Jaron and The Long Road To Love – “Pray For You”
Way back in the year 2000, Jaron Lowenstein and his twin brother Evan had nearly every love-struck, googly-eyed teenage boy with a guitar singing along to the chunky rhythm of the ubiquitous pop hit “Crazy For This Girl.”
The duo’s star burned bright but burned out quickly. The single was a smash, but Evan and Jaron had the misfortune of dropping their self-titled album smack dab in the middle of the Napster debacle. The disc sold peanuts and the Lowensteins were never heard from again.
Well, that’s not exactly how things went. A 2004 indie album was recorded but registered zero impact. They portrayed the Everly Brothers on the short-lived drama American Dreams. They popped up on American Inventor with a device called the Pit Port (it was a container for saving seeds and pits). Needless to say (or, if I dare, seedless to say…), none of these endeavors led to renewed success, acclaim or celebrity.
And then, in 2009, came Jaron and The Long Road to Love–which is, evidently, just Jaron. Fortunately, this “just Jaron” has grown far from the roots that trace back to the perfectly preened hair and sufficiently-vague lyrics that defined the Dawson’s Creek generation. Debut solo single “Pray For You” (which is being worked to country radio by Quarterback Records), demonstrates a delightful disdain for mainstream protocol–the song is sinister, and that’s a wonderful respite among a seemingly never-ending pipeline of songs that heavy-handedly tell us how to live and what to believe.
“I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill/I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to,” Jaron sings. Later, he continues: “I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls.” Now that’s cold.
It’s a clever but somewhat obtuse song that is mostly effective due to shock factor. What starts out sounding like yet another lesson in morality unexpectedly turns to an unforgiving romp through bitterness. Call me evil, but that’s strangely satisfying—even if the final execution of the songwriting ends up at a level below “masterpiece.”
“Pray For You” is surely going to rub some folks the wrong way. So, if you play this for your friends, family or country radio colleagues, be prepared to smell the bitter stench of hypocrisy—after all, it’s OK to destroy personal property, blow things up or shoot people, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before today’s country radio touches something so emotionally aggressive.
Too bad, because just like the chick (or dude) in this song, the format could use more than a Swift kick in the ass.
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Current Discussion
- Tony: I don't understand some of you folks. Trust me I understand the disdain that many have for the country ...
- Jon: I would suspect that while the tune would change the perception of the song... Dude, that's the whole freaking point! ...
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- sam (sam): Although it would be the copyright holder who would have to give permission, even if Dylan did give permission, it ...
- Steve M.: I would suspect that while the tune would change the perception of the song, the words of "Hard Rain" speak ...
- Jon: @Steve M. So, to begin with, if you're right, then it's Sony, not Dylan, who would have given permission ...
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16 Comments
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February 9, 2010 at 4:39 pm Permalink
I’m with ya on this one, Jim. I heard this on XM the other day and after the shock subsided, I was smiling. That verse after the first chorus is sooooo un-country radio.
February 9, 2010 at 5:10 pm Permalink
On the hostility scale, how would you compare it to “Sweet Mental Revenge” or “I’ll Think of a Reason Later”?
February 9, 2010 at 5:21 pm Permalink
Waylon’s is more metaphorical and Lee Ann’s is more playful and forgiving. Both are better.
February 9, 2010 at 5:31 pm Permalink
I’ve heard this song a few times already. At first I liked the song but it quickly grew old on me and the shock value went away.
February 9, 2010 at 6:04 pm Permalink
It appears Scott “Fast Ryde/Taylor is an Emotional Singer” Borchetta is backing Jaron with his Big Machine label! Here’s a quick press release from AllAboutCountry:
“Big Machine Promotes Jaron And The Long Road To Love: The New Artist’s New Song Is “I Pray For You”
Big Machine Records has begun their journey of bringing a new artist, Jaron And The Long Road To Love, to COUNTRY Radio. (That’s “AirHead/BrainDead Top 40 Mainstream Country Radio” to newbies here.)
According to Big Machine the track was “leaked” to COUNTRY Radio late last year and has been “gaining traction” since. Many morning shows (ie “humor oriented”) have played the song, we’re told.”
Rick’s comment: I could see how the “shock factor” could jolt sleepy morning commuters like an extra cup of java. Personally I don’t see how a song that even jokingly advocates violence from a man towards a woman would sit well with soccer Mom’s driving a minivan full of ‘tween girls. Taylor Swift played it safe by burning her ex’s picture in effigy.
I think this song would do really well at Top 40 country radio if it got enough airtime exposure, but the shock factor cuts both ways. It will be interesting to see what happens…
February 9, 2010 at 6:22 pm Permalink
For me, there’s not even any ’shock factor’. It’s just a bad song. Too bad, because I like his voice.
February 9, 2010 at 8:13 pm Permalink
Funny thing is that the song has been building buzz for MONTHS now and it has been getting airplay, more than what Big Machine is ‘hyping’ it to have gotten. The song actually is Top 50 in 10 weeks being self-released. With Big Machine and Universal Republic behind the song, I’m sure it can do exactly the opposite of what you think Jim. It provides some clever levity on the airwaves and is a smart little ditty.
Radio actually is getting GREAT listener responses to it as well.
February 9, 2010 at 9:20 pm Permalink
I kinda like it. For a novelty song, I think it’s fairly well written. As far as the violence it advocates, I think it’s just enough tongue and cheek to get a pass.
February 9, 2010 at 9:58 pm Permalink
My initial impression was “too pop for country, and too church-y for pop” but who knows. I’ve heard that it’s spinning up north here, but I can’t see us ever touching it. Too poppy and too violent.
February 10, 2010 at 2:09 am Permalink
Hey Jim the song is called “Pray for You” not Pray out Loud.
Might want to fix the article, thanks!
- Shinobi
February 10, 2010 at 4:09 pm Permalink
“Pray for You” is a blast of fresh air and exactly what Country music needs. There is a growing demand for “less country” in country music nowadays and many of us don’t want to listen to the twangy, banjo music of yesteryear.
Why is it when an artist releases a song that’s a little “out of the box”, it gets critized? Why can’t we all just loosen up and enjoy some witty lyrics? “Pray for You” isn’t condoning violence or going against the church…it’s simply acknowleging the crazy thoughts we’ve all had at one time or another…
Fans are going crazy for Jaron’s music and rightfully so. He’s an amazing talent and deserves the chance to be recognized.
February 10, 2010 at 4:28 pm Permalink
I love people who think there hasn’t been country in country for a long while. Get outside the box and listen to some modern day real country.
February 10, 2010 at 6:14 pm Permalink
There is a growing demand for “less country” in country music nowadays and many of us don’t want to listen to the twangy, banjo music of yesteryear.
In other words, we’re supposed to accommodate the tastes of people who don’t like country music? What is this twangy banjo music of which you speak? If you’d spent any time at all listening to the “music of yesteryear”, you’d realize that the banjo was not a prominently used instrument in mainstream country until recent years.
February 11, 2010 at 11:34 am Permalink
I’ve listened to this song multiple times. Hasn’t grown on me yet…
February 12, 2010 at 8:25 pm Permalink
I don’t know — all of my buddies who disdain current country and love all of the alt country folks and classic country still love this song and it seems to be catching on these parts — heard it on the mainstream Clear Channel station on satellite radio yesterday. I really like it, but mainly because it expresses my current mind set! (and it has kind of a Beatle-ish vibe near the end). A good “anti-Valentine’s Day” song.
March 15, 2010 at 5:35 am Permalink
I think the piano was what made me think of it as more pop than country. His voice isn’t a “country” style either, not rough or accented. And I always thought that Jack Ingram’s “Love You” was rather tongue-in-cheek.
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