‘It sounds good about everything’: how Choosin’ Texas became the biggest song of the year | The world

TIn his week, Ella Langley beat the record chart held by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. A country singer Choosin’ Texas has now spent 15 weeks at the top of Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running US No. 1 by a female solo artist on a non-holiday chart. Her previous records, I Will Always Love You and Carey’s We Belong Together, were the latest trends, undeniable hits that sounded like Hot 100 chartbusters. Choosin’ Texas, meanwhile, is two steps in the middle with relaxed vocals and a retro feel.

For Victoria Banks, a songwriter and instructor at Nashville’s Belmont University, the wind behind the song’s development is critical to its success. “It’s a sleeper hit – it’s understated and understated,” he says. “Everything about this song goes back to a simpler time in country music that people long for.”

The song Choosin’ Texas tells the story of a Tennessee woman who accompanies her lover on a trip back home to Texas – and discovers in real time that “his heart belonged to the land of one star”. It’s sad at the highest level of country, which Langley speaks with respect for decades of music by Jerry Reed, Ronnie Millsap and George Strait. Dance, guitar- and pedal steel-forward brings the best of country music from the late 70s and early 80s, even with a modern twist.

“There’s a lot of material thrown into this song, but it’s obviously written in a modern way,” says Banks. “It’s not retroactive so we don’t agree with it.”

Demonstrating that country music continues to dominate the pop sphere, Choosin’ Texas is one of five country songs currently in the top 10 of the US Hot 100. history when it comes to playing women, it is not for nothing that each of these songs – including Taylor Swift‘s I Knew It, I Knew You, Stella Lefty’s Boston and Langley’s Be Her and Morgan Wallen’s I Can’t Love You Anymore – he has a woman as the main artist.

Historically, during the time of internationalization, disputes have arisen over the length of the songs from their origins. “Someone has killed country music, cut off its heart and soul,” said George Strait Murder on Music RowThe 2000 film by Alan Jackson laments the Nashville industry in the late 90s – when artists like Faith Hill and Lonestar ruled the roost with ultrasmooth, country-pop confections. In recent history, BeyoncéCowboy Carter pissed off forever story about what makes country music and who participates.

Choosin’ Texas didn’t hesitate to criticize him for being “too popular”, in part because of his songwriting genius. Co-written by Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick, the song folds country performers – two stages, Texas and Tennessee, in the middle – into the song’s emotional narrative in a way that feels organic. Even the essentials that Jack Daniels mentions have an explanatory purpose; it doesn’t matter if it’s Tennessee whiskey he’s drinking alone.

“Both of these writers have been working in the Nashville market for years,” Banks explains. “So whether this is a song they say they spit out in 30 minutes or not, it’s because of their instincts that have been developed over time about what appeals to people.”

Brian Mansfield, editor-in-chief of trade publications Country Insiderhe says the twangy-but-smooth sound makes it appealing to program directors — whether suburban, old-school or older — who tend to avoid songs that might sound old-fashioned next to fluffier pop fare. “It’s a song that sounds good on almost anything you can play, and it’s a very small part of making any kind of music,” he says.

The versatility of this song also makes it suitable for streaming playlists. According to BrightChoosin’ Texas racked up over half a billion streams in the first half of the year alone, making it the most streamed song in the country by a wide margin.

Also co-signs from former musicians like Quickly and Shania Twainthis song is also – as it often needs to be successful – has been inspired by different times of social media. In October, shortly after Choosin’ Texas was released, TikTok user Lane Gorrell posted a movie he dances the interpretation of the song in front of the invisible cows. The video racked up millions of views, and Gorrell finally took his dancing to the Grand Ole Opry.

Then came the music videos that didn’t sound right. In late January, in the echo of Taylor Swift’s famous “Starbucks lovers” Saga from 2014, users started posting videos saying that they didn’t understand the words “Jews in Texas” or “Jews and Taxes”. Others said that they heard the phrase “drink Jack alone” as “drink and leave alone”. Langley laughed at the indistinct words in an interview and podcaster Theo Von in April – which only drew more attention to what was going on. Video of the same interview with Von’s clearly beaten to kill animals The word “tzatziki” in front of his break was also spread.

Enter Ella Fellas. Langley’s male fanbase has become known for all kinds of viral, from uncomfortable for sure lip sync videos to their tastes looking at the captive at his concerts; there has been Ella Fella birthday parties. Langley’s team has done just that, reposting popular videos and sending Ella Fellas T-shirts to some of her biggest supporters. Compared to most pop fandoms, whose interests can be skewed haters of peopleElla Fellas seem like a smart and happy bunch.

“It’s one of the things that brings people together,” says Hunter Massey, a Georgia Southern University student and TikToker whose videos to go to the forest country music has made him listen to himself. “There may be different races, different parts of the world, but we all seem to love her music, and that’s what makes us Ella Fellas.”

Massey is one of a growing number of creators who get paid to post videos using the music of artists on TikTok – including Langley. He says he sometimes turns down requests for songs that don’t speak to him, but he has never had a problem promoting his music.

For her and other Ella Fellas, the attraction is how they look underneath. He has reinforced these feelings with songs like Dandelionswhere he sings that he “wasn’t made for the most beautiful crystal vase” and Somethin’ Simple, which finds him pondering giving up fame in exchange for “a house on a hill, a horse in a yard”.

“She’s not glamorous, Hollywood, anything,” Massey says. “That’s what we love about him.”