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Damn Strait

"In 1981, after several failed attempts at a recording contract, the group made one last trip to Music City, resolving, 'If it doesn't happen this time, it will be our last try.' By year's end, George Strait would make his major label debut with the release of Strait Country."
('Damn Strait' / youtube.com, February 9, 2022)

And the rest is history, as they say. Because more than 120 Mio. records sold worldwide make the now 70-vear old artist George Strait one of the most successful, as well as influential musicians of all times. No wonder fans like to respectfully call him the 'King of Country', due to his 60 Number-1 Hits. An artist who never fell for the lure of crossover success but consistently stuck to his neotraditional country sound.

A style that still represents Texas, where the Texas native George Strait toured the Honky Tonks with his Ace in the Hole Band in the 1970s. From 1975 on, he was a fixture in Gruene Hall of New Braunsfeld, a town in the heart of Texas founded in 1845 by German immigrants. Gruene Hall today calls itself the oldest (opened in 1878) and best known Dance Hall in Texas. Hence an entertainment venue, where one can find food, drink and live music.

In May of 2011, barely 30 years after the release of "Strait Country", the debut album by George Strait, a 17-year old Scotty McCreery from North Carolina wins the tenth season of American Idol. It marks the start of a career that gets suport from many loyal fans, but hasn't made the artist a huge star yet. Even though he has become more and more of a consistent commercial hit maker over the last few years.

His current single 'Damn Strait' pays tribute to George Strait, as can easily be guessed by looking at the spelling of the title. The pronounced double meaning of his last name has already been used successfully by George Strait when naming his second album "Strait from the Heart". In addition the lyrics of the McCreery song, written by Jim Collins and Trent Tomlinson, tell the story of a broken relationship by referencing a song from the George Strait hits cataloge in each verse.

First time we danced was to Marina Del Rey
And I fell right there and then
I didn't want that song to end.
 
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
I can still see them in my mind
Probably will for the rest of my life.
 
Damn Strait, I used to love your songs
But now every time that one comes on
My heart gets broke in half
But do I wish I could get her back?
Damn Strait
(Damn Strait / Jim Collins, Trent Tomlinson)
 
"[Both songwriters] wrote a clever song that reaches beyond name-dropping Strait hits to tell
a meaningful story", says Scotty McCreery in Billboard Country Update. And they do so by using the double meaning of the title to express anger at George Strait for stiring up painful memories with each of his songs, as well as admitting to the wish of bringing back the relationship. Damn yes!

The video to the song adds to the theme by having been shot at legendary Gruene Hall where the cover for George Straits' debut album "Strait Country" was also taken.

'Damn Strait' is the second single from the fourth and current studio album "New Truck" by Scotty McCreery, released in October of 2021. As of July, 25th 2022, it holds the Number-1 position on the Radio (Billboard Country Airplay) Charts for a second consecutive week and hence gives the 28-years old artist with the booming voice his 5. Number-1 hit in a row!


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