With the unfortunate chart runs behind both “A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega” and “Radioland,” let’s hope that third time is the charm with “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.”
Released as the album’s third single, Ashley McBryde and her team are taking a big risk releasing a bare-bones acoustic ballad to the airwaves. It’s all for our benefit though, as “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” is one of the best songs released to radio in months, no, possibly years.
Now, a song that reflects on “making it” might seem premature for an artist who just released her debut album this year, but “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” is written from a different perspective. The success and joy comes not from her (sadly) nonexistent chart success or how many awards she’s won, but from being able to just make music in general. The road is still long, but she’s celebrating the journey thus far, and there’s nothing wrong with that. To her, packing even the tiniest of venues is a dream come true because it means someone is actually listening, thus proving her naysayers wrong.
It also gives the album a strong sense of realness considering McBryde has a strong grassroots fan base akin to Eric Church, a comparison that almost makes too much sense.
It’s easy to tell McBryde had a hand in writing this because the emotion is there vocally. Despite the restrained production, the mood is uplifting and hopeful. “Restrained” might not even be the most fitting word for the production here, as up until around the second chorus, the song is led solely by acoustic guitar. Eventually a mix of organ, drums and light electric guitar sneak their way in, but everything takes a backseat in the mix to allow McBryde’s story to shine.
Overall, “Girl Going Nowhere” is an excellent song and one of country music’s finest single releases in memory. Radio, the ball is in your court now. Don’t let us down.
Songwriters: Ashley McBryde, Jeremy Bussey
(09/10)
The Musical Divide 