Anything Goes (Randy Houser song) explained

Anything Goes
Cover:Anything Goes single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Randy Houser
Album:Anything Goes
Genre:Country
Length:3:04
Label:Universal South
Next Title:Boots On
Next Year:2009

"Anything Goes" is the debut single by American country music artist Randy Houser, released in June 2008. It is the title track of his 2008 debut album of the same name. The song was written by Brice Long and John Wiggins.

Content

"Anything Goes" is a mid-tempo ballad, mostly accompanied by piano and Hammond B-3 organ, with pedal steel guitar flourishes. In it, the narrator recalls a one-night stand with a woman whom he has met a bar. He states that he does not feel guilty about the encounter, because his lover has left him.

Music video

A music video was made for the song in October 2008. Directed by Vincenzo Giammanco, the video starts with Houser walking into a bar to drink a beer. Scenes also show him playing guitar in the bar. In the second verse of the song, Houser is seen sitting on a bed, with his one-night stand still asleep. At the end of the video, Houser places his guitar into a fire. This music video was filmed at the Star Lounge in Ventura, CA.

Critical reception

The song has received mixed reception from music reviewers. Brady Vercher of Engine 145, stated in his review of the album that Houser "showed a lot of promise" in this song.[1] He also described it as "similar in theme to Jamey Johnson's 'Mary Go Round', only from a slightly different perspective."[1] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described "Anything Goes" as "melodic and tightly constructed, but not quite memorable."[2] Allen Jacobs of Roughstock gave the song a mixed review, thinking that the verses "stumbled", but described Houser's vocal performance favorably.[3]

Chart performance

"Anything Goes" was released in May 2008.[4] It debuted at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 21, 2008. It reached its peak of No. 16 on the country chart dated December 6, 2008.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Randy Houser - "Anything Goes" . Vercher . Brady . 2008-11-20 . 2008-12-02 . Engine 145 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081218012643/http://www.the9513.com/album-review-randy-houser-anything-goes/ . 18 December 2008 . dead .
  2. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1450842|pure_url=yes}} Randy Houser - "Anything Goes" album review ]. Erlewine . Stephen . 2008-12-02 . Allmusic.
  3. Web site: Randy Houser - "Anything Goes" review . Jacobs . Allen . 2008-12-02 . Roughstock . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080907041708/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/randy-houser-anything-goes . 2008-09-07 .
  4. Web site: Randy Houser dishes out first single . 2008-11-25 . 2008-05-15 . Country Standard Time.