Maren Morris – "The Tree"

[recordyear]

Music video out at 10am ET.

[zdm1998]

Whew “The Tree” >>>>

That’s the Hero sound I’ve been missing. Bittersweet that’s might be the sound she’s going to be ending her relationship with country in. The same sound she started with.

[Troublemaker]

I love both songs but “Get the Hell Out of Here” (mostly because it’s personal). As I type this I still can’t believe Maren is on album 4… where did all the time go?

[liza]

L.A. Times interview with Maren

Maren Morris is getting the hell out of country music: ‘I’ve said everything I can say’

[zdm1998]

It's bittersweet honestly. I completely understand her reasoning for leaving. For me it's just that Maren, Kelsea, and Carly were the first women to be able to see any type of consistent success after the Carrie/Miranda era. Sad to see one of them go.

[diamondinmypocket]

Both of these songs are really well written. Great lyric and Maren sings her ass off. My issue with Maren is she does not come off as very likeable. She comes off as very bitter, jaded and angry. It used to just be online but now the music does too. I probably wont go back to these, despite liking them, for that reason. It’s not enjoyable to listen to. She can choose to “get the hell out” of country music, but the likability issue will most likely follow her. She was great for the format (loved her first couple albums), but has become a toxic negative personality the past few years to me. Hope the best for her regardless

[christianlarson9]

Maren is the artist that got me listening/keeping up with country music again, so her leaving the genre is bittersweet even if I saw it coming. She had a hell of a career in country music with only 3 major label albums & definitely left her mark in the genre. Excited to see what this new era/genre-shift will bring. I think if Columbia plays their cards right, she could have a solid HAC/AC career going forward given the success “The Middle” & “The Bones” saw.

[3chords]

I think she is leaving because she wants to make pop music. There are plenty of liberals in Nashville who are doing fine… look at Tyler doing two nights at MSG! That being said, I think the way Maren has chosen to express her opinions has turned a lot of the genre’s fans off and that’s why she gets the brunt of the backlash. Her saying country music is burning itself to the ground when it’s arguably more popular than ever (hot 100) kind of made me sideye. But I think she would have gone regardless and this was just hanging there as a way out. Anyways, best of luck to her.

[recordyear]

I'll believe her when I see the iTunes category not being country and/or she is ineligible to chart on country charts, but we all know it will be just the same.

[Ling-Ling]

I love this, way more than anything on her last album. It really takes me back to Hero.

But yeah, watching the video, she's toast at country, lol. As long as the music is as good as this, I don't mind. But I'm dreading any pop attempts if that's the plan, I don't think it's where she shines.

[liza]

Sept 15, 2023 12:10:51 GMT -5 3chords said:

I think she is leaving because she wants to make pop music. There are plenty of liberals in Nashville who are doing fine… look at Tyler doing two nights at MSG! That being said, I think the way Maren has chosen to express her opinions has turned a lot of the genre’s fans off and that’s why she gets the brunt of the backlash. Her saying country music is burning itself to the ground when it’s arguably more popular than ever (hot 100) kind of made me sideye. But I think she would have gone regardless and this was just hanging there as a way out. Anyways, best of luck to her.

So much for three chords and the truth.

[3chords]

Sept 15, 2023 13:11:10 GMT -5 liza said:

Sept 15, 2023 12:10:51 GMT -5 3chords said:

I think she is leaving because she wants to make pop music. There are plenty of liberals in Nashville who are doing fine… look at Tyler doing two nights at MSG! That being said, I think the way Maren has chosen to express her opinions has turned a lot of the genre’s fans off and that’s why she gets the brunt of the backlash. Her saying country music is burning itself to the ground when it’s arguably more popular than ever (hot 100) kind of made me sideye. But I think she would have gone regardless and this was just hanging there as a way out. Anyways, best of luck to her.

So much for three chords and the truth.

Sorry if that came off wrong, obviously the genre hasn’t been good to her post political vocal-ness, but back when Girl came out I just assumed she’d go to pop next because it seemed like she would thrive with more of that sound of the middle and the bones. I guess this feels more natural for her career (especially after HQ didn’t do great…) but I don’t mean to say she should stick around in a place that isn’t good for her especially mentally and emotionally, we know how Nashville is to women(!) but pop just seems like something she would have done anyways. I hope it gives her the progression she should have had last album and that Kelsea is kind of seeing now.

[Elusive Chanteuse]

I adore this. Such a good song. It’s bittersweet that she’s leaving, she was probably the first artist since Taylor left that ignited my interest in Country music again. I genuinely appreciate her and understand why she has to separate herself from the industry at the moment.

Sept 15, 2023 12:10:51 GMT -5 3chords said:

I think she is leaving because she wants to make pop music. There are plenty of liberals in Nashville who are doing fine… look at Tyler doing two nights at MSG! That being said, I think the way Maren has chosen to express her opinions has turned a lot of the genre’s fans off and that’s why she gets the brunt of the backlash. Her saying country music is burning itself to the ground when it’s arguably more popular than ever (hot 100) kind of made me sideye. But I think she would have gone regardless and this was just hanging there as a way out. Anyways, best of luck to her.

The double standard here…don’t forget how men in this industry gets a pass every single time.

[3chords]

I agree, the double standard is insane. I was thinking of examples like Tyler and the Bros and Isbell, albeit he’s americana, but only men come to mind except for Margo who is not mainstream. I always think of that Kelsea line. It’s a shame. Even taking Zach’s recent mugshot… if that had been a women I can’t even imagine.

[taylor]

This is incredibly bittersweet. I’ve been a huge Maren Morris stan since before Hero was even released. I remember the EP that “My Church” and “80s Mercedes,” along with a couple other tracks that would soon thereafter wind up on her debut album, were featured on, and playing the two mentioned tracks to the ground. I simply couldn’t get enough of it, and knowing that she is a staunch supporter of my right to exist in this country, my right to marry the man I love, etc. greatly elevated her profile for me. It was nice to have someone in the country industry that I knew for a fact that I could trust. There aren’t that many in the mainstream. Her appearance on Drag Race, her boycott of the CMA Awards in 2022, having the balls to actually speak truth to power within the industry—whether that was in the wake of Morgan Wallen’s huge mess or the brawl with the Aldeans that brought us all to this moment, are all very telling of her morals and her character, both of which fully align with mine. I am fully in the ride-or-die camp when it comes to her.

So with that said, I must say that the music videos for these two songs made me cry. I love these songs—they’re a perfect throwback to the sound of her debut and the lyrical content is raw and real. The videos paint such a perfect picture of her situation and how she’s chosen to move forward from it. And whether it’s relatable or not (and “Get the Hell Out of Here” is, when you remove all of this context), this is the best kind of music—music that comes from the soul and opens it up for all to look into. Music that heals, even if just for the artist that created it.

These songs are home runs, and I’m SO perched for MM4. The fact that she’s left country music in sonically the same way she came in is powerful symbolism, and it leaves me wondering if these are indeed on the album or intended to be standalone (the two songs are referred to together as “The Bridge,” after all). It’s going to be incredibly intriguing as to how she shifts her sound going forward. One thing I know for sure is that I’m going to be rooting for this “lunatic (…former) country music person” along the way.

[austin]

“The Tree” is miles better than ANYTHING - yes, anything - on her last record. I agree there’s some bittersweet sentiment there knowing she is going more the storyteller route than trying to serve us #1 country hits but the silver lining for me is it appears she somehow thought her last record was full of hits? It was awful.

Sounds like she may get back to making incredible music that made me fall in love with her so strongly during her first two records. So for me, it’s not that bitter, it’s just sweet.

[soulfulwings]

I hope she stays with country music as I don't see her making it a success with a move to pop.

[matty005]

Sept 16, 2023 9:43:08 GMT -5 soulfulwings said:

I hope she stays with country music as I don't see her making it a success with a move to pop.

You don't need to belong to a certain genre to have success these days. Look at Kacey, Zach and countless others.

[Marooned@Midnight]

Apologies for the double post. The delete function on Tapatalk is not available.

[Marooned@Midnight]

Does Marren have an artist thread here? I couldn’t find one using the search function. I came here to say good for her and I’ve always loved her and I can’t wait to see what success she will have. The Tree is AMAZING, only second to The Bones for me. I also love Get The Hell Out of Here. I could absolutely see her being successful on pop, hot ac, ac and maybe even AAA with certain songs, like GTHOOH.

Good for Marren for following her gut and hopefully finding her peace.

[gardyfan]

Sept 16, 2023 20:08:58 GMT -5 Marooned@Midnight said:

Does Marren have an artist thread here? I couldn’t find one using the search function. I came here to say good for her and I’ve always loved her and I can’t wait to see what success she will have. The Tree is AMAZING, only second to The Bones for me. I also love Get The Hell Out of Here. I could absolutely see her being successful on pop, hot ac, ac and maybe even AAA with certain songs, like GTHOOH.

Good for Marren for following her gut and hopefully finding her peace.

She does not have an artist thread, as most country artists do not have one in the artist discussion form. But she probably will soon since she's leaving country.

[someguy]

I’m sad to see her leaving country music, but I respect her decision and completely understand why. I will definitely support her career as it continues to change and evolve. I really like both of these new songs - both are miles ahead of her last album, imo. I wish her all of the success in the world as she goes forward.

[Kanenrá:ke]

I was at her show on Friday and got to see the first live performance of “The Tree” and she killed it live!

You could tell it’s a very emotional song for her, easily the best song she did during the set. I think she’s got a fire under her right now.

[countryfan43]

I do see this has gotten at least 1 add already at county radio on the add board so even if it doesn’t get promoted there is a small chance it does something.

[zdm1998]

I mean I would expect it to pull in a handful of adds as, Maren was one of the leading women of country, even if they aren't actively pushing it to radio.

[.indulgecountry]

She basically told the entire country industry off on her way out the door, so I don't see much of any airplay for this. There's literally no incentive for them to play her new song at this point.

I LOVE both of these new songs, but I'm definitely disappointed by her decision to leave country music fully. She could've been like Kacey Musgraves and just stepped away from the need to play the country radio "game" so to speak, but obviously this is her choice so I support it. I'm just not overly optimistic about the sound of her material going forward because even though she's given us some solid pop jams, they're certainly a step well below her country efforts, and while her country radio success was beginning to look like it was in serious limbo, I have reservations that she'll be able to do any better as a pop star going forward. She also gaslit us into thinking her last project would be her countriest to date and then it was anything but that, and also terrible, so I'm not sure what to expect at this point from her music, lol. At least the two new songs are excellent and a step back in a better direction after HQ.

[Music Fan]

Crazy to think Maren was where Lainey Wilson currently is (or somewhat equivalent) not too long ago.

It's not like Ryan Hurd is a household name, but curious on your thoughts of how Maren leaving country affects him? Does this put him in a better or worse situation?