When I worked at CMT there was a new trio that came into country music with a few strong showings in the form of hit songs. The biggest was “If I Die Young.” You can read all about the bizarre-to-outsiders journey of The Band Perry going from country to pop to EDM and now, in 2023, they’re on a hiatus as a band. You know what that means… the lead singer is going solo! Kimberly Perry has returned to what made the group popular, country music. Is it a stroke of genius that her first single as a solo artist is simply called, “If I Die Young Pt. 2”? Well, as the old saying goes… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Here’s part 1 and part 2 of “If I Die Young,” recorded 13 years apart.
Fans commenting online are excited about her return to country music. It’s also a sweet moment to have this new sequel song as she’s expecting a baby of her own with husband Johnny Costello. New life in more ways than one! I might actually like part 2 more than part 1. To use a sports analogy, I’ve often wondered why football teams don’t run the same exact play twice or three times in a row. If it works, do it again! The defense is always changing their setup because they’re expecting the offense to have a different play for every down. Surprise them with the same play back-to-back. This is sort of what Kimberly’s done by piggy-backing on the success of “If I Die Young,” and I think it’s a clever (and hopefully successful) decision.
What do you think of the new song? Chime in below!
-Out of the Wilderness
Out of the Wilderness 