Shaboozey, Born To Die | Song Review

Grammy-nominated country musician Shaboozey returns with “Born To Die,” a respectable but safe lead single from his fourth album.

Live that sugar, honey, and iced tea up! Shaboozey (Collins Obinna Chibueze) carved out ample success in country music with his dominant, Grammy-nominated hit, “Tipsy (A Bar Song)”.  Since that record blew up, he’s continued to ‘keep it country’ with success.  Once more, Shaboozey steps into countrified territory with his single, “Born To Die”. “Born To Die” is the promo single and sixteenth track from his fourth studio album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales (arriving July 31, 2026). “Die” was written by Shaboozey, Nevin, Jackson Foote, Josh Murty, Laura Veltz, Whit Kane, and McKay Stevens. Ooh-wee – lots of cooks in the kitchen! Sean Cook and Nevin produced it.

“Born To Die” features a familiar, folky, Americana-sounding music backdrop. There are guitars (acoustic, steel), a banjo, and a fiddle.  Later, there’s a signature, inescapable foot-stomping, hand-clapping groove.  The sound is tried-and-true, with emphasis on the predictability.  Shaboozey is also predictable, based on the music he’s released up to this point.  Positively, his vocals are solid and nuanced.  It’s not a musical masterclass per se, but respectable.  The song itself is fine by my estimations, but it doesn’t move the needle.  It benefits from catchy chorus sections (pre-chorus, chorus, and post-chorus).  Drinking rears its head, a common theme in country music:

“So, I’ll drink until my liver and my head put up a fight

I’ll stay up till the sun is red and every barrel’s dry

All the ones that got me here are gathered here tonight

Raise a glass to always living life like we ain’t born to die.”

Thematically, Shaboozey presents life as fleeting, hence why “Let’s risk it hard and chase the dancin’ on the ceiling ‘til the music.” He’s not wrong! In short, “Born To Die” is an enjoyable, inoffensive country song. Fans of Shaboozey, and easygoing Americana and country music will be on board.  As for me, it’s merely good or average at best – not particularly innovative, let alone brand new.  It’s safe.

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Shaboozey » The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales » American Dogwood / EMPIRE » 4.24.26 [📷: American Dogwood / EMPIRE]

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