Kenny Chesney’s nineteenth studio album ‘Here and Now,’ was released on May 1st – perfect timing with summer on it’s way! With as many records as Chesney, one may ask how he continues to produce great music. For ‘Here and Now,’ Kenny brought together his favorite writers to all have a hand in this record. Out of the 12 songs, only two were co-penned by Chesney. Instead, he let his writers take the reins to create top-notch work for this very personal record. On his Instagram Chesney wrote: “When I looked at these songs, they were polaroids from the parking lots, back home, the islands, my friends’ lives. Every single song is someone I know or someone you know. And right now, our friends are absolutely the most precious thing we have.”
1) ‘We Do’ Written by Kenny Chesney, Craig Wiseman, Scooter Carusoe and David Garcia
Impression: Kenny opens things up with a tribute to his loyal fan-base of No Shoes Nation. ‘We Do’ has a sweet sounding melody with a harder hitting chorus that Chesney sings directly towards his fans – touching upon the tailgates, people gathering far and wide, and traveling city to city. This single is definitely catchy, and members of No Shoes Nation will feel the love from their leader.
Favorite Lyrics: No matter where it goes, you know we’re here for the ride. Who gets to roll like we do?
2) ‘Here and Now’ Written by David Lee Murphy, David Garcia & Craig Wiseman
Impression: The title track holds people accountable for not living in the present. Chesney sings the poignant lines “everybody’s waiting, but they’re waiting on what? Better get to living, because all we’ve got is here and now.” It’s the perfect song that emphasizes making the most out of doing nothing.
Favorite Lyrics: I must’ve sat on a dozen islands, watched the sun sink into the sea. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and hat…
3) ‘Everyone She Knows’ Written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
Impression: Kenny does it again with his pure storytelling on ‘Everyone She Knows.’ This song will resonate with women in a way they didn’t think possible – especially since it is written and performed by men. It tells the common tale of women comparing their lives to everyone they know and shaming themselves for not being like them. It’s classic Kenny with a twist. “Everyone She Knows’ is blissfully sweet.
Favorite Lyrics: She’s bored with all the boys and the men are too damn old. She’s sick of summer love, but the winter’s just too cold…
4.) ‘Wasted’ Written by David Lee Murphy, Bobby Hamrick and James Slater
Impression: ‘Wasted’ gives off classic Kenny beach vibes, with some resemblance of his hit ‘Pirate Flag.’ This song is an ode to being thankful for what you have, when you have it. Money cannot buy happiness, and Kenny highlights that with these subtle lyrics.
Favorite Lyrics: I was going nonstop ’til I squeezed every drop of that good time top shelf, sweet life that I tasted. And to tell you the truth, the rest, I just wasted.
5) ‘Knowing You’ Written by Brett James, Adam James and Kat Higgins
Impression: Who does a song filled with nostalgia better than Kenny Chesney? ‘Knowing You’ is filled to the brim with reflection of the past. Chesney said “When I heard this song, it knocked me out. It’s such a classic kind of country song you don’t hear anymore and it’s so pure.” Kenny sings it passionately, yet delicately. In a way, it mimics his older song ‘You Save Me’ with its melody and tone.
Favorite Lyrics: Knowing you, you probably got your toes in the sand, at a bar on a beach in the sun somewhere. Knowing you, you got something cold in your hand, chatting up a stranger without a care
6) ‘Heartbreakers’ Written by Zach Crowell, JT Harding and Josh Osborne
Impression: ‘Heartbreakers’ brings out the classic Kenny feel of jammin’ guitars and an upbeat melody. This single reminisces on the people that were known as heartbreakers and how they were idolized growing up. Kenny wants to know, where are they now?
Favorite Lyrics: You were lucky just to know ’em. If you got lucky, you got broken. You were never gonna hold ’em…
7) ‘Someone to Fix’ Written by Scooter Carusoe and Jon Nite
Impression: ‘Someone to Fix’ is extremely relatable for many. This ballad is simple and wholesome. Chesney’s voice carries the listener through the lyrics and melody. Soft in nature, but truthful in its approach. ‘Someone to Fix’ is a favorite from this album.
Favorite Lyrics: Broken hearts leave hearts broken. Loving me is so hard, I know it. Why you took me on, I’ll never understand…
8) ‘Happy Does’ Written by Brad Clawson, Jamie Paulin, Brock Berryhill and Greylan James
Impression: Three words to describe this song: island-esque, catchy, and happy. As the title states, this song embodies what it means to be smiling, despite things being far from ideal. ‘Happy Does’ fits perfectly into Kenny’s repertoire.
Favorite Lyrics: Laugh and live with a half-full cup. When it’s all black clouds, find the sun, ’cause happy is as happy does.
9) ‘Tip of My Tongue’ Written by Kenny Chesney, Ross Copperman and Ed Sheeran
Impression: Chesney takes a different approach with this single, as ‘Tip of My Tongue’ is more contemporary than his usual stuff. This song is all about connection, and its dreamy lyrics paints the story of celebrating sensuality. ‘Tip of My Tongue’ was the first single released off the album back in July 2019.
Favorite Lyrics: I wanna love you ’til my days are done. I wanna tell you that I think that you’re the one. Oh girl, you know when it’s all said and done, everything about you’s on the tip of my tongue.
10) ‘You Don’t Get To’ Written by Dustin Christensen, Josh Kerr and Barry Dean
Impression: A slow and sensual melody accompanies powerful and pain-filled lyrics. ‘You Don’t Get To’ is prominent with hurt and ridden with damage. The lyrics display taking a stand against it and finding your inner peace again.
Favorite Lyrics: Did you hear that I was happy? You just had to mess it up. Or is it just some phase you’re always going through? To want what you can’t have and leave it when you do…
11) ‘Beautiful World’ Written by David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane and Tom Douglas
Impression: ‘Beautiful World’ expresses the amazement in everything surrounding us. In this world we are small, and that can be beautiful, scary, and profound. The lyrics pay homage to the world and respect the things more powerful than us. The melody is airy and it has tropical tones underlying.
Favorite Lyrics: It’s the blue sky days you don’t wanna miss. Jukebox dances and girls to kiss, keeps us all living for nights like this. It’s a big old beautiful world.
12) ‘Guys Named Captain’ Written by James Slater
Impression: To close the album, Kenny sings a ballad about all of the Captains he has met along the way. Chesney said this song is about the guys where “those things [the road or the water] take them away, bring them back, but mostly allow them to be free. This song feels like it distills their soul into just a few lines…”
Favorite Lyrics: Buccaneers with nothing to fear. He’ll go down with the ship, last man standin,’ guys named Captain.
Gear up this album for your summer playlists, because the King of Summer gave us more tunes to get us through our days! Take the time to really sink into this album, as Chesney shows us a side of him that we don’t always get to see. You can listen to ‘Here and Now’ on Spotify, iTunes, and more platforms here.