No. 1 party celebrates ‘fastest rising’ chart topper
By Preshias Harris
Blake Shelton was in God’s Country on Wednesday, thanks to songwriters Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy and Jordan Schmidt. More precisely, he was at a Number One party that was held at Ole Red in Nashville, which of course is in God’s Country!
At the media meeting before the awards presentation ceremony, Shelton said he was on a tractor, working on his farm in Oklahoma when he received the demo of the song, “God’s Country,” on his phone. He recalled, “I was trying to drive and look at my phone at the same time and I figured out a way to play the song inside this machine through the Bluetooth that it had. And that’s when I heard “God’s Country” for the first time.”
Turning to the three songwriters, he added, “I was literally working in the spot where, in the video, where we burned the tractor.” He said that he immediately called producer Scott Hendricks who had sent him the demo and said, “I don’t know where the song came from, but that makes me want to make another record.”
A very fast ‘farm-to-table’ song
“God’s Country” (Warner Bros. Nashville) had one of the fastest journeys ever to the top of the Country singles chart. The speed with which Shelton recorded the song so soon after hearing it and its rapid success took the song’s writers by surprise. “It was a very fast ‘farm-to-table’,” noted Hardy. The song was written on a Thursday, Blake heard it that weekend and by Monday he had recorded it. It was also the fasted song to achieve Platinum status from the RIAA in more than a year. So far in 2019, it holds the distinction of being the ‘most streamed country song.’
Another first: although all three are experienced writers, “God’s Country” was the first song that Dawson, Hardy and Schmidt had written together. I’m sure it won’t be the last.
Speaking of Scott Hendricks’ work in producing the song, Hardy said, “Scott put his ‘magic sauce’ on it that he’s known the best for. He elevated it to what it became, and we’re thankful.”
A different approach to writing for other artists?
I posed a question to Michael Hardy and Devin Dawson who are both recording artists in their own right. I asked them if they approach writing songs that will be pitched to other artists differently to the way they write songs for themselves.
“Sometimes I’ll try to steer it towards me if I think it’s something I would say,” said Dawson. “But I just ‘go for the room.’ Like, what’s the inspiration? For me, I’d rather have fun writing a good song rather than say ‘no’ fifteen times to force it for me.”
Hardy nodded in agreement. “I think we’re both songwriters at heart,” he said. “Every day, whatever idea, whatever the vibe is in the room; if that’s the creative ball that’s rolling, that’s what I’m gonna go with. At the end of the day, if that [song] ends up being for me, great. But if it doesn’t, I’m still a songwriter and I’m still going to be proud of a good song. I just want to write the best song every day.”
Jordan Schmidt jumped in and said he knew this question wasn’t for him but he had a comment to add. “With a lot of artists, I try to tell them, ‘let’s just write a good song’. Because sometimes when you put that thought in their head, that ‘this needs to be for me as an artist,’ you run into a lot of roadblocks. Then you don’t follow the creative avenues that you normally would if you were like, ‘I’m just gonna write a good song today.’ And sure enough, when you’re done, a lot of artists are like, ‘I wanna cut this.’ Just serve the song.”
Faith-based country songs
“I saw the light in the sunrise
Sittin’ back in the 40 on the muddy riverside
Getting’ baptized in holy water and shine.”
from the lyrics of “God’s Country”
Interestingly, there have been a number of Country hits recently with faith-based themes, in addition to Shelton’s “God’s Country.” Some of those songs include “God and Country Music” from George Strait, Thomas Rhett’s “Look What God Gave Her” and “I Prayed For You” by Matt Stell. Little Big Town’s song, “The Daughters,” includes the line: “I’ve heard of God the Son and God the Father, I’m still looking for a God for the daughters.” In “Love Wins,” Carrie Underwood sings “Sometimes it takes a lot of faith to keep believing…” (One of Underwood’s early hits was “Jesus Take the Wheel.”)
There are currently three Ole Red restaurants owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties in partnership with Blake Shelton on the theme of his 2002 recording of the song, “Ol’ Red.” The song had previously been recorded by both George Jones and Kenny Rogers.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com