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Morgan Wallen Says He Knows He’ll Be “Crucified” For New Keith Whitley-Inspired Song “Miami”
Hi, it’s me. One of the people (figuratively, obviously) “crucifying” Morgan Wallen for his new song, “Miami.”
Of course, his new album I’m The Problem is now out everywhere, and the lengthy 37-song tracklist includes features from fellow country artists Eric Church, Ernest and Hardy, as well as Morgan’s first major collaboration with a female artist with Canadian pop star Tate McRae on a duet called “What I Want.”
But one of the tunes I’ve had my eye on since the tracklist was released is “Miami,” which Morgan previously disclosed is a nod to to the late, great Keith Whitley… but it’s probably not how you think. Morgan appeared as a guest on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast recently, where he explained that his tribute will be a “flip” on Whitley’s classic “Miami, My Amy,” making it more of a “rap style” song.
Immediately, country music fans had a visceral reaction to that concept, and rightfully so:
“I got a song on my record called ‘Miami.’ It’s a Keith Whitley flip… that’s one of his bigger songs, I guess. But we flipped it and turned it into more of a rap style. But it’s cool, I like it.
It seemed like it could use rapper on there, but I didn’t end up using a feature, we ended up just making a second verse. But it’s one of those songs that it wouldn’t be surprising if we got a remix and did that once it’s out.”
Morgan is no stranger to trap beats and rap influences in his music, but he also told Theo he wanted to tone that down for this project (which he really didn’t)… but not on “Miami.” I’m not a massive Morgan Wallen fan, but I’m also not a total hater… I like some of his songs and they’re certainly catchy, I’ll give him that. Plus, with 30+ an album, there’s a little something for everybody.
But now that I’ve heard the entire version, against my will, which does interpolate “Miami, My Amy,” I just can’t get on board… it’s obviously not country in the slightest and I hate that they used such a classic like this. I really love the idea of a Keith Whitley tribute, and I think Morgan is a talented artist in many respects, but this does not show off any part of that, and if anything, is an injustice to the legacy of incredible music that Whitley left behind. And I know Morgan is a big Whitley fan but something like “Miami” just doesn’t sound, or feel, right.
Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Richard McGill were the original writers of “Miami, My Amy,” which was released in January of 1986 as the second single from his album L.A. To Miami.
In an interview with an interview with Kelleigh Bannen for Apple Music’s Today Country, she brought up “Miami,” and Morgan explained that he relates to a lot of Whitley’s music and thinks he’s the greatest country vocalist ever… okay, there’s something we can agree on.
He also said he doesn’t feel right straight up covering a Keith Whitley song, and I do understand that too, adding that what he did with “Miami” was his version of a tribute. Morgan admitted that he knows people will “crucify” him for “Miami,” adding that he doesn’t care and he’s happy with how it turned out:
“I mean, we’re from a similar area, I grew up listening to bluegrass. I think that in and of itself just makes me love him, I just think he’s the pure best vocalist in country music, ever. I think that’s really all there is to it. And I love the sadness and heartbreak that was in his songs.
Obviously, it seems like he was in a lot of pain, and I seem to empathize with people like that. And then you throw his vocal, and those songs, on top of it, it’s just incredible. You said something about ‘Miami,’ I already know I’m gonna get crucified for that song, but I don’t know… it is fun, and I enjoyed it, and me and the boys writing it had a good time writing it.
In my own way, I’m not gonna do a Keith Whitley cover, probably. I don’t feel right doing that… this is my own way of paying my respect. And if that offends people, I don’t really care, but I’m gonna assume it will.”
It’s like he read my mind… honestly, that’s the kind of attitude you have to have when you’re going to put out something like “Miami,” but I’ve seen overwhelmingly positive reviews of the song, especially in the YouTube comments underneath it, so I’m sure it’s going to put up huge numbers and be a hit. The lyrics are shallow, the production is manufactured beats that belong on Top 40 pop radio, and it’s missing that heart and emotion that Morgan spoke of loving so deeply.
As crazy as it sounds, I actually think him doing a regular, straight-up cover of a Keith Whitley classic would be so much better, though I understand his hesitation in doing so. Like I’ve said before, I’m one of the hardest people to offend on planet Earth, but turning a Keith Whitley classic into a rap song is an easy way to do it. I think I’ve rarely, if ever, said a song offends me, because even if I hate it, I’m all about the creativity. Artists freely following their creative muses, blah, blah… all well and good, but an atrocity like this cannot be ignored. Sorry, Morgan.
Listen at your own risk and don’t say I didn’t warn you…
“Miami”
“Miami, My Amy”
The full interview:
The post Morgan Wallen Says He Knows He’ll Be “Crucified” For New Keith Whitley-Inspired Song “Miami” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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