In case you missed it, Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus have been the talk of the internet these days.
The “Old Town Road” singer debuted a remix of his modern country hit last week, featuring none other than Billy Ray.
“Old Town Road” peaked at no. 19 on the Billboard country charts in mid-March. It was removed shortly after for “not embracing enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version,” according to a statement given to Rolling Stone.
When Billboard said that the country hit “does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard’s country charts,” controversy erupted. Rolling Stone, among several others, pointed out that “the expulsion of Lil Nas X is not the only recent example of the country music establishment rejecting the work of black artists who did not come up in the Nashville system.”
That’s where Billy Ray Cyrus comes in. Cyrus, after hearing that the single was removed from the country charts, tweeted, “It was so obvious to me after hearing the song just one time. I was thinking, what’s not country about it? What’s the rudimentary element of a country and western song? Then I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook, and a banjo. What the hell more do ya need?”
It was so obvious to me after hearing the song just one time. I was thinking, what’s not country about it? What’s the rudimentary element of a country and western song? Then I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook, and a banjo. What the hell more do ya need?
— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 5, 2019
Not long after, the country superstar headed to the studio to record the “Old Town Road” remix, and the result is fantastic. It’s catchy, fun and definitely country.
After the smashing success of the remix, Billboard is reconsidering its decision.
“Billboard welcomes the excitement created by genre-blending tracks such as Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road; and will continue to monitor how it is marketed and how fans respond,” Billboard wrote in a statement to Rolling Stone.
What do you think of the Old Town Road remix? Let us know in the comments or tweet us your opinion @Soundigest.
Featured Image: Instagram (@lilNasx)
