When songs are always there, we can be guilty of not taking time to really notice them. A big hit often suffers from overplay fatigue. Take Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man”, for example. This upbeat anthem has been a constant in country fans’ lives for decades, and because of that, we don’t think about its real merit.
This song completely transformed the mainstream country sound. Helping to launch Brooks & Dunn’s career. As this duo is one of the most influential forces in country music history, this song deserves more praise than it often gets.
Some of the best country songs are the simplest. Being able to balance straightforward lyricism that doesn’t feel too simple for its own good is a hallmark of country music. George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” is a great example of that affinity.
This is the kind of song in which you can see the method behind the craft. Not that just anyone could write this song, but there is an understanding among audience members of the conversation that went on in the writer’s room that day. Because of this song’s simplicity, it doesn’t get analyzed or highlighted as anything other than a catchy hit. In reality, there is a real mastery of songwriting displayed here. It takes quite a songwriter to be able to pack as much of a punch with something so seemingly effortless.