POP SONG REVIEW: "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus

Is it country? Rap? Wack with a cape? A victim of Billboard's racial biases? Todd untangles his complicated feelings about the latest craze.
(Support Todd on Patreon! / toddintheshadows )

[@Solqueen86]

When Billy Ray Cyrus gets accepted into the Black Community before his daughter ever could

[@alex_flamer267]

And his daughter went back to country and didn't get accepted there either.

[@ian-ct8lq]

Solqueen86 black community? Music genre/style doesn’t have a race bud.

[@ThePi314Man]

@@ian-ct8lq don't be an idiot

[@louschwick7301]

@@ian-ct8lq have u not SEEN the video? music and culture and ethnicity are still heavily conflated with each other, especially in america

[@summerbreakclub9823]

Lil Scramble he performed at the BET awards. Need I say more

[@mayisuppose]

"Country lyrics are just lists" DIRT ROAD, COLD BEER, BLUE JEANS, RED PICK-UP

[@artemused4363]

PLURAL NOUN; SIMPLE ADJECTIVE.

[@BiggieTrismegistus]

NO JEWS. You didn't hear that

[@graces.4523]

FUCK YOUR EARS I'M PANDERING

[@justalittleguy1000]

I WRITE SONGS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO JOBS IN THE TOWNS THAT I'D NEVER MOVE TO

[@Dalejr88rox]

I WALK AND TALK LIKE A FIELD HAND BUT THE BOOTS I'M WEARIN COST 3 GRAND

[@silversam]

"Rap and country got a lot in common. We both write songs for our own neighborhood in our own language, we both wear hats and jeans to the Grammies, and we both sell millions of records while everybody wonders who bought them." Ice-T, 1993

[@jackthorton10]

This makes all this seem way predecated than it should be

[@cfredrics]

Ice-T loves music. Not genres. He's even said that he feels sorry for people who can't enjoy all types of music.

[@aobasuzukaze1032]

Yup especially in the early 90's where there's a rule change for how counting the popularity of albums with soundscans thanks to the enormous success of neo traditional country and hip hop at that time.

[@phastinemoon]

“They both speak to the experience of the poor and disenfranchised, and also neither of them do that anymore because they both sold out a longass time ago” - Todd, 2010

[@sint0xicateme]

"Country music today is hip-hop for people afraid of black people." - Steve Earle

[@SonofSethoitae]

And it used to be blues for people who are afraid of black people

[@reggiefreeborn2143]

the dixie chicks being ran out because of differing opinions was re the first step in a really long death for country

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Bolsheviki can’t you just listen to white rappers?

[@__-wc5zn]

@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 Or Asian rappers

[@nedisahonkey]

Steve Earle also was right about women making basically the only decent mainstream country these days. Oh and praising Sturgill Simpson.

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

There is a video of Billy Ray Cyrus being asked to play this song, but he actually echoes your sentiment about Lil Nas X being the real MVP of the song. He out right says "He's the reason I have a career again in 2019" BRC is well aware of his status and has shown nothing but respect to LNX and it's nice to see. He does play it, but he makes it very clear that it's Lil Nas X's song, not his.

[@andysorensen1737]

HeyItsDingo BRC knows why he’s here and he seems to be enjoying the ride. He’s been there done that, and there’s frankly worse mentors for Lil Nas X to model his career off of especially if this is all we hear from him.

[@Zackeezy]

@@andysorensen1737 If current trends are any indication, then having a One Hit Wonder as your mentor may be the best way for him to have a sustainable career. I mean, In the year that Jonas Brothers had a come back and Five Finger Death Punch notched a hit with a member of Queen, I guess anything is possible.

[@brainflash1]

Billy Ray may have done a terrible job raising Miley, but he's good people.

[@Zackeezy]

@@brainflash1 Being a child star is not something that can easily go well for someone.

[@brainflash1]

@@Zackeezy Exactly.

[@gingersnap6004]

Lil Nas X, regardless of how you feel about his music, is a great dude. Like, you go you funky gay space cowboy

[@fred_______]

“You go you funky gay space cowboy” is my new favorite sentence

[@alexanderfool7510]

i was gonna like the comment but theres 420 likes so have this

[@somehistorynerd]

6 dudes ruined the 420...

[@aimangupta9778]

Why do you think he's great? I'm genuinely asking , not mocking or anything

[@shimpey2410]

@@aimangupta9778 he’s just got a good sense of humor around him. He also seems genuinely nice and you can tell he was just a kid that made a joke and wasn’t expecting it to go this far

[@aacsmiles]

I can appreciate the song for the sole reason that a no-name and a joke has-been are keeping all the big names off the #1 spot which amuses me to no end. Helps that it's a fun song too.

[@davidmonypeny5734]

Yeah me too, the fact that Billy Ray Cyrus has a #1 hit is amusing as hell to me.

[@A-Oh-Trey]

Haha that's pretty much how I feel about "Old Town Road". I mean, the song itself is meh to me. But I love that this random 19-year-old just came in and disrupted the game by dropping this weird-ass country trap song that randomly blew up.

[@queenemma5823]

And it's still going!! He's still topping the charts and keeping little Miss White Feminist/Appropriates the LGBT+ Community For Profit out of the top spot

[@UBvtuber]

Appropriation isn't always a bad thing.....although with Taylor, it does come off as very forced.

[@MikoyanGurevichMiG21]

@@queenemma5823 Funny, considering Lil Nas is gay himself.

[@adianrossmarlar9128]

actually nas x has said he found out about billy ray through hannah montana so don't doubt it.

[@rainbowpearlvlogsandanimations]

I did too. But apparently he had a hit a couple decades ago...

[@Drogon7102]

@@rainbowpearlvlogsandanimations ya todd has a one hit wonderland on him.

[@rainbowpearlvlogsandanimations]

Thanks! I saw that when you mentioned it!

[@johnwayne4142]

I thought billy Ray was a joke like he was a fake dad on tv ...

[@Flowtail]

That fact brings me immense joy

[@morley364]

Todd: guys, I don't know, I'm just feeling burned out...all this stuff sounds the same now....ehh Music world: (erupts into heated debate about genres, country music, rap music, and charting) Todd: *I AM.....REBORN*

[@SaltpeterTaffy]

A new god in a troubled land!

[@riahlexington]

Amen!

[@antifreeze3526]

@@SaltpeterTaffy INNOCENSE

[@billtenth5805]

Huh, I didn't know Todd was a phoenix.

[@jimllc]

It's the things he knows best. Country music from the 90's/early 00's, criticizing rap music, going off what the chart says, and how NOT to mix genres.

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

Cyrus was the cool dad on Hannah Montana and was watched by millions of people who knew nothing else about him except that he used to be a real-life famous country singer. THATS where the unironic Billy Ray Cyrus respect is coming from.

[@chuckbatman5]

Yeah the same reason Lil Nas X asked him of all people to do the song is the reason people show him unironic respect

[@dublinjake]

Baby's first historical revisionism.

[@marykay5299]

@Al X. Andra Roxy like a puma!

[@michaeladkins6]

@@chuckbatman5 Todd should do another video in how one of the best songs of the year, Nothin Breaks Like A Heart, wasn't that big of a hit.

[@circu111]

@thenoosehangsfromheaven S U P P O S E D L Y Drivel*

[@Thandi123]

What I like about this song is... Its the first song in ages which has been about genuinely enjoying something.

[@murciadoxial8056]

that might be the reason it has been in the first place of the billboard 100 for TWENTYTWO. FUCKING. WEEKS.

[@johnbestavros6915]

@@murciadoxial8056 *nineteen.

[@murciadoxial8056]

@@johnbestavros6915 24*

[@johnbestavros6915]

@@murciadoxial8056 You might want to check the week of August 17th on the Billboard Hot 100. That was Old Town Road's last week at #1, and the Hot 100 will tell you EXACTLY how long it had been AT #1 up to that point, not hot long it had been on the chart. Those are two VERY different things.

[@murciadoxial8056]

@@johnbestavros6915 Oh... Shit, I'm so sorry, I misread the number somehow

[@mobmaniac]

I love how in hindsight the cringe lyrics are just him trying SUPER hard to sound straight

[@andyzhao7822]

I doubt he was really trying to sound straight, but him rapping about “booty” is pr funny

[@McBenjiii]

“Boobies” has the same energy as “StrAigHt” Holt from Brooklyn 99

[@TheGhostofRandolphBourne]

​@@McBenjiiiBeat me to it. "My wife had such nice heavy breasts."

[@DKdrop]

“Man guys I like women so, so much. Definitely. For sure.”

[@pvc395]

@@McBenjiii Female woman with heavy breasts

[@JJPoiesidion99]

What I expected: Haha Todd makes fun of funny yeehaw song What I got: In depth look into how genres hurt the current music climate +review of Old Town Road

[@alex_flamer267]

But it's entertaining seeing him tackle the issue.

[@juicyd9233]

PDHicks this was a fucking ride

[@April_a26]

@@juicyd9233 a horse ride

[@The_Nametag]

That's why we watch Todd in the Shadows. He's seriously underappreciated. He does yoeman's work for music.

[@RokuroCarisu]

That's why Todd is a great reviewer: He talks about the things that really matter on the subject. Nothing more, nothing less.

[@xfronwenzyoucamex]

I've never seen the music video for this and for a while I was like "why is Todd trying to show us his Red Dead highlight reel?"

[@gabe_s_videos]

Remember, the song didn't HAVE a video when it first got popular. That only happened after it became a hit and long after Todd made this video.

[@ThierryVerhoeven]

You know it's really something special when Todd, who is (by his own admission) always late to the party, drops his review before the official video comes out.

[@lanzinator4734]

"Rap is somehow not pop despite being more popular than everything else" ... YES THANK YOU!!

[@floydlooney6837]

rap is not singing

[@notknown8431]

+Floyd Looney pop just means popular music singing isnt necessarily required. If jazz made a comeback and everyone likes it then it becomes the "pop" music +Dapper Changeling Making a massive generalization there. The 3 biggest rap artists are Drake, Kendrick Lamar and JCole. Drake you can argue is indeed nasal drone. JCole is pretty conscious & goes against the 'my dicks big' claim. Kendrick, (who has a pulitzer prize, smthn very few artists in history can claim) has produced the most artistically advanced album in decades (To Pimp a Butterfly). There is no other artist in any other genre with that credibility and he happens to be a rapper.

[@gkay8889]

@@TheDapperDragon rap IS more popular right now..stop typing bullshit..and its fine

[@randyrichmondiii9021]

@@TheDapperDragon that's a bit close minded don't you think?

[@sandrasandria452]

@@TheDapperDragon ur so fucking lame LMAO

[@itisnotsosimple]

Does this mean Billy Ray is technically no longer a one hit wonder?

[@troodon1096]

Well by country standards, he already wasn't, but yes: by pop standards he now officially has a second hit.

[@knowyourroleboulevard7119]

@@troodon1096 his album wss #1 for like 17 weeks or something. Plus he had a song with his daughter peak at #37. So top 40 hit. And theres a thing billboard has called the pop charts(Mainstream top 40) with 40 slots for pop songs. No matter if hot 100 or MT40 a top 40 hit is a top 40 hit.

[@wordforger]

Yep.

[@Petepeatpeet]

No because it's not a Billy Ray song, it's a Lil Nas X song featuring Billy Ray.

[@davidwoods8181]

I think we need to give it time to see if this song stands the test of time. A lot of one hit wonders had other technical “hits” but they just didn’t live on like their one big song

[@medes5597]

"the Internets laziest music nerd" Toddthany Shadtanto strikes again.

[@luiscarlosarenas9370]

@Bravoler Dark Melon

[@TheP1x3l]

Shadowmelon

[@TheAllAroundMan]

Toddinthe Shadowstano

[@ThatPlasticOne]

Todd does Blind Melon for One Hit Wonderland confirmed

[@iamwontolla]

"Great review Todd, but did you really have to end it with five straight minutes of jokes about Billy Ray being on heroin?"

[@tacomanbob1233]

For me the chorus at the end with billy Ray and lil nas harmonizing was what really sold me on the song. Something about it just was so rich and appealing, combining the best aspects of trap beats and country melodies

[@idax358]

I LOVED THAT AS WELL

[@shawklan27]

Agreed

[@gabe_s_videos]

It sounds like a song people actually WANTED to make! You listen to Lil Naz X's EP, even if you don't like it, he's clearly not just painting by numbers. You can tell he has some sort of vision.

[@Kennisiou]

"I swear we're just this close to re-writing we didn't start the fire" and 4 years later the prophecy is fulfilled by fucking Fallout Boy.

[@CSXIV]

There's a comment in the "official 'Old Town Road' movie" where Little Nas X says "I don't know; last time I was in this town, they didn't like outsiders" and Billy Ray follows up with "this time you have me. It'll be all right." I swear that's meta commentary on how Billy Ray got the country people to accept the song.

[@wlwcats5810]

it's hard not to defend Lil Nas when Beyoncé was also ripped off for Daddy Lessons even tho that's the most country song ever lmao

[@princesssookeh]

yup.

[@TeShiky]

She was?

[@MsSwagga4eva]

Beyoncé put the dixie chicks on the remix so she could get on the country charts. Just like Lil Nas X did with Billy Ray Cyrus. Who decides who's country enough to get on this chart anyway??

[@kenziealtarrowhead]

@@MsSwagga4eva Morons, morons decide.

[@Psykomancer]

Vocalist - has a slight southern drawl Billboard - ITS COUNTRY MUSIC

[@mastermarkus5307]

That is 100% accurate from the "country" songs I've heard in like the last 5 years. It sounds like pop music, but fuck it, they have a drawl!

[@murciadoxial8056]

artist is black, billboard: nah, mistake, hippity hoppity

[@merchantfan]

@@mastermarkus5307 Honestly this is the bigger issue- sure Old Towne Road doesn't sound that country... but most country these days doesn't sound that country either. The fact that they singled this out for not being country was what raised eyebrows. Honestly these days country is just pop music for Trump country people- note the fact that talented musicians like Margo Price or Kacey Musgraves who get recognition even in the CMAs don't get radio play and aren't well-known by 'country fans'. All the women are basically pop stars- no Reba Mcintires or Dixie Chicks now just a lot of bros with the occasional pop-style blonde.

[@jprxfd6656]

merchantfan Trump was born in New York City. He’s not country. I know your point is different from that one fact but I just would like to let you know.

[@kristenyarbrough4287]

@@jprxfd6656 i think they were referring to the kind of people who tend to support trump, like blue collar, working class, conservatives, older, country

[@OlEgSaS32]

you know, until you mentioned that the music video is literally just Red Dead Redemption II footage, i honestly thought this song was some bizarre tie-in promo for it

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

I'm surprised they didn't try to collab with him for the PC release or anything. Then again, that's probably the most disastrous port release since Arkham Knight.

[@byakuyatogami2905]

Honestly a video in a video game makes me respect him a lot.

[@pikgears]

I think this actually predates RDR2, I think that's RDR1 footage

[@pikgears]

Nevermind I was wrong

[@samdragonborn5864]

It slaps That’s it Makes me wanna get on a horse Gets me wanting to dance

[@rohangarg2468]

690th like nice

[@CuleChick11]

Artist: Tries a new thing. Society: Likes it. Media: askgnodfighdfgobdlf? Controversy!!

[@MarkBonneaux]

Media: HOW CAN WE CLICK BAIT THIS?

[@SeanStrife]

Media doesn't know how to handle shit not being quarantined over.

[@seveamin1]

I never liked it lol

[@christianfaux736]

I feel like this is exactly indicative of what's wrong with media commentary today

[@mikrokosmicluv1824]

TBH, this being a hit makes more sense to me than Girls Like You

[@WhatLake]

At least it's relatively interesting.

[@React2Quick]

Well comparing anything to Girls Like You makes it better. Fuck you Maroon 5. You suck.

[@8nicopink868]

In terms of quality at least, since this song is waaay better than Girls Like You. But Girls Like You was a hit because Maroon 5 has been constantly on the charts, and Cardi B was on it. Lil Nas X and this song did come right out of nowhere.

[@mikrokosmicluv1824]

Nicole Batista I definitely agree that Girls Like You benefited from who was involved, especially Cardi. Even the fact that she accepted the award for the song on M5’s behalf at the BBMAs was appropriate

[@8nicopink868]

@@mikrokosmicluv1824 Yeah, and I think Cardi was mostly added to the song to make it seem more interesting, because of her personality. As if Cardi B is TOTALLY the type of girl Adam Levine is talking about. Kind of like how the music video of the song makes it seem like the song is about strong, independent women, when the song is barely about anything.

[@michaelfarrow5817]

As Todd says, there's grit and dignity. I listened to Billy Ray rattle off a list of rich boy's toys. Then he made it sound like he just wants to go back to a simpler time when he was trying to make his own way in life and then the whole thing took on a different dimension. It became wistful, there felt like a longing and it brought the whole thing together. The irreverent youngster, forging his own post-modern path, and the aging gunslinger, who misses the journey. Maybe I've read too much into it.

[@pinneaplejoyride]

The dark tower IRL

[@djraptorx]

I actually really like Billy Ray's voice, I think he definitely added to the song.

[@rainbowpearlvlogsandanimations]

I agree.

[@elihodges5593]

These are the kinds of reviews that remind me why I watch you man. You're insightful, but your self-awareness shows the depth of the things you talk about. I appreciate the work you put in.

[@barbarrojaa.c.4761]

Todd is probably one of the smartest reviewers in the Internet reviewer game. He can make commentary amd provide balanced reviews while still being incredibly funny. He always comes of a sincere and thoughtful while writing expertly timed jokes. Agree or disagree with him I always understand why he considers something good or not and gives me an insight into a world I am not a part off and always makes me smile with his humor.

[@davidmonypeny5734]

You're right Todd's the best. His review of Scatman is one of my favorite things I've seen on KZbin.

[@HeyLetsDoAThing]

If you think Todd is good, Rap Critic makes him look like a hack by comparison.

[@vocalcalibration8033]

@@HeyLetsDoAThing That's debatable.

[@crazyluigi6664]

@@vocalcalibration8033 Yeah, sometimes he's like that, like in his own Old Town Road episode. That had him even mention the Nine Inch Nails sample. However, there have been some episodes where he was a bit out there sometimes, like in his latest episode on Yelawolf.

[@abracadaverous]

Nothing about this song should work, but it gradually grows on you. Like toe fungus.

[@riahlexington]

Yup

[@fable23]

I just like to imagine a bunch of critics and artists in a big group screaming at each other over the genre of this song, while Nas is just hanging in the back, grinning and nodding in agreement to all of them as he rakes huge stacks of money into a big sack with a dollar sign on it.

[@ArizonanSummer]

Can we please not call him “Nas” for short?

[@tafua_a]

Knowing what we know now, part of me thinks he did it on purpose. He is one of the few people nowadays that understands how to be controversial. He deconstructs the hypocrisy of many trends and cultural taboos, and then gets piles of cash off of it.

[@DKdrop]

⁠@@tafua_a It does make me worry a little that he’s letting music take a backseat to controversy, though. I don’t think that he is; LNX is smart enough to know that he probably can’t pull the same trick a third time, and his stuff has always been decent to good. But I don’t think any of his music has been amazing yet, and I hope that now that the dust has settled on OTR and Montero, he might be a bit more focused. He’s a spectacle musician, that’s for sure, but I think he can do more than that.

[@GradySmith]

Absolutely loved this video. I related to all of the mixed emotions you expressed. TIime and time again, you prove why being slower-to-speak is such a mark of wisdom. This is the first Old Town Road take that I absolutely LOVE, and it's also the most wishy-washy. I think that's indicative of why I like your channel so much. You're willing to not fully know what you think. That's cool.

[@johnindigo5477]

Love your channel, the first video I saw was the one about snap beats killing country, and I saw your video on old town road. I seen both you and Todd's view points and agree with both of you. The youth really likes this song. everyone at my high school likes this in Texas.

[@ark4896]

Ok this is pretty cool seeing one somewhat famous guy I watch on here interact with another

[@avosmash2121]

You summed up what I love about Todd. He doesnt mind having grey area opinions, not always knowing at the end how he feels, and he even at times can say a song is pure dumb bullshit but still admit he likes it....or the inverse, say it has credentials and pure talent or a really good message and he still hates it and that its ok for anyone to take anything from that.

[@maggie6319]

its like having your friends from elementry school and highschool meet

[@shutuptravis5609]

But you forget Country music is just a southern accent

[@someone___1240]

Travis Rayome which is why I dislike it

[@dougurt]

How could you say something so controversial, yet so brave

[@celestialspartan1176]

Well....Dan + Shay might beg to differ.

[@radw1999]

It's a genre of drinking, heartbreak, storytelling in general. The new "country" music has no soul except for a few exceptions.

[@samboujaiteh3331]

That honestly explains why country’s taking so much influence from rap music.

[@SuperHothead14]

I wasn't expecting this but I'm happy it's here.

[@MrChaotic4]

This song is probably a safe bet for Todd's Best of the Year list.

[@JBexplores]

Literally the only thing that makes music “country” is someone singing in a southern American accent

[@alannahfisherman1321]

And southern doesn’t automatically equal “country”.

[@Emmuzka]

So the two of the most influential country songs in the recent decades were contributed by... Nine Inch Nails. Gotta respect that.

[@NJGuy1973]

And two Oscar-winning movie scores.

[@haunted14]

Trent Reznor deserves way more respect.

[@CoffeeCakeNation]

Gotta watch it before its taken down

[@yourchaoticadhdfriend3523]

Ikr!

[@briankaslewicz6130]

Lil Nas gonna be on the country charts longer than the review will be watchable here.

[@notthechosenjuan2413]

True like that one video that is still gone, I think it was a train wreckords but I could be wrong.

[@yourchaoticadhdfriend3523]

@@notthechosenjuan2413 it was a Lauryn hill trainwreckord I think. Also I recently checked, and 17 TOP TEN VIDEOS WERE DELETED. Edit: most of them are back now. 😃

[@munjee2]

This one will never be taken down he barely takes about the song

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

Fun fact: for the past three weeks, Old Town Road has seen the three biggest streaming weeks for any song ever, beating out the record set by Drake on the first week of the In My Feelings challenge.

[@riahlexington]

Wow!!

[@michaeladkins6]

Biggest streaming weeks are not a big deal. Im sure Taylor Swift will have the record this week. 2019 has had the weirdest group of #1 songs.

[@riahlexington]

Michael Adkins yeah I know!

[@Candela115]

Good. In my feelings is just awful.

[@youngkennie1164]

Justice served

[@KaijaSchmauss]

I'm so glad someone finally acknowledged that Billy Ray was never respected or considered a legend. My dad was the drummer in a country band when Achy Breaky Heart came out, and they used to do a parody of that song because they all hated it so much. Dad still profusely hates Billy Ray Cyrus now. Calling Billy Ray the Rico Suavey of country is apt.

[@sdsign4229]

15:34 Lamborghinis, John Deere Maseratis, cold beer ... We wrote a country rap song Did some genre-blending Now the world is ending We wrote a country rap song Controversy sparking Over some malarky

[@GladiusTR]

Beautiful

[@porpoisefulpop]

I swear Todd dropping these videos is like a huge event to me.

[@rev1595]

He's my favorite music reviewer on the internets. He has a nuanced POV and knows how to express it.

[@carolineyo9255]

I cried laughing when Todd talked about how Billy Ray Cyrus taking Lil Nas X under his wing out of the goodness of his heart.

[@carolineyo9255]

County legend billy Ray Cyrus I’m crying so hard. His delivery is on point. Replay forever

[@robertcornhole5197]

HORSES IN THE BACK BOOTS WITH THE FUR

[@roguishpaladin]

Don't put fur boots on your horse. That's what blacksmiths are for.

[@NJGuy1973]

The whole old town was looking at her...

[@ChaseTheHorizons]

You just cant escape it. Its a good song. To paraphrase Arnold Rimmer "its like a chilli chutney sandwich. All the elements are completely wrong. Yet, inexplicably. It works"

[@sreckocuvalo8110]

Todd, we been living in alternative meme reality since 2012, catch up damn it.

[@SRLovesPandas1]

Srećko Čuvalo damn it was 2012 lol we have Gangnam Style to thank for the meme hits

[@ProfesserLuigi]

In the regular reality, the world ended in 2012.

[@Carewolf]

Dumbest timeline..

[@lurgertor]

@@ProfesserLuigi Wait does that mean the Mayans were correct after all?

[@witnessme4352]

The idea of Hank Williams Jr. doing "Whoomp! There It Is" sounds like something out of one of my nightmares.

[@billvolk4236]

Contemporary country is just pop with a Southern accent. It's a totally vacuous category.

[@lgstack2496]

Bill Volk just like contemporary christian music is just country music without a southern accent and religious lyrics lmao

[@TonyGiannamore]

Luke Gramith Theyre really trying to be Indie Pop for some reason tho

[@ThePhl4ever]

The crazy thing is that it is more country than "Meant to Be" which was not country at all and was had overproduced handclaps. Even if it is only a sample of a banjo there are actually instruments being played and not overproduced handclaps. Yet they allow Meant to Be to be on the country charts...

[@Ravie1]

As someone who doens't give a flying fuck about country I honestly just want to see billboard kick everything that isn't hardcore country (which as Todd pointed out is a huge portion of the country hits) off the charts just to piss off country fans who only care about the aesthetic of country and not the music. Seeing those idiots pissed off would be delightful.

[@bobbob24able]

It's good that you got into everything about the country/rap arguments. As a country musician and a massive hip-hop head myself, the simple fact is this: Old Town Road doesn't sound any different than over half of what is on the radio. Country fans have been up in arms about the fact that country has taken a step towards sounding like hip-hop since Florida Georgia Line really started that movement. I HATE what country has turned into. It takes the worst part of country and the worst part of white rapping and combines them into an un-listenable genre. Perfect example of this is Sam Hunt's "Breakup In A Small Town". If anyone hasn't heard that abomination, I highly, highly suggest you listen. It's a great example of how country musicians are bold-faced stealing from black artists and then excluding black artists who make the exact same music as their white counterparts. It is quite possibly the worst song I have ever heard in my life. Also, I'm glad Todd makes pretty good money off his videos with Patreon. He deserves it.

[@hxrleydxrling9662]

Nick I ironically jam to break up in a small town just because it’s so bad

[@jordankendall2705]

Nick couldn't agree more, music evolves over time, and it includes country. I don't think any genre is what it was a decade ago, and the industry needs to realize this and embrace what music is now.

[@cartooncritic7045]

I first heard "Breakup in a Small Town" on the radio, and it actually fooled me into thinking that Sam Hunt was black because of how blatantly he ripped off the typical hip-hop sound to me. I only found out that he was white when Todd here reviewed his other hit "Body Like a Back Road."

[@EpicB]

I honestly hope we see more music like Old Town Road.

[@mikerivera373]

Break Up in a Small Town is the worst song you’ve ever heard? It’s not even the worst Sam Hunt I’ve ever heard. Or hell, even the worst song on that atrocious album.

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

Theres no feeling better than hearing Todd play the piano intro of a review of a song you have very strong thoughts on, with the anticipation building as you wonder what angle hes gonna take on critiquing it.

[@riahlexington]

I wonder what your thoughts on it are

[@Flowtail]

It's a lot less cool when you've never heard the song--but OHWL usually makes up for it

[@EliDEVITTSpeaks]

Todd: bitching about existence of genres. Me: Gorillaz is a band that exists.

[@TSFboi]

I use Alternative Pop

[@TSFboi]

I use Alternative Pop

[@freedfg6694]

@@TSFboi is it alt-pop? Or is literally every other song a different Genre? I think that's okay.

[@dvt1393]

Love them or hate them, Twenty-one Pilots are basically the biggest post-genre group in the world.

[@alexbonilla2041]

Bruh sublime was the og band to break down genre barriers

[@caspianodinsson5084]

Despite its overexamination, I still love this song, and I still smile when it comes up on my playlist.

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

See Todd, we didnt skip 90s nostalgia, we just decided to cut out the middle man and drag the artists themselves out of moth balls.

[@riahlexington]

Snow.

[@stevethepocket]

Spoilers: This is also how all nostalgia crazes will work from now on.

[@Danoplaysgames]

I think I like it because it's a decent banger made by some random dude with a unique gimmick attached too it, it's fun.

[@nkechi4635]

Yup. If it's catchy, it's catchy.

[@4203105]

Todd: "What universe am I living in." We are living in the weirdest timeline, Todd. Get with the program.

[@NJGuy1973]

You ain't seen nothin' yet.

[@murciadoxial8056]

@@NJGuy1973 This is a birthday party compared to what is upon us.

[@thehopeofeden597]

*Todd:* 0 *Soulja Boy:* 1,000,000,000 Well I mean...Todd you haven’t been sentenced to jail this week. So you’ve got that.

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

He also wouldn't be able to buy himself out.

[@mikrokosmicluv1824]

As someone who only knew it as a joke song, I wasn’t aware of all this discourse. Definitely the whole clap back against arbitrary genre characteristics was amazing. While I don’t care for the song lyrically, it does sound “cool” and undeniably interesting compared to what’s currently around (as you mention there’s only like 5 new songs on the radio and I think I only heard 2 of them recently)

[@ethanrichmond3992]

The last time I was this early, Old Town Road was still on the country charts.

[@Cool_Calm_Cam]

Coming back to this 4 years later, it is *so* g.d. funny to note that *Billy Ray Cyrus* now holds the record for *the* one track that has stayed at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the longest uninterrupted period of time *ever.*

[@TSFboi]

The appeal of OTR outside of being a meme is that it creates a mood & a feeling. I've seen multiple people say they wanna get a horse and become a cowboy after listening to that song.

[@alexandriaorcld6365]

"The breakdown of genre lines is why everything sounds like the same Imagine-Dragon-sy featureless glop" Pop centrism is trying to bleed into everything else.

[@keenban]

The intro piano gave me a good chuckle. Thanks, Todd!

[@murciadoxial8056]

it also sounds very... nine inch nailsy

[@Wired4Life2]

*From "these lyrics are just...plain BAD" to "so this song is really good and I like it a lot"-THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is why Todd in the Shadows is one of the great music critics of our time. ^_^*

[@youdbettertube]

He still says the lyrics aren't rly good tho lol...just that the lyrics aren't really the point

[@mothcub]

I have a distinct memory of me at my 17th birthday party, dressed as Woody from Toy Story, cranking that Soulja Boy, so yee haw I guess.

[@gsacelm7753]

I mean, since Billboard thinks Post Malone is rap, then how is this not?

[@josh44026]

Post malone is alt rnb

[@josh44026]

@@TheRandomSapphire he sings and alt rnb had a hip hop influence

[@t4nkychannel921]

Guys, its a joke. Because Post Malone sucks.

[@hyperionnova2854]

hahahahahaha next you're gonna tell me Jake Paul is country

[@riahlexington]

I don’t think he is

[@AnvilPro100]

Todd loving this only after Billy Ray was added just completes this bizarro world episode

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

It makes what he says about BRC even more ironic, because that's what made him like the song, lol

[@shiivainu9442]

It started with a strong opinion but you challenged yourself consistently throughout the review and I have to say, I respect the f out you.

[@usagitsukinooo]

Rewatching all Todd's reviews in 2022 and hearing Lil Nas X refered to as a no name is the most bizarre thing ever

[@MrOzy8080]

Yes Old Piano Man, talk politics to me

[@mimmikibilly]

been around the world, don't speak the language but your social crisis don't need explainin' *talk politics to me* parapappa paraparapa paraparapapapapapa

[@Contributron]

Fun fact: the main sample is from a Nine Inch Nails track.

[@riahlexington]

Yep

[@Flowtail]

Fourth time ive seen a comment to this effect

[@operationalbattlestation5477]

Contributron that's lit. Nine inch nails is the shit

[@TheMadwomen]

@2EEZUS It’s off the album “ghosts”, and it’s one of the many songs titled “ghost”. While Ghost is good, I think Ghost is better, though both are better than Ghost

[@operationalbattlestation5477]

donutmaster437 do you write for urban dictionary?

[@Dilettante15]

One full year later, still slaps.

[@RachelSoma]

Can confirm, still a bop

[@hayleymarks5224]

Hey Todd when are you gonna talk about Billie Eilish? ...asking for a friend...

[@lydiavalentino]

I assume "bad guy" is next

[@Betta66]

@@lydiavalentino Spoiler alert: it's not

[@lydiavalentino]

@@Betta66 if it's not on the docket it'll probably be saved for list season

[@yolomcswagmuffins6574]

We got 6 months until the lists, that's the only conceivable place he’ll discuss Billie Eilish.

[@lgstack2496]

what, the friend you buried?

[@EthanJ1005]

I was literally just looking at Todd's channel thinking "when the hell is the Old Town Road review gonna come out?"

[@kimifw58]

Have you tried Rap Critic?

[@EthanJ1005]

Kimi FW I follow RC but I like Todd more tbh

[@loganfieldsfilms]

Darkest teeth in the game

[@sdsign4229]

Are you referring to Todd, with "the game" being reviewing pop songs?

[@jesusfreak777ize]

Hooo boy. You haven't seen arguments about genres until you go into a metalhead discussion board. "follow my band, we're a slamming brutal blackened deathcore band" "uh, no way, that sounds like post-blackened vegancore"

[@louisduarte8763]

Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus seemed to have fun in the studio recording this song, and I cannot get mad at that.

[@honeycatacomb1191]

I'm kinda surprised you didn't mention the nine inch nails sample

[@lookbovine]

That could have just as easily been Death Cab for Cutie, New Pornographers, a Silver Jews intro, or hundreds of other indie rock, bluegrass or country artists making an instrumental or soundtrack… as in it’s not identifiable as NNN, so makes no difference.

[@ObsceneLobster]

I can’t believe you’d Slander the greatest country singer of our time, AJ Styles, like that.

[@Twiztedgoalie]

He don't want none!

[@snickylzn]

The phenamenal aj styles xd

[@davidallen234]

Yup yup yup yup yup yup yup

[@haiqal5333]

Lmao, wrong country dude, man 😜😂

[@haiqal5333]

I hope he's ready for the phenomena forearm

[@umidragon]

15:32 And "We didn't start the fire" got re-wrote by Fallout Boys. Todstradamus strikes~

[@MrGetownedLP]

WAITT

[@saxyrep1]

"Jay Ludda Biggie"! 🤣🤣🤣This is my new rap name now ! I'm dead.

[@anastasiabespalova4883]

Still kinda sad Todd doesn't have enough Jonas Brothers material, I'd like to watch that review too...

[@konnorfoxworth9632]

At least it’s a better meme song than Baby Shark.

[@rainbowpearlvlogsandanimations]

We do not talk about that song. But you are right.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Todd historically hated all the meme songs from Vine back in the day, but it's interesting to see him come around on the idea. You kinda have to come around on it considering Tiktok makes WAY more songs into memes. I mean, are you really gonna hate on Chinese New Year by SALES because some kids filmed their pet bird bobbing their head and put it to that song?

[@Slash27015]

Imo baby shark was the top ironic mom song, whom want their kid to be strong but not "too strong".. 1000% marketted materal to the least conscious demographic.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

But it helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series.

[@ffjreviews9029]

Baby shark is played ALL THE DAMN TIME AT MY SCHOOL. Schools have the worst taste in music, like the worst taste.

[@davidmonypeny5734]

If Lil Nas X had wanted a true legend on this, he should've gotten Willie Nelson to do it instead of Billy Ray Cyrus. Willie would've done it just to piss off Nashville.

[@EpicB]

Maybe he'll get Willie Nelson on his next single.

[@isabellamorris7902]

@@alexzisedwards7283 wait what?? Never heard of that one. Will have a look into it

[@medes5597]

Todd is wrong about him being asked and it just being a collab. Billy Ray contacted Lil Nas X when Billboard rejected the song and Billy Ray genuinely tried to help him (he helped get the song on country radio in Nashville with his connections in the industry). That's why he's on the remix, he genuinely thought Nas was fucked over by Billboard and the country establishment. Todd seems to think he was just hired for the job but he'd genuinely been involved with the song and Nas for a while.

[@johnindigo5477]

Willie Nelson and yelawolf. Yelawolf a rapper from Alabama that has a lot of respect in the rap world. Hes also very country. And willie would just bring his outlaw style to the song

[@Huckleberry87]

David Monypeny My thought as well, Johnny Cash would be proud of this kid. I can totally see Willie making something fun with him.

[@RecklessInternetting]

Hey Todd, remember when Crazy Frog was a thing? You should do that for a One-Hit-Wonder

[@canpiv09]

0 hits in the US, more than one hit everywhere else. I wouldn't think it'd qualify.

[@Drogon7102]

@@canpiv09 Todd only cares about us success. It still probably count because of it is so infamous.

[@SwiftyStardust]

Yeah, Crazy Frog was only really a thing in Europe. I don't think it counts.

[@Drogon7102]

@@SwiftyStardust crazy frog was a thing everywhere what do you mean.

[@SwiftyStardust]

@@Drogon7102 Crazy Frog barely had one hit in the US, and fizzled out internationally by the early 2010s. And while Todd has reviewed songs that border on Novelty, Crazy Frog is explicitly a novelty artist and probably wouldn't qualify.

[@clairewhite4168]

19 minutes of why Kacey Musgraves’ country is great and not problematic

[@medes5597]

Jello Biafra (with Mojo Nixon) recorded a country album called _Prairie Home Invasion_ and that had a song literally calling out Nashville ( _let's burn ol'Nashville down_ ) and his album sold well enough for inclusion on the country charts but it was barred from inclusion because "it's more punk than country" (which it wasn't). I honestly don't see this as being much different, except a few decades later and there's an obvious racial element.

[@medes5597]

@thenoosehangsfromheaven S U P P O S E D L Y Jello's song is actually similar in content. Jello's song was a rant aimed at the pop-country movement that was taking Nashville and Country radio by storm when the album was released kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIG7hpaqq7ueqZo (it's Mojo Nixon on lead vocal, not Jello, he sings back up though) To be fair all The Hanks (I, II and III) have kind of had that punk attitude about them. Hank Williams I was GG Allin's idol as an example (and them Hank II and Hank III both recorded tribute songs to GG because of that)

[@x_VineM_x]

@@medes5597 GG was too real for this world...

[@lookbovine]

That was a country album though. This was different music with lyrical content about country. That is different, as in not the same at all.

[@medes5597]

@@lookbovine eh, this was clearly as country as any of the hick hop that was dominating just before old Town Road came out and they didn't quibble them. Plus that album isn't about country topics at all, it has songs like "Will The Fetus Be Aborted?" and such. It was a country album but their issue was with the artists and content. This is a country song (or at least a crossover country song) and their issue is with the artist and content.

[@EscaVODS]

This song is great, there are no qualms about it. I dont even like country and trap songs. I'm just worried Lil Nas X wont be able to do a follow up song to this and end up another One Hit Wonder. Also, 1 minute in and I already knew you like the song and have a cowboy hat somewhere near you. Hee haw!

[@troodon1096]

Would be ironic wouldn't it, if this song made Lil Nas X a one hit-wonder... when it made Billy Ray Cyrus a two-hit wonder.

[@unfabulouslyfabulous]

Hey panini

[@brysonturner6019]

@@unfabulouslyfabulous Don't you be a meanie

[@xXChaoticRavenXx]

Panini is a damn banger

[@dew7350]

Oh, here we go

[@bisexualmajima]

Honestly part of why this song is so amazing is the fact that you have so many intersecting factors as to why it should no way in hell work or be any sort of success yet it still made it any way. It's endearing on top of being a banger. Like, who the fuck would've thought a meme rap song sampling NIN with lyrics about horses with the fucking Achy Breaky Heart dude/Hannah Montana's dad on it 25 years past his prime would've worked a few years back? It sounds like a shitpost in writing.

[@ThatPlasticOne]

Wack (With a Cape On It) This should be a song name

[@rensje]

Sounds like a Fall Out Boy song

[@SpoopySquid]

@@rensje "Not all songs with weird, pretentious titles are by Fallout Boy" by Panic! At the Disco

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

@@SpoopySquid Please tell me that's a real song title.

[@roguishpaladin]

@@noesunyoutuber7680 It's not. Someone get Brandon Urie of Panic! at the Disco on the phone.

[@Ariadne404]

It's a helluva lot better than Accidental Racist, at least.

[@averagebritishguy7082]

Don't remind us.

[@amityislandchum]

Accidental Racist is probably the worst song ever made.

[@troodon1096]

Not a high bar to clear.

[@dvt1393]

I've never heard this song. But, it seems like it is terrible. Is it worth checking it out just to see how bad it is?

[@johnindigo5477]

@@dvt1393 dont. If you really want to know todd and the rap critic actully made a crossover review of the song a few years ago

[@hueynapalm]

This is one of the best videos you've done. You had me on a journey the entire first half. I legitimately thought you hated it. Then that twist. Perfectly written. Well done.

[@SuperDevolution]

"What universe am I in?" The dark one, Todd. We all ended up in the dark one.

[@murciadoxial8056]

This comment aged like fine wine... Holy fucking shit...

[@blixby9617]

Agreed

[@SuperDevolution]

@@murciadoxial8056 Usually I'm more of a NostraDumbass than a Nostradamus, but I get it right once in a while.

[@murciadoxial8056]

@@SuperDevolution you got one right so you are already better than nostradamus

[@SuperDevolution]

It keeps getting darker. I don't know when we changed, but I wanna go back. I miss the old universe.

[@kerrkr12]

I was born in 1993, and I don't think country music has existed in the entire duration of my life.

[@nickrustyson8124]

It have, it's was pretty bad

[@nAb-IlIIlIlIll]

It's been there it's just horrible. Sturgill Simpson is the exception to that rule.

[@gracecarpinter8623]

@@talkgoodenglish7500 Not just in the US, either. From New Zealand: Marlon Williams (whom you may remember from him briefly popping up in A Star Is Born during the Grammys Roy Orbison performance), Delaney Davidson and Tami Nielson (who was originally from Canada but she's been here long enough).

[@EpicB]

I was born in 1998 and I barely try to keep up with modern popular music. And from what I've heard over the past few years it's been dull. As for what country music is like these days I don't know.

[@jakelamoreaux634]

It does but you will never hear it on the radio, like the day I hear Jason Isbell on the radio is the day hell freezes over

[@sonokawaray]

Honestly I have to give them credit for creative use of a NIN track I otherwise wouldn't have imagined being used in such a context. Can't even complain about how old it makes me feel that Ghosts I - IV is getting sampled for other songs now, it's just cool to see it getting some recognition even all these years later.

[@StormyKopaAMVs]

I've said it many times. Soulja Boy was way ahead of his time, even if I found him absolutely unbearable when I was a teen.

[@GraceLJW]

LNX is iconic and I never say that. I just cannot get enough of his music. There's just so much to every song without it being all 'deep' and blaaaghhh. By being who he is he's somehow controversial and I love how he handles it.

[@Literallyanythingelse340]

Lemme go ahead and watch this before it disappears for good

[@carolineyo9255]

Lil Nas grew up on Hannah Montana. Thank you for the lulz.

[@capngeeoff]

I mean there's a trap song literally called Hannah Montana. Maybe she's heavily influential in the genre?

[@patavinity1262]

Alternate universe version: "New City Street" by Jay Luda-Biggie

[@SeanStrife]

And it's a fucking New Jack Swing throwback... which our world could use, if I'm being honest.

[@NJGuy1973]

And in that alternate universe, Alan Levitt is the lead singer of Purple 7, the most innovative and boundary-pushing band in rock history.

[@blachubear]

Great video. You kinda forgot to mention that Lil Nas X sample the song "Ghost 34" by Nine Inch Nails.

[@Ysckemia]

i wonder if Trent Reznor has any opinion about all this fuss and mess XD

[@andrebrynkus2055]

I read about it yesterday and Trent is really cool about it. He said that they even asked him to be in the video but he turned them down because he didn't want to take attention away from Lil Nas X. What a great guy.

[@Ysckemia]

@@andrebrynkus2055 thank you for the feedback! :)