Lady Antebellum – “Lookin’ For a Good Time”
Songwriters: Keith Follese, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Like most of the material on Lady Antebellum’s debut album, there’s nothing particularly special about “Lookin’ For a Good Time.” We’ve heard a multitude of songs about the same thing, and Lady Antebellum’s version of the one night stand doesn’t bring anything new to the table. However, while the writing may be fairly pedestrian, it’s still adequate enough to allow a good singer to shine, and Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott are good singers.
Kelley and Scott need every bit of their abilities because producer Victoria Shaw, who did an excellent job on most of Lady Antebellum’s eponymous debut album, does her best to ruin this one. The guitar part in this song sounds like one of the preset instrumental loops that came with my electronic keyboard: I hate it as much as I loved the lick in “Love Don’t Live Here.”
Still, I can’t get past Kelley’s distinctive, husky voice, and it’s great to hear Scott take a turn at lead while providing a prominent harmony part that gives Lady Antebellum its unique sound. I’m not likely to confuse this group with any other artist on country radio, and when you combine this special quality with two fine vocalists and the trio’s generally smart (if unremarkable) musical sensibilities, I have a hard time imagining the Lady Antebellum single that I will truly dislike.
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19 Comments
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June 11, 2008 at 12:57 pm Permalink
I have been waiting to hear the next single from this group. Although I am not a fan of the group’s name, I am a fan of Kelley’s voice. It has a good mix of whiskey,sex, and-if used well- disappointment. I thought their first single was a B+/A-. It had a 70’s country pop sound with a dash of John Hiatt. But the new one only has Kelley’s great voice which you connect to right away. I would like to him sing better songs. Just like Josh Turner, there are some great emotions there. But they are untouched because the songs are rather shallow. But the voice deserves better songs even if he can’t write them himself. I like Scott’s voice. But like her mother’s voice it carries little appeal. Nice but bland. I am not fan of the general one night stand theme. The beat makes it sound immature and cheap. There are no complex emotions. Just children playing at being adult. There are better songs of this type by better voices, although I like Kelley’s voice more and more.
June 11, 2008 at 1:05 pm Permalink
I feel the same way about “Lady A” which is why I’m not reviewing this single @ Roughstock. I like them too much to be anything but unbiased, something that rarely happens to me.
June 11, 2008 at 1:06 pm Permalink
that should say “anything but biased”…
June 11, 2008 at 2:19 pm Permalink
This isn’t really their best song. “All We’d Ever Need,” “Home Is Where The Heart Is,” or “Things People Say” would’ve been a better second single. But whatever, this is good.
June 11, 2008 at 3:40 pm Permalink
I personally favor “I Run To You.”
June 11, 2008 at 4:19 pm Permalink
I really enjoy their CD–especially the upbeat songs. For me, the music isn’t especially memorable, but it’s easy to listen to.
That said, does anyone know where they got their odd, ill-fitting band name? It’s just so… WEIRD.
June 11, 2008 at 5:02 pm Permalink
Charles Kelly has a great voice for rock and roll (or possibly the blues), which works out great for Lady A’s music. I saw them in concert in a small venue earlier this year here in LA and they put on a fine rock and roll concert completely devoid of any country music influences. I personally lost interest in the group at that point, but realized they were perfect for today’s mainstream country radio environment….
Jaime, a weird name is less likely to be forgotten or overlooked, so they score points for something original. The fact Charles does most of the lead vocals in a group named “Lady” qualifies as weird in its own right.
June 11, 2008 at 10:50 pm Permalink
The name derives from a photo shoot they did for fun in Civil War-era clothing well before they got signed. They were certain the label would ask them to change the name, but nope.
June 12, 2008 at 12:46 am Permalink
I think that it’s a great name.
June 12, 2008 at 10:05 am Permalink
i think lady antebellum is an awesome name, even if it is a little strange for a guy to be the lead singer. it’s cool if they got their name the way chris said they did, too. (what were they called before?)
June 12, 2008 at 3:24 pm Permalink
i think this was the first official name. they’ve only been together since 2006. the story goes that charles’ bro josh took them out for that photo shoot and it was his idea to do the period clothing funny business. the pictures look ridiculous, but i love the name!!
June 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm Permalink
You know, things having to do with the Old South aren’t “politically correct” these days among people who embrace such a mindset. A new beverage came out recently that had a picture on the front of the bottle of a southern plantation mansion and there were so many complaints the label was changed to a paddle wheel riverboat instead……..
June 13, 2008 at 2:01 pm Permalink
what were the complaints? …if you live in, love, or use the likeness of the old south, you must be a racist??
June 19, 2008 at 9:14 am Permalink
I agree exactly with Courtney Elise about their top three songs. I can’t wait for one of them to be a single!
June 22, 2008 at 1:27 am Permalink
who cares about the name? should we start debating the use of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s use of the rebel flag? I totally agree with Jaime that the music made by L.A. is simple, yet you must say it is very well done. I do, however, disagree with their choice of singles they are releasing. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and ” Things People Say” are excellent songs, yet not “up-tempo-radio-friendly enough”. I think “home is where the heart is” may work as a single and “All We’d Ever Need” is another great song. “slow down sister” will probably be their only other single off the c.d. and those who don’t buy it will miss out on alot of good music. Despite a recording contract they are more of a performing group, so just go see them live and enjoy what is not on the radio.
June 25, 2008 at 7:25 pm Permalink
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” is probably my favorite but won’t be a single bcuz it’s not commercial enough like Curtis said.
July 30, 2008 at 7:59 pm Permalink
If they’re lookin’ for a good time, why don’t they ask Alan Jackson?
Sorry, had to say it…
April 9, 2009 at 11:35 pm Permalink
me and my wife are planning our wedding and i am looking for a certain country group so i can find the song! i am positive that the group i am looking for is this one here but before they were “lady antebellum” they had one more male and one more fe-male singer! can anybody help me! like i said it was before they were called “lady antebellum! please help me out! if you have any ideas please e-mail me at “devilschild123080@yahoo.com”
thanks for any help!!!
Nicholas
August 31, 2009 at 7:34 pm Permalink
It sounds like they want the Lady of the South (Dixie) to revert to the Antebellum (Pre-Civil War) Era.
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