Song / Video Review – Kacey Musgraves & Willie Nelson’s “Are You Sure”
Kacey Musgraves released her sophomore album Pageant Material earlier this summer, and just recently turned 27-years-old. And for all intents and purposes, her era of relevancy on country music radio is already over.
Or did it ever really begin? Looking back now, “Merry Go ‘Round” was more of a fluke than a phenomenon on the format, and eventually the odds got even with Musgraves. The oligarchy that controls the country airwaves has tightened their iron grip to make sure an artist like Musgraves can’t get through, and Grammy awards, Song of the Year trophies, and Best Album accolades don’t impress program directors charged with making sure every single minute on country radio is maximized to appeal to the mass consumer.
As the reigning Song of the Year winner at the CMA Awards, Kacey couldn’t even get her first single from Pageant Material “Biscuits” to crack the Top 40. It didn’t help that the song was released in March, and the video didn’t emerge until June when the song was already done—one of many timing issues and other less-than-ideal decisions that have possibly set Kacey’s prospects back even more than her “critical darling” tag. The second Pageant Material single “Dime Store Cowgirl,” though probably a more savvy pick than “Biscuits,” still faces an strong uphill battle to success now that so many Musgraves singles have stalled.
So why even try to court radio? Why blow your budget barking at deaf ears? Instead run off and make a fun video with Willie Nelson on a track that was hidden on the record, and give something your core fans, and the core fans of country will enjoy.
It’s curious how some can still characterize Kacey Musgraves as the brunette version of Taylor Swift when she’s cutting classic country songs and collaborating with Willie Nelson. “Are You Sure” is not some standard of the country songbook, and simply picking the tune shows Kacey’s depth of country nerdiness. “He couldn’t believe I knew it,” Kacey says, recalling the time she was on Willie’s bus and asked him why he never plays it live. “I just really loved it. It’s very honest and very country, [and] it’s a neat perspective. He seemingly pulled a guitar out of a cloud of smoke and started strumming. I was of course dying inside a little bit.”
Some of the best cover songs are not the ones that are easily-recognized by the audience, but the ones that didn’t receive their due credit the first time around. This is the case with “Are You Sure,” which can stand right beside other iconic Willie songs from early in his career like “Night Life” and “Hello Walls” to be considered timeless in their message. The arrangement of Kacey’s rendition is tastefully sparse, and respectful to Willie’s sensibilities, going with a nylon string acoustic guitar and simple drums, and of course, all is made heavenly by Willie’s active participation both by supplying leads on his famous guitar “Trigger,” and vocal accompaniment in duet form.
Willie’s presence is also what makes the video stand out. The video is a little furtive in the beginning about if Willie will show up at all, and then there he is at the bar, and then joining Kacey on stage. Everything’s better with Willie—he’s like the bacon of country music.
Kacey will continue to be ignored by the mainstream, and draw the ire of speculation from the traditionalist crowd. But that doesn’t mean her contributions aren’t worthy of being seen and heard by both.
1 3/4 of 2 Guns Up (8/10)
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P.S. – The bar in the video is the The White Horse—Austin, TX’s current hot honky tonk that is quickly putting together a legendary status for itself.
September 10, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Stunning! Absolutely fuckin’ love it.
I’m heading to Chicago next weekend for Farm Aid. Hopefully, they perform this song together.
Although it doesn’t really work as a duet, the classic arrangement and the mood of the video give it a cool factor off the charts. Love it!
Another remarkable version of this song is included on Willie’s, Crazy (the Demo Sessions).
Unrelated: Trig, did you see what Steve Earle did (released) today? I’m hoping you have some thoughts about it coming up.
September 10, 2015 @ 7:13 pm
I do have some thoughts on Steve Earle’s anti-Cofederate Flag song, but haven’t decided yet if I want to broach that subject. No matter what qualifyers or warnings I give, the comments will just descend into stereotypical Confederate Flag arguments, and alienate a lot of readers. It happens every time, despite my best efforts to control or avoid it.
September 10, 2015 @ 7:04 pm
Fantastic! I’ve always liked this song and she does it justice.
September 10, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
I can’t help but smile wildly when I see two artists from completely different generations stand side by side and look like they’re having the times of their lives singing music together. =)
That’s the simple brilliance of this video. With all the bickering that often happens here about a particular generation or another “not getting it”, we’re all music fans above all else. And Musgraves and Nelson live out this mantra in spades.
Completely agree with this review, and really have nothing to add upon that.
September 10, 2015 @ 7:08 pm
This is the first Kacey Musgraves song that I’ve ever cared for. Well done.
September 10, 2015 @ 7:29 pm
This cover is my favorite part of Pageant Material, and it’s a shame that it’s hidden at the very end of the album.
Also, I agree with Nadia that it’s always great seeing younger and veteran performers together. That’s one reason I’ve always at least respected Brad Paisley. He clearly loves traditional country music and often includes collaborations with legends like Dolly Parton, Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Andy Griffith, and I guess Alabama. It’d be nice to see more acts using their 5 minutes to share their “heroes & friends” (Randy Travis’s words) with a new generation.
September 10, 2015 @ 7:45 pm
Exquisite.
September 10, 2015 @ 8:25 pm
“Everything”™s better with Willie””he”™s like the bacon of country music.”
Lines like that keep bringing me back!
September 10, 2015 @ 8:40 pm
Every time people call Kacey overrated and not as traditional as the critics claim her to be, a link to this song is really the only response that’s needed at least until her next album.
September 10, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
Beautiful song and a very wise decision by Kacey Musgraves.
I continue to be impressed at the level of vocal control and texture Willie still possesses at the age of 82. He is truly the ultimate role model for the manner in which all country singers (and singers in all genres, for that matter) should live out their elderly years.
September 10, 2015 @ 9:04 pm
I really like this duet with Willie. As I was listening to Kacey sing, it seemed I could hear a bit of Lee Ann Womack in her voice. In fact, that’s another person I’d like to see her duet with.
September 10, 2015 @ 9:56 pm
Like the fact that the song is very Willie. Nice arrangement, good to hear Trigger floating through the song. I enjoyed Kacey’s vocals. Not to mention Willie is a country God. This is what country music is all about. Hope to see other good collabs between real country artists in the future.
September 11, 2015 @ 3:03 am
Ricky, going to see Sturg Saturday in Maryville. Following you out there on the road. Keep up the hard work brother. Your putting in your dues. Good job.
September 10, 2015 @ 10:14 pm
Saw Willie this summer and man that dude can still bring it live.
Great song! Kacey catches a lot of undeserved heat but she is damn sure one of the only female artists who has a real shot of bringing any change to mainstream country.
September 10, 2015 @ 11:25 pm
A thought . SCM should award an SCM SOLDIER OF THE MONTH medallion for the artist (s) that SCM feels has done the most to support the mission and do what they feel they needed to do to Save Country Music …..DAMN THE TORPEDOES ! This woman takes it , in my estimation . She does does what she wants the way she wants to and , seemingly, cow-tows to no one . Pageant Material is a terrific record filled with substance and delivered more entertainingly than ANYTHING else Music Row can launch at us . It stands apart , it has character , perspective , honest instrumentation , production and damn ….a guest like Willie Nelson. I say we give that big shiny SCM medallion to Ms. Musgraves , Trigger . She’s doin’ it right .
September 11, 2015 @ 9:05 am
I already sort of do that with my “Artist of the Year” award. Doing it monthly I think could be risky, because some months there may not be anyone to honor. And people would get worn out on it in the first few months. Good idea though.
September 11, 2015 @ 3:49 am
The problem with Kacey Musgraves is that her music is simply boring. I have listened to both her albums fully. There is not much variation in the tempo, structure and lyrical style of her songs. Just because her style is much more country than the vast majority of the main country stars, it does’t automatically mean it is good! I can see why she doesn’t get much radio play.
September 11, 2015 @ 5:51 am
She’s all of…27 years old, I think. Give her some time. Nobody peaks when their ears ain’t even wet, yet.
September 11, 2015 @ 10:27 pm
Most pop stars peak around 27 (and this has been the case throughout most of the history of recorded music).
Country stars, on the other hand, have traditionally peaked in their 30s (men in their mid-late 30s, and women in their early-mid 30s). The 3 most recent country female stars, however, have all peaked either in their late 20s (Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood) or much earlier (Taylor Swift, back in the Fearless era).
September 11, 2015 @ 1:01 pm
“I can see why she doesn’t get much radio play”. Yeah because the songs played on the radio has so much variation in tempo, structure and lyrical style..
Its because she’s country music that she doesn’t get much radio play.
September 11, 2015 @ 5:52 am
Well done by Musgraves. And having Willie in the video really sets the right mood and tone.
September 11, 2015 @ 6:41 am
Very, very nice.
September 11, 2015 @ 6:48 am
I saw her play the first show of her current tour a couple weeks ago. She was really good and thoroughly entertaining. I was however slightly distracted by the two gay dudes dancing together in front of me. That’s not meant to be any sort of indictment on gay people or what gay people like to listen to, but it also spoke volumes about Kasey Musgraves cultural relevance. I think fluke is the best way to describe it. let’s face it, country music has had a certain demographic that it has always targeted, even back in the old days when, country radio seemed slightly more diversified. I can still remember hearing Charlie Pride, Barbara Mandrell, Hank Williams JR, and Kenny Rogers all played in the same block of songs. It also seems to me that, all of those artists had something in common, they all stuck to more traditional themes to their music. Musgraves is incredibly talented, and quite charming, but she clearly for some reason or another, isn’t resonating with that blue collar middle American demographic that country music has always appealed to. I’m not saying that, that’s a bad thing necessarily, but I also doubt that I’ll be seeing any gay guys dancing together at the Aaron Watson concert I’m going to tonight either.
September 11, 2015 @ 7:51 am
I think its tougher for artists of substance to get the opportunity to resonate with anyone when radio only targets a youthful tech-savy demographic with mostly fluff and has forgotten that ” blue collar middle American demographic ” you refer to .
September 12, 2015 @ 7:34 am
“That”™s not meant to be any sort of indictment on gay people or what gay people like to listen to, but it also spoke volumes about Kasey Musgraves cultural relevance.”
So a beautiful woman singing traditional country is for the niche gay market? Interesting.
September 11, 2015 @ 8:51 am
Lovely. 🙂 I kinda thought it was a shame that, on the CD, “Are You Sure” was tacked on the back of “Fine” rather than being its own separate “bonus” track, so I’m glad she did this clip — if nothing else, it should call a little more attention to this particular recording.
September 11, 2015 @ 10:06 am
I downloaded the album through Apple Music and “Are You Sure” is a separate track on the digital album.
September 11, 2015 @ 12:56 pm
Ah! Good deal.
September 11, 2015 @ 1:04 pm
Why this is given 1 3/4 instead of two guns up is what I want to know.
September 11, 2015 @ 1:10 pm
It’s still a cover song. Not to say I wouldn’t or haven’t given a cover song a full grade in the past, but it’s hard to award points for originality. Don;t get me wrong, it’s still an excellent, song, rendition, and video.
September 11, 2015 @ 1:18 pm
“The arrangement of Kacey”™s rendition is tastefully sparse, and respectful to Willie”™s sensibilities, going with a nylon string acoustic guitar and simple drums…”
Although I’d have to listen with headphones to be certain, I’m fairly sure there are no drums on this track. What there is instead is some of the most lyrical, gorgeous pedal steel playing I’ve ever heard from Paul Franklin. Which is a fairly high bar. It’s a perfect complement to the gut-string rhythm guitar and ol’ Trigger. I applaud the producers for featuring it so prominently.
If we could get real fiddle and real steel on songs, and not just faux attempts to sound like authentic country, I might start listening to the genre again.
September 11, 2015 @ 1:23 pm
There’s definitely some light brushes on snare in the mix, and there’s a drummer in the video too, but it’s very sparse. Very Paul English.
Forgot to mention the Paul Franklin was playing steel on the studio version.
September 12, 2015 @ 3:29 pm
Had it been the The White Horse in Berkeley CA this would’ve been a completely different project but just as awesome because as you say Willie Nelson is the bacon of country music. And we in the Bay Area have a surprisingly STRONG traditional country following especially those familiar with the Sunshine Saloon. 😉
September 13, 2015 @ 4:53 pm
Well, I wish we had the radio stations to serve this strong traditional country base. KRTY in San Jose can sometimes be good, but it turns into pure crap every summer.