Midnight South
Sarah Caldwell

Midnight South Celebrates Rural Romance on Acoustic 'Better Than A Country Song' [Premiere]

The band members drew inspiration from their Arkansas upbringing.

Arkansas band Midnight South shares the beauty of falling in love in the country in its 2021 song "Better Than a Country Song," inspired by their upbringing in the Natural State. Now, the band is releasing an acoustic version of the song and sharing it exclusively with Wide Open Country readers.

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"'Better Than a Country Song' is a song inspired by living in the country. All of us come from rural backgrounds and deeply resonate with the simple, down-home style of living. It really encapsulates what we are all about," band member Jeremy Castaldo tells Wide Open Country. "My favorite line is probably the chorus: 'We'll be sippin' on some sweet tea, swinging on a porch swing, singing our favorite song.' That's how we have all spent many days, and we all have fond memories of doing just that and similar things with friends and family. It's kind of the way we pass the time down here!"

 Castaldo explained that the song felt perfect to revisit as an acoustic recording. 

"Stripping away some of the production layers from the original version really lets the vibe take hold," Castaldo says. 

 Castaldo, who describes Midnight South as a "perfect blend of a '90s throwback style with a modern twist," says the band is inspired by country groups such as Alabama, Midland and Old Dominion as well as solo acts including Keith Urban. 

"Midland has the vintage vibe with some killer harmonies that pay tribute to Alabama. For Old Dominion, musically we are similar in sounds and style. And ol' Keith [Urban] does a great job of keeping it country but staying with the times, and he rips that guitar," Castaldo says. "Fortunately, we don't have to try too hard when we write. Our style is our style, and we like where we sit in the genre."

Listen to "Better Than a Country Song (Acoustic)" below.

 

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