Paisley Hits the Right Notes at the Right Time with “No I in Beer”

by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – April 18, 2020

Sometimes you just need a drink and a good tune. In fact, I find that’s increasingly the case in recent years. Brad Paisley helps with his new tune “No I in Beer.”

Quite frankly, I’m exhausted by self-righteous, preachy, ignorant lecturers, along with angst-ridden, blame-others victims on the Left. Oh yeah, and I’m also exhausted by angry, preachy, ignorant screaming heads, along with angst-ridden, blame-others victims on the populist Right. (To be clear, as a conservative, I tend to expect more from those on the Right, so when they go careening off the rails, I tend to get even more worn down.)

It seems as the worst on the Left and Right – such as Progressives and populists, respectively – seemingly drift further apart, the more alike they become. Hmmm.

Heck, they’ve even managed to politicize the coronavirus, as if it’s not enough that we’re confronted by a too-often deadly pandemic.

Do you see why I’m in need of a drink and some good music? I’m guessing that I’m not alone here.

Thankfully, Brad Paisley stepped up on April 15 when he dropped “No I in Beer.”

Before I get to the song, Paisley ranks as my favorite in a genre that I’ve labeled “Cowboy Beach Music.” What’s that? It’s a rockin’ form of country music that focuses a great deal on fun, sun, the beach, love (lost or not), and often, a refreshing beverage. Think cowboy hat, the crashing surf, a blanket in the sand, a beautiful woman, a handsome guy, and either a cold beer or an icy tropical drink. That’s Cowboy Beach Music. For a good number of years, the leaders in Cowboy Beach Music clearly have been Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney, with others following their notes in the sand.

Throughout the Obama and Trump years, and now tossing the coronavirus into the mix, I find myself listening to Cowboy Beach Music more and more. Go figure.

Now, Paisley has stepped up with “No I in Beer.” I first heard him sing it on a recent Facebook livestream. He actually co-wrote the song with Kelly Lovelace in 2018, but it fits our current coronavirus, isolation circumstances perfectly. 

Paisley said, “People are utilizing this time to connect and to feel solidarity as human beings. This song wasn’t written for this specific moment we are all facing, but it takes on a new meaning for me when I hear it now.” He added, “If we’ve ever felt unified as Americans, as citizens of the world, it’s in the fact that nobody loves what we’re going through, but everybody’s willing to do what we have to do. One of those things is, let’s be a team.”

The upbeat song is about coming together as a team under all kinds of circumstances. For example, Paisley sings... 

So you got a buddy whose heart broke

See if you can get him on the phone

Tell him life ain't fair we all been there

But ya don't have to drink alone, 'cause

We're all in this together

That's why God put us here

Drinkin' oughta be a team effort

There is no "I" in beer

And later...

This was gonna be our season

Yeah, we were the team to beat

Oh but not anymore, we're lookin' at the score

In shock and disbelief, but

We're all in this together

And there's always next year

I'm liking all this team effort

There ain't no "I" in beer

And for these times...

Yeah, to the farmers and the first responders

To the truck drivers shiftin' gears

Every nurse that needs a break, let me buy you a drink

There ain't no "I" in beer

Good stuff. In fact, I can’t get enough of this song.

Looking ahead, as noted on his website, “Paisley plans to host virtual happy hours and continue performing live stream concerts in the immediate future.”

Count me in, Brad. I need more that’s uplifting, as opposed to exhausting. Pass me a cold one.

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Ray Keating is a columnist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  You can order his new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. Keating also is a novelist. His latest novels are  The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12^th book in the series, and the second edition of Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel with a new Author Introduction. The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

Huey Lewis and the News Storms Back with “Weather”

by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – February 14, 2020

When it comes to favorite singers or musical groups that return with new music after a lengthy break, fan anticipation usually runs high, but then the results often turn out disappointing. Either the new music just seems not to measure up, or comes across as stale. 

There have been exceptions, however, including from my top two bands.

The biggest surprise for me was the Beach Boys’ That’s Why God Made the Radio album in 2012. The Boys showed that they could still harmonize some fun, beachy tunes in a collection that came a staggering 50 years after their first album.

Number two for me had been Plan B from Huey Lewis and the News in 2001. It came a decade after their previous collection of original works. And yes, after Sports and Fore!, I say Plan B is their next best album. If you haven’t listened, trust me and enjoy it.

But now Huey Lewis and the News has done it again, and this time it’s even more impressive given that 19 years have passed since Plan B. The new album – Weather – was released on February 14^th, Valentine’s Day. And it ranks as one of the top efforts from Huey Lewis and the News.

The new 7-song album serves up Huey Lewis and the News still at the top of their game, with their combination of pop rock and blues rock that keeps the foot tapping and the listener singing along, featuring bright brass, strong guitars, and of course, great harmonica moments and Huey’s distinctive voice.

Among the stand outs on Weather is “Her Love Is Killin’ Me,” which is a driving, good-time song. And by the way, the video is great fun. “While We’re Young” offers reflections on enjoying life no matter how much time has passed, without any trace of melancholy. “Remind Me Why I Love You Again” plays with a couple who disagrees on just about everything, but somehow they’re still in love (or are they?). For some longing and blues, give “Hurry Back Baby” a listen. And “Pretty Girls Everywhere” ranks as an upbeat salute to ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll.

The significance of Weather, of course, is ramped up given the news about Huey Lewis suffering hearing loss to the point where he cannot sing. He has been diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease, but has some hope that one day, thanks to various treatments and healing, he might get back into the studio. But until then, as noted in a Hollywood Reporter interview, Lewis will find other ways to entertain fans, including working on a musical featuring the band’s music and perhaps doing some acting.

The Hollywood Reporter also noted Lewis’s reflections on music crossing genres, demographics and ages:

Lewis said he felt [that] was missing from the modern day industry. “Today, society is much more integrated, but music is segregated — it's weird,” he said. “You can listen to one kind of music all day long; you can listen to one kind of politics all day long — that's just not healthy. And what was nice about Top 40 radio was it was an editing process where we all tried to have a hit. If you heard a Huey Lewis and the News song on KFRC, the next song might be a Garth Brooks song or a Commodores song or an AC/DC song. … It was an editing process that was, I think, kind of good, in retrospect. You can't have a hit like that today. They just don't exist.”

Well, if any group can offer some of that today, arguably it would be Huey Lewis and the News. Indeed, Huey and his bandmates have served up some wonderful new music in Weather that warrants broad appreciation.

__________

Ray Keating is a columnist, an economist, a novelist (his latest novels are The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12^thbook in the series, and the second edition of Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel with a new Author Introduction), a nonfiction author (among his recent works is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know), a podcaster, and an entrepreneur. The views expressed here are his own.