Jamey Johnson - "High Cost Of Living"
By: Matt Bjorke
Last Updated: June 1, 2009 11:06 AM
After the hugely successful single “In Color,” Jamey Johnson was always gonna have trouble with a follow-up single being successful at radio. While a very strong album, “That Lonesome Song” really isn’t an album chock-full of hits in the current radio climate. In all actuality, the mere fact that Jamey scored a Top 10 hit with “In Color” is damn impressive. So, with the album selling nearly 300,000 copies on the strength of the lone single and critical acclaim, Jamey’s taking a chance and releasing “High Cost Of Living” as the second single from the album.
As far as singles go, “High Cost Of Living” is quite impressive and the storytelling from Johnson and his co-writer James Slater (John Michael Montgomery’s current single “Forever” is written by him) stands in stark contrast to what is currently favored by country radio. And this is just the lyric. When you add in the steel guitar and Hammond B3-driven melody what we have is an interesting song that forces you to listen to that story. That story is amazing in the way it sets up the way addiction can derail your whole life. If anyone wants a cautionary tale about drugs, there might not be a better song than “High Cost of Living.”
All of that being said; I don’t see any way that this song scores Jamey Johnson another big hit with radio given the traditional or even outlaw country elements and a lyric about drug abuse, as cautionary as it ultimately is. Radio likes light, humor-filled tracks or serious heart-tugging ballads about families or love, not cautionary tales.
You can support Jamey Johnson by buying the single at iTunes | Amazon.
READER'S COMMENTS
says:
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2009
moodringer10 says:
Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009
make sure you guys vote for Jamey Johnson! He's up for Top New Male Vocalist in the GAC 2009 ACM Awards! So make sure you VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! http://www.gactv.com/gac/pac_ctnt/text/0,,GAC_26058_84999,00.html
Blake Boldt says:
Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009
Country radio would like to believe that the only drugs that listeners are taking these days are Flintstone vitamins. I would be pleasantly shocked if this gains any momentum at radio.
Matt B. says:
Posted: Saturday, January 24, 2009
Rick, This song may appeal to those you mention but it also is a cautionary tale about Drugs and how they can derail and ruin a life.
Leeann Ward says:
Posted: Saturday, January 24, 2009
So, Rick, which one are you?: macho guy, biker or redneck...or all? I'll just say that I'm none of those.
Rick says:
Posted: Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wow, as a choice for a follow up radio single to "In Color" this song ranks as a bold, brash, and utterly foolish choice! All those female Top 40 radio listeners want songs with sweet sentimentality about family members, parenting, watershed life events, and most of all marriage and courtship. Jamey's "In Color" drew fom that well as did the debut singles from Chuck Wicks and Crystal Shawanda. You venture away from that sentimental subject matter "Safety zone" aand all bets are off. This song has a real strong Waylon Jennings style "Outlaw" message that isn't likely to connect with soccer moms, teenybopper Taylor Swift fans, or Carrie Underwood's American Idol fanbot devotees. This song will appeal to macho guys, bikers, and rednecks and I don't think any of these folks listen to Top 40 mainstream country radio any more. If this single does well on airhead country radio, I will be absolutely shocked (and delighted too for that matter).