I was once told that the difference between country music and Americana is the type of boots that the protagonist, and perhaps even the writer of the song, is wearing. If they happen to be sporting a nice, shiny pair of cowboy boots with silver tips and, god-forbid tassels, then you are probably deep into the realm of country music. If, however, the footwear in question is a well-worn brace of mud-caked work boots, you are more likely to be crossing the land of Americana. It Was You, the latest one from Jason Sinay, definitely errs towards the latter place.
But that doesn’t mean that it’s a song that the country crowd or folk fraternity can’t get on board with, not in the slightest; it’s just that when you get hooked into the song’s groove, something that you will do immediately and without doubt, you realize that it drives along as much on a rock groove as it does country-fried energy. That meeting point is the signature sound of Americana.
If Americana is the sound of that great country, then It Was You feels like nothing less than the genre’s beating heart. If it is music that talks about the experiences and everyday lives of that country’s population, again, put a tick in that box. If it is music of narrative and honesty, this is it. If Americana is the sound of good tunes and great stories, this is it.
The next time someone asks you exactly what Americana is, just play them this song. It explains everything they need to know about the genre.
