Lady Antebellum’s latest effort, “Need You Now”, has definitely not hit the “sophomore-slump” that is so often talked about in the music industry. This awesome album is now the bestselling album in America, which is impressive because the band is well-known as strictly country. With this album, they have made the cross-over to a pop-country blend well, pleasing audiences of all musical tastes. As a result of this enormous success, the phenomenon won the award for Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals for their song, “I Run To You” at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Lady Antebellum’s songs are varied, with a good mix between slow, beautiful songs, along with an upbeat one every once in awhile. Although the lyrics to these songs are in the same genre as many cliched country songs, the band breathes new life into topics such as love and heartbreak with clever lyrics and titles, such as the upbeat song about heartbreak, “Love this Pain.”
It’s contrasts like this between the lyrics, beats and titles, as well as the fact that the sole girl in the group, Hillary Scott, that play a big part in the band (along with the boys, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood) and set this group apart. Several of the songs’ beats are unexpected. For example, in the song “Hello World”, the majority of the song is pretty and slow until there is about one minute left. At this point, there is an eruption of fast beats and a variety of instruments suddenly play louder. This unexpected change in pace can be found throughout the album and is part of the reason listeners keep coming back for more. The unique and diverse sounds are appealing to all audiences.
The songs on Lady A’s “Need You Now” are reflective of a simpler past. They talk about past relationships gone wrong, and what they would do if they were in those same relationships now. This is especially evident in the delicate ballad, “If I Knew Then”, which talks about how rarely love comes around in someone’s life, and how it should never be taken for granted. The swells and beats of the instruments played throughout this song match the feeling that the band is trying to convey through it, which is one of passion and regret, but also of wisdom.
The next cut on the CD, “Something ‘Bout a Woman”, talks about how simple it is to love a woman, and how not much is needed to love someone. This simple but true theme is threaded throughout the whole album, and it applies to both music and life, especially in the song, “Stars Tonight”, which is a fun, upbeat song reminiscent of the summer.
The final piece on the CD, the title track “Need You Now”, is by far the most popular and arguably the most memorable song on the album. The song is about two people broken up and each having issues in their lives. They feel vulnerable and, although they do not want to directly come out and say it, they clearly need each other again. They deal with their problems indirectly and are constantly wondering about each other and if they are ever thought about by the other person. The instruments played also contribute to the sad but passionate tone.
Lady Antebellum’s newest, Grammy Award winning work, “Need You Now”, is a refreshing take on some old topics: life, love, and heartbreak. The lyrics of the songs are catchy,and the contrasting beats on several of the songs are interesting and unique. Furthermore, the fact that this CD is not just number one on the country charts, but also on the Billboard charts definitely says something about the band’s talent and credibility, and their future as possible cross-over artists.
