“Need You Now”
Writers: Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, Josh Kear
Original Release Date: August 11, 2009
Country music isn’t really my thing, but I’m okay with listening to it in small doses if there’s some sort of rock influence, like Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now”.
From what I can tell, it’s fairly standard country fare: words of lost love and longing (though the “bootycall” aspect of the lyrics make it a little more scandalous than most country songs), supported by a steady drum beat and a twangy guitar. The trading vocals turn the song into a story with two perspectives of separated lovers, and the piano, especially at the end, leaves you with a wistful feeling (and a need to drink some whiskey).
I can’t be the only one who misses Sparks the Rescue—they had such potential and then disappeared. Their cover, from Punk Goes Pop Volume 3, is considerably faster than the original, and I have to admit, I prefer it this way: it’s a lot more rock ‘n’ roll than anything I’ve heard from the country-influenced Lady Antebellum. Rather than being a sad story, the increased tempo makes the message seem more urgent and less plaintive.
