This song, "The Driver" is an interesting one to figure out. The debut solo single of Charles Kelley, one of the lead singers of country-pop group Lady Antebellum, alongside Hilary Scott, this song was released while Lady Antebellum insisted that they were not breaking up, just "taking a break." With background vocals from Eric Paslay and Dierks Bentley, this song was completely unexpected. Kelley sprung this solo idea on fans, and it came with mixed reactions. But, as a debut single from a male country artist these days, this song is a solid effort.
Production wise, this was executed excellently. The song is not overly country, but it's also not clearly any other genre either. The soft rock feel could appeal to all spectrums of the country music fanbase, from the pop-country lovers, to the more traditional fans, who will appreciate the fact that this song does not sound like everything else on the radio. Kelley kills the the vocals, as always, and Paslay and Bentley's harmonies and solo verse and bridge add another dimension to the song.
However, the lyrics of this song are not as good as they should have been. Written by Kelley, Paslay, and songwiter Abe Stoklasa, this song is made up to seem incredibly profound, but in all honesty it is not. It's about life on the road, and could have been written quite well. Most of the song is, but the chorus is lacking a bit. Take a look at the lyrics of the chorus below:
However, the lyrics of this song are not as good as they should have been. Written by Kelley, Paslay, and songwiter Abe Stoklasa, this song is made up to seem incredibly profound, but in all honesty it is not. It's about life on the road, and could have been written quite well. Most of the song is, but the chorus is lacking a bit. Take a look at the lyrics of the chorus below:
Oh, easy come easy go
yeah we rock then we roll out of town
but for now while the moment is here
shine a light drink a beer
let's get loud,
all the drivers and dreamers, believers and singers
oh won't you sing with me now
Oh, oh woah, oh oh oh woah, oh oh woah, oh oh oh-woah, oh oh.
It's not profound at all. If those lyrics were just there on their own, they seems like they could be a part of any other country song on the radio. The rest of the song is written quite well, with lyrics about the life of a singer and songwriter. What puzzles me is how Eric Paslay can go from writing a song like "She Don't Love You," to releasing an atrocious song like "High Class" and then go back to a decent song (at least the verses and bridge) again with this one. He has so much talent but he wastes it. It's a real shame.
This song was released to radio his week, and was surpassed in adds by newcomer Lindsay Ell's "By The Way", despite the star studded quality of this track. The fact that it has so many fans behind it should carry it up the charts, but because of the production and non-party feel of the song, it could stall out before even the Top 20. It will be interesting to see how country radio takes this one, and how they take the idea of Charles Kelley as a solo artist.
Overall rating: 3 ½ crowns
This song was released to radio his week, and was surpassed in adds by newcomer Lindsay Ell's "By The Way", despite the star studded quality of this track. The fact that it has so many fans behind it should carry it up the charts, but because of the production and non-party feel of the song, it could stall out before even the Top 20. It will be interesting to see how country radio takes this one, and how they take the idea of Charles Kelley as a solo artist.
Overall rating: 3 ½ crowns
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