"If you want more popular country artists to sing songs that have real meaning, don't be pissed off at the ones who do." -Jason Isbells's tweet in response to those upset about ZBB singing/recording his song. This is a big accomplishment/recognition for Jason and will likely help his career. You guys should be proud of him, not upset.
You realize he has no talent and couldn't write a song like this to save his life. If you wanna hear a real talent, listen to the writer of this song, Jason Isbell
luthierjustin1 You're an idiot. Zac Brown has written dozens of songs, an incredible/powerful voice and is one of the most original musicians there is. Not only that, but he is a splendid guitarist. Music needs more bands like the ZBB!
luthierjustin1 First: Zac Brown Band has written all of their original songs. Simple enough. Second: If you have any question about ZBB's musical talent, watch them play "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and Zac drumming on his guitar while simultaneously plucking the strings in "Goodbye in Her Eyes". After you do that, please get back to me.
For sure this is a brilliantly written song and I applaud Zac for covering it. I would imagine many listening to this during the Super Bowl didn't take in the meaning in the same way many politicians use Born In The U.S.A. during their campaigns.
Pretty great version of an amazing song....Love Isbell and kudos to ZBB for making this song thier own, while staying true to the original....to the detractors...ZB isnt trying to make anyone believe its his song...if JI has given his blessing....enough already...dont like the cover....dont listen to it....myself...i will listen to both..
As a OIF and OEF USMC infantry combat veteran, I think ZBB does a great job with this song. All theses people talking shit are foolish and doing it to be hip/
Ha! I totally feel the audience member who says "Oh my god" when the violin plays taps. Just a little too schmaltzy, but glad Isbell's song will be heard by many more people than otherwise.
Good but too polished. Takes the sincerity out of the tune. Isbell means what he says in this one. I don't believe Zac, sorry. Sounds like he's just singing another song….
I noticed he sang "to fight in some god awful war" instead of the original "to fight somebody's Hollywood war". That sapped a lot of meaning from the song. If Zac Brown is going to sing somebody else's song, and it's fine if he does, he just needs to keep it true to the original and not turn it into a cotton candy red-white-and-blue pop country song.
jennifer irish Jennifer - you are really missing the point of both "Hollywood War" and "God-awful war"... "Hollywood war has nothing to do with being Hollywood types - it is an accusation about the way the war is glorified in the media and by the government. I think the change weakens the song a bit, but I don't think it is meant not to offend the audience or undercuts the meaning that much. Calling the war God-awful is also not jingoistic statement of patriotism. It is not a patriotic song in either version.
jennifer irish The song is not a patriotic song, either version of it. When Jason Isbell (who wrote the song) wrote "to fight somebody's Hollywood war" it was an indictment of GW Bush. It was a way of saying that the war wasn't justified and that young men were dying fighting in a war that GW started to feed his own ego. GW wanted to be a star (see the propaganda spectacle on the aircraft carrier with the "Mission Accomplished" banner). It's well documented that early in his term GW told those in his cabinet that presidents are only remembered in history if they oversee a war. Zac Brown's version is still not patriotic, but he was too scared that his fans wouldn't like the criticism that was at the heart of that line that communicated the underlying meaning of the song, and he changed it to avoid that conflict. That's why I said it was a cotton candy pop song, and I think it definitely was.
nilradem Not missing the point at all. Just seeing it differently... IN support of/recognizing those touched by family/friends war. Not involving the politics of it.
