A 12 months in the past, nation star Brad Paisley watched the information on tv as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many individuals all over the world, he felt helpless on the photographs of individuals fleeing their properties.
“The world felt like it was in a new place that it hadn’t been in decades,” the three-time Grammy winner remembers.
On Friday (Feb. 24), the one-year anniversary of the battle’s begin, Paisley is releasing a brand new track referred to as “Same Here,” that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talking proudly about his nation and other people.
The track is Paisley’s first from his new file, Son of the Mountains, to be launched later this 12 months on Universal Music Group Nashville. The West Virginia native wrote the track with Lee Thomas Miller (co-writer on Paisley hits “The World” and “Perfect Storm”) and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. It’s a three-part narrative that displays on common similarities, regardless of distance and language.
While it doesn’t point out Ukraine particularly, the track ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in dialog, recorded throughout a video name. Zelenskyy talks about Ukrainians’ need for freedom, including “There is no distance between our two countries in such values.”
“There’s just no differences,” Paisley instructed The Associated Press. “You can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.”
Paisley is one among a number of movie star ambassadors for Ukraine’s United24 crowdfunding effort, and has donated his time for different fundraising efforts to help Ukrainians. But even he thought it will be an extended shot to have the direct involvement of Zelenskyy, who has traveled the world advocating for Ukraine’s army and restoration efforts.
“I think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart,” Paisley mentioned of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comic earlier than turning into president. “He can give as many speeches as he can give, but it’s a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.”
Zelenskyy didn’t simply log off on the track; he additionally instructed some modifications to it, Paisley mentioned.
Paisley’s royalties for the track shall be donated to United24 to assist construct housing for hundreds of displaced Ukrainians whose properties have been destroyed within the battle, he mentioned. Using his platform to advocate for causes necessary to him has all the time been a part of his profession, whether or not it was opening a free grocery retailer in Nashville along with his spouse, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or preventing starvation by donating 1 million meals throughout the pandemic.
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t sort of swing for the fence with things like this,” Paisley mentioned. “For me, I’m happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter that’s very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I don’t know if you’d call it risky, but it’s more like it’s bigger than me.”
Paisley brings his ardour on stage throughout dwell exhibits. He’s been altering the lyrics to his hit track “American Saturday Night,” as an illustration, to exchange a reference to the usS.R. to “There’s a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar.”
The new file shall be his debut on UMG since transferring from Sony’s Arista label, and he mentioned “Same Here” displays the varieties of huge common themes on it.
“We do deal with stuff going on in the world,” Paisley mentioned. “How do you sing about things that are truly big — a big deal right now — that also don’t feel like maybe they’re the type of thing that you would be singing about typically? And yeah, on this album I have kind of really dug deep and tried to say something.”
Paisley, who has visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan, mentioned he’s been invited to go to Ukraine, which he’d love to do. In the meantime, he hopes the track’s message will bolster the nation now dealing with down 12 months two of the battle.
“That’s where it gets really rewarding… feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,” Paisley mentioned.
Discussion about this post