I was so distracted by Ella Langley’s history-making success with ‘Choosin’ Texas’ that I didn’t realize she had another hit hot on its heels.
Langley shows up at #4 on the latest Hot 100 with ‘Be Her,’ the second single from her latest album, Dandelion. ‘Be Her’ entered the Hot 100 at #18 nine weeks ago and has steadily climbed to its current peak. Could it go even higher, and maybe even give the new country star her second chart-topper?
After doing some digging, I’m pretty sure this marks the first time a female country artist has had two songs in the top five of the Hot 100 simultaneously. Taylor Swift has done it, of course, but only in her pop era. That’s a hell of an accomplishment.
Langley has a bit of a Shania Twain vibe, to namecheck one of music’s biggest crossover successes, but with a much more traditional country sound. I wonder what exactly accounts for this unprecedented strong performance.
She drinks wine by the glass, not by the bottle
She ain’t stuck on the past, ain’t worried about tomorrow
She’s a lover, a mother, a sister, and wife
She rolls over in the morning to the love of her life
Only smokes one on vacation, says just what she thinks
She don’t need validation or much of anything
[Chorus]
I just wanna be her so bad, it hurts so bad, it hurts so
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her
I just wanna be her so bad, it hurts so bad, it hurts so
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her so bad
It hurts so bad
[Verse 2]
She knows being rich is just a state of mind
She stays talkin’ to Jesus, calls her mama all the time
She don’t over-embellish, if she says it, then it’s true
I don’t mean to sound jealous, but what could I do ’cause
[Chorus]
I just wanna be her so bad, it hurts so bad, it hurts so
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her
I just wanna be her so bad, it hurts so bad, it hurts so
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her
[Post-Chorus]
Don’t want all this drama, give me something real
Trade a mile high to walk one in her heels
Take all my money, everything I have
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her so bad
It hurts so bad
[Chorus]
I just wanna be her so bad, it hurts so bad, it hurts so
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her
I just wanna be her so bad, it hurts so bad, it hurts so
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her
[Post-Chorus]
Don’t want all this drama, give me something real
Trade a mile high to walk one in her heels
Take all my money, everything I have
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her so bad
It hurts so bad
[Outro]
I just wanna be her, I just wanna be her so bad
Yeah, it hurts so bad
Meet Me In Montauk 
I hadn’t heard this one either, but it’s catchy.
I knew her name immediately but not from either of her chart topping songs.
Instead, it’s The Nobody Wants This season 2 soundtrack/playlist that has introduced me to so many songs I now adore, including Langley’s This Version of Us, whose voice and delivery made it an early standout. This is my go to playlist at they gym, so the songs become so familiar and comfortable even as I may have no other association with the artist, which is what has happened with Langley until today. I just downloaded Dandelion and will definitely give it a listen.
I’d love to have a conversation with the music supervisor for that show because the whole collection is – chef’s kiss – and Daniel is convinced many of the songs were written explicitly for the show. Another favorite of mine is “Palomino” by Finneas. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen. I just love that song.
Anyway, here’s a link to Ella’s contribution. Enjoy!
Looks like I’ll have to listen to the Nobody Wants This 2 soundtrack as well as Langley‘s new album. It does seem that all of those songs were written for, or are at least exclusive to, the soundtrack. And I see Kacey Musgraves has a song there as well, in addition to her great new album.
It’s such a great listen with lots of country leaning tunes. In addition to the two I mentioned above, I’d point out Towa Bird’s “Your Girl,” Baylee Lynn’s “That’s What I’ll Be,” Royel Otis “Who’s Your Boyfriend,” Benee’s “What,” and “Climate Change” by Just Jayne, all by artists I’d NEVER heard of before (and several which are far from country!)
Now I’ve not done a deeper dive into any of their other work, but I sure as hell have helped their streaming numbers on those songs. 🙂
I loved season one of Nobody wants this but didn’t get into season 2. Maybe the soundtrack will help
I really like this one! This was the second song that Paula showed me from Langley’s most recent album “Dandelion”.
It’s a very effective and poignant song about acknowledging your flaws and aspiring to be this version of yourself that has mastered all the areas where you feel you need growth. I also like the fast paced chorus juxtaposed to the more slow placed “Choosin’ Texas”
This song and other cuts from the record definitely give me a Kacey Musgraves type vibe in how Langley is genre bending here incorporating some very jazzy chords and production alongside her twang!