Justin Moore likes his country music ‘traditional’

“We’ve bent, but we haven’t broken”

By Preshias Harris

Justin Moore

Justin Moore recently celebrated his latest No. 1 hit, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” with the song’s co-writers.  He also talked about his current single, “Why We Drink.”

(See my interview with Justin at the No. 1 party, previously posted here.)

Every type of music is constantly changing – pop, R&B, jazz, even classical – and that is true about country music, too. Just compare Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart’” (1952) with Luke Bryan’s “Knockin’ Boots” (2019)!  Over the years there have been sub-genres such as countrypolitan, the Bakersfield sound, outlaw country, honky tonk, bro-country and more.

‘Classic’ 90s Country

Today, the country music of the 1990s is what many fans consider ‘classic’ country. Justin Moore was born in 1984, so the music he listened to in his teens and early twenties was, of course, 90s country. That was the music influenced his own music when he moved to Nashville in 2002. With help from producer and songwriter Jeremy Stover, Justin met Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group. Borchetta signed Justin to Valory Music, a new label that was part of BMLG.

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Justin Moore celebrates 8th No. 1

Remembers “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home”

By Preshias Harris

Justin Moore remembered “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” (Valory Music Group) at a No. 1 party in Nashville on 05 February.  Justin was joined by his co-writers Jeremy Stover, Chase McGill and Paul DiGiovanni. Stover produced the song with Big Machine Records chief, Scott Borchetta.

The song is Justin’s eighth No. 1 single. For the other writers, it was Jeremy’s seventh No. 1, Chase’s fourth and Paul’s second chart-topper. It was also Jeremy’s thirteenth No. 1 as a producer. Paul is also lead guitarist with the rock band, Boys Like Girls.

Before the award ceremony, I sat down with other members of the music media as we talked to Justin, Jeremy, Chase and Paul.

Pictured L to R: Chase McGill, Paul DiGiovanni, Justin Moore, Jeremy Stover. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

The story behind the song

Justin began by talking about how audience reaction to one of his earlier No. 1 songs, combined with his admiration of his grandfathers’ military service, inspired the creation of “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home.”

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