EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Joe Nichols has been one of the best vocalists in country music for several years now. And with the release of his latest CD, It’s All Good, in late 2011, he solidified his position as a great interpreter of great country songs. With his latest single, “Take It Off,” climbing the charts and Valentine’s Day upon us, it seems like a good time to talk with Joe about his latest record, true love and the one simple thing any guy has to do to come through as Mr. Romantic on the most romantic day of the year. Here’s some of what Joe had to say.
Nash: Good talking with you again. I think the last time was back in the Truman administration, so glad to know we’re both still among the living.
Joe: (laughs) It has been a while, hasn’t it?
Nash: I’ve gotta tell you, before we jump into talking about music, yesterday I told me 82-year-old mother I was going to be talking to you and reminded her that you had done “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.” And she said, “Oh, I love that song!” So I just wanted you to know that you appear to have the 80-year-old demographic pretty much wrapped up. That part of your market is taken care of.
Joe: (laughs again) Great. Glad to hear it. Tell her hello for me.
Nash: Let’s talk a little about some of the tunes on your It’s All Good CD. “Take It Off” is a great way to kick of the record, and it seems like these days there probably are a lot of folks who need to take the weight of the world off their shoulders, for a lot of different reasons. But I’m guessing you’re not as prone to grab a cold one and twist the top as you might have been a few years ago.
Joe: (chuckles) Well, a cold one for me can be a Diet Dr. Pepper or . . . (laughs) . . . that’s pretty much my speed. Or a cold iced tea would be all right with me these days. But the gist of it is to have a little fun and don’t let stuff get you down. Take it easy a little bit. We probably stress a lot more than we have to and a lot more than we should nowadays. It’s probably led us to a lot of problems that aren’t even necessary.
Nash: “It’s All Good” is another tune that seems to be very timely, with a lot of folks wanting and needing a hero to save the day. Do you think the message of this tune is a help to those going through hard times? Being able to find a big bright spot in what might appear to be a pretty dire circumstance?
Joe: I really think happiness is not something you find in stuff. I never thought I’d hear myself say a cliché like that, ‘cause I always thought that was ridiculous. But it’s true. Happiness is not something you find in stuff at all. And the song is not some profound message, but it has kind of a bigger meaning, which is, hey, as long as I’m okay, then I can deal with anything. And having the right person next to you helping you get through it doesn’t hurt at all, whether they put you in your place or prop you up when you need it.
Nash: Are you generally a glass-half-full kind of guy in terms of your outlook?
Joe: Oooh. “General” is a tough term for me to handle (chuckles). I’d like to think I am a glass-half-full kind of guy, but, honestly, I just don’t know. Sometimes I am; sometimes I’m not. It depends. Things I have problems with the most are, if things don’t go my way, how do I handle that? ‘Cause when things are goin’ my way, hell, it’s easy to look at it half full.
Nash: And some things are totally beyond your control, so whether you’re optimistic or not, hoping and praying is just about all you can do.
Joe: Absolutely. I think the idea is to find contentment even when things aren’t going your way.
Nash: “Somebody’s Mama” struck a chord with me, because I remember the first time one of my ex’s got married and had a baby. No matter who ended it, the fact is, “well, she’s not going to be devastated for the rest of her life. She somehow managed to find a way to move on without me.” Have you been there?
Joe: Oh my God, of course. No matter what happened or what the reality is, my perception is that everybody else is having fun but me. Somebody else is out there being happy, and damnit, I want that! (chuckles) So sometimes it’s something, like you said, you may be the one who broke it off and may be extremely over that relationship, but there’s that lonely feeling . . . that disconnect. Man, I screwed that up. Or they’re having fun and I could be that person having fun.
Nash: Let’s talk about “I can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” I know we talked about (wife) Heather in the context of your tune “Gimmie That Girl” and how just the simple, not trying to look great look can be more appealing than anything. This tune really kind of continues that theme a bit. like, it doesn’t matter how great the sunset is or anything else going on around me, you’re what I want to be looking at. Does it get any more romantic than saying that to a woman?
Joe: Somebody once told me, and I think it’s a very wise statement, that intimacy is better described as into me see. I heard that and thought it was just really brilliant. So I think this song is about intimacy. Seeing somebody, not just what they’re wearing or how they look, but seeing somebody. And I think “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is more like, “I’m infatuated with you.” It’s not that your beauty is so overpowering. It’s partly that, but more than that, it’s, gosh, I can’t believe I know somebody this well. I see you. I see completely. And to me, that’s what love is. Loving what you see with your heart, no matter what your eyes see. I think that’s the ultimate compliment.
Nash: It really is a very romantic way to view love. Do you consider yourself a romantic guy?
Joe: God, no! (big laugh) No, I’ve never been a romantic guy, not on purpose anyway. I’ve gotten lucky a few times, and it’s been accidental. Sometimes the littlest thought makes a world of difference. I’m still learnin’ about this woman thing.
Nash: I talked to Trace Adkins once and he said, “You know, if you set the bar low enough, it’s not that hard to jump over it. Just pickin’ your socks up off the floor can seem romantic.” And, of course, it’s not that hard to top yourself the next year.
Joe: (huge laugh) Well, that’s probably pretty profound!
Nash: So, do you sweat it when Valentine’s Day is approaching? Does Heather expect big things?
Joe: I think every girl does. But I don’t sweat it. I would sweat it if it was every Monday (laughs). I would sweat it then—Oh, my God, what am I gonna do this week? But it’s only once a year. And you only have four or five really important days that you’ve gotta get right. One is Valentine’s Day. And her birthday, Christmas. Mother’s Day. Those are big deals and your anniversary is number one. But it’s not that big of a task to come up with something for Valentine’s Day. A card is good; flowers are good. I don’t always do it perfectly. I’m not trying to sit here and tell you I’m the world’s greatest husband and I’ve done everything just right. But it only comes around once a year and I’ve got plenty of warning before it does. I think guys really make it a way bigger deal than it really is. It’s really not that big a deal. It’s a big deal of you miss it. But it’s not that big a deal if you just do something. Just . . . remember! You damn sure remember when that Super Bowl is every year.
Nash: Tell me about the first time you heard “How I Wanna Go.” That’s probably my favorite song on the record.
Joe: Rivers Rutherford wrote that song and I’m a huge Rivers Rutherford fan. I have been for a long time. He’s so good at painting a really good visual picture of what he’s trying to get across. And I think any time you have that, you’re engaged. Good songs engage you. This is one of those songs that describes things so well that, before long, you’re sitting in the picture. And that’s great craftsmanship.
Nash: There are some lines about going out with a bang and being a risk taker. Do you think these days about how you want to go out? Or is it more about the life you live before you get to that point? And being ready, no matter how it ends?
Joe: What I think nowadays is pretty much exactly what the song says. I really thought that I couldn’t wait to get to the end. And the most exciting, loud, extravagant, incredible way to get there was perfect for me. Couldn’t be loud enough, couldn’t be quick enough. I wasn’t consciously thinking that, but subconsciously, that was the record I was playing in my mind—let’s go out guns ablazin’. And let’s burn it all down on the way. I think Heather played a huge part in turning that entire thinking around. I look forward to growing old, if I get that chance. I look forward to taking it easy with her and slowing everything down and experiencing life. Rather than, as I said, burnin’ it down.
Nash: Anything special you’re really looking forward to in the coming year?
Joe: This year I am looking forward to what I call a discovery year. I’ve got a lot to do this year. I think is a perfect time for me to rediscover what I do well and write the songs I am meant to write. Spend my time writing and getting to know myself a little more. And prepare for the next record and the next challenge. I want to be good at what I do. And whatever it takes to do that, I’m gonna do. I want to discover what I’m good at, what makes me unique and what I love.—David Scarlett
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Contact: dscarlett@nashville.com or jerry@nashville.com
Great interview with Joe. It provides some interesting insight. Thanks!