Dan + Shay, Glad You Exist | Track Review

Grammy-winning country duo Dan + Shay bring a lofty level of dedication to their significant others on the pleasant “Glad You Exist.”

“But you’re here with me / Take a moment just to take it in / ‘Cause every high and every low led to this / I’m just so glad you exist.” “Glad You Exist” marks the first Dan + Shay single of 2021, following some successful singles in 2020.  It seems likely that the Grammy-winning country duo have a new album on the horizon.  It would be the perfect time, given their ascent in recent years.  Anyways, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney keep it short on “Glad You Exist,” which runs shy of two-and-a-half minutes.  In addition to their role as writers (and Smyers’ production role), the record was written by Tayla Parx, Jordan Reynolds, and Ryan Lewis. 

As the title, and the aforementioned lyrics from the chorus suggest, “Glad You Exist” is all about L-O-V-E.  The dedication is real – lock it in! This joint is all about us, specifically, two lovers totally infatuated with one another in a seemingly unbreakable bond.  For all the nonsense these men have done – “Here’s to all the late-night drunk phone calls that you picked up / Here’s to all the bad decisions that you didn’t judge” – their respective wives have stuck with them.  On the second verse, Dan + Shay acknowledge the power of becoming lovers and life partners – “Hey look what a hello from a stranger turned into.” As always, Smyers and Mooney have sweet chemistry, and while they are a country duo, there’s plenty of ‘pop’ to be had.

Final Thoughts

All in all, “Glad You Exist” is an pleasant, respectable, love-centric record from Dan + Shay.  It’s sleekly produced, thoughtfully (if somewhat schmaltzily) penned, and sung with incredible finesse.  Move the needle it won’t, but you can’t knock the dedication, right? Right!

Dan + Shay • “Glad You Exist” • Warner Music Nashville • 2.5.21

[: Warner Music Nashville]