country fans think it is whenever these debates spring up.

[.indulgecountry]

Oct 21, 2017 14:49:03 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

Oct 21, 2017 12:54:08 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Taylor Swift had two big crossover pop hits ("Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song") on her debut album, so going by your logic, everyone should've seen it coming. Kane Brown hasn't even had one crossover hit yet; people are speculating that "What Ifs" might go to CHR because of some new remix, but there's been no confirmation on that yet, and it's also not a guarantee it'll be a big crossover success even if it is released. Lately the pop crossovers have been few-and-far-between.

Also, the "50-80% pop/RnB" claim is a product of the current times we live in. 11 years ago when Taylor Swift got her start, people weren't talking about how "country" her debut album was, and plenty were having the same feelings you are having now about Sam Hunt and Kane Brown's music. And going back even further, people said the same things about Shania Twain and Garth Brooks in the late 90s/early 2000s. It happens in every time period and it's all relative.

"Teardrops" and "Our Song" are country songs. Sam Hunt and Kane Brown aren't even in the same galaxy as those songs. Pop radio played them because they were popular and Taylor blew up. For pop fans, they were something different because they were relatable, heartfelt, and geared at the right crowd. Sam's songs, at least (as well as Thomas Rhett, Lady A, and FGL being the others with recent attempted crossover) share few characteristics of the GREAT country songs of the 2000s, which Taylor's WERE. I'm not saying you can't like those songs, but it's no surprise that recent country crossover attempts have essentially failed.

Why would pop fans crave the current crossover attempts when they A) aren't really that unique and B) don't really provide any differentiation from the music they are already listening to in the first place?

"Teardrops" and "Our Song" received pop-friendly remixes and were pushed to CHR, and Kane Brown's "What Ifs" getting a pop-friendly remix is what caused this whole topic of discussion, and his hasn't actually even been released or pushed to CHR, let alone became a hit.

Like rsmatto said, I've heard some of the stuff from his debut album and I don't hear the music of someone not trying to stay a country artist. Kane Brown may have a crossover hit or multiple one day, but it's a stretch to lump him in with Sam Hunt, who's already having proven crossover success. And I agree with his stance on how CHR sounds. I'm actually a bit surprised at how well BLABR did for him on CHR, but I think it was more to do with CHR acknowledging that they had a big cash-in moment by playing it on their stations because of how huge and successful it was, not because it sounded like the stuff they were playing. The music of Sam Hunt and (especially) Kane Brown isn't neo-traditional country obviously, but it doesn't really sound like what pop radio is playing either.

[dm2081]

Oct 21, 2017 14:49:03 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

Oct 21, 2017 12:54:08 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

Taylor Swift had two big crossover pop hits ("Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Our Song") on her debut album, so going by your logic, everyone should've seen it coming. Kane Brown hasn't even had one crossover hit yet; people are speculating that "What Ifs" might go to CHR because of some new remix, but there's been no confirmation on that yet, and it's also not a guarantee it'll be a big crossover success even if it is released. Lately the pop crossovers have been few-and-far-between.

Also, the "50-80% pop/RnB" claim is a product of the current times we live in. 11 years ago when Taylor Swift got her start, people weren't talking about how "country" her debut album was, and plenty were having the same feelings you are having now about Sam Hunt and Kane Brown's music. And going back even further, people said the same things about Shania Twain and Garth Brooks in the late 90s/early 2000s. It happens in every time period and it's all relative.

"Teardrops" and "Our Song" are country songs. Sam Hunt and Kane Brown aren't even in the same galaxy as those songs. Pop radio played them because they were popular and Taylor blew up. For pop fans, they were something different because they were relatable, heartfelt, and geared at the right crowd. Sam's songs, at least (as well as Thomas Rhett, Lady A, and FGL being the others with recent attempted crossover) share few characteristics of the GREAT country songs of the 2000s, which Taylor's WERE. I'm not saying you can't like those songs, but it's no surprise that recent country crossover attempts have essentially failed.

Why would pop fans crave the current crossover attempts when they A) aren't really that unique and B) don't really provide any differentiation from the music they are already listening to in the first place?

Have you even listened to Kane's album?  It won't ever be mixed up with Midland or Jon Pardi, but its pretty clearly a country album.  Listen to songs "Cold Spot" and "Granddaddy's Chair".  Even if "What Ifs" is going to Pop radio, the fact that it took a Pop remix to be made before it was sent should be a clue as to how the general public perceives Kane as a country artist.

[Deleted]

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying Kane isn't a country artist or even that his songs aren't country. Maybe I misrepresented my point by lumping him with Sam Hunt.

My point was not whether him and Sam and artist XYZ are country or not country. It was simply, could they at some point leave the genre for something more mainstream. The fact that Kane actually has songs that are 100% country is irrelevant especially when considering what someone like Taylor Swift sounded like on her debut album.

I wasn't so much saying that these guys aren't country so one day they'll be pop...I was noting that on top of already being less country than some of their peers, they have shown interest in remixing or crossing over or whatever you want to call it, as well as the ability to appeal to a broader audience beyond just fans of country music.

[Deleted]

Oct 21, 2017 17:56:47 GMT -5 @nickv1025 said:

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying Kane isn't a country artist or even that his songs aren't country. Maybe I misrepresented my point by lumping him with Sam Hunt.

My point was not whether him and Sam and artist XYZ are country or not country. It was simply, could they at some point leave the genre for something more mainstream. The fact that Kane actually has songs that are 100% country is irrelevant especially when considering what someone like Taylor Swift sounded like on her debut album.

I wasn't so much saying that these guys aren't country so one day they'll be pop...I was noting that on top of already being less country than some of their peers, they have shown interest in remixing or crossing over or whatever you want to call it, as well as the ability to appeal to a broader audience beyond just fans of country music.

They would have no need to leave the genre. Sam Hunt has seen decent success with his songs but I don't think he has reached quite the global pop embrace that Taylor Swift did. I mean suppose he could but that's still something not yet determined.

As for Kane Brown yes this song has a remix but that song hasn't even been announced as a pop single so it feels like you are jumping too conclusions.

[Deleted]

Officially sent through Radio through Play MPE. Impact Date is November 13th.

[maine]

Single artwork:

[14887fan]

I think I went in pretty hard on this guy a year or so ago purely out of frustration towards a couple of his earlier releases, but after watching a recent clip that he did with NBC's Nightline, I've developed a lot of respect for him. Beyond his music, he's pushing to break down social barriers and stereotypes in country music, and I really admire that. Some of his songs might still irk me, but I enjoyed "What Ifs," and I'm rooting for him to continue to succeed in a restrictive format for people of color.

[carriekins]

Nov 8, 2017 16:20:06 GMT -5 14887fan said:

I think I went in pretty hard on this guy a year or so ago purely out of frustration towards a couple of his earlier releases, but after watching a recent clip that he did with NBC's Nightline, I've developed a lot of respect for him. Beyond his music, he's pushing to break down social barriers and stereotypes in country music, and I really admire that. Some of his songs might still irk me, but I enjoyed "What Ifs," and I'm rooting for him to continue to succeed in a restrictive format for people of color.

I can't speak to this particular song since I haven't heard it yet, but I find myself in much the same position regarding Kane. I still don't think he's much of a vocalist, but there's definitely a lot of respect for the person.

[seak05]

Nov 8, 2017 18:02:16 GMT -5 carriekins said:

Nov 8, 2017 16:20:06 GMT -5 14887fan said:

I think I went in pretty hard on this guy a year or so ago purely out of frustration towards a couple of his earlier releases, but after watching a recent clip that he did with NBC's Nightline, I've developed a lot of respect for him. Beyond his music, he's pushing to break down social barriers and stereotypes in country music, and I really admire that. Some of his songs might still irk me, but I enjoyed "What Ifs," and I'm rooting for him to continue to succeed in a restrictive format for people of color.

I can't speak to this particular song since I haven't heard it yet, but I find myself in much the same position regarding Kane. I still don't think he's much of a vocalist, but there's definitely a lot of respect for the person.

Think one of the biggest mistakes we, as fans, make is equating a person's music/artistry, with who they are as people. Luke is a mediocre artist (to me) but seems like a really good human. Steve Earle is a good artist, but seems like a crap human. One doesn't relate to the other.

[14887fan]

Nov 8, 2017 18:07:54 GMT -5 seak05 said:

Nov 8, 2017 18:02:16 GMT -5 carriekins said:

I can't speak to this particular song since I haven't heard it yet, but I find myself in much the same position regarding Kane. I still don't think he's much of a vocalist, but there's definitely a lot of respect for the person.

Think one of the biggest mistakes we, as fans, make is equating a person's music/artistry, with who they are as people. Luke is a mediocre artist (to me) but seems like a really good human. Steve Earle is a good artist, but seems like a crap human. One doesn't relate to the other.

I mean, to an extent, agreed. It depends on the instance, I think. For example, I really couldn't care less if Chris Brown ended up releasing "Hallelujah 2.0;" I'd still say "fuck him." I don't necessarily agree with separating the artist from their creation entirely, because supporting art means supporting the creator, and I'm not here to support shitty people.