Tag Archives: New Single

Jordan Davis: ‘Detours’ Single Review

Jordan Davis – one of the many talented artists to bless the country music scene. On Friday March 27th, Davis released a personal and reflective single ‘Detours.’ A single that he called “… one of my favorite songs I have ever written…”

Let’s flashback to 2017, first. We had the honor of covering an Eli Young Band concert at the House Of Blues in Boston. The opener for EYB was Louisiana native, Jacob Davis (yes, you read that correctly). Jacob Davis is none other than Jordan Davis’ twin brother. As Jacob’s set unfolded, he introduced a new, not yet recorded single called ‘Detours.’ As soon as the first chord hit, the crowd was mesmerized. People swayed back and forth, recording the single with their phones so that they could listen to it before it was officially released. When the song ended, Jacob confided in the crowd by saying “that song is my life. I love it so much, man. We’re in the studio with it right now and it should be out soon!” 

Fast forward to 2020 and we finally have this amazing single, with Jordan being the one to cut it! Jacob performed this song before Jordan came to fame from his debut album, ‘Home State.‘ However, what makes ‘Detours’ so special is the story behind it – for each of the brothers, and listeners will be able to resonate with the message within the lyrics, too. 

‘Detours’ is a song that celebrates all the wrong paths life takes you down on the way to finding where you’re supposed to be. The song was co-penned by Jordan, Jacob Davis and Dave Turnbull. With his daughter and wife in mind, Jordan wrote the song from the perspective of being thankful for all the different directions life took him in. What seemed like obstacles at the time, were actually changes that made him the man he is today. 

Soft guitars open the song with Davis’ voice sneaking through – blissful and content. He begins to explain how his life was growing up and where his choices took him, which ultimately led him to his wife, Kristen. Davis sings that she “was an everything but the wings angel outta nowhere” and that “she’s the dotted lines and every sign that led me straight to Jesus.” After learning from his past mistakes, he states that he’s finally on the right road now.

Melodic and sweet, ‘Detours’ fits in perfectly with Davis’ sound. He delivers the story behind the music soulfully and convinces the listeners of how grateful he is for all of the detours that led him to where he is today. It’s been a long three years waiting for this single to be released, but we’re ecstatic that it’s finally out. 

Favorite Lyrics: “And I’d love ’em and I’d leave ’em and it was what it was. And it is what it is and I wouldn’t change it if I could…”

Listen to ‘Detours’ now: Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Kelsea Ballerini: ‘I Hate Love Songs’ Single Review

Kelsea Ballerini has lit up the charts before with her chart-topping songs. They ‘were golden, they were fire, they were magic’ – catch the connection there? *Insert ‘Legends’ playing in the background.* Well she’s about to do it again with her recently released single ‘I Hate Love Songs’ from her sophomore album ‘Unapologetically.”

Ballerini’s new single has a lullaby feel to it with calming guitars and riffs that take your mind to another place. It takes a twist on the traditional love song. This ballad that she wrote with Shane McAnally and Old Dominion’s Trevor Rosen, is as groovy as it is sweet. Despite the title, the song is covered in odes to being in love. It’s a tribute to meeting someone unexpectedly, or unapologetically, and you like that it’s gonna happen but hate it at the same time.

‘I Hate Love Songs’ touches upon all the old cliches of being in love and Valentine’s Day – Shakespeare, Ryan Gosling, catching bouquets, letterman jackets, kissing in the rain and roses (‘that die in a week.’) The list goes on and on throughout the 3:11 song. However, Ballerini adds in the emotional factor in the chorus by adding ‘I hate love songs. Yeah I really do. I hate love songs, but I love you.’ She also defines her love (for now husband Morgan Evans) in this one line of the song – the only lovey-dovey line: ‘And I’ll always love you but I don’t have to sing it. ‘For worse or for better’ don’t rhyme. They say I got the right one so now I should write one, but I’d rather just show you tonight.’

Throughout the whole song the tempo is upbeat and the chorus will for sure get stuck in your head as it’s catchiness is contagious. It is an undeniable attest to being in love and has a sweetness behind it’s truth. I mean honestly, glittery cards, cupid, and heart shaped tattoos are totally corny. However, this song is the best counteraction to them all! Kelsea’s voice is displayed in the best way possible, especially on the last verse of the song when her voice cuts through the noise. Her sound is matured and carries a different tone than her other songs.

If you haven’t heard this new song, I highly recommend checking it out as soon as possible- we have no doubt this will be on the top of the country charts in no time! And while you’re at it, check out Kelsea’s album that features singles ‘Legends’ and the title-track, ‘Unapologetically.’

Favorite Lyrics: We were drunk when we met so we don’t know our anniversary, whoops. Oh, and I’m far too vain to kiss in the rain. The clouds, they aren’t numbered to nine…