Jaron and The Long Road to Love - "Pray For You"

[Dustin J.]

Jaron and The Long Road to Love - "Pray For You" (Jaronwood/Quarterback)

Single Release Date: Nov 30

Audio: www.musicinfosystems.com/mmrwebinclude/player.asp?sngcde=JAROPFY+

[Dustin J.]

Jaron, of Jaron and The Long Road to Love, is a fresh face on the new-country music scene. His sound is that of a crisp blend of powerfully smooth vocals meshed with a musical skill-set whose charming looks and polished talents has drawn him comparisons to Keith Urban and Tim McGraw. Lyrically Jaron and The Long Road to Love deals with real life issues such as loss, love, redemption and humility in an authentically honest, non-ironical fashion, that is reminiscent of Country great singer-songwriters such as Townes van Zandt and Kris Kristofferson.

Formerly, of the band Evan and Jaron, with his identical twin brother the pair had immense success particularly with their breakout album of the same name. The album Evan and Jaron was released in 2000, but truly made its big impact the following year as it featured three top 40 hits including the song “Crazy for This Girl”, which reached number 4 on Billboard. Additionally, the Evan and Jaron album showcased the hit “From My Head to My Heart” featured in the film Runaway Bride starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The album also produced the popular song “The Distance” that was also integrally shown in the film Serendipity, which starred John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

Jaron a true Southerner was born and raised in Tucker, Georgia and along with his brother was featured in People’s 50 Most Beautiful People. He has also performed on such shows as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Live with Regis & Kelly. Jaron now spends his time living in Nashville, TN and recording new music with an emphasis on connecting with audiences through his showman as a dedicated troubadour.

[Zazie]

Townes Van Zandt is an example of "non-ironical" songwriting? I can't think of a more effective use of irony in the history of country songwriting than Pancho and Lefty. And I won't even get started on Kristofferson.

[phil1996]

Sounds like a pop song. IMO

[joey2002]

This single chould be called "The Before He Cheats Revenge Song"...LoL

[S4C]

I can't say that I've ever heard of Evan and Jaron... But I think it's interesting to note they're both major practicing Jews (from what I've read). I guess "church" fits a little better than "synagogue," though.

[countryfan2002]

Nov 29, 2009 15:04:32 GMT -5 joey2002 said:

This single chould be called "The Before He Cheats Revenge Song"...LoL

"I pray your brakes go out rolling down a hill."
;)

[rsmatto]

This is a good and clever song. I still think "The Distance" could and should be a HUGE country hit.

[Dustin J.]

Dec 2, 2009 21:15:22 GMT -5 kevin59 said:

[LISTEN] Jason and The Long Road To Love - "Pray For You" (Allaccess)

Got the full-length stream in the first post. ;)

[clem]

This is cute.

[someguy]

I like this song. I liked Evan and Jaron's first two singles, too (but I don't remember "The Distance"). I could see this becoming a hit, but taking a long time to do so.

[rsmatto]

I don't know. It's getting a HUGE response on Roughstock. There are more unique visits for it than practically any song by a 'big' artist. If this is any indication, The single should do well if radio plays it.

[Dustin J.]

This seems to be garnering a pretty big buzz at country radio. Not only is the song funny/witty/catchy... but Jaron's voice is just different enough that he stands out a little from the pack. Of course, as someone that was always a fan of Evan & Jaron, I always felt as though much of their music had a country flavor to it.

[countryfan2002]

I actually really am liking this. I agree with everyone saying that it is very clever. It's a bit pop-y for country radio, but it's still pretty good!

[kevin59]

Watch New Video - (Early Edition) for song (CMT)

www.cmt.com/videos/jaron-and-the-long-road-to-love/467605/pray-for-you.jhtml

[cufan7]

Sounds too Pop I think. But I believe he was previously part of a pop duo? Evan & Jaron? Maybe not? But anyway, I do like the vocals and it is clever.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

^Yes, he was one half of Evan and Jaron.

[bigbluenote]

I caught the last half of this song on the radio today and had to come here and see if I could hear the whole thing.

This is a brilliantly written song. I don't remember the last time a song actually made me laugh out loud. This is a song I can easily see hearing a lot and not getting tired of it.

I wonder if this'll be a hit. I sure pray it does. I also pray for an album soon from this dude. Cool song!

EDIT: My only complaint is that it's too short. I wish there was another verse or maybe a little more instrumentation segments.

[kevin59]

Lover's Leap: Promotion for Jaronwood/Universal Republic's Jaron And The Long Road To Love's debut single "I Pray For You" is now being handled by Big Machine.

Source: CountryAircheck (FEB 08)

[rsmatto]

I honestly never knew "Universal Republic" was part of this song. It's very good for Jaron to have some major label or "major independent" push behind him now for the song. I was feeling it wasn't gonna get much higher on the charts due to the cost of trying to promote as an indie artist. Now it has a big chance at being a hit that the song deserves to be.

[countryfan2002]

I see this got a thumbs up from the 9513. Nice.

Way back in the year 2000, Jaron Lowenstein and his twin brother Evan had nearly every love-struck, googly-eyed teenage boy with a guitar singing along to the chunky rhythm of the ubiquitous pop hit “Crazy For This Girl.”

The duo’s star burned bright but burned out quickly. The single was a smash, but Evan and Jaron had the misfortune of dropping their self-titled album smack dab in the middle of the Napster debacle. The disc sold peanuts and the Lowensteins were never heard from again.

Well, that’s not exactly how things went. A 2004 indie album was recorded but registered zero impact. They portrayed the Everly Brothers on the short-lived drama American Dreams. They popped up on American Inventor with a device called the Pit Port (it was a container for saving seeds and pits). Needless to say (or, if I dare, seedless to say…), none of these endeavors led to renewed success, acclaim or celebrity.

And then, in 2009, came Jaron and The Long Road to Love–which is, evidently, just Jaron. Fortunately, this “just Jaron” has grown far from the roots that trace back to the perfectly preened hair and sufficiently-vague lyrics that defined the Dawson’s Creek generation. Debut solo single “Pray Out Loud” (which is being worked to country radio by Quarterback Records), demonstrates a delightful disdain for mainstream protocol–the song is sinister, and that’s a wonderful respite among a seemingly never-ending pipeline of songs that heavy-handedly tell us how to live and what to believe.

“I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill/I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to,” Jaron sings. Later, he continues: “I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls.” Now that’s cold.

It’s a clever but somewhat obtuse song that is mostly effective due to shock factor. What starts out sounding like yet another lesson in morality unexpectedly turns to an unforgiving romp through bitterness. Call me evil, but that’s strangely satisfying—even if the final execution of the songwriting ends up at a level below “masterpiece.”

“Pray For You” is surely going to rub some folks the wrong way. So, if you play this for your friends, family or country radio colleagues, be prepared to smell the bitter stench of hypocrisy—after all, it’s OK to destroy personal property, blow things up or shoot people, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before today’s country radio touches something so emotionally aggressive.

Too bad, because just like the chick (or dude) in this song, the format could use more than a Swift kick in the ass.

If you read closely, they made a mistake by calling the song "Pray Out Loud".
Also, Jim Malec (writer of the review) made a noticeable Taylor Swift reference at the very end.

[rsmatto]

He also thinks that it can't be a hit for precisely the reasons it will be a hit. It IS different and funny and doesn't get tiresome.

[countryfan2002]

Feb 14, 2010 16:04:44 GMT -5 joey2002 said:

This is just the perfect Valentines Day song...

If this is you and your girl/guy's song, you need help with your relationship.

[Dustin J.]

From Country AirCheck...

Long Road To A Label: We told you last month (CAT 2/8) that Big Machine was handling promotion for Universal Republic's Jaron And The Long Road To Love, but now it's official. The New York-based Universal Republic has announced its deal with the band's Jaronwood Records to exclusively distribute J&TLRTL, as well as other artists developed by the company. Big Machine is on point for the band's Country radio efforts.

[musicman31]

I would bet a thousand bucks this dude don't have a single country bone in his body! If you watch the video you'll see what I'm sayin and just listen to the song.. it's total pop. I've been seeing this video on CMT Pure channel and I have to say it's about as disappointing as that dang "I Want a Girl Like Taylor Swift" video that's out. What the heck is goin on with these dudes and their "yeah I'm totally pop but weeeee look at me I'm like I'm like that country cool thing or something.. it's so wierd but I looove it whoot whoot". LOL I bet another thousand they drive a smart car and jam to Britney Spears on their way to the spa ;)

[countryfan2002]

Mar 5, 2010 17:56:47 GMT -5 @musicman31 said:

I would bet a thousand bucks this dude don't have a single country bone in his body!

What are you talking about? We all got a hillbilly bone down deep inside! ;)

[Zazie]

Mar 5, 2010 17:56:47 GMT -5 @musicman31 said:

I would bet a thousand bucks this dude don't have a single country bone in his body! If you watch the video you'll see what I'm sayin and just listen to the song.. it's total pop. I've been seeing this video on CMT Pure channel and I have to say it's about as disappointing as that dang "I Want a Girl Like Taylor Swift" video that's out. What the heck is goin on with these dudes and their "yeah I'm totally pop but weeeee look at me I'm like I'm like that country cool thing or something.. it's so wierd but I looove it whoot whoot". LOL I bet another thousand they drive a smart car and jam to Britney Spears on their way to the spa ;)

Since you have it pretty much figured out, why not tell us how many country bones Rascal Flatts, one of the mainstays of country radio for the last decade, have in their bodies. And then give us a count on Taylor Swift's country bones, and so on. It's easy, picking on some new act that nobody really knows about and announcing how pop they are.

I myself have little interest in anybody's "purity test" for who is and who isn't country. But if you're going to do it, do it all the way. Don't just pick on one little newbie.

[mairy]

DIGITAL RE-RELEASE: MAR 23

[Gravity.]

I first heard this song last Friday when I was with some friends. We had GAC on in the background and this video came on. Before this video came on we were all talking and had the TV tuned out, but this made all of us pay attention. It's been a while since a song actually made me laugh out loud, but this did it.

So, yeah, I'm loving this.

[musicbuff78]

I'm loving this as well, and, being that I don't listen to country radio anymore so I don't know alot of what's out there, this is probably my fave song out there right now.