The High Cost of Swearing for Jamey Johnson
It's one of my favorite Jamey Johnson songs. And it hits radio stations this week. But I have a feeling "High Cost of Living" may not get quite the spins his "In Color" did. Sixteen radio stations have already added the new song to their playlists. But will the rest of the thousands of stations follow suit?
"High Cost of Living" is, if you really listen to it, an anti-drug message. Johnson admits that there is a pretty steep price to pay when you spend all your time smoking pot, doing coke and looking for love in all the wrong places. But if you just glance at the lyrics, and you're the boss at a country radio station, chances are you won't add it because you know the mere mention of pot, coke and whores will cause a flood of angry calls from listeners. But there are plenty of radio execs who think the good outweighs the bad on this one.
And that's a good thing. Because I couldn't really picture Johnson recording a clean version for radio. In fact, last time I saw him, he told me he wouldn't. Taylor Swift did that when the homosexual mention in "Picture to Burn" ("So go ahead and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine I'll tell mine you're gay and by the way") caused some stations to declare the song inappropriate. Her more benign lyrics went something like "That's fine, you won't mind if I say."
So if you aren't willing to strip a song of its honesty, do you sacrifice some spins? Plenty of country artists have fallen on their sword for a song and lost the battle with country radio. I hope Johnson wins this one.
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RedMaZ says:
It seems Johnson has Badonkadonk’d his way to Americana/Roots Music, at the expense of Pop Country fans. For that I give him credit. As far as “High Cost of Living”…first of all, His version on Leno last week is much better than this one. This song is very Coe-like, and from my observations, the limited narrow minded Pop industry and it’s fans won’t accept this song. I think he’s made the crossover to my music/genre. Which is fine. He really don’t fit in Pop music.
Dan M. says:
I hope he wins, too. Loretta Lynn once told Jack White, “every time a song of mine got banned, it ended up going to #1.” And those banned songs of hers are classics. Country music needs songs that push people’s comfort zones a bit. Those are the songs that last - sometimes even save lives, if I may be the slightest bit dramatic.
Linda says:
That’s the most “country” song I’ve heard in years. I’m sick of all this sippy-cup nonsense. I heard “High Cost of Living” on Sirius Outlaw Country before the album came out and bought it for that song.
Courtney says:
I was really surprised when I heard that “High Cost of Living” was set to be his next single. I absolutely love that song, it’s one of my favorites from his album. I really hope that his song gets the play it deserves. It would be nice to hear more songs like this played on Country Radio.
Julie says:
I am hooked on Jamey Johnson’s CD! It is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. Each song has a little something that keeps you wanting more. I chose “High Cost of Living” as my favorite the first time I heard the whole CD. I hope it does well.
Christopher says:
It is my favorite song on the album! But I thought Between Jennings and Jones would be the next single.
Jamey Johnson gives a bit of anti-valentine sympathy | Country Music News Blog says:
[...] a lot more airplay than his controversial second release “The High Cost of Living“. Some bloggers seem to feel that the delicate nature of subjects such as drug use, prostitution, and all those [...]
Matt says:
I love this song. I am a huge fan of coke, whores and country music.
HC says:
Johnson is bringing the grit, swagger and soul back to ‘mainstream’ country music. If this song gets the airplay it deserves, I may actually start listening to country radio again.
Lisa says:
I love this song and I love this man!! Being a recovering addict, I know how high the cost of living high is. I just love to hear him be so open and honest about it. If anyone is affended by this song, they need to get a grip. Look around…addiction is everywhere. Why not play the songs that hit the buttons and cause a desire to change? Crazy.