Overdrive Music Analysis #1 - Like a Bat outta Hell..
Overdrive is a country song performed by Thomas Rhett that was released July 12th of 2024. This song tells the story of a newly budding relationship between Rhett and his now-wife Laura. Overdrive was co-written by Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Jacob Kasher, and Thomas Rhett. In interviews with Rhett, he talks about his goal being to write a song written through joy. It sounds like he began to write for himself, to feel free writing. I think that him coming at this song from the perspective that he did is what made this song so enjoyable. Rhett produced this song as part of an album and released Overdrive as a teaser to the album titled About a Woman which came out during 2024. I personally fund joy in this song because of the beat and lyrical meaning. From what I've found online, this song has nothing but glowing reviews from fans. The Music Universe wrote:
"... serves as a tribute to the timeless anticipation of picking up a date. Filled with memories that rush back with each turn of the ignition, and sung through visions of a windows-down moonlit cruise, the song reminds fans that nothing truly beats the freedom of two hearts and a hand-me-down Ford."
Rhythm: This song is an upbeat song that follows a steady beat all the way through and I feel like the rhythm is what makes this song so enjoyable for me. From the first word, there's a strong driving beat in the background. The drums fade out during a quiet part of the song but pick back up pretty quickly, continuing the steady rhythm. Rhett and his cowriters use rhyming to help the flow of the lyrics in the song. For example, in the lines below, the word "was" is used repeatedly to help make that part of the song follow the beat.
"I pulled up where the party was, where the Bacardi was That was the start of us"
Timbre: This song expresses joy and excitement. It's a song of young love, represented by a smooth but firm beat combined with a bright cheery electric guitar. Theres a shift where the song turns soft, giving a off nostalgic feeling and then picking back up again.
Dynamics: The dynamics in this song shift based on the part of the song. For example, the song starts off softly with an electric guitar and picks up with the beat of the drums. By the time you get to the pre-chorus, you can hear the guitar and it picks up from there. The chorus has a heavy beat and becomes broader with a louder sound to invoke a feeling of excitement. The next verse then slows down while Rhett reminisces and picks up when the chorus returns.
Overdrive is a favorite for me because it reminds me of the excitement I feel in my relationship. The excitement that I felt when we first started dating and the excitement I feel every time I get to see him. the lyrics talk about struggling to do 65mph because his heart is beating faster than that. I may or may not have sped on the way to my boyfriend's apartment with the music way to loud because I was so happy... I may not have JBL speakers in my car yet, but my current speakers have most definitely been working overtime. This song potrays a type of love that I try to show, and hope to receive, it's the love story that I love. I'm not usually a sucker for romance.. but this song makes me so happy and love, love. I think that this song is so relatable because Thomas Rhett wrote it form his personal experiences, he poured himself into this song, pulling pieces from his life. According to Holler Country, there's a photo of Rhett with Lauren form college and he's wearing a #84 football jersey making this song very personable for both of them and is referenced in the first verse. I would highly recommend watching the music video (linked below) because it brings out the meaning of this song even more.
Sources:
Country, T. (n.d.). Single Review: Dusty black - “Goodbye drives me crazy.” Today’s Country Magazine. https://todayscountrymagazine.com/index.php/reviews/single-reviews/4746-single-review-thomas-rhett-overdrivee#google_vignette
Mower, M. (2024, August 19). “overdrive” by Thomas Rhett - Lyrics & meaning. Holler. https://holler.country/news/general/overdrive-by-thomas-rhett-lyrics-and-meaning/
Hi Sarah! I think this was a very sweet song choice for your first analysis, not only because of the fun song, but also because of your connection with it. It really speaks to me that this song gives you that happy feeling of love and admiration for your boyfriend and that you exemplify that in your analysis. In addition to the feelings you have for your boyfriend, I like that you add a little not about how this song feels when you play it with the volume up in your car. There's something therapeutic about driving (especially on remote Alaska roads) and blasting music that just amplifies your emotions to the max. It's one of the best feelings in the world in my opinion and it's even better when you find those perfect ones like this one that remind you of someone who you love.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, I love how you broke down the elements of "Overdrive" by Thomas Rhett! It’s so cool that the song’s upbeat rhythm, joyful timbre, and dynamic shifts all come together to create that feeling of young love and excitement. Rhett's personal connection to the song really shines through, and I can totally see how his experience with Lauren makes it so relatable for listeners. Your comparison of the song to your own relationship adds such a personal touch too!
ReplyDelete