Fresh from the release of his latest album, Banks of the Trinity, Cody Johnson is co-hosting Backstage Country with Elaina Smith and sharing the stories behind some of the tracks included in the album.
Cody Johnson Hits
“Hello Lonesome”
Cody Johnson - Hello Lonesome (Audio)
Johnson described “Hello Lonesome” as the most country song he’s done in 20 years. “It was one of those songs that, as soon as I heard it, it kind of took me back to a place in my childhood. Riding down the road with my grandpa and hearing Ray Benson or Ray Price and things like that. It just had that country swagger, that shuffle, and that melody,” CoJo explained.
Johnson also touched on the hot debate about what is considered traditional country. “People always argue about what traditional country is and how it's evolved and all that. And so for me, it was an opportunity for me to put out something and go. Even though you guys may call me ‘real deal country,’ this is what I grew up on and get a chance to fly that flag a little bit.”
“Fool Proof”
Cody Johnson, Brothers Osborne - Fool Proof (Visualizer)
Smith asked Johnson who brought him “Fool Proof.” He admitted he can’t remember since the track was in a pile of songs they had been listening to that day. But he knew immediately after hearing that he wanted to cut it. “Immediately, I said, ‘This is Brothers Osborne.’ Like, I'm a huge fan of TJ and John.” He chuckled, “Everything that they do, I don't think they've ever put out a song that I don't have on my phone.”
He added, “And what's weird is, after recording with TJ, his voice is so deep, but he sings in the same register I do. Like, he hits the same notes. It's just different tones. And, you know, I know for a fact from being on the golf course and singing along and singing all those songs in the shower and driving down the road and singing all their songs, I know that my voice blends well with his and John's, but, man, once they got on the track, it was. It was a no-brainer. It was like ‘This was meant to be.’”
“I Want You”
Cody Johnson - I Want You (Audio)
Johnson described the track “I Want You” as a simple song. “This song was very simply written. I want you when you're angry, but I want you when you ain't. Like, it says so much by saying so little. And I think that's kind of like the definition of what a relationship should be. It doesn't have to be a lot of frills to it. It's just, man, no matter what, whether you make a mistake or I make a mistake, I want you. You're it. No matter what life throws at us, I just want you.”
He added, “I love the line where it says, ‘I want you when you hate me, because even when you do, I still want you.’ It's like that's real-life marriage talk.”
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