How Shaboozey Took an ‘Old-Timey’ Yet ‘Modern’ Hit to No. 1: A Sonic Analysis of ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’
Written by djfrosty on July 25, 2024
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a second week, is a groundbreaking crossover hit that blends elements of pop, country, folk and hip-hop.
The widespread appeal of the song – the first ever to reach the top 10 on the combination of Billboard’s Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts – stems from its seamless blend of genres and influences, which Shaboozey brings together with an engaging vocal performance. The track’s unique production and radio-friendly composition make it appealing to a diverse audience and help it stand out in the landscape of 2024’s other hits.
Here’s a look at the song’s many sonic characteristics.
Pop Influences
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is heavily influenced by pop, evident in its radio-friendly qualities. It features catchy “K.I.S.S. ME” (keep it simple, singable and memorable) melodies and the arrangement includes multiple “A.P.M.” (audience participation moment)-primed sing-along moments. In addition, this genre-bending track seals the deal with modern production qualities, relatable lyrics and infectious hooks, all ingredients highly appealing to a pop audience.
Country Influences
Country influences are also prominent throughout, predominantly showcased in the song’s vocals. Shaboozey’s vocal performance includes a Southern twinge, and the lyrics include references to “two-steppin’ on the table” and “a party downtown near 5th Street.” In addition, the use of acoustic and pedal steel guitars, banjo and fiddle in the song’s main “hook centers” (third chorus and post-choruses) heightens its country appeal.
Folk Influences
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” also draws on multiple folk sub-genres, including stomp ‘n’ holler and bluegrass. The acoustic instrumentation and background vocal textures evoke the communal, rustic atmosphere of an old-timey bar.
The use of a clap-along backbeat and a stomping four-on-the-floor kick drum pattern in such sections as the second post-chorus, third chorus and outro bring these genre influences up to date by filtering them through the lens of modern pop production.
Hip-Hop Influences
In addition to its pop, country and folk influences, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” incorporates subtle elements of hip-hop, due, in part, to its interpolation of J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy.”
Vocally, Shaboozey’s delivery in the second verse takes on a rap cadence, and this style is also present to a lesser extent in the pre-choruses. Later in the song, the background vocals include the use of ad libs, a hallmark of the hip-hop genre.
Lyrically, alongside its theme of partying and living it up, the song also touches on lifestyle, a theme highly commonplace in hip-hop. It also features hip-hop-influenced lyricism including specific references to luxury items (“My baby want a Birkin”), slang (“Tell my ma, I ain’t forget”) and occasional profanity (“We gon’ do this s–t again”).
Overall, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has set a precedent on Billboard’s charts and stands out as a masterful blend of disparate genre influences. The song’s ability to seamlessly integrate these diverse elements makes it one-of-a-kind, and that uniqueness has helped drive it to the top of the Hot 100.
David and Yael Penn co-founded Hit Songs Deconstructed. In October 2023, Hit Songs Deconstructed and fellow song analysis platform MyPart publicly launched ChartCipher, an AI-powered platform analyzing a deeper scope of hit songs, as defined by Billboard’s charts.