With the ultimate “Rock meets Country” moment happening today, I couldn’t help but run and purchase Steven Tyler’s new single “Love is Your Name”.
Once the news broke that Steven Tyler was releasing a country music album the whole country scene groaned. What I don’t understand is WHY? Seriously, why? Groan after you’ve heard the music if you don’t like it. But don’t not like it just because you don’t like the idea of it. That just doesn’t make any sense. However, I am fully aware that is how most country music fans are every time an artist from another genre makes the move to country. It happened with Sheryl Crow, everyone rolled their eyes. Which is stupid because her first album, probably the biggest one of all, sounds like country rock to me.
So we have Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith, releasing a new country album and “Love is Your Name” is the first single. Personally, I was excited about being able to hear ANYTHING new from Steven, I mean isn’t everyone a fan?! It’s fucking Aerosmith…
But this is not Aerosmith…
The tempo of the song is like a mid-tempo ballad. As the title indicates, lyrically this is a love song. Not surprisingly,though, because I always thought of Steven Tyler as a lover, not a fighter, and Aerosmith has a lot of love songs. Thankfully it is not more bro-country fodder about girls on bars, nor is it rock song disguised as country just for air play. In a way it’s similar to the route Sheryl Crow took with her lead country single, easy listening for the radio.
I have a feeling some of the other tracks on the album will have a more classic country sound than “Love is Your Name”, as it always goes with the lead single. And who knows, maybe there are some stupid songs about girls (I hope not, Steven Tyler is not young in any sense of the word and it would be creepy), but this was the safe way to go for sure.
I like the song. It’s not a BIG song. It’s not the most country thing I’ve ever heard. But I’m anxious to hear the rest of the album because I think there are better songs on it. And instead of hating it right away because of Steven, I’m giving it a chance because of Steven. Aerosmith is a bluesy band anyway, and don’t the blues lie somewhere between rock and country?
Meet Country 