When an artist is as good as Jon Pardi, it’s hard to choose which song of theirs to review first! 🙂 All of his original songs that I have heard thus far are supercool, pure country music. 😎 And I believe that every song he’s covered has sounded the best those songs can sound – and that’s a supersize compliment! 🙂 I would like to review every song he’s sung – originals and covers – yet before I could claim that accomplishment, a certain decision must be made. Do you know what that is? 😉 Deciding which song to start with! 🙂 I believe I will do this one…
“Heartache on the Dance Floor” is the newest radio single from his album, “California Sunrise”, which was released on June 17, 2016 by Capitol Records Nashville. 😎 Supercool. 😎 I loved his debut performance of it on TV (March 6, 2018), every piece of concert footage I’ve been blessed to see of it, the video, the performance video and especially when he sang it solo for a radio show. 🙂 It was a perfect example of what George Strait’s character was talking with hope about in the movie “Pure Country”: you don’t need all the smoke and lights – just a man and his guitar. 🙂 😎 (At that same radio show, Jon also sang George’s “I Just Want to Dance with You”; I so loved it that I’m working on a review for it, too. 🙂 ) Back to this review: I loved “Heartache on the Dance Floor” since the first time I heard it. 🙂 This song has such a great sound – made it feel like summertime in the wintertime. 😎 Sunshine, blue skies, sparkling waters, the colorful artistry of the Creator’s sunsets – I can hear it all in Jon’s song. 🙂
At the very start of “Heartache on the Dance Floor” you immediately know two things about it: it’s pure country and it’s good…really, really good. 🙂 😎 As you all know, I appreciate every aspect of what makes a song sound good – and this one excels in it. 😎 Every instrumental note is played with genuine heart and talent. And every note sung is essential to the great sound of this song. Guitars, drums, fiddle and steel guitar all lead into the opening verse featuring the amazing lead vocals of Jon Pardi (later joined by the All-Nighters’ impressive backing vocals). 😎
Jon begins telling the story of the song in first person; he has a Creator-blessed gift for storytelling, by the way. 🙂 The setting is a little beachside town on the West Coast.
The video begins with him buying some fries at a standing trailer on the edge of the beach in the bright sunshine. 😎 The scene changes to evening, lights have been set up in front of it, music playing, people dancing, enjoying the atmosphere. 😎
In the song he tells about a girl catching his eye the other night, like nothing he had ever seen. When Jon’s singing “Heartache on the Dance Floor”, he gets the full effect of the story across with such clarity and smoothness. 😎 The girl was dancing to an old Motown song (good music! 🙂 ). Jon Pardi has some great moves. 🙂 He sure feels that supercool music. 😎
He sings he was speechless, watching her, couldn’t manage to say anything, so he just sang along to the Motown song. (Which would’ve sounded great! 🙂 )
I love the notes, tones, volume, pace and melody of this song through and through! 🙂 It sounds so good!! 🙂
The chorus begins, picking up the pace and volume from conversational singing to an upbeat rhythm of exultation. He sings about her being a heartache on the dance floor, moving through his mind. He’s determined to know her name, to see her again. She has him wondering where she is this night. Jon carries a “whoa” in strong, melodic fashion, along with the driving country beat of the band. 😎
And I just have to note here: that blue guitar he plays so excellently has got to be one of, if not the most, beautiful guitars I have ever seen. 😎 Just beautiful. 🙂 I’m so glad that that fine guitar has such a talented owner. 🙂 😎
In the second verse he continues the story. Wanting to see her again, he hung around that little West Coast town, dropping by that beachside place every night and staying until closing time. I like the way he said “my little mystery”. 🙂 😎 He put on a song, just to sing along. I like the heart and determination in this song; the man’s doing what he can, trying to find this girl who stirred his heart like that. Good romance. 😎
The second chorus is sung and played just as excellently as the first time; Jon Pardi and his supercool band, The All-Nighters, give consistently top-notch performances each and every time. 😎 And they make it look so easy; they’re that good. 🙂
This chorus includes some bonus features. 🙂 He sings that she’s got him mesmerized; she’s all he thinks about. Then the instrumental break arrives, featuring a blazing guitar lead with the rest of the instruments keeping that great song going in the background. 😎
In the third verse, Jon sings that he’s right here, right now, humming this little song. If he could say a thing, he’d want her to know: “You were a heartache on the dance floor.” Bringing it down a little bit instrumentally, thus highlighting this part of the song expertly, he sings the entire chorus to her, with The All-Nighters echoing his words in good, strong voices. 😎
He’s hanging around this little town, “looking for you, Baby”. Singing the chorus, addressing this girl in the song, brought a really cool element to it. First he was telling about it, and then he changes it, directing it personally to her. I really liked that touch. 🙂 😎
The song ended as it began: perfectly! 🙂 Such a great sound; this is a song I could – and have 😉 – listen to repeatedly and love it just as much each time. Now that’s real supercool music! 🙂 😎
Jon Pardi’s music sounds great whether it’s a studio recording or from a live performance with his band The All-Nighters. 🙂 Billy plays the fiddle with equal parts great talent and energy. 😎 The steel guitar artist, Andy, plays with smooth skill. 😎 (I would give them credit by last name as well, but I don’t have that information as yet.) Super guitarist Terry Lee Palmer and boss bass guitarist Lee Francis have accompanied Jon at various radio station performances. 😎
I’ll close this review by telling how I know the supercool drummer’s name. 🙂 Mitch White, yes, he’s the one rockin’ those drums to a country beat, joined Jon Pardi in a cool, purposeful challenge – which they both aced. 😎 Jon was taking part in a 22 push-ups challenge to help bring more awareness of our soldiers who are losing their lives from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He had asked Mitch to join him in the show of strength and they added extra challenges to it besides. 😎 (You can check out the footage on YouTube to see what they did. 🙂 ) And not only did they accomplish the 22 push-ups impressively, but they added two bonus push-ups at the end! 🙂 Strong fellows, good men who care about our military – the men and women who defend freedom and help keep us safe. 🙂 😎 The members of our military who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other struggles, need our prayers, love and encouragement to help them have hope and to know that they can win this battle. Never give up. Please. Never give up.
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