Traditional Meets Modern In Sam Hunt’s ‘Hard To Forget’

Just days after announcing his much-anticipated new album, Southside, Sam Hunt dropped “Hard To Forget,” a new tune that boasts an interesting blend of traditional and modern sounds.

The track opens with a nod to Country Music Hall of Famer Webb Pierce with his 1953 chart-topper “There Stands the Glass.” As Pierce’s song tapers off, Hunt chimes in with his familiar vocals, delivering catchy lyrics about life after a breakup. Constantly being reminded of his ex no matter where he goes, he admits he finds her “Hard To Forget.”

After running into her “sister at work” and her “mama at church,” Hunt is finding hit hard to shake her memory.

“You’ve got a cold heart and the cold-hard truth / I got a bottle of whiskey, but I’ve got no proof / That you showed up tonight in that dress just to mess with my head,” Hunt sings throughout the chorus. “So much for so long, outta sight, outta mind / Girl, you’re lookin’ so good, it’s drivin’ me outta mine / Aw, you’re breaking my heart / Baby, you’re playing hard to forget.”

“Hard To Forget” was co-written by Hunt along with Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley, Audrey Grisham, Russ Hull and Mary Jean Shurtz. The song follows the release of the album’s “Sinning With You” and the Top 5-and-climbing lead single, “Kinfolks.”

Hunt previously opened up about his long-awaited second record, revealing that it would be a bit more traditional leaning.

“I’ve gone back to just picking up the guitar and writing songs,” he previously explained. “Typically, when you pick up a guitar and write on the guitar, there’s just a different spirit about it, and they tend to go more singer-songwriter, more introspective … more traditional in terms of the genre, so that’s definitely where the songs are leaning at this point.”

“Hard To Forget” blends Hunt’s love for traditional lyrics and melodies with the modern production elements he’s become known for. It’s an interesting mix, but somehow, it works well.

Southside, the follow-up to Hunt’s 2014 debut, Montevallo, drops April 3. Shortly after, Hunt will launch The Southside Summer Tour 2020 with special guests Kip Moore, Travis Denning, ERNEST and a DJ set by Brandi Cyrus.