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Brad Paisley, 'Wheelhouse' Songs Spark Meaningful Debates

Sony Music Nashville

Fans might be scratching their heads a bit, now that the track list for Brad Paisley's upcoming Wheelhouse album has been revealed. The squeaky-clean country star has included eye-opening song titles such as "Accidental Racist" and "Those Crazy Christians" on his eighth studio album, along with "Death of a Married Man" and "Death of a Single Man." The titles certainly reflect the lauded songwriter's creative abilities with a pen, but just what are these songs about? The answers prove Brad is pushing the lyrical envelope more than ever before.

"Accidental Racist" addresses the detrimental stamp that slavery put on our nation's history. Brad's buddy, LL Cool J collaborates on the track, adding lyrics about racial harmony. "Brad's not afraid to express himself," the legendary rapper tells Parade magazine in a feature article on Wheelhouse. "What other country artist, or any artist right now, talks about slavery?"

Brad, a faithful churchgoer who was born and raised a Southern Baptist, labels "Those Crazy Christians" as a gospel song and proclaims it "the most important" religious tune he's ever recorded. "I wrote it shortly after my cousin-in-law passed away in 2011. He was young, and he fought against a debilitating disease. There weren't five minutes of intensive care that there weren't at least two church members at the hospital, and I remember thinking, what makes people take shifts for somebody they haven't known very long? Well, it's belief," he tells Parade. "To play the part of the skeptic is a much more powerful argument to me -- in favor of [belief] as well as looking at things that are baffling. My most devout friends love it and so do my agnostic ones, but for very different reasons."

Brad has called Wheelhouse his most experimental project yet, both lyrically and sonically, which is always a risk for a superstar of his caliber who has gained a huge following through his traditional country-leaning catalog. Still, he's confident his fans are growing with him.

"Maybe I'm naive, but I give them a lot of credit for having been with me a long time and knowing me really well. So it's not like with one album I'm a whole new guy. I've had a great career, and if I don't have one after this ... [laughs] ... then so be it."

As for those two other songs mentioned above ... Wheelhouse hits stores April 9, which is when we'll all find out how both the bachelor and the husband bit the dust.

Brad's Parade cover story is in the magazine's March 24 issue.


Watch Brad Paisley's 'Southern Comfort Zone' Video




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bleustorm

he's a joke in the purest sense,,, a rich spoiled little boy in a grown ups body,,, so naive it stinks,,, he has no idea of what it's like to live in inner city america,,, and now he's an ambassador of good will ;; i'm going to vomit......will never watch him again or ever buy his records,,,,, what a moron for some of those remarks he has the audacity to say it was;nt for the money...........go count your money.. and just go away probably a guy who does'nt want you to have a gun so you can protect youself or your family either,,,, i'd like to take him to some places here in chicago ,,, and see how long he'd last with his rose colored glasses and bullwhip.....get a taste of the real world ya phony,,,,,,,people don't buy into that crap.... cause that is exactly what is coming out of his mouth,,,, go have someone check you for ticks you *****

April 07 2013 at 2:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RNancy

He is not a real country singer, merely a wannabe. I would never buy any of his CDs.

March 25 2013 at 12:26 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
mimib82

I'm sure Brad Paisley is loving his elite, A-list life where he can comfortably look down on the great unwashed from his manse in the Pacific Pallisades. However, the majority of his fans are living the life he USED to live - as working class, bust your butt for a few extra dollars so you can splurge on a $30 concert ticket life. First, we had to endure "Southern Comfort Zone" and now Brad has a new white-guilt themed album coming out - terrific. Personally, I try to live a life that is rich with different experiences and different people, and I feel myself and my community have moved away from a lot of the ugly racism that marred the last 100+ years (shocker!). It's so nice when a country-born turned West coast elite writes a bunch of songs like he knows what it's like living the day-to-day life of a current resident of the South. I bet the only contact he has with people of color are his house staff. We ignorants all realize there is a great, big world out there full of different kinds of people and places - we just can't afford to see them! So keep your Northern Lights, your streets of Rome and your Paris lights, I'll take a mason jar with Soco and lime under the Southern stars anyday.

March 25 2013 at 10:21 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Greg and Mel

A lot of Brad's songs are about our country being a melting pot and how fantastic it is we get the opportunity to learn about one another's different cultures, live together, and most of all respect each other and this great country we all call home. I believe most Americans feel the same way Brad does. His songs reflect that, and that is why he has been so successful and so loved so much for so long.

March 25 2013 at 7:05 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
bofalaska

Welcome to the future Bradley, the perfect guy to drag country 'purists' laughing and screaming into it. I remember that skinny sixteen-year old you had on the stage dancing that you called Tater Tot too. Things evolve Swiftly...

March 24 2013 at 11:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Amy Mehl

i cannot wait to hear wheelhouse.:)

March 23 2013 at 8:59 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply

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