Country singer Billy Currington found himself back at the top of the charts in 2009 with the release of “People Are Crazy” as the second single off his album Little Bit of Everything. It became Currington’s third No. 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Not only that, but the song also helped the singer earn two Grammy Awards nominations for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song. “People Are Crazy” was also nominated for “Song of the Year” during the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards.
This Song Will Surely Put You Into A Happy Zone
Written by Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones, “People Are Crazy” tells the tale of a man who met an old man in a bar. The two immediately hit it off that they started talking about everything – from politics to religion.
“We talked about God’s grace and all the hell we raised. Then I heard the ol’ man say: ‘God is great, beer is good and people are crazy,'” the song goes.
The two ended up talking until two in the morning, and they finally bid each other goodbye. Time has passed, and they have never met again. But one sunny day, the man in the song saw the old man’s face on the front page of the obituary. He found out the old man was a millionaire, and he left his fortune to “some guy he barely knew, his kids were mad as hell” – apparently, it was the song’s narrator.
At the end of the song, he honored the old man by visiting his grave and leaving a six-pack there for him.
The first time Currington heard the song, he wanted to record it. “Just the title alone, when I was pitched this song, I was sure at that point that I was going to record it, I didn’t care how it sounded. I just loved the title,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to put it in my truck and listen to it. I remember when I popped it in, and from the first verse to the first chorus, it just put a big smile on my face. I was like, ‘You know, I’ve been waiting on a song like this for a long time.'”
However, when he asked about “People Are Crazy,” Currington was told to get into line as there were ten people who wanted to record it, including A-list artists such as Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Kenny Chesney.
But Currington did not give up on the song and asked about it one last time. His persistence paid off this time as he was given the green light to record it. “I was just thankful that they sent it my way. I just got addicted to the song. I found myself wanting to listen to this song over and over,” the singer said. “It’s just a words-of-wisdom kind of song. It’s got a laid-back melody that just puts you in that happy zone.”
Indeed, the song is one of those that lift your spirits and make you laugh. Although it has a sad end, with the old man dying, it is by no means a tearjerker. Instead, it’s a more lighthearted piece about a friendship between two strangers. The music video keeps up that same carefree feeling, making it such a joy to watch. You can watch it below.
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Billy Currington