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Pat Green - “Let Me”
Songwriters: Marc Beeson and Danny Orton
Ardent supports of the Texas music scene come across as nothing more than biased fanboys to some when they bemoan Pat Green’s Nashville transition, but material like “Let Me” makes me sympathetic to their plight. I’m only a casual fan of Green, but he has released some excellent material in his time–most of it doing things his own way. As with most things, the truth probably lies somewhere between the extremes and while Green certainly maintains some control over his career, he didn’t make the move to Nashville seeking artistic freedom.
The best way I know how to explain the difference between Texas Pat and Nashville Pat is that Texas Pat owned the material he released, songs like “Wave on Wave” and “Three Days” and even songs from his most recent album, Cannonball, could be considered to be uniquely his. He injected his persona into the music, his free spirit and rocking vibe, and his voice directed the songs and told them where to go and that vibe rubbed off on his early supporters, endearing them to him for the things he seemingly stood for.
With “Let Me,” the song itself owns Pat Green and he gets lost somewhere in the melody. Ultimately, it feels like he’s being dragged to the end where the loud arrangement drowns him out. This is a case of a producer not realizing what works for an artist and applying his little bag of tricks to attempt to garner radio success rather than pushing both their boundaries to create something worthwhile.
It’s true that this song doesn’t spell the end of worthwhile music from Pat Green, but it’s a gradual step on the path that leads away from what he used to be, and it’s the beginning of what his original fans dread. I hope Green receives all the success he’s looking for and somewhere along the way, I hope he can figure out how to do it his way, but until then, Texas will be his Rosebud.
Listen: Pat Green - “Let Me”
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30 Comments
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July 4, 2008 at 3:01 pm Permalink
“The song itself owns Pat Green” is a very good way to put it. And it’s such an unworthy song for his considerable talent; I’m dismayed he even stooped to recording it.
July 4, 2008 at 5:37 pm Permalink
That’s too bad, since Dixie Lullaby, Wave on Wave, and Way Back Texas were good singles.
July 4, 2008 at 8:46 pm Permalink
I don’t know what happened at Top 40 Airhead Country radio awhile back to temporarily open the door to artists like Pat, Jack Ingram, and Bobby Pinson, but its sure seemed to slam shut again. I an not a big fan of any of these artists but at least they added variety and originality to the Top 40 playlists for awhile and didn’t sound like everybody else. It sounds like Pat’s trying to get them to roll out the welcome mat again, but I don’t think this song is strong enough to gain him readmission to the Top 40 clubhouse.
July 4, 2008 at 11:10 pm Permalink
GODDAMNIT! I am so tired of hearing people talk about how Pat Green is getting run over by Nashville suits and producers. This is EXACTLY the sort of music he wants to be making - otherwise he wouldn’t be making it. The system is not as strong as everyone thinks, and only affects artists if they want to be affected. Granted, this is a bunch of schlock, but Pat is making it because this stuff gets radio play and Pat WANTS to be popular.
I don’t know where people get the image of Pat trying to record George’s Bar all over again but Dann Huff holding a gun to his head and making him record a Kenny Chesney castoff. Pat can do what he pleases, start blaming him for making shitty songs.
July 4, 2008 at 11:13 pm Permalink
I don’t think anyone is saying Pat Green didn’t consent to recording this bad song. I’m just disappointed he did.
July 4, 2008 at 11:34 pm Permalink
Mike, I completely agree with you. If Pat didn’t want to sing the song, he woulden’t sing the damn song. Its not like he is a brand new artist, and has to listen to every word his manager/record label says. He is very experienced, and has been around long enough to know, that he can and will do things the way HE wants to do them.
July 5, 2008 at 9:32 am Permalink
My wife and I heard this song last night on the way to the Jackson Taylor gig. We both shrugged with a “ok, whatever”. I dont blame Pat for WANTING to do this. He ruled Texas, making a fortune as the king around these parts, it’s not like he is a newcomer that merely wants to take the quickest path to fame. If he and Ingram want to get a little help from the hit-makers of Nashville, I cant fault them, as they did the “cool, anit-establishment” thing already as well as anyone has done in Texas since Willie turned Austin on it’s ear. I may not like the new stuff as much as the old stuff, but unlike Rascal Flatts and so many other slick Nashville products, I am thankful that there is at least some good, old stuff to listen to.
July 5, 2008 at 10:24 am Permalink
The songs not great, but it’s not bad either..
July 5, 2008 at 11:49 am Permalink
Not a fan of the song, but to be honest I was never a big Pat Green fan even when he was in Texas making less pop-country music.
July 5, 2008 at 10:03 pm Permalink
It lacks that Pat Green hook that he’s good at writing… and it just sounds flat. Those guys are good songwriters.
@Mike: “EXACTLY” is a strong word to use. And bro, there are very few artist’s that get full creative freedom. Don’t be naive to that fact. It’s the producers job to make the song better and arrange it in a way that people will enjoy it and that the people signing the front of the checks get their money back.
It’s not a knock on PG. He’s got one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. It’s just a shitty song.
July 9, 2008 at 8:44 am Permalink
I prefer the Pre-Lucky Ones stuff and the Live At Billy Bob’s Pat Green but I still like some of his music in the recent years. In my opinion, this “Let Me” song is the best thing he has “released” since “Wave on Wave”. To make it big out there, you have to knock down some doors, walls, and sometimes people. You go to a Pat show, you will see he still does his old stuff and he is still Pat. The new Pat fans get to hear his old stuff and it opens a new world to them. Hell, if it was not for the post-Wave on Wave Pat, a lot of people would have never heard The Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Cross Canadian Ragweed, etc. Slowly but surely.
July 10, 2008 at 9:53 pm Permalink
Take out the slight steel guitar backing track and (guess what, my comments here and at CU have a theme) he could chart on the AC format!
July 11, 2008 at 2:44 pm Permalink
I agree with the reviewer here. This song sounds like it could’ve been sung by anyone else. The flat melody almost sounds Rascal Flatts-ish in parts.
July 16, 2008 at 12:38 pm Permalink
Hey does anyone know the guitar chords to this song..Ive been looking for them forever and i cant figure it out???
July 16, 2008 at 8:44 pm Permalink
As the only female currently writing in, I must say that I love this song, in fact I heard it on the radio and heard that Pat sang it……I have never listened to any of his music, but i love, love, this song, and want to hear it alot on the radio and waiting for it to be on itunes so I can have on my ipod. The melody is great, and he sounds downright sexy……I’m telling you boys….this is a GREAT song!!!!!!! Now I am a Pat Green fan!!!!!!!
July 20, 2008 at 10:29 am Permalink
ok first of all quit saying he wasted time by “stopping to record this song” yeah everyone has their own opinion about things but honestly. if your a musician trying to make it big its tough as hell believe me. his song got on the radio, it gets played pretty frequently,he didnt record the song only because he wrote it and thought it was good, but he recorded it because it’s what he felt. country music is basically soul you put everything you’ve been through in it. He has made a name for himself not only in Texas but in the whole U.S i admitt the song is not as good as wave on wave or any of his other hits but music is not all about making hits its about the music the love of creating and being able to do something other people would kill to be able to do. if youre in a band and youre trying to make it big im sure you know where im coming from. but if not then you should really sit back and think before you start saying stuff, respect the people that made it big they do it for you too.
July 22, 2008 at 6:34 pm Permalink
you are all stupid
July 22, 2008 at 6:36 pm Permalink
oh… and get a job/life
July 22, 2008 at 6:52 pm Permalink
R not. R SMRT
http://icanhascheezburger.com/page/2/?s=smart
July 22, 2008 at 11:04 pm Permalink
DO NOT WANT.
July 23, 2008 at 8:40 am Permalink
A person that calls his/herself “push it” has very little room to tell others they are stupid for commenting on a site that he/she (both perhaps?) is also commenting on.
GO GET NEW NAME/LIFE…
July 23, 2008 at 9:34 am Permalink
To be fair, weren’t we all Salt N’ Peppa fans?
July 23, 2008 at 10:03 am Permalink
No, and if that’s the case, he/she should use “spinderella” or something ;-)
July 23, 2008 at 10:31 am Permalink
Left Eye scared the crap out of me.
July 23, 2008 at 10:51 am Permalink
wow
July 23, 2008 at 11:42 am Permalink
Oh, by the way, Brady — it’s Marc BeEson, with two E’s. Hate to be correcting a pro.
July 23, 2008 at 11:45 am Permalink
Thanks for the correction, Bobby.
July 28, 2008 at 6:06 pm Permalink
No problem.
July 30, 2008 at 2:12 pm Permalink
I agree with Linda, this song is so good. It makes me want to grab a cowboy and go dancing. It is a VERY SEXY SONG
August 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm Permalink
Knock off the bash Pat Green will ya - this is a good song. Watch for it on the top 10. People love this guy and have been waiting for something new. This is still the same Pat Green but in a song that is a little different for him. He aint in Texas anymore and this song will make it in Nashville - and down in North Carolina.
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