Ella Langley’s historic rise to superstardom has been one to remember. Becoming the first woman to have a number 1 song on the US Country Billboard for 20 weeks straight.
Choosin’ Texas has dominated the US Billboard and become a worldwide hit. Langley, 26, from Hope Hull, Alabama, has transformed from a musician who was known for singing covers on TikTok to one of the biggest musicians on the planet today.
Her album, though, is certainly no reinvention of the wheel. This hot country classic blends Beatles-esque chord choices with Dolly Parton’s smooth melodies, all delivered by her husky yet versatile voice. If you’re a drinker, this may be the album for you, as Langley mentions Jack Daniel’s whiskey almost as often as she mentions heartbreak and unrequited love.
Despite this, where this album really shines is not the songwriting or lyrics, but the production. Nashville staples Miranda Lambert and Ben West did as good a job as I have ever heard on a country album. The warm bass mixed with thumping drums and thick layered guitars makes the whole album feel like a summer’s day in the stifling Alabama swamp.
The album is quite strong; however, a few tracks stand out. “Be her” sounds like if Sabrina Carpenter went country. It is an ode to the ideal woman Langley wishes she could be, and her yearning to be the ideal housewife. It’s simple, repetitive, but exactly the kind of song that will find success, and it’s no surprise it sits at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
“Back to loving life again” is a song for the summer, which makes you feel like you’re sitting next to Langley in a convertible, with the warm Nashville breeze blowing through her hair and this song playing on the radio.
Finally, what more is there to be said about “Choosin’ Texas”? The song is simply structured, effective and well written, with a groovy instrumental that makes listeners want to ‘two step’ along with its pulsing bassline. Langley manages to balance traditional themes of country music, such as cowboys, Texas and alcohol, nicely by being delivered in her friendly country twang.
It is no surprise this song is breaking records, and it seems as though Ella Langley is becoming a household name, as the 26-year-old is really hitting her stride.
