Unless you’ve been living under a rock on Pluto, you’ve heard Shaboozey’s insanely catchy and aptly-titled “A Bar Song” and seen loads of folks dancing to its hip-hop, cowboy chorus on social media.
Besides being a delightful meditation on the need for more booze to fuel table-top dancing and other late-night shenanigans, “A Bar Song” is, in its creation, an ode to the “American Experiment.”
Of course it took me a while to figure that out. Only after the first dozen listens did I recognize what a special collection of cultural and musical influences Shaboozey’s song contains.
Bear with me while I explain:
Born Collins Obinna Chibueze, the 29-year-old Shaboozey was raised in Fairfax, Virginia, by his Nigerian parents, though attended boarding school in Nigeria for a time.
Shaboozey attributes his upbringing in Virginia to his ability to meld genres with urban and rural origins, citing Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin among his influences, as well as Lil Wayne.
The combination of hip hop and country into a killer song aside, Shaboozey the artist and American is a brilliant example of a nation made best when it embraces different genres and in the process creates something new and revolutionary.
The success of Shaboozey’s song in today’s entertainment landscape, where more options abounded than ever, is even much more impressive.
Somehow, at a time when America is at its most fractured since the Civil War, there’s been a breakthrough in country/rap by yet another Black artist.
Back in 2019, Lil Nas X delivered a groundbreaking, country hip-hop blend with “Old Town Road,” which includes a Billy Ray Cyrus lyric that adds country twang to the crossover hit.
Then, earlier this year, Beyoncé blew us all away with “Texas Hold ’Em,” the debut track off her “Cowboy Carter” album, on which Shaboozey guests vocals two tracks.
Queen Bee has since then also dropped collaborative tracks with country greats like Willie Nelson and fellow crossover favorite, Miley Cyrus.
All these incredibly successful efforts at combining what seemingly couldn’t be more different musically is a testament to the ability of both these artists, and America’s, somehow still-intact affection for combining cultures with music, and in doing so creating something fresh, inspiring, and unifying.
Because at a time when we have much to be cynical about regarding America’s partisan divides and toxic, racial animosity comes a glorious drinking song that nearly everyone adores and is desperately needed.
These days, only music seems to have the capacity to amuse the masses across the socio-political, racial, and cultural spectrums.
Even if you’re an AOC progressive or a MAGA extremist, chances are you’ll likely agree on the merits of “A Bar Song.”
And a great drinking song is as good a place as any to start trying to narrow America’s toxic divide.
That, and a whole bunch of booze.
