Now, this is a pop-gone country cover I can get behind.
Before Post Malone embarked on his rap career, he got his roots in country music, which many often forget. Growing up in Texas, his first gigs were performing country and classic rock covers at a local Italian restaurant in Grapevine, Texas. While we are patiently waiting for his highly anticipated country project, F-1 Trillion, to hit streaming platforms at midnight, at least we have plenty of Grand Ole Opry debut content to digest over the next few hours to keep us satiated.
Last night, Post Malone checked off a huge milestone in the career of everyone trying to be a country music artist. He took his first steps into the historic circle at the Grand Ole Opry. Talk about an honor to play such a landmark venue days before his already RIAA Certified Gold album comes out. While Malone took his time at the Grand Ole Opry to sing some country classics with legends like John Michael Montgomery and Vince Gill, he also paid homage to the songs that made him into the artist he is today.
@whiskeyriff @Post Malone @John Michael Montgomery #whiskeyriff #postmalone #90scountry ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
I respect that Post Malone is not wholly throwing away his catalog of songs from a different genre and noting that he recognizes he would be unable to make this crossover without his previous success. Last night, Malone put a country twist on his hit single “Sunflower,” which appeared on the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack. The song featuring Swae-Lee is honestly a certified bop. The track has a relaxed vibe that coats your ears and puts you immediately in a good mood.
Sidenote: check out Sturgill Simpson putting a little bluegrass flavor on that song too.
The vibey single became a fan favorite among Post Malone fans, but after hearing this version last night, I’m not entirely convinced that Post wrote this song without considering how it would sound as a country single. It fits too perfectly into the genre. After Post Malone spun the song into a stellar acoustic guitar-based melodic song, he hit all the country marks, adding a legendary fiddle solo. He clearly took Alabama’s words to heart when they said:
“If you’re gonna play in Texas
You gotta have a fiddle in the band.”
I would not be opposed if Malone wanted to take this into the studio for a reimagination. I think it would be a massive hit as a country ditty.
Check it out.
If you’re passionate about more fiddle and steel in country music, check out Whiskey Riff Shop for merchandise highlighting this important matter.