Kenny Chesney: The Untold Creative Process

Don't get me wrong. There is nothing like a hot summer day drivin' with the top down crankin' up a little Kenny Chesney. But, it's not because his songs are really that good. It's because he has mastered the formula for replicating hits. To the untrained ear, his nuances might go undetected, but to a writer such as myself, one who stops at nothing to uncover the minutest details behind every story, it just took some looking into.

So, I spent some time scouring his lyrics. I listened to his most popular hits, noting every arrangement. What I discovered was pretty amazing. In order to share my findings, I have constructed an elaborate interview parodying Kenny Chesney's creative process.

JPaul: Kenny, when you sit down to write a song, what do you do to get into the right frame of mind?

KC: The process is really very simple. I put on my most comfortable pair of jeans, go sit on an old front porch somewhere, take off my shoes and then try and figure out a way to say "I'm sittin' on my front porch in my most comfortable pair of jeans with no shoes on" in a way I haven't said it before.

JPaul: So many of your songs make the point that it's important to remember the past because time moves so quickly. What's your inspiration there?

KC: You know man, I just try to find an old guy in a bar and find out about his life. They usually say stuff about this and that, just rememberin' the glory days really. Then I just write a lyric or two about an old man givin' advice. It's just standard Chesnique man, you know what I'm saying?

JPaul: Absolutely not, but I digress. Your songs are filled with stories of first love. Do you have fond memories of your first love?

KC: Yeah, you know, the wine and summertime and all the clothes crumpled on a car's floorboard or next to an old swimmin' hole, everyone can relate to that. That's all I try to do, connect.

JPaul: Before we end this interview, can you give me an example?

KC: Sure. I mean if I were to right a song right now, here's what it would look like:

Old man behind the bar told me about his glory days

summertime smiles by the swimmin' hole, man.

She was seventeen wearin' a bikini with a bottle o' wine

all smiles comin' out of that old Chevy.

He was barefoot with an old pair of jeans

jumped in head first to grab hold and make memories.

But time flies way too quick and life slips away

just never let go to your family man, or the good ole days.

JPaul: Thanks Kenny. Your formula is for real. Can't wait for that next "original" hit! Because as predictable as it might be, man; songs about summertime sound really good played loud on a sunny day, especially your songs.

Writer's note: This whole article was based on nothing but my own imagined reality. Kenny Chesney fans everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief as his writing process is probably much more sophisticated than what I have given him credit for.