It’s New Music Friday once more on this Friday, January the 15th, 2021! This week’s song picks include the latest from pop boy band Why Don’t We, country superstars Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard, pop star/actress Selena Gomez, country pop singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes & last but not least recording artist, Greyson Chance. Scroll down to read all about them! 😃
“Grey” by Why Don’t We
Pop band, Why Don’t We’s most ambitious effort yet, The Good Times and The Bad Ones is finally out for the fans to hear! The piano ballad, “Grey” is for those who feel a sense of regret for breaking up with one’s boyfriend/girlfriend/relationship.
It’s truly a tragic moment if one experiences this in their life and now all they can do is beg for forgiveness. The guys’ vocals have really matured in this era and I love the accompanying strings seen in the background for the performance video seen above.
You can really feel their emotions pouring out through these well-crafted verses especially in the chorus when all five members croon:
Tears and slamming doors
I’m falling, down on the floor
Begging, begging, please
You don’t want me no more
I never hurt like this before
I’m begging, begging, please
Now every day it rains
And I’m the one to blame
Baby, I walked away
When you came to stay
Oh, now everything’s grey
The many months of planning, writing and recording, plus editing must’ve been a tiring yet rewarding experience for the group. I really appreciate their dedication to writing this whole album by themselves this time around and now they can look forward to performing the tracks when they go on tour after the pandemic — hopefully later this year!
What’s your favorite song on the new album? Share your responses in the comments box below!
Lastly, be sure to check out their GMA interview & performance of “Slow Down” here. Fun Fact: They got to sample the Smashing Pumpkins’ hit song, “1979.” 😎
“Undivided” by Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard
Tyler Hubbard of Grammy-nominated country duo Florida Georgia Line teamed up with country legend and 3x Grammy-winner, Tim McGraw for a feel-good duet song that calls for unity over division.
In this very divisive time in America as we speak, we could all use this moment to reflect and hope for a better future. This song is a welcome distraction from all the negative news headlines we’ve witnessed on our TV’s and phones.
In a CBS This Morning interview, Hubbard revealed in regards to this song, “I didn’t think we could need it any more than we needed it last year, but apparently we still do.” Little would they know the tragic events of the Capitol coup last week because this song was conceived and recorded last year during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and the marches against racial injustices.
“The song — it speaks to more of the social contract that we have with each other. It’s not about politics. It’s about how we’re supposed to treat each other,” McGraw shared.
He also tweeted, “My wish is that y’all can hear the hope in this one!!”
I myself believe that this song could not have come out at a more relevant time. So please give this song a listen this week and also feel free to check out the two country stars sing together in the black-and-white styled video attached above.
It won’t change things drastically but at least it will help warm your heart and soul. It will also serve everyone a reminder that kindness counts!
“De Una Vez” by Selena Gomez
Pop singer-songwriter Selena Gomez returns to the spotlight with an all Spanish single called “De Una Vez” or “At Once” in English. It’s just the second all Spanish track since her 2010 release, “Un Año Sin Lluvia.”
This song follows the release of “Ice Cream,” her collaboration with K-pop girl group BLACKPINK last summer. “De Una Vez” is the first song slated to appear on her upcoming untitled fourth studio album.
This was something Gomez wanted to do as she revealed in an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music. “I’m so proud of my heritage.” With all the division going on in the world, she called it “perfect timing” in releasing this project out now. “There’s something about Latin music that, globally, just makes people feel things.”
Lyrically speaking, the 28-year-old songstress talks about overcoming heartbreak and being strong and resilient moving forward being single. This love song is beautifully composed and I’m glad she sung this in Spanish rather than English because the verses flow better en español and she’s showcasing her diverse talents and heritage in true authentic fashion.
If you’re still interested in seeing the English translations, feel free to click here. For more about the visuals in the music video and the creative process behind it, check out this Vogue article.
Meantime, Gomez is a busy woman in 2021. While busy recording new music, she’s also set to release season 2 of her cooking show, Selena + Chef on HBO MAX on January 21st. She will also be returning to her acting roots in a new Hulu comedy series, Only Murders in the Building starring alongside actors Martin Short and Steve Martin.
“The One That Got Away” by Hunter Hayes
29-year-old country-pop artist Hunter Hayes is back with an all-new upbeat single titled, “The One That Got Away.” It’s the first track released from his upcoming album, Red Sky which is set to drop later this summer.
This is a song for those who broke free from a bad relationship and can see themselves on the path of freedom. Instead of being down in the dumps about this heartbreak, Hayes is seen dancing alone looking relieved and happily cruising solo in a cool car free from the troubles of the past. Watch the video for picturesque countryside footage, some sunny desert footage and some amazing aerial drone shots.
He debuted the song on national TV earlier this week on ABC’s Good Morning America. Check out his performance, right here. He also gave a little preview at what his next album’s theme will be about, citing it’s about “moving on and self-discovery and growth and change.”
On Instagram, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter shared his appreciation for the important and integral people who helped brought this project to life:
Putting the song out for the world to hear really means a lot to him and he shared he cannot wait to perform this for the fans soon.
Are you looking forward to more Hunter Hayes music this year? Let me know in the comments below.
“Holy Feeling” by Greyson Chance
Greyson Chance dropped his first single for 2021 and it’s quite an impressive track! From my interpretation, it’s about loving somebody but they’re not necessarily on the same page or level as you…yet. You want them to commit more to you so you can both feel like you’re floating on cloud 9 a.k.a. that godly, holy feeling. That eternal love that only true loving relationships can feel and know.
2020 was a challenging year for the musician and he shared on Twitter all about the struggle to put pen and paper to make music and how releasing “Holy Feeling” in 2021 is a fresh start with renewed hope and vision for him moving forward:
He said the new song brought color back into his life, sparking that “joy of singing for you, of sharing my story with you.”
I’m enjoying the direction of his sound based on this new single and I highly anticipate more music to be dropped this year in the form a full album that will channel deeper into his poetic mind.
Check out his exclusive YouTube acoustic performance of the song, right here:
That does it for this week’s post! Thank you all for reading another edition of New Music Friday. If you liked what you read, kindly click on the follow button down below. Also if you like, please support my work by donating to my Paypal. I truly appreciate it!
Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings about any of these picks in the comments box down below! Cast your vote on the songs featured this week by giving them a thumbs up or a thumbs down. As always, stay safe and happy listening!
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