Eight Second Ride Revisited

Who knew this would be our controversial post?

First point: We only said it was our least favorite SINGLE. Since he's only had 4 other singles, that's not like saying we hate the song. It's saying, of these 5 songs, it's our least favorite. Doesn't mean we don't like it.

Second point: Depending on where you get your information, 8SR being released as a single wasn't a surprise. We have been hearing since Startin' With Me, that Jake wanted to release 8SR and that fans were backing him up (including us), but we were upset that some of his really great songs didn't make the cut for Easy Does It in order to make room for 8SR. Also, re-releasing a song on a second album is not a unique thing. Case in point: Kellie Pickler's "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You?" was released on both Small Town Girl and Kellie Pickler. It makes it easy to set it up as a single, but it isn't a guarantee.

Third point: How much farther can 8SR go than "Don't Think I Can't Love You?" DTICLY hit #2; 8SR only has to hit #1 to beat it. Whether it will or not remains to be seen.

Point four: If Jake wants to release a "party" song, it's not like he's hurting for choices. Why not re-release "The Bad In Me" if they're going to go that route? From Easy Does It, "Cherry on Top" or "Who Said Whiskey" jump out as possible singles.

We're not hating on 8SR. We get excited as anyone when we hear the first licks at a show. We just feel that Jake has proven himself a talented enough artist and songwriter that he doesn't have to go back 10 years for a single. Who isn't better at something they were already good at after 10 years of practice?

Eight Second Ride

Being the Jake Owen fans that we are, we had to respond to this laugh-worthy review of his newest single, "Eight Second Ride."

Let's get this out of the way: This is by no means Jake's best song. In fact, of all his singles, it's probably his worst. It was a sleeper hit on his debut album, Startin' with Me, that fans requested as a single, but never got. So, it was re-released on Easy Does It, with plans of being a single.

The problem with the Easy Does It version is its restyling. Aside from minor lyrical changes, the version on Easy Does It seems to lose some of its original musical edge. The guitars and drums fade to the background for this version, whereas they pound through the speakers on Startin' With Me. Whoever decided to remix 8SR managed to take a fun, rocking song and make it a weak, mediocre ego-piece.

As for saying the song is supposed to be "realistic:" Anyone who has listened to Jake's music, has seen a Jake show, etc., knows that this song is blazingly tongue-in-cheek. It was written long before he had his big break, when he was barely in his 20s. With a male buddy, he decided to write a song about girls and big trucks. We think even Jake knows the likelihood of getting a woman to bed down with him on a tailgate is unlikely. (Hey, metal is cold and uncomfortable! Stay in the cab at least.)

It seems that some people don't like Jake because he's attractive. Evidently country music is meant to be "ugly," which, frankly, is something lost on us. All the posturing about his looks masks simple jealousy. For someone as talented as Jake, it's a shame that people are going to misjudge him because he happens to be good-looking and has written a song that is not "high art." Look back at singles like "Startin' With Me" and "Don't Think I Can't Love You" if you need a reminder of exactly what this Florida boy can do.