On August 21st, country superstar Carrie Underwood released the first single off her upcoming album, ‘Storyteller.’ The single, titled ‘Smoke Break,’ is already climbing the charts, and is currently sitting at number 21. Criticism came early, alleging that Carrie is endorsing smoking and cigarettes, but fans and critics alike need to look past that thought as that is not the point of the song. Let’s take a deeper look at ‘Smoke Break.’
Co-written by Underwood, and hit songwriters Chris DeStefano and Hillary Lindsey, the concept of the song came together when DeStefano and Lindsey joined Underwood at her Nashville cabin for a day of songwriting this past June. When the trio needed a break from writing, they would step outside for a break and boom, it hit them! While they weren’t necessarily smoking, when they would take their breaks from writing it was equated to a ‘Smoke Break,’ and they had their title and concept.
Lyrically, it’s an amazing song. The song features two characters. The first, a mom, working three jobs to feed her four kids. The second, a man who left the country living for college and a big city job, trying to climb the corporate ladder. In both characters, you see a drive and motivation as well as an undeniable work ethic, despite two very different situations. And both characters feeling the stress, pressure and hardships in life and they just need a break; maybe a little vice to escape their world for just a short time, to get away from their stress and troubles.
In many ways, the song is relatable; fans will be able to connect with it. And that’s what makes this song so meaningful despite a common theme and subject. Whether it be you’re a parent who has multiple jobs to provide for your children or you have a parent that did so or currently does. Or you’re somebody working your tail off to better yourself in your job. Whatever you are or whoever you are, sometimes you just need a break from the world, an escape from your troubles and stress to clear your mind.
If ‘Smoke Break’ is a sign of what’s to come from Carrie Underwood on ‘Storyteller,’ fans are definitely in for a treat. The single is A+. Lyrically, sonically, musically. From top to bottom, ‘Smoke Break’ is a great song, one that should eventually hit the top spot on the charts, and one that should be found on Carrie’s ‘Greatest Hits: Decade 2‘ whenever that comes out years from now. Carrie took the world by storm in late 2014 with ‘Something In The Water,’ and it should be no different with ‘Smoke Break.’
Favorite Lyrics: First generation to go to college instead of driving a tractor. Never had nothing handed to him on a silver platter. It’s hard to be a good man, good son, do something good that matters…
You can purchase your copy of Carrie Underwood’s ‘Smoke Break’ on iTunes here.