Big Kenny – “Long After I’m Gone”
Big Kenny and John Rich are about as different as two men can be. Where Rich gets drunk and assaults people in bars (allegedly), Kenny Alphin does humanitarian work in Darfur. It seems as though their solo efforts may be similarly opposed.
Kenny’s first single from an as-yet unnamed album, starts out with some typical country song stock images such as rusty hotrods and John Deere tractors, but Alphin quickly gets to the heart of the matter with the chorus “the years roll by, the world don’t stop/All these mem’ries are all I’ve got/The love I leave and my wildest dreams will live on/Long after I’m gone.”
Okay, so the generically positive lyrics (and the accompanying video, which features Alphin tooling around in a classic Chevy and cutely frolicking with his family while the sun beatifically shines upon them) make this one a little bit like Martina McBride geared toward Y chromosomes, but it’s hard not to like “Long After I’m Gone.” It’s got an earnest charm and toe-tapping catchiness that’s almost certain to have listeners turning up the volume and rolling the windows down.
It turns out that Big Kenny’s tolerability is directly proportional to his distance from the MuzikMafia sideshow, which all too often distracted from genuine talent. It’s entirely possible to enjoy a song without supporting the artist’s actions or beliefs outside of music (how else could people appreciate Spade Cooley?); however, perhaps more enjoyable than the song itself is knowing that Big Kenny is practicing what he preaches in the lyric about leaving love as a legacy, and that it’s having positive impact—and will hopefully continue to do so—in a desperately needy region. Big & Rich may have legions of adoring fans, but if this is the music representative of what Kenny Alphin can release as a solo artist, then he might just be better off staying away from his bandmate.
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11 Comments
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July 6, 2009 at 9:23 am Permalink
Fabulous review. While the song isn’t my thing, it’s more vocally compelling than anything Rich has done on his own so far. And ditto to your sentiments about the man himself.
July 6, 2009 at 11:01 am Permalink
I saw the new video on CMT the other day, the song was pretty good =)
July 6, 2009 at 11:45 am Permalink
The song is not ground breaking by any means, but it doesen’t try to be…and I got to say…I like it! I also agree that I find it more enjoyable then anything Rich has released.
July 6, 2009 at 12:17 pm Permalink
I like it. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Kenny comes off as far more likable than Rich.
July 6, 2009 at 1:42 pm Permalink
I do love Big Kenny and you know I am a huge John Rich fan, they each have their own charm, John Rich does not go to Africa, but does ALOT of charity work here, sometimes BK gets a little wierd for me, but when they sing together it is an awesome sound. I personally think most of our charity should go to the many poor and out of work people in this country. Just my opinion, I do not need any of the singers I like to be perfect angels. A Little bad boy does hurt anybody, my dad was sometimes a little on the bad boy side and he was one of the most honest hard working men I have ever known. Off my soapbox now, I do like this new song of BK
July 6, 2009 at 1:45 pm Permalink
I meant to say a little bad boy does NOT hurt anybody, sorry I have had a bad day!!!
July 6, 2009 at 3:12 pm Permalink
awesome! – i’m a video intern for Big Kenny and he took us all out on a tour bus over Memorial Day weekend to his hometown of Culpeper, VA to film the music video for this song. the Alphins have a huge farm out there, his mom in her 70’s was out there in her garden all day and his dad in his 70’s as well, baled hay until the sun went down. He kept driving right through shots with Bobby’s (BK’s friend) Chevelle. So this video and song are legit! So happy I got to be apart of it – was always a B&R fan and it was a dream come true to get to work with BK. So cool to see people talking about it. Means it wasn’t a dream!
July 7, 2009 at 11:06 am Permalink
We LOVE it!! I heard thru the grape vine plus going onto Big Kenny’s website..the rest of the music is AMAZING!! this song is awesome summer tune and we love how his family is always apart of his life!! Yes he and John Rich are so different (thank god..we do not need any more mean bad country boys!) fun is one thing..but assault is another…(get a grip John)
Anyways we can’t wait for the rest of the music..I think it will be huge..in the mean time we are already singing this one..as we want to have our love and dreams live long after we are gone too!! Thanks Kenny!
July 10, 2009 at 10:41 am Permalink
I just saw the video on tv and was so happy because I’m from Culpeper, VA! I saw the Davis Street and Baby Jim’s signs and was grinning and wishing someone was here with me that I could tell!! I live in SC now and it’s wonderful to see something from back home!!! =] Big Kenny is amazing, and so is our hometown! haha
July 18, 2009 at 8:56 am Permalink
I think the difference between Big Kenny and John Rich are what makes the duo unique. And, I appreciate their music because of it. I like Big Kenny’s solo song. I do hope it finds its way to the music charts, and I hope he does release a solo album. I am also hoping for new Big & Rich music soon.
September 9, 2009 at 12:16 pm Permalink
I work out six days a week in early AM.and tune the TV onto GAC. I always enjoyed Big and Rich but, when I saw his video I was pumped. It is a very uplifting song and and I look forward to it popping on the screen. Look forward to some more of his solo work. Alexandria .Va
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