Greyson Chance Tackles Pop's Cowboy Obsession in "Boots"
Photo: Chase Stockman
READ: Greyson Chance Returns Renewed With the Infectious Yet Sentimental 'portraits'
Greyson Chance is a pop tour de force. Making a glorious comeback earlier this year with the release of his acclaimed portraits, the Oklahoma-bred artist demonstrated a candid, sentimental side of himself we had yet to see. And while portraits was three years in the making, inspired by a break from the music industry, Chance did not keep us waiting quite as long for his next chapter.
"Boots" is the first taste of new music since portraits and sees Chance bringing a unique Oklahoma flair to the realm of pop. Released amidst Chance's current world tour, there is a certain sense of grit and bravado to the entire affair. "These punks in California who think that they can punch / But I dodge ‘em, fake 'em, ooh / And it feels like déjà vu / 'Cause I’ve been western before all of these stars," proclaims Chance in his calm and collected delivery. The Oklahoma native spoke further on "Boots," sharing,
"'Boots' at its core, is a narrative addressing pop culture's current usage of Western imagery. When I was writing the song, I found myself imagining what Johnny Cash would be like if he were around and making music in 2019. I thought about what he would wear, how he would act, and what he would write about. My conclusion was that it all would look and feel considerably different than these stars wearing cowboy hats these days. Being from Oklahoma, I understand that being 'Western' isn't all about the style, it's about an attitude, an obsessive loyalty and an unwavering wildness. 'Boots' is truly just an observation of what I see in pop culture currently, and what I think about it."
"Boots" arrives in direct response to pop's recent obsession with "cowboy culture," where Western imagery is seen as nothing more than a trendy fashion accessory. Thankfully, we have Chance and his whiskey-fueled, Oklahoma-raised brand of pop to remind us how to properly blend grit and glamour.
Watch the "Boots" video, which was co-directed by Chance himself and longtime collaborator Bobby Hanafor, below:
