CD Review: Kenny Chesney – Happy Does – byJeffrey Kurtis for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Kenny Chesney
Happy Does
Warner Nashville
Though he’d always been dipping his toes
in the water towards becoming the leader of the No Shoes Nation as he’s known
today, it wasn’t until 2003 when Kenny Chesney took a major risk with his song
“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” that his seismic shift to mega-superstar truly
began.
“When The Sun Goes Down,” “Summertime,”
“Beer In Mexico,” “Get Along,” “Here and Now,” and plenty more feel-good,
beachy tilted hits followed suit, as well as three albums dedicated to this
side of who he was becoming as an artist; Be As You Are (Songs from an Old Blue
Chair), Lucky Old Sun, and Life On The Rock.
“Happy Does,” the latest single (written
by: Brad Clawson, Greylan Egan James, Jamie Paulin, and Robert Brock Berryhill)
from his most recent album Here and Now, falls right in line and gives
us the carefree, motivational hit we all could use right now.
The laid-back groove perfectly wraps around
the traditional type of storytelling as Chesney paints the picture of a character
named “Sunaco” Charlie in the first verse; a guy who drives an ’87 Harley,
sells gasoline, has a Marine Corps tattoo, and is on ex-wife number 4.
Halfway through the verse, though, Chesney
pulls us to the inspirational chorus when he sings about Charlie’s attitude,
“He could be another one cussin’ the government, no, but he smiles – Got
hundred reasons not to, but he’s the poster child for…”
“Happy is as happy does” begins the
chorus, as we’re reminded that it’s the simple things of life that will give us
our reasons to smile and be happy no matter what else may be going on around
us; simple things such as swinging out on a rope swing, drinking a beer just
because, slow dancing in a rainstorm, getting a kiss from your better half,
etc.
During the second verse, Chesney turns
the lyric from a story about one character, to instead, reminding us as to
where we might be able to find our happiness: in scripture, a polaroid picture,
etc.
He does however turn us towards another
character as we head into the bridge prior to the final chorus; a character who
mirrors the earliest days of Chesney’s career as he sings of an aspiring
singer/songwriter playing in a dive bar for dollar bill tips piling up in a
pickle jar.
His previous single “Here and Now” earned
him his 31st #1 song, so who could argue with his formula because
it’s clearly still working. “Happy Does” will most likely earn him his next #1,
but don’t just write this song off as another beachy single from Chesney. As
he’s always done, he gives us a feel-good vibe that will make us want to
listen, while punching us with lyrics that are full of substance.
Take a listen to the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIuABvRetM8