"Burnin' it Down" - Jason Aldean

Before we delve into some of the new hits of this summer, let's take one last look at country's fading face in popularity before it rides off into the sunset. Enough mixed metaphors for ya? Good, then let's look at Jason Aldean's "Burnin' it Down".

Okay... is this even a country song? I seriously can't tell anymore. Country music has become so pop-ified in the past few years the the two genres are starting to blend together in all the wrong ways. I mean, listen to that instrumentation in the beginning: you've got some electronic drum beats, and some of the most computerized guitar I've ever heard, if that even is a guitar. Where does the country start? With Jason Aldean's voice? Is that all you need to make your song country these days? When did this happen?

Okay, so it looks like I won't be looking at this through a country point of view, because... how can I? Aldean seems to want to distance himself from the genre as much as possible, so I guess that means I have to follow suit. All right, then... how does this work as a pop song?

Well, the lyrics seem to center around this imagery of burnin' it down, burnin' it down, and burnin' it down some more. Which I guess is supposed to be a code for sex, but... burnin' it down? I get "lightin' it up", or "makin' sparks fly", but "burnin' it down"? What, are you a part-time pyromaniac, Aldean? Or the Wicked Witch of the West or something?

Don't you hurt that poor scarecrow! He's got no brain! He's been through a lot!... uh, anyway...

So, the title of the song doesn't translate for me, which definitely isn't good. But let's take a look at some other lyrics, to see if there's anything salvageable here.

You slip your finger through the tear in my t-shirt

You stirrin' up dirty in the back of my mind

Okay.

You keep on flirtin' cause you know that it's workin'

You stuck in my head girl writing the lines

Yeah.

Couldn't sing this song without you if I tried
Let's light it up like it's our last night
We're just hanging around, burnin' it down

Yep, that's where I tune out: right around the chorus. Look, he even uses "light it up" in the verse, so obviously, he has some kind of clue what he's doing! I hope...

Honestly, the song's not that bad. It's a little dreary-sounding for a love/sex song, and I can't get past that dreadful "burnin' it down" imagery enough to enjoy it, but it doesn't really offend me in the opposite way either. Which sucks, because the death of country music should be with a bang, not a whimper. So, way to go, Jason Aldean. You've left a legacy of mediocrity behind you. Great job. *slow clap*