Hey friends!
Despite our largely “retro-leaning” propensities here at the Dial, on occasion,
a recent song will unexpectedly sneak into our playlist. Such tunes are then
granted the spotlight via a Radio Dial Extra! So without further ado, it’s time
to listen to Brad Paisley’s “Last Time
for Everything”!
From last year’s Love
and War LP, “Last Time...” was a modest success on the US country charts at
#26, but it barely made a dent in the pop world, only “bubbling under” at #20 below
the hot 100… which is essentially position US #120.
“Last Time” is a laid-back and moving song
acknowledging that life constantly changes. It makes a point that we rarely recognize
the final time that we are doing something that matters to us, and that the
event in question will soon become a happy memory.
Paisley mentions various moments in his life, and by
extension, the listeners… such as waking up at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning to
check out what goodies Santa brought, wearing a tux in a high school gym, and fishing
with his grandfather.
The music video is a treasure trove of great ‘80s
references including an appearance from The Ghostbusters’ “Ecto 1”, and multiple
elements from “Back to the Future”.
Also the current popular series “Stranger
Things” is referenced multiple times (which itself is a tribute to the
80s), along with a very cool extract of a 1981 Sony Walkman TV commercial., and
the whole thing is memorably topped off by a cameo from KITT and “Michael Knight”
himself, David Hasselhoff – yes, THE HOFF is in this video!!! How awesome is
that?!?
Brad’s lyrics also contain shoutouts to departed
musical icons Glenn Frey and Prince, showing that their music mattered to
Paisley as much as it did the rest of us. Additionally, he mentions “Little
Jimmy on the Opry stage”, a reference to Jimmy Dickens, a pioneering country
music star who was a close friend of Brad’s. One additional ‘80s reference I
noticed may be completely unintentional, but to my ears, the main guitar riff
sounds like a country pop interpretation of Christopher Cross's 1980 yacht rock
classic "Sailing".
“Last Time” is a wonderful, under-appreciated tune,
which deserved to do much better on the charts than it did. Brad brings a true
country sound to the table here, much more than any of the lame “bro country”
acts out right now – That’s right, I’m looking at YOU Florida Georgia Line!
Give Paisley’s tune a listen and the video a look see,
and see if it doesn’t give you the feels like it does me.
“Last call, last
chance, last song, last dance… sometimes you just don’t know when that’s gonna
be… hold me baby give me a kiss… like tonight is all there is… ‘cause there’s a
last time for everything.”
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