Miranda Lambert Should Kick Canaan Smith’s Ass For “Like You That Way”
Canaan Smith, Cole Swindell, Chase Bryant, Chase Rice, Chris Lane, who are these clowns? It’s like one douchebag with many faces. Their songs, their styles, their personalities are indistinguishable and interchangeable. They might as well be the same person. Nashville’s overcrowded enough these days. Just pick one of these guys and release all the music through them. Nobody would recognize the difference and it would free up a few more parking spaces downtown. Seriously.
Whatever a guy like “Canaan Smith” releases, you know it’s going to be a hit because he’s a young male signed to a major label. It doesn’t even matter what the song is. It’s preordained by the well-ordered Music Row system to make sure every major label remains flush with cabbage and in equal and ample portions. Canaan Smith made his name with a song called “Love You Like That” that name drops Tom Petty. Now he’s looking to take the next step with a song called “Like You That Way” that name drops Miranda Lambert. “Love You Like That” to “Like You That Way.” They’re not even trying to hide anymore how bereft of ideas and formulaic they’ve become.
It’s just the same song, from the same basic person, about the same stuff. Canaan Smith just happens to be the vessel they’ve chosen on this particular round. It’s his turn down the conveyor belt. Rearrange the words a little bit, up the tempo maybe because it’s the summer and people like up tempo stuff in the summer, right? And boom, here’s a summer hit. Take it or leave it, but you’ll probably have to take it because radio will ram it down your throat for the next four months.
“Like You That Way” has nothing. It relies solely on tempo and buzzwords to waste 2 minutes and 47 seconds of your time ’till the next fluffy single comes on. Remember when musician Jim L. exposed that most radio hits right now use the same exact drum beat? Well yep, “Like You That Way” has that beat too, of course. There’s also some stupid “whoo hoo” breakdown at the 1:29 mark that has to be ripped off of half a dozen other songs. Give “Like You That Way” credit for using actual drums and real instruments, and not being completely vomitous like some current singles, but that’s about all the praise this song is worthy of.
Any what about just taking for granted that couching Miranda Lambert as “crazy” is cool? Yes, Miranda Lambert did it to herself with her album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but that was a decade ago now, and more about building characters and telling stories through music than labeling herself as mentally unstable. Learning about character and storytelling is something Canaan Smith could use a lesson in.
Miranda Lambert is mostly a team player, and she’s not likely to come out and swipe Canaan Smith on the nose for this song. She’s not Sturgill Simpson. Miranda’s more about setting the example as opposed to speaking out, which is fine. But this song feels like a reduction of Lambert, even if it’s meant in some endearing way. Let’s not make too much of this though. Hell, in one respect maybe this is another way to get Miranda’s name out there since radio has recently been ignoring her. But I’d rather hear Miranda Lambert on the radio—or any woman for that matter—than some tool singing about her.
And what the hell is up with the cover art for this song? It’s just a big female ass right in your face? What does that have to do with anything? It’s like “Here’s an ass. Listen to this song.” It’s so gratuitous and obvious. Years ago this itself would have caused a stir for it’s disrespectfulness in country, but today you just kind of expect this type of objectification.
“Like You That Way” is harmless and forgettable, but almost so much so that it’s offensive to those to listen to music to be stimulated. It’s not just how lame these songs are, it’s how many of them permeate the airwaves coming from artists who’ve been stripped of their personality to make them universally palatable. Get some balls. Say something. Don’t just be the same generic dude. “Like You That Way” is supposed to be about celebrating someone’s individuality. So heed its lesson and stop releasing the same whitewashed crap.
– – – – – – – –
1 3/4 Guns DOWN (2/10)
(NOTE: 1/4 gun and 1 point deducted just for the stupid cover art)
April 25, 2017 @ 8:20 am
“Girl I love the way you slap it”? Really?
Every time I don’t think it can get any worse, it does.
April 25, 2017 @ 8:26 am
Yeah, tbh I don’t think Miranda Lambert “crazy” is something to aspire to..if we’re assuming he means it in the context of her songs. As people on here have commented before, property destruction, and violence are equally bad if committed by a man or a woman (& honestly even if we just limit it to more recent music, smoking, drinking till 3am every night etc are things we do as vices, not things to aspire to either).
Whatever it’s a stupid song, that nobody would be paying any attention to if it wasn’t for the Miranda reference, so I guess he got what he wanted. And yeah, that’s the WORST cover art.
April 25, 2017 @ 8:42 am
I’m thinking they kept the song title so close to his only “hit” so people will get confused and buy/listen to it. The thing is, it’s not like his voice is super terrible, he just chooses terrible songs to cut.
April 25, 2017 @ 8:57 am
Who? Oh yeah, Canaan Smith. That forgettable one hit wonder guy from like a year ago. Miranda should kick his ass for this atrocity. And wtf is up with the cover art? It is distasteful and stupid. I would think that this was the album cover for a mainstream rap album instead of country. But honestly, mainstream country has become a melting pot of all genres, sadly.
April 25, 2017 @ 11:26 am
Real country has been gone for a long time. Now it’s rap, hip hop and rock. Guys trying to look and act country and they haven’t the foggiest notion of what country really is . Girls trying to look like strippers or worse. It’s sickening. My folks came from the hills of Alabama and I was raised on real country with music being played by my dad and his friends every weekend. That was in the ’40’s and 50’s when people actually sang and played instruments. I’m sad that it’s died but it has and what’s left is a farce.
April 25, 2017 @ 6:11 pm
Lmao I get a kick out of it when people say that country has became rap and hip hop. Apparently you have never listened to rap or hip hop, I have and was into it in my younger years and current country does not even come close to sounding like rap. Rock, yes, country has adapted to a softcore rock sound since FGL’s “Cruise” became the biggest hit ever in the history of country music. Brett Eldredge, Thomas Rhett, and Sam Hunt use elements of R&B, but most other current country artists are leaning hardcore towards pop and adult contemporary sounds.
April 25, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
No one has said it better than you Amanda.
Way to go!
April 25, 2017 @ 2:59 pm
Thanks Brenda! 🙂
April 25, 2017 @ 9:05 am
Well stated, Trigger!
April 25, 2017 @ 9:11 am
Somewhere there is a douche factory where scientists are genetically engineering these douchewads one after the other, Canaan Smith is just the 2016-2017 model. I’m sure the 2018 models will resemble the previous ones, but with better hair, bigger muscles, and larger sinus cavities in order to sound more nasally.
April 25, 2017 @ 9:11 am
Here’s what’s crazy. I would have no clue these bastards existed, if it weren’t for this website, which seems ironically titled, “SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC”.
Isn’t exposure to this, actually helping it?
April 25, 2017 @ 9:15 am
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy making fun of this stuff too, but being able to make fun of it seems like a cheap consolation prize for having to be made aware that it exists.
April 25, 2017 @ 11:24 am
Saving Country Music was founded with the idea that music criticism is a critical component to the creative landscape, and essential to fostering a healthy artistic environment.
I understand that many people come here for musical recommendations, and I appreciate that people have put such stock in my opinions that they see this as the primary function of this website. However, the job of this website has never been as a promotional arm for artists. It is to be a critical, and hopefully, constructive voice in the country music space, which includes offering alternative listening options to listeners.
I doubt this Canaan Smith song will receive any more positive attention than it would before just because I wrote a negative review for it. But if it does, that’s not of my concern. Acting like things we don’t like do not exist is not the way to influence the marketplace, or, to give other artists the opportunities to replace such music by challenging its viability.
My job is not to serve any specific audience. My job is to serve country music.
April 25, 2017 @ 12:22 pm
Two sides of the same coin. We have to know what we stand for, and to know that, we also have to know what we stand against. If we, the grassroots don’t speak out against the toxic elements in the genre, who else is going to?
April 25, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
Cool, Trigger. All I know is, I was a little bit happier before I knew this guy existed.
April 25, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
Not to be a dick, but Trigger you are too busy posting about artists that no one has ever heard of, instead of steadily posting reviews about mainstream country. THAT is what will help “save country music”. You are exposing SOME or your readers that love traditional country to these new artists you post about, but most people coming to your site are ones that listen to mainstream country. I’m more than sure that Nashville big shots that come up with these shit artists and call them country do view this website on occasion….and if you posted more and more about mainstream country you’d get alot more peoples attention and you’d get alot more followers….and maybe just maybe that would get SOME of the nashville big shots and mainstream country artists to think twice before putting out sell out garbage like Dierks Bentley’s new shit album, or Brett Eldredge’s sell out bullshit, you get the idea. I’m a businessman myself and i know how marketing works.
April 26, 2017 @ 5:30 am
Really? Really? You may be a businessman, and I hope a very successful one, but you have no idea how Music Row functions.
April 26, 2017 @ 9:23 am
I am someone who liked “everything except for country” until I stumbled across this site a little over a year ago (I was researching a CD purchase for a friend). Since then, I have converted to a country fan and primarily enjoy artists that are featured on the site. I regularly buy releases from new or under-exposed artists that Trigger writes about and have taken into consideration his work when making entertainment related decisions- such as deciding to pay for my music streaming service and buying merchandise at shows, as that is the best way to get money directly to the artist.
April 26, 2017 @ 1:44 pm
You don’t know what i know and what i don’t know, you cannot judge my knowledge based off one paragraph.
April 25, 2017 @ 9:16 am
Real drums and instruments don’t mean anything if the song is this bad
April 25, 2017 @ 9:34 am
The sad part is I remember him opening for Sugarland (sorry, we aren’t allowed to mention them here, right?) on their final tour. Lauren Alaina, the main opener, was off that night so Canaan had a full 12 song set and the songs were pretty impressive in terms of quality for mainstream. His actual debut single was “We Got Us” from 2011/12, which is a pretty good song. Unfortunately, none of the songs from his set or We Got Us made his debut album, as his label just stuffed it with the latest trends.
April 25, 2017 @ 10:00 am
I actually kinda liked We Got Us. Yeah, it’s a little generic and sappy, but it was pleasant to listen to and it actually sounded somewhat country, as there is actually fiddle and mandolin in it. Bronco from his debut album is actually okay, as well. But the rest of it is just not that good.
April 25, 2017 @ 10:15 am
Yeah, Drew, you used the “S” word. Careful, man, you’ll make the List if you keep that up. LOL. They are actually one of my guilty pleasures, especially live.
April 25, 2017 @ 11:26 am
You’re allowed to mention Sugarland, you just can’t mention their mysterious third member whose memory has been erased from history, and cannot be named. You know, the one that played with them back when they played country music?
🙂
April 25, 2017 @ 4:30 pm
When did they play country music? Seriously, when? Was it before they scored a deal?
April 25, 2017 @ 5:12 pm
Their early music was fairly country. Then came Stink Like Poo…oh my bad, Stuck Like Glue 🙁
April 26, 2017 @ 1:04 am
Their early music was good because one of the original duo members was in the group Kristen Hall. When she and Kristian Bush added Jennifer Nettles to the group forming a trio was when the dynamics changed. Than Nettles and Bush got rid of Hall and the music became plastic pop country crap.
April 25, 2017 @ 9:34 am
When I clicked on this article my first thought was “Why is there a picture of a butt?” Then I realized it’s the cover art. *facepalm*
April 25, 2017 @ 9:45 am
The only good thing about this song is that it’s so bad, it only took me 5 seconds to realize that. I managed to get through a minute of it before I had to stop it for fear my ears would start bleeding.
April 25, 2017 @ 9:57 am
I give it a Solid, 1&1/2 middle fingers up!
April 25, 2017 @ 9:58 am
the cover is what eric church praised in “drink in my hand as “oo oo oo you got that little tattoo playin peekaboo on your back”
“canaan smith” parodies itself — does nashpop have a generic name generator?
April 25, 2017 @ 10:29 am
ugh!
April 25, 2017 @ 11:05 am
Wow, this is crap. It seems like they aren’t even trying any more.
April 25, 2017 @ 11:18 am
It’s like “Here’s an ass. Listen to this song.”
I had to share that with my co-workers.
April 25, 2017 @ 12:12 pm
The Country Bubble will burst. It happened in the 80’s with Hair Metal, everything sounded the same . You couldn’t tell who was who… fortunately it will be a well need cleansing..
April 25, 2017 @ 12:43 pm
Miranda is bat shit crazy. I used to be a fan, have been to many of her concerts. This last concert over St. Patty’s day weekend was by far the worst. Her new album is the worst ever. She should have gone home empty handed from the award show.
Picking on artists who are doing their thing, while your idol puts out crap doesn’t make her look better. It reminds me and others how much she’s gone off the deep end.
April 25, 2017 @ 4:02 pm
Wow, John. Everyone has their opinion and I appreciate yours. I just wonder what exactly about Miranda’s concert turned you off? And why do you hate her last album so much?
I am a Miranda fan but haven’t been to any of her concerts. Have all her albums and if I had to pick her “worst” album it would probably be Platinum. I would really like to know, if you don’t mind.
April 26, 2017 @ 7:27 am
Prior ML concerts she was out there having fun, entertaining the crowd. I’ve been at the stage for 2 of her shows and in seats for 2. This last show she wasn’t out there having fun, she was out there at work doing her job, nothing more nothing less.
The night before this concert I was at the Blake concert and he was out there having fun, Old Dominion opened for Miranda and they had fun. But the mood from the stage changed when she got it there. She was almost asking for sympathy because of the divorce… Every story she told was all depressing. I don’t pay money to go to concerts to be depressed. I get it, it’s country music, every artist has their emotional ballad in the show, and that’s fine, they talk about it, sing it, then move on. She never moved on.
Her previous albums had some songs I didn’t particularly care for, but they were fun, especially live. I couldn’t even get through this last album. I’m a trucker and I train new drivers. I put this album on and my student at the time (also a Miranda fan) asked for something else on the radio, and I couldn’t have agreed more.
I get the power of music to heal from things life throws at us, but there is way too much sad music on this one for me. Just because you write a song does not mean it’s should be included on an album. Write it, sing it, heal with it… Privately. You want to include a song or 2 to express your feelings publicly fine, but For me this album and the show was a cry for attention.
I’ll listen to her next album with the hope that she’s turned things around, but she’s lost my support as a concert goer. I won’t pay money to hear more of her cries for attention.
I also don’t see how she gets more female of the year awards than Reba. I saw Reba in concert too. She sold out arenas literally twice the size of what Miranda plays. Old Miranda, while putting on a great show is not in the same league as Reba. That’s like saying Old Dominion is in the same league as Rascal Flatts. OD was the highlight for me of last months 2 concerts but they’re not quite in RF territory, when they were at their peak.
April 26, 2017 @ 8:11 pm
The Weight of These Wings is her worst? Damn, it’s the only album she’s put out where I liked the majority of the songs. I’ve really enjoyed some of the songs from previous albums, especially the deeper cuts, but until TWoTW, I feel like she hadn’t put out a truly good record. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
April 25, 2017 @ 12:50 pm
So ridiculous. If he was going to try and rip off a 2 Live Crew album cover, he could have at least done a better job.
April 25, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
A lyric video ? Really ? You’d think they would want to draw our attention away from the awful lyrics although along with the tune and the voice I only lasted 20 seconds.
I only lasted 20 seconds.There’s their next hit there .
April 25, 2017 @ 3:01 pm
I don’t care who kicks this idiot’s ass, just as long as somebody does!
April 25, 2017 @ 3:10 pm
I’m proud to say I’ve never heard of this guy.
April 25, 2017 @ 3:35 pm
If your going to drop the name of a Godess than best be at least in the same church!
April 25, 2017 @ 4:08 pm
Wow this Dick Head is a total tool…… Lmfao very pitiful
April 25, 2017 @ 4:52 pm
Best reply ever
April 25, 2017 @ 5:38 pm
How dare you’re Miranda Lambert hating this song
I’m Miranda Lambert loving this song and Miranda Lambert will too because her name is in one of the lyrics
The only bad part of the song is the cover of Miranda Lambert’s ass in her pants
Overall 9.5/10 for me
April 25, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
Country music today is more like southern rock of the late 70s. Hank Jr had a hand in the changeover. When he made it big on his music instead of his daddy’s like they made him do in his younger years, many of your big name country artist today just did their version of Hank Jr. Garth was one of the first to come along. You still had some country artist that entailed both like Alan Jackson, George Strait for starters. They had both styles and we’re very good because they did not choose any streamlined country from the writers banks. They sang only their stuff or pure music that was not from these crank out song banks. Miranda is probably as close to Hank as you can get from a female. She is not afraid of the songs that show true feeling and leaves it up to the audience for likability. Their are no Tammy Wynette or Loretta Lynns now in country music. The style has changed but not forgotten. As far as Sugarland goes, Jennifer has a wonderful voice and Kristian is a hell of a musician. It’s a shame the 3rd party didn’t work out but if you have never been in a band, you probably don’t want to criticize. Things happen thru the years that can’t be helped and things aren’t always going to work out. You don’t have to buy it if you don’t like it. In closing I will say that this year’s big winners were more tears and beers songs than in the last quarter century. Chris Stapletons album was very old school country and some of Miranda’s songs were as well.
April 25, 2017 @ 6:31 pm
The title alone underscores the complete lack of effort in differentiating this from his previous single release.
“Love You Like That”. “Like You That Way”.
It stands to reason the next logical “evolution” will be “Like That You Love That”. Then “That Way You Love”. Or maybe “You Like That You Love That I Like Loving You That Way (That You Like)”.
April 26, 2017 @ 7:52 am
Delightful.
April 25, 2017 @ 8:02 pm
Don’t get me wrong, this song is an abomination, but Miranda Lambert made her own bed with the interminable string of “crazy girl” songs she released to radio. She’s turned herself into a more thoughtful artist after the Blake Shelton fiasco, and she’s inarguably one of the most talented musicians on country radio, but I reached a point in about ’14 at which I was pretty sure she had as much lyrically creative chops as Sam Hunt did. (OK, hyperbole, but just think about how many of her hit singles had to do with pointless female rebellion).
April 25, 2017 @ 9:30 pm
At least Miranda writes songs about herself. She admits she is a ball of ?. She is a talented musician and song writer with strong feelings and not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve. At least she is not like Taylor Swift that every bubblegum song is the same with 2 verses and a part with nothing but drums that slows down then a 2 bar wait and all instruments hit hard to finish the song. If you’ve heard 1 Swift song you’ve heard them all. That’s why she changed genres. Pick on Miranda you better be ready to back it up she’ll kik that was.
April 25, 2017 @ 11:04 pm
Admittedly I am a Miranda Lambert fan. We Texas girls stick together like that. Sure, ten years ago her music was about the trying times of being a young woman in unhealthy relationships. Women in their twenties and even thirty’s could feel her songs. That’s what made her huge. Sadly, as a woman and an artist she has had to evolve as a result of well…life. That evolution created in my opinion, an even deeper and soulful feel to her music. No, its not what we typically expect from Miranda. Her music has matured. As for what’s his name? For Miranda to even take notice of his reference would be an honor.
April 25, 2017 @ 11:42 pm
Love this song…..
April 26, 2017 @ 9:26 am
Why is that not surprising? You seem to be a connoisseur of crappy, unoriginal pop music that tugs at the strings of your teenaged heart. It is odd that you even frequent a country music website.
April 26, 2017 @ 10:15 am
It’s strange that you’ve called me a troll on multiple occasions, yet here’s an actual troll, and you seem to be taking his comment seriously. What gives?
April 28, 2017 @ 5:58 pm
Oh shut yer trap. I’m in my late 20s.
April 26, 2017 @ 6:19 am
So the song is shit but he is right a Miranda Kind of crazy is a good thing! Miranda is a sexy strong woman and with that comes a certain kinda crazy. It’s sexy just my $0.02.
April 26, 2017 @ 7:29 am
Just another walking hair product, like Thomas Rhett or Brett Eldredge or Brett Young or Chris Young or Chris Lane or … oh what’s the difference. The names and faces and voices and hair are interchangeable.
April 26, 2017 @ 1:46 pm
Chris Young? Wow. You went way too far brother…
April 26, 2017 @ 12:24 pm
“Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate…”
April 26, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
Miranda Lambert is to real country……well not. Funny how things have changed. Defending her as a country legend over yet another douchehat doesn’t make her country at all.
April 26, 2017 @ 8:18 pm
Who called Miranda Lambert a “country legend”? I don’t think even her most devoted fans would label her that yet.
April 27, 2017 @ 7:50 am
” And what the hell is up with the cover art for this song? It’s just a big female ass right in your face? What does that have to do with anything? It’s like “Here’s an ass. Listen to this song.” It’s so gratuitous and obvious. Years ago this itself would have caused a stir for it’s disrespectfulness in country, but today you just kind of expect this type of objectification.”
This album cover should be a logo ( like the Stones’ Sticky Fingers’ tongue) …a warning affixed to every record launched ‘ country’ that disrespects the genre with disposable fluff that be-littles or objectifies . It would immediately signify to listeners that if you want shit you’ll find it in this collection but if you want good , meaningful , thoughtful and somewhat traditional country music you are looking in the wrong place …….don’t waste your time . I’m certain that this warning logo would show up on almost every male mainstream country release currently charting.
April 27, 2017 @ 10:00 am
I can’t believe I was stupid enough to temporarily turn off the Gillian Welch/ Dave Rawlings mix I was enjoying to actually listen to this fucking pile of shit song. I should have known better. And that’s all I have to say on that subject.
April 27, 2017 @ 10:17 am
Bubblegum country. This guy could have been in the Archies.