{"id":4400,"date":"2015-04-15T12:50:02","date_gmt":"2015-04-15T17:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?page_id=4400"},"modified":"2015-05-20T11:00:54","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T16:00:54","slug":"the-good-stuff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/music\/no-shoes-no-shirt-no-problems-2002\/the-good-stuff\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;The Good Stuff&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe title=\"Kenny Chesney - The Good Stuff (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lYQZJ9NUzYU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If <em>No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems<\/em> was the album that defined Kenny Chesney\u2019s career after 2002, \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d can definitely be viewed as the driving force behind the album\u2019s success. Preceded by Toby Keith\u2019s \u201cCourtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)\u201d, \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d rose to the top of country music charts in September 2002 and remained there for 11 weeks. It later went on to become <em>Billboard\u2019s<\/em> Number One Country Song of 2002, as well as to win Chesney the Academy of Country Music Award for Best Single. Undoubtedly, \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d was a huge hit, arguably the biggest of Chesney\u2019s illustrious career, but to understand why it was so successful it is necessary to study the song\u2019s structure, as well as the sentiment of the lyrics. The message promoted by the lyrics is one that resonates with the vast majority of Americans, as \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d stresses the importance of relationships and how alcohol should not be the answer to solving problems. These important themes, accompanied by the changing music to emphasize the mood of the song, work together to produce a song that makes listeners feel like they shared an experience with the narrator, eventually succeeding in resolving a relationship problem.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d is written in Verse-Chorus-Bridge form, a style that has been popular within country music since the 1990\u2019s. It consists of two long verses, each followed by a chorus, then the bridge after the second chorus, and finally the repetition of \u201cthat\u2019s the good stuff\u201d to conclude the song. Chesney uses the relationship between the verses, choruses, and bridge to create a dialogue between a man in a bar and the bartender. The interplay between the different aspects of the song is what creates Chesney\u2019s ability to be a storyteller, essentially creating the song\u2019s emotional appeal. The first verse begins after a brief ten second instrumental introduction, signifying that the narrator, presumably Chesney, was recently in a fight with his significant other. He wanted to go to the bar to escape his problems, leading him to order \u201cthe good stuff\u201d. The first verse ends 41 seconds later as the bartender tells Chesney \u201cyou can\u2019t find that here\u201d, and then the song transitions into the chorus until the 1:23 mark. The instrumental accompaniment of the introduction and the first verse creates a sort of somber mood, correlating directly to the problems the narrator is experiencing.<\/p>\n<p>The musical tone of the first verse immediately transitions to create a more uplifting feeling as the song changes from verse to chorus, foreshadowing a change in the lyrics. The chorus is told from the point of view of the bartender, an older and wiser man, who tells Chesney that \u201cthe good stuff\u201d is not the alcohol, but in fact the love shared and memories made with his wife. The wise words of the bartender are the first time that \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d promotes the ideas that alcohol should not be used as a crutch to deal with problems, and that personal relationships are where true happiness can be found. These two central themes create a foundation for the rest of the lyrics, and can be heard throughout the rest of the song.<\/p>\n<p>The second verse starts a minute and 24 seconds into the song, and continues for 40 more seconds. Different from the first verse, the second isn\u2019t just from Chesney\u2019s point of view, but the bartender\u2019s as well. It starts with a conversation between Chesney and the bartender, followed by the bartender telling Chesney that he \u201cspent five years in the bar, when the cancer took her from me\u201d (his wife). The song immediately transitions into the chorus and the bartender saying \u201cbut I\u2019ve been sober three years now because the one thing stronger than the whiskey\u2026\u201d Once again, the bartender tells Chesney how the love of his family outweighs turning to alcohol in tough times, the most prominent message throughout \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d. The music of the second verse, and the subsequent chorus, both help set the tone for the bridge by being increasingly more upbeat. An electric guitar is introduced during this time, also presumably used to help build up to the bridge.<\/p>\n<p>The bridge follows a ten second instrumental break, and is essentially the bartender telling Chesney to go home and make up with his wife\/girlfriend. The climax of \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d comes during the bridge when the bartender tells Chesney to \u201clook into those eyes so deep in love, and drink it up, because that\u2019s the good stuff\u201d. It is during this part in which the bartender gives Chesney the advice that the entire song has been building up to. This also signifies a point in the song in which the listener feels like they have experienced, and overcame, the challenges Chesney was facing. The bridge solidifies and emotional connection between the audience and the song. Following the bridge is the repetition of \u201cthat\u2019s the good stuff\u201d several times and an eight second instrumental outro. \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d is essentially a three minute and 19 second musical dialogue, a dialogue which reinforces themes important to everyday Americans.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d went on to be the best-selling single of Kenny Chesney\u2019s career, which is saying a lot as he is currently eligible for the Country Music Hall of Fame. The song\u2019s simple instrumental accompaniment and relatable lyrics allow Chesney to tell a story that reaches all kinds of people. The music of \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d starts off with a somber sound that transitions to more cheerful as the lyrics change following the first verse. One reason for the popularity of \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d may be the fact that it sounds like a traditional country song. Another may be that it was from an innovative album, not only for Chesney\u2019s career, but the early 2000\u2019s as well. No matter what it may be, it has to be acknowledged that \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d is a song that had success by reaching out to people on a personal level, and has had a lasting impact on Kenny Chesney\u2019s career.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Song Breakdown<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 890px\" width=\"480\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">Time<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">Form<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">Listening Cues<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">Discussion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">0:00- 0:10<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">Intro<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">Acoustic guitar, drums<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">Sort of a simple, slow introduction; not much instrumentation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">0:10- 0:51<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">1<sup>st<\/sup> Verse<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">\u201cWell me and my lady had our first big fight\u201d<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">Music continues to sound slow and somber; it builds up towards the end of this verse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">0:52- 1:23<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">Chorus<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">\u201cIt\u2019s the first long kiss on a second date\u201d<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">Music sounds more cheerful; chorus from the point of view of the bartender giving Chesney advice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">1:24- 2:04<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">2<sup>nd<\/sup> Verse<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">\u201cHe grabbed a carton of milk and he poured a glass\u201d<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">This verse is from Chesney\u2019s point of view, but it\u2019s a conversation with the bartender; electric guitar introduced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">2:05- 2:37<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">Chorus<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">\u201cThe sight of her holding my baby girl\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">This chorus acts as a buildup to the bridge; different lyrics from the first chorus; musical accompaniment becoming stronger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">2:38- 3:07<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">Bridge<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">Very brief guitar solo followed by \u201cWhen you get home she\u2019ll start to cry\u201d<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">Climax of the song; bartender gives the narrator advice to resolve his problems; explains what \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d actually is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 40px\" width=\"198\">3:08- 3:20<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"198\">Outro<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 100px\" width=\"199\">Repetition of the phrase \u201cthat\u2019s the good stuff\u201d<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 220px\" width=\"199\">Repetition for effect; following the end of the bridge the song is basically over<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Bibliography<\/p>\n<p>Patterson, Liz. &#8220;&#8216;The Good Stuff&#8217; by Kenny Chesney.&#8221; <em>Songfacts<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. &lt;http:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/detail.php?id=1939&gt;.<\/p>\n<p>Rolling Stone Staff. &#8220;Kenny Chesney.&#8221; <em>Rolling Stone<\/em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. &lt;http:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/artists\/kenny-chesney&gt;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems was the album that defined Kenny Chesney\u2019s career after 2002, \u201cThe Good Stuff\u201d can definitely be viewed as the driving force behind the album\u2019s success. Preceded by Toby Keith\u2019s \u201cCourtesy of the Red, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/music\/no-shoes-no-shirt-no-problems-2002\/the-good-stuff\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"parent":3873,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4400","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4400"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4889,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4400\/revisions\/4889"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}