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Chris Stapleton, French Montana, and Post Malone are among musicians ‘fueling the fire’ on the drunken playlist, ‘8 Songs Fueled by Whiskey.’

If Kanye West can release short albums (really EPs IMO), there’s nothing wrong with a short playlist every now and then, right? Right.  There are plenty of songs written about alcohol of all different types.  Beer, liquor, tequila, whiskey, and wine are all popular subjects for songs in various genres.  Country musicians in particular enjoy their fair share of alcoholic beverages (21 Country Songs Fueled by the Love of Beer).  Today, we’ve selected 8 Songs Fueled by Whiskey. While 38% of this list comes from country musicians, the other 62% comes from alternative, hip-hop, and pop artists.  Musicians appearing on this drunken list are Chris Stapleton, Cody Jinks, French Montana, Maroon 5, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Yelawolf, and Young Rising Songs.

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1. Cody Jinks, “Must Be the Whiskey”

Lifers • Rounder • 2018

“Too much is not enough; it’s not the love, it’s not the lust that grips me / It must be the whiskey.” Country artists rarely shy away from singing or partaking of their share of alcoholic beverages.  Add Cody Jinks to the list, as he blames the whiskey for his “head and heart” being “at least a million miles apart” on “Must Be the Whiskey”, the promo single from his eighth album, Lifers.  The chorus of “Must Be the Whiskey” is ‘tried and true,’ yet highly effective.  “I’ve been drinkin’ to remember and drinkin’ to forget,” he sings, continuing, “I got ‘I love you’ on my mind, I got Jim Beam on my breath.”  As the whiskey continues to be the culprit, Jinks reflects on his mistakes and regrets, specifically regarding love.

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2. Young Rising Songs, “Whiskey”

Whiskey – Single • Dirty Canvas Music • 2018

“I can barely speak, barely hold my head up now / I feel buried in, shadows try and black me out / I’ve been carrying this bottle but it weighs me down / My addictive personality finally got the best of me.” New Jersey band Young Rising Sons (Andy Tongren, Julian Dimagiba, and Steve Patrick) experienced their first taste of success courtesy of a 2014 viral hit, “High”.  In 2018, they returned with single “Whiskey”, which centers on various addictions.

“Whiskey” is chocked-full of pros.  First, the music is tops among selling points.  The sound blends elements of alternative, electronic, and pop, yielding excellent results. The synths definitely hail from the electronic, modern pop musical spectrum, making the sound incredibly fresh. Beyond the production, Tongren’s tenor vocals are simply delightful, particularly in his upper-register.  From the start, he’s in command without ever over-singing. He knows when to push more, selectively exhibiting more bite, fire, and grit.  Along with the vocals, the lyrics are compelling from the start. The centerpiece is the chorus, which is hella catchy to say the least.

“She put whiskey, whiskey, whiskey in the water / I try and fight it, but her proof stronger / I’m pinned against the altar, wrestling with the monster / But every time I try to leave, she pours herself into my drink.”

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3. Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Glasses”

If I Know Me • Big Loud • 2018

“I’m gonna need some whiskey glasses / ‘Cause I don’t wanna see the truth / She’s probably making out on the couch right now / With someone new.” Yeah, country musician Morgan Wallen would’ve totally been right at home on 21 Country Songs Fueled by the Love of Beer. On “Whiskey Glasses,” Wallen seems to be soaking his sorrows in alcohol, specifically whiskey. His girl is gone, he’s having trouble coping with the breakup, so like his country colleague Cole Swindell sang, there’s a “Reason to Drink”.

“Don’t wanna think about her / Wear a ring without her / Don’t wanna hit the karaoke bar / Can’t sing without her / So make them drinks strong / Cause brother, she’s gone / And if I’m ever gonna move on // I’m gonna need some whiskey glasses.”

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4. Maroon 5, “Whiskey”

Ft. A$AP Rocky

Red Pill Blues • Interscope • 2017

Maroon 5 joins the utter drunkenness of this playlist.  “Whiskey” appears on the band’s sixth studio album, Red Pill Blues, which was released in November 2017. After opening with mysterious piano accompaniment, “Whiskey” moves along slowly, but surely. Adam Levine offers a cool and poised performance throughout, never breaking a sweat. Even with such restrained production work – a minimalist vibe – a catchy chorus plays in the band’s favor.

“Leaves are fallin’, it’s September / The night came in and made her shiver / I told her she could have my jacket / Wrapped it tight around her shoulders / And I was so young ‘til she kissed me / Like a whiskey, like a whiskey.”

As the chorus suggest, as well as the verses, this is all about young love and heartbreak. A$AP Rocky arrives for the third verse, using various alcohol to discuss love, good and bad.

“I ain’t like the other Cognacs / Or type of cat that’d never call back / Or lose contact when you runnin’ out of rum and you make a run… / All of that tequila’s a killer, little vodka…”

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5. French Montana, “Whiskey Eyes”

Ft. Chinx

Jungle Rules • Bad Boy / Epic • 2017

“You lured me in with those whiskey eyes / You’ll tell me things, I know they’re all lies / I’ll fall, I’ll fall for you / And there’s nothin’ I can do.” “Whiskey Eyes” initiates Jungle Rules, the sophomore album by Moroccan rapper French Montana.  Notably, “Whiskey Eyes” featuring a verse by the late rapper Chinx, who was murdered in 2015 over a six-year grudge.  “Whiskey Eyes” opens with the sounds of the jungle. It’s fitting given the album title, but ultimately, off-putting, given the mellower chorus that follows.  French Montana offers a respectable flow, but nothing game changing per se.

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6. Post Malone, “Broken Whiskey Glass”

Stoney • Republic • 2016

“I done drank codeine from a broken whiskey glass / I done popped my pills and smoked my share of grass.” Before there were Beerbongs & Bentleys, there was Stoney, the debut album by multi-platinum pop-rapper, Post Malone. Stoney opens mysteriously with “Broken Whiskey Glass.” Here, his voice is drenched in reverb.  The record certainly has it’s intended effect as Malone sounds wasted.  While it’s ear-catching, it’s also bizarre.  As the track progresses, he embraces pop-rap as opposed to singing, with the lyrics becoming more rhythmically complex.

 

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7. Yelawolf, “Whiskey in a Bottle”

Love Story • Interscope • 2015

“Put your hands to the sky / I’m a bullet in the barrel with a hairpin trigger now / Yeah, I’m a landslide / I’m a head case, train wreck, avalanche, comin’ down… / I’m whiskey in a bottle now.”  Yelawolf is fueled by rock-infused production on “Whiskey in A Bottle,” the fourth song off of his 2015 album, Love Story.  Beyond the production, Yelawolf is aggressive in his own right, with unapologetic rhymes on the verses, not to mention the stellar, aforementioned hook.

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8. Chris Stapleton, “Tennessee Whiskey”

Traveller • Mercury • 2015

“You’re as smooth as Tennessee whiskey / You’re as sweet as strawberry wine / You’re as warm as a glass of brandy / And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time.”  Sigh, listening to Chris Stapleton sing “Tennessee Whiskey,” those naïve/less-versed on country music of the past would assume the throwback country singer was the original writer and performer.  That’s not the case on this beloved, alcoholic classic.  Nope, the whiskey had been around more than 30 years before Stapleton ever lent his nuanced, soulful pipes to cover it.  It was originally sung by David Allan Coe, and actually written by Linda Hargrove and Dean Dillon.

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Photo Credits: Bad Boy, Big Loud, Dirty Canvas Music, Epic, Interscope, Mercury, Republic, Rounder

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