Old Dominion recently released their latest single, titled ‘Hotel Key,’ to country radio. It is perhaps one of the best songs off their already popular sophomore album, ‘Happy Endings,’ which debuted at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. Those who fell in love with Old Dominion’s classics such as ‘No Such Thing As A Broken Heart,’ ‘Written in the Sand,’ and ‘Snapback’ are in for a treat with this one.
It has been a really long cold winter here in New England, and this tune brings with it a hot summer vibe. It may be the shortest song on the album, but it easily packs a punch. The electric guitar riffs and steady drum beat draw us in as we wait for the lyrics to begin. ‘Hotel Key’ is catchy, upbeat, and fun-loving. It describes the memories of a hotel fling: Neither one of us looking for three little words. Unless those three words was do not disturb. The song goes on with: Wondered if anyone’d miss us if we went away. But this isn’t one of those stories that ends up that way. Back in June of last year, Old Dominion told New England Country Music: “We definitely have some heavier subject matter on this album, but there are still the goofy guys in Old Dominion as we’re still us.” Far from a serious tune, we were singing along to the chorus after hearing ‘Hotel Key’ for the very first time. She kept the hotel key. Slipped it in her purse. I guess it makes her think of me. And that night we left our hearts on our sleeves and the clothes all over the floor. We both know we can’t open the door. She kept the hotel key. The key, in this song, serves as a souvenir that holds all the memories of this special night. One has to wonder, when she slips the hotel key into her purse is it as a memory of a single night of magic, or does it join a stack of others? Old Dominion has really created something good with this one. It is definitely a song that we will hear cranked up loud at the beach in a few short months.
‘Hotel Key’ was written by Old Dominion’s band member Trevor Rosen, lead singer Matthew Ramsey, as well as Josh Osborne. The five member band has gained a loyal fan base here in New England after opening for Kenny Chesney three years in a row. They’ll be here again this summer, at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, ME on August 16th and at the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction, Vermont on August 24th.
Favorite Lyrics: We left the lights. We left the crowd. We left the world and locked it out. She left a picture in my head. She left the night I can’t forget, but…
You can purchase ‘Hotel Key’ on iTunes here.