If you were lucky enough to see early shows of Sam Hunt, Brett Eldredge & David Nail, you may have seen Cale Dodds as the opening act. Dodds’ first EP, “Wild & Reckless” was released mid 2014. He has spent his time touring with those mentioned above, as well as headlining many shows in his home state of Georgia. Besides being a do not miss show, Dodds is also a songwriter with Warner Chappell Nashville. Fans of Dodds were anxiously awaiting the March 4th release of his second EP, “People Watching.” The “Wild & Reckless” tracks are the most played on my iTunes, and I can guarantee it won’t be long until “People Watching” is right up there.
If there is one thing that I love about music, it is clever song writing. When you look at the titles of each track, immediately throw your first thought of what the song is about out the window. Dodds cleverly takes simple phrases and turns the lyrics into meaning the exact opposite of what you would think they are about.
[Track 1 – “People Watching]
Yes, the title track is about people watching. But not the way you would imagine… The song takes us on a journey of a couple out on the town for a night. We quickly find out that the girl is the reason people are watching – the way she dances, the way she moves, the way she makes him look good.
“Everybody all across the room is watching you and me showing out tonight. Every guy in here’s
jealous, you’re makin’ me look and you can’t help it.
They can stop and stare but we aint stoppin’, I love it how we got people watching…”
[Track 2 – “Acting Our Age”]
“Acting Our Age” immediately makes me think of weekend road trips with friends to concerts. Way more drive time than show time, no sleep, and loving every minute of it. This song is all about living life to its fullest and enjoying the moment you’re in.
“We’ve got the rest of our lives for the rest of our lives, but the rest of tonight for
whatever feels right. We’re doing it our way, just acting our age.
One day we’ll look back just shaking our heads, but right now we’re too fast to slow
down just yet. We’re doing it our way, just acting our age.”
[Track 3 – “Lying“]
“Lying” may be my favorite track on this record. It takes us to a day on the beach, a young couple lying on the hood of a car, telling each other they’ll stay together forever. I love that we see two totally different meanings of “lying” in the same line. (That whole clever songwriting thing…)
“Lying on the hood of my car, under the stars, falling as hard as they were,
Didn’t know we didn’t meant it, swore we believed it, took it too far,
She said forever, I said I’d never let her out of these arms,
But baby the truth is we were just lying, lying on the hood of my car”
[Track 4 – “Like We Do’]
If Jake Owen’s beachy songs and Sam Hunt’s “House Party” had a baby, it would be “Like We Do.” This is a fun, feel good song about not growing up anytime soon – having the time of your life, doing things the way you want to because you only get to live once.
“Don’t it feel good feeling like we do. We’re gonna grow up, but no time soon.
Here’s to a few friends, nights that don’t end, week days talking
about next weekend. Don’t it feel good feeling like we do.”
[Track 5 – “Give It Back”]
If “Lying” is my favorite track, “Give It Back” is fighting for that title & may very soon win. “Give It Back” grabs your attention the very second the music starts. The lyrics are words that every girl wants to hear. This is all about a guy asking a girl to take his heart and to not give it back, because he’s all in; no matter what.
“It’s yours to love, yours to break. Girl, I’m all in either way, so go on take my heart.
Don’t give it back, don’t give it back.”
“People Watching” is a new sound for Cale Dodds & one that I believe will be a huge success for him. I hope you’ll download the record & go see him live if you get the chance. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Follow Cale Dodds on social media –
Snapchat, Twitter & Instagram: @CaleDodds
Facebook & YouTube: Cale Dodds
www.caledodds.com
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