“Fancy Like” by Walker Hayes
Linked to: “Country Is” by Tom T. Hall/1974
Because: Both songs attempt to define what “Country” is.
To Hayes, it’s socio-economic: where you eat, what you drive. His song is bouncy, made to dance and sing along…
Oh, don’t need no Tesla … to impress her
My girl is happy rollin’ on a Vespa (there she go)
Don’t need no mansion (ooh) to get romancin’ (woo)
She’s super fine, double wide, slow dancin’ …
But every now and then when I get paid
I gotta spoil my baby with an upgrade…
Yeah, we fancy like Applebee’s on a date night (that’s right)
Got that Bourbon Street steak with the Oreo shake (ayy)
Tom T. Hall’s interpretation is life-style, choices, and values, and the tone is folksy and warm…
Country is sittin’ on the back porch
Listen to the whippoorwills late in the day
Country is mindin’ your business
Helpin’ a stranger if he comes your way
Country is workin’ for a living
Thinkin’ our own thoughts
Loving your town
Country is teachin’ your children
Find out what’s right and stand your ground
“Fancy Like,” featured in Applebee’s TV ads, has captured the public’s attention big-time, and it’s charting on four music formats, which is highly unusual.
Charting: #8 Country, #18 Adult Top 40, #19 Top 40, #30 Adult Contemporary