Apple Music has released a new batch of Toby Keith Covered Nashville Sessions, with Tyler Hubbard, Emily Ann Roberts, Kameron Marlowe and Jackson Dean all offering their own renditions of some Keith classics in tribute to the late country legend.
It’s always tricky when covering an artist as revered as Keith, but even more so when done in a setting that’s meant to honour the artist following their passing. We heard some fantastic performances of the so-called Big Dog Daddy’s biggest songs last summer, with Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Riley Green and more contributing.
There’s a fine line between offering your own spin on a classic and being disrespectful by changing things too much, but on the flip side, if you play it too safe and simply perform it bar-for-bar like the original, you’re accused of being uninspired.
Now, with Hubbard, Roberts, Marlowe and Dean taking part in Apple Music’s ongoing Keith tribute project, we’ve had a listen and ranked all four covers. But ultimately, the purpose isn’t competition – it’s to honour one of the genre’s most influential figures in a fitting way, something every one of these artists succeeds in doing.
1. ‘Red Solo Cup’ – Emily Ann Roberts
We’ve been big fans of Roberts for a long time, and we’re glad to see Apple Music recruiting the ‘Jack & Jill Daniels’ hitmaker for this project. ‘Red Solo Cup’ is always a difficult one to take on, given how heavily it relies on Keith’s charisma and swagger to ensure it never descends into corny or eye-rolling territory.
But Roberts’ performance is fantastic, as she accentuates the wonderfully old-school ambience with her spoken-word verses, before dialling back the tempo for an unashamedly light-hearted and unquestionably fun crescendo. A captivating rendition that will hopefully introduce a host of new fans to Roberts’ own discography.
2. ‘I Love This Bar’ – Tyler Hubbard
Hubbard’s vocals are always on point, with his sleek Georgia drawl combining powerfully here with the twangy electric guitars for an enchanting version of Keith’s ‘I Love This Bar’.
The Florida Georgia Line star keeps the vibe relatively laid-back throughout, but in this instance, less is more, with Hubbard delivering each line with a smile as he celebrates his favourite watering hole. A strong offering that we’ll certainly be returning to.
3. ‘How Do You Like Me Now?!’ – Kameron Marlowe
Marlowe carries a sense of gravitas and his vocals lend themselves perfectly to this Keith anthem. At the same time, it’s not an enviable task attempting to leave your mark on a song as iconic as ‘How Do You Like Me Now?!’ Nonetheless, on the whole, Marlowe’s version is energising and enjoyable, if maybe a little safe.
4. ‘I Wanna Talk About Me’ – Jackson Dean
Dean can tackle an electric-guitar-fuelled earworm better than anyone, with the ‘Don’t Come Lookin‘ crooner possessing some of the most distinctive Southern Rock vocals in the game. He serves up an impressive performance of ‘I Wanna Talk About Me’ here, but it suffers as a result of it being one of Keith’s less charming tracks.
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