Dierks Bentley – “Feel That Fire”
Songwriters: Dierks Bentley, Brett Beavers, Brad Warren, and Brett Warren
The style-over-substance bandwagon has picked up another road weary traveler with Dierks Bentley’s release of his latest single. “Feel That Fire” is an uptempo number that finds Bentley singing about something other than life on the road, featuring a rockin’ intro, an obligatory guitar solo, one of the prancing bridges that seem to have come into vogue recently, and lists.
Despite everything that’s going on musically, the lyric is rather bland, basically boiling down to a wishlist of what the narrator’s significant other wants in life. As the song transitions into the chorus, it serves as a continuation of the verses, letting us know that her real desire is to know that she’s everything the narrator wants. In essence, all the song really does is present a list of things a woman wants and then tops it off with what she wants the most. Did it really require four writers to devise and contribute to such an idea?
It’s always interesting to note an artist’s stated goals for a particular song and find out if the outcome actually aligns with the their vision. Bentley had this to say, “I think you get to a point where you recognize what attraction is all about. It’s not the obvious stuff, but more someone who can go toe-to-toe with you, it is about that girl who wants to be as alive as humanly possible, to feel everything, to take it to the hilt.”
While the chorus does align with the declared intent to an extent, the verses do little to reinforce the idea, but instead paint the woman spoiled. She wants her nails painted black, the toy in the Cracker Jacks, to wear the narrator’s shirt to bed, and to drive his truck around with nowhere to go (I could use the gas in these times). While those things are all well and good, they hardly elicit passion, although, to be fair, riding a bull, adopting strays, and making love on a train might fan the flame.
“Feel That Fire” contains a weak narrative that settles for what’s easiest by barely delving into the subject. It doesn’t take much imagination to write a song of this caliber and to do so with such meager results doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the direction of Bentley’s next album.
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[...] “‘Feel That Fire’ contains a weak narrative that settles for what’s easiest by barely delving into the subject. It doesn’t take much imagination to write a song of this caliber and to do so with such meager results doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the direction of Bentley’s next album.” — review by Brady Vercher “Have songwriters just stopped trying because they know that radio will play pretty much anything that is uptempo and doesn’t say much of anything?” — Razor X “The song is bland and so is Bentley’s vocal on it. It’s not horrible, it’s not a Taylor Swift or Rascal Flatts awful, but for someone as talented as Bentley it is a let down.” — Mike W “I think guys will relate to the type of woman who wants a little more in her life such as in the song. Perhaps you folks do not feel any fire and wouldn’t dare make love on a train.” — TammyH “Say something dirty to me: AMTRAK!” — Thomas [...]
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September 18, 2008 at 1:14 pm Permalink
Have songwriters just stopped trying because they know that radio will play pretty much anything that is uptempo and doesn’t say much of anything?
September 18, 2008 at 1:43 pm Permalink
Can you blame them? They aren’t writing for us. The artists aren’t performing for us. We, the country music fans who care enough to find blogs and share their thoughts with others, are the minority. The majority, the casual country fans, generally don’t analyze every word of every song from the hit artists, especially when the songs have a substantial amount of quality noise in the background (and this song does).
That being said, I don’t care much for the lyrics, but I do like the song and look forward to hearing it and rest of Bentley’s material in concert in January.
September 18, 2008 at 1:56 pm Permalink
A large number of writers (and I’m talking about A-list writers) are still writing great country songs, that hold up to our standards (the standards being expressed here on this blog/forum). I know this for a fact because I hear them frequently in writers rounds. However, these same writers are also writing a substantial number of pop-country, feel-good, cotton-candy fluff, because they’ve got to pay the bills. And when they present their catalog of songs to be considered, guess which ones are getting cut? Yep, the crap we hear on radio.
I just keep hoping eventually the tide will turn.
September 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm Permalink
if this song is meant to be sarcastic about a certain type of flame – nice effort. if not, it’ll do the job in concert and won’t ruin an album.
September 18, 2008 at 2:07 pm Permalink
Thomas, I didn’t detect any kind of sarcasm in the song and you’re right, it’s not poor enough to ruin the album, but let’s hope it contains stronger material.
September 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm Permalink
Paula: “I just keep hoping eventually the tide will turn.”
So do I. But I’m getting tired of waiting.
September 18, 2008 at 2:22 pm Permalink
Me too Razor. Once in a while I think there’s a glimmer of hope, then suddenly it’s gone.
But when we’re bad-mouthing a song, the songwriter’s not always the blame. (Yeah, some of ‘em just write crappy songs, but some of ‘em are really trying to make a difference.)
September 18, 2008 at 2:40 pm Permalink
Well, it’s like everything else. There’s quality stuff out there, but it’s getting harder and harder to find. Radio is just pandering to the lowest common denominator these days.
September 18, 2008 at 3:17 pm Permalink
I have to admit that I am a fan of Dierks Bentley. I have not liked all of his songs and have found his cds sometimes rather flat. But I like his voice, and I really liked the song” Long Trip Alone.” But this song is immature boy crap.
The fact that Warren Brothers helped write this song should send out warning signals. Their are writing skills are poor, to say the least.
I too want to know why it took four people to write this song. That seems to be the general number that the average bad country song has now: three or four writers. Sad when you think of the great songs written by one writer, like Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Ms. Lynn, Ms. Parton, and Jimmy Webb.
It is clear that Bentley will be a hit or miss singer/songwriter if he doesn’t find a place in his music where the real Dierks Bentley can exist.
Maybe hanging out the boys has retarded his craft. I am just glad this is not another” I am a happy, carefree devil leaving my past in the dirty” song. I just wish he would polish his skills.
September 18, 2008 at 3:54 pm Permalink
I am a big fan of Dierks as well. I actually saw him in concert before he had released his first cd and only had “What Was I Thinkin’” out on the radio. That concert, where I knew none of the material really got me hooked because I found him to be somewhat distinct from the other artists in the mainstream scene. Indeed, I believe he has kept true to that description through his first three cds, all very good releases with outstanding songs, most of my favorites not even being released as singles. That said, I am initially not as impressed with this release. I do like the melody, but the lyrics due seem immature to me. Regardless, it is a good listen and will do ok at radio, I just hope it is not a preview of the type of writing to be found on the album as a whole.
September 18, 2008 at 4:37 pm Permalink
“especially when the songs have a substantial amount of quality noise in the background (and this song does).
That being said, I don’t care much for the lyrics, but I do like the song and look forward to hearing it and rest of Bentley’s material in concert in January.”
Well said Zach. I agree with Thomas as well. I am one of the biggest Dierks fan’s out there but I wasn’t bowled over by the lyrics. The song is catchy and I can’t wait to hear it live. I have to wait until February though :)
September 18, 2008 at 4:40 pm Permalink
I’m not feelin’ much fire from this song, I’ll have to admit, but I really like Dierks and will hold out hope that it’ll grow on me.
September 18, 2008 at 6:15 pm Permalink
I’m a fan of Dierks Bentley. A fairly big one. That said, I gotta agree with this review, the excitement I had hearing “Every Mile A Memory” for the first time vs. what I thought when I heard this song for the first time…totally different.
The song is bland and so is Bentley’s vocal on it. It’s not horrible, it’s not a Taylor Swift or Rascal Flatts awful, but for someone as talented as Bentley it is a let down.
That said, I refuse to give up hope for his next album when you consider he has stated he co-wrote songs with Radney Foster, Rodney Crowell and Bruce Robison for it.
September 18, 2008 at 7:37 pm Permalink
It’s RADIO… not the writers. They can write better songs, but they won’t get recorded…and the reason they won’t get recorded is because radio wants music that will NOT inspire the listener to pay more than average attention, and God forbid they should change stations! That means “nothing different” gets played, and had that policy been in effect forty and fifty years ago, we’d have been denied the music of all the unique artists we love.
But there’s ‘corporate’ radio for ya!
September 18, 2008 at 10:36 pm Permalink
Why is everyone bein soo hard on Dierks. He is the hardest workin country music star out there and everyone is dising him cuz of one song!! “What Was I Thinkin’” “Come A Little Closer” How Am I Doin” “Lot Of Leavin Left To Do” and “Free And Easy” DID EVERYONE FORGET!!!And this dude respects traditional stuff…like Waylon, Buck, and Hank Sr…u don’t see that by modern country music today but Dierks brings that new twang w/ traditional vive… Also, if u notice Dierks’ songs tell the story of his life lik “What Was I Thinkin” was before he was married along with “Come A Little Closer” and when he matured u can see it in his music…”Every Mile A Memory” and “Long Trip Alone” ……..”feel That Fire” may be a little to contemporary but you can’t say Dierks is typical radio trash like others….He’s the best country singer of modern time!!
September 18, 2008 at 10:43 pm Permalink
Nobody has dissed Dierks, Clinton. People are just expressing their opinions on this particular song.
September 23, 2008 at 1:45 am Permalink
I can’t believe the reviews this song is getting. The sound is unique and the lyrics don’t sound out of this world but they are clever. “she wants to wear my shirt to bed, she wants to make every stray a pet.” Let’s seeone of you giving these reviews write a song half this good. I love the new song and I think it is a great stepping stone to the album. Keep in my mind he probably has 3 more singles on this album yet. Keep in mind…Long trip alone, Every Mile of Memory, Free and Easy, and Trying to Stop your leaving all came from the same album
September 23, 2008 at 8:53 pm Permalink
Brady isn’t saying the song has bad lyrics just those that don’t entirly fit with the writers vision…I, myself like the song but, I agree with Brady so I may like it even though the lyrics are kindof messed up.
September 25, 2008 at 9:47 am Permalink
I totally disagree with any and all of the negative comments posted here. If you are so disheartened with the current songwriting abilities in country music, try listening to some of the R&B and Pop that is currently out. I believe this song will speak to many people and will be enjoyed by many women who truly enjoy Dierks’ music. I think guys will relate to the type of woman who wants a little more in her life such as in the song. Perhaps you folks do not feel any fire and wouldn’t dare make love on a train.
September 25, 2008 at 10:14 am Permalink
say something dirty to me: AMTRAK!
September 25, 2008 at 10:27 am Permalink
Tammy, pointing out that pop and R&B songs are even worse is a very weak defense of country music songwriting, don’t you think?
September 25, 2008 at 7:54 pm Permalink
I first heard this song on the radio, and I wanted to turn it, but I kept listening to find out if it was Jessica Simpson or whoever. I was SO sad when I realized it was Dierks Bentley.
And I have to say, R&B isn’t totally bad.
September 26, 2008 at 3:05 pm Permalink
The song has great tempo and catch phrasing. It is an earworm of sorts. It is already a song that is recognizable within the first few notes. Is it the greatest song ever recorded in the history of country music? Probably not, but it has an element that the average listener can relate to. I wouldn’t mind being his woman in this song! It makes her sound very sexy and how he reveres that. I look forward to his album in February and can’t wait to hear it. Dierks is a wonderful artist and I am very much looking forward to his long country music future.
September 27, 2008 at 8:20 pm Permalink
Love Dierks. Hate the song.
October 2, 2008 at 10:59 am Permalink
Everytime I come to this website, all I find is negative comments. Is this what this website is about? Is there any song or singer that anyone here likes? Please, let me know. I would like to read some of your positive comments, about anyone. As far as this song goes, I LOVE IT. Maybe I’m too shallow, but I agree with TammyH, and I would love for my husband to hear this song. I would love to feel like that.
October 2, 2008 at 11:12 am Permalink
SCMOM: Negative comments? On the internet? GET. OUT.
I don’t believe you. :)
October 5, 2008 at 3:41 am Permalink
SCMOM — a few months ago I did a bit of research on our ratings trends, and found that we gave singles positive ratings over 50% of the time.
October 6, 2008 at 5:16 pm Permalink
Not bad. He still can’t touch his first three singles IMO. “What Was I Thinkin’”, “My Last Name”, and “How Am I Doin’” were all very clever, solid songs. Everything else since then, save for “Long Trip Alone”, has just blended together.
This has a VERY interesting melody, and thank God, the production is way different than his last two albums. The lyrics are meh, though.
October 14, 2008 at 10:58 am Permalink
while harvesting potatoes driving truck from field to shed i heard this song, within seconds of hearing the first line i knew this song was going to be just for me. i am a country farm girl but im also the girl that gets my nails done and goes shopping all the time. i paint my nails black and i wanna drive. im sure there are tons more girls out there just like me that adore this song becuase its a song about them. the radio here plays this song almost never and im getting so mad this song is amazimg and i LOVE it.
October 15, 2008 at 3:19 pm Permalink
Andie it is a great song..They never play Dierks on the radio though…It’s like they have something against him
October 16, 2008 at 1:25 am Permalink
i thinks its a great new song from Dierks… I just don’tthink a lot of people can relate to it very easily… Its about knowing that even with everything a girl wants… The most important thing is to let her feel the passion… If critics would care less about comparing songs to the real world and pay more attention to the spirit of the song they could learn to appreciate good songs…
October 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm Permalink
Some of the comments made me feel like they had not even heard the song, the people were just hopping on the reviewers bandwagon. With that being said, I have follow Dierks from the start. I believe he is truely talented and feel he is often overlooked. This is not his best work, but he has proven to be more than a one hit wonder.
October 22, 2008 at 11:54 am Permalink
I’m a music director at a country radio station, and you would not believe how much crap we have to sift through every week just to find something worth playing. On top of that, this week, I will have to explain to our consultant that getting 20 or so requests for a less-than-mediocre Taylor Swift song doesn’t mean we should play it, it just means all the area schools are out for fall break. Those kids also requested “Ridin’ Dirty” and “Touch My Body.” The next time you hear a song on the radio and don’t like it, call the request line and voice your opinion. If the station is worth it’s salt, it will take notice.
October 22, 2008 at 11:55 am Permalink
oh, and yes, we are playing this song with positive listener response.
October 22, 2008 at 12:04 pm Permalink
sounds like conway is overdue for a revival.
October 23, 2008 at 4:45 pm Permalink
I know that the lyrics to this song aren’t the best, but I love this song and everyone that I know that has heard it loves it too. It’s the simplicity and even stupidity of the lyrics that I like. It makes the song fun! Songs don’t always have to have a great lyric to be a good song. I think this song is real: it relates to lots of people. It’s cool if the song has good lyrics, but if no one wants to listen to the song or relates to it, than what’s the point?
October 23, 2008 at 4:47 pm Permalink
Oh, and I completely agree with Theresa.
October 27, 2008 at 5:33 pm Permalink
You guys are too freakn critical!
I thought this song was really sweet and you all need to quit analyzing it so much!
Dierks rocks=]
get a life to the rest of you=]
October 27, 2008 at 5:53 pm Permalink
if you’re looking for total praise and 99% five star reviews – check out amazon, home of our friends, the too freakn uncriticals.
October 27, 2008 at 5:53 pm Permalink
Yeah, stop all that “thinking” and “having opinions”!
November 5, 2008 at 7:47 pm Permalink
You can’t say Dierks isn’t workin for his audience!!… he worked his ass off to make this album..he picks and chooses the songs he wants out on radio..unlike most country artists that yall are thinkin of, when they just throw every song from their album onto radio… U cannot forget all of his great singles like “What Was I Thinkin”, “Come A Little Closer”, Free And Easy” and “Lot Of Leavin Left To Do” etc…So Many!!! Just look after 6 years in country music, this is only Dierks’ 11th single..Taylor Swift already has over 6 singles..cuz she doesn’t care, knowing that whatever she puts out on radio the audience is gonna like cuz the media always talks about her and shows her videos…Like anything else the media dictates inluences what people like…It’s all about $$$
November 6, 2008 at 6:08 pm Permalink
dude i wouldnt be giving dierks bentley such a hard time about it, most songs that are out if you listen to the lyrics are absolutely rediculous. it has a really catchy beat and above that dierks bentley is an amazing singer. idk who u r guy who writes the review lol but i want you to write a song and put it on here and see if its any better
November 6, 2008 at 6:10 pm Permalink
oh ya and PS Chicken frieds lyrics are so crappy the first like 10 times i heard it on the radio i got to “you know i like my chicken fried” and decided that it was probably totally stupid and changed the station and now its 1 of my favorite songs (cuz of the beat not really the topic)
November 12, 2008 at 2:01 pm Permalink
I think it’s great to have your own opinion & everything but that is why they say opinions are like booty holes, everyone has one. Dierks Bentley is one of the greatest artist of his time & is a very talented song writer/singer, the knocks on road songs are what his life is about & that is where he gets his inspiration from, he is always on the road. And for the comment on he is not doing it for the people, he LOVES his fans & does do it for us, if not for us then who?? I would love to hear a song that Brady Vercher himself has written. That is why Feel that Fire is climbing the charts!!!! Dierks knows who his fans are & he knows he has plenty of them & I’m 100% sure he will keep banging out hit after hit for years to come.
I LOVE YOU DIERKS! Keep doing what you are doing!!Pround member of the lil white tank army
Thank you for everything ~ Lilwhitetank54!!!!!!!
November 12, 2008 at 2:02 pm Permalink
Oh & I just read somemore of the comments on here & it sounds like it’s just a bunch of people who live sad lives & DO NOT know good music anyway
November 20, 2008 at 1:02 pm Permalink
Where did the romance go in this world. Maybe thats whats wrong with this world today. No imagination and no romance. Dierks is the king of romance.
November 24, 2008 at 4:18 pm Permalink
okay…what is wrong with this world? seriously why do people think they can actually sit here and trash a great song? Maybe they’re jealous…after all they aren’t the ones who MILLIONS of people love or the ones who went through all the work to write/sing/produce this song. Nope instead they are a bunch of immature ignorant ridiculous MAJORLY JEALOUS reviewers. who even gave them the right to review a song…they obviously don’t know good music. Dierks Bentley is amazing and I love all of his songs INCLUDING Feel That Fire. And by the way Mike W…taylor swift and rascal flatts are amazing talented singers and you have no idea what you are talking about. Why don’t you people GROW UP and actually write something worthwhile!!
November 29, 2008 at 3:48 pm Permalink
WOWWWWW….what the heck is this person talking about? umm…sorry if you dont like the song but everyone else does!! It’s a rockin song..ok? case closed..
November 29, 2008 at 5:42 pm Permalink
…and Bentley was supposed to be the person to bridge the gap between Mainstream and Americana? Not hardly. He actually continues to get worse. Now he’s singing all this fluff and can’t even get recognized for it! Too funny.
November 29, 2008 at 6:36 pm Permalink
#
gracekl
November 29, 2008 at 3:48 pm Permalink
WOWWWWW….what the heck is this person talking about? umm…sorry if you dont like the song but everyone else does!! It’s a rockin song..ok? case closed..
Who is “everyone?”
November 30, 2008 at 12:46 pm Permalink
Maybe you have to actually understand what the song is saying to appreciate it. People are too quick to critisize sometimes when they dont understand what is being said.
November 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm Permalink
Maybe you have to actually understand what the song is saying to appreciate it. People are too quick to criticize sometimes when they dont understand what is being said.
November 30, 2008 at 1:47 pm Permalink
Despite everything that’s going on musically, the lyric is rather bland, basically boiling down to a wishlist of what the narrator’s significant other wants in life. As the song transitions into the chorus, it serves as a continuation of the verses, letting us know that her real desire is to know that she’s everything the narrator wants. In essence, all the song really does is present a list of things a woman wants and then tops it off with what she wants the most. Did it really require four writers to devise and contribute to such an idea?
That sums up what the song is about pretty well, no?
December 10, 2008 at 10:45 am Permalink
I’m a great fan of Bentley and I feel the song is a great hit! In fact I can’t wait to sing it karaoke! Many are throwing remarks at the lyrics and I don’t understand why? There great!
December 11, 2008 at 11:06 am Permalink
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Dierks song and video. I enjoyed them both. I have been a fan of Dierks Bentley for 5 yeears and enjoy his music and always will.
January 3, 2009 at 2:21 pm Permalink
THUMBS UP!! I don’t care what anyone else says…I’M FEELING THAT FIRE!! There are people out there that are always so negative and do so to get under people’s skin. Dierks-lovers, don’t let him get to you.
This song is awesome and I can’t wait for his CD to be released in February.
Did you dissers happen to see Dierks’s video for this song? It’s SEXY, HOT, and just plain genius! This video just moved up 6 spots in the CMT countdown. I have no doubt in my mind that it will see the number one spot very soon!
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK DIERKS!!
Lovin’ Dierks in Wisconsin!
January 4, 2009 at 8:58 pm Permalink
dude get life. do you even listen to country music? its a great song and u are a joke
January 6, 2009 at 8:05 pm Permalink
I love old school dierks. His first and second album are worth every penny, but here we are listening again to what “mainstream” america wants us to buy into,, and I just wont. It is rather sad.. but maybe he needs to get divorced and suffer heartbreak again to see what real songwriting is. Good songwriters, can give you happy with out making you want to shoot yourself.. he has much to learn..
February 6, 2009 at 11:12 pm Permalink
I agree with Yo.
If any of you can write a better song, why don’t you give Mr. Bentley a call…
February 12, 2009 at 7:08 pm Permalink
MRTITO, have you ever complained about how a car handles? Or what mileage it gets? Can you build a better car?
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