Tim McGraw Says the Pandemic Has Changed His View of Music
"[It's] given us a new perspective on what life is and what life’s gonna be, and how we need to be as people."
Tim McGraw has built his whole life around his appreciation for music — and for how it can make people feel. But with the whole world battling a a common enemy in COVID-19, the superstar says all his favorite tunes feel different now.
Speaking with his record label, Big Machine Label Group, McGraw explained that he’s been going back and re-listening to some of his favorite music since the pandemic hit, and a lot of has taken on a new meaning. And he says that’s the mark of great art.
“Music to me, not only because of what I do for a living, but it’s always been this way, music is the top of my list for stuff that’s sort of soul food for your heart and for your soul, and it’s something that can connect people in a lot of different ways,” McGraw says. “But when something like this goes on, when life seems like it’s completely out of your control, music has always been there for me as something that’s been sort of my best friend all throughout my life.”
The “I Called Mama” hit maker went on to say he sees parallels between the way his favorite music has changed, and the way life itself has changed. He thinks there’s an important lesson there for us all.
“There’s so much meaning in stuff that you just let go past you when you’re just listening to stuff and you’re not really letting it settle in on you,” he explains. “Sometimes you can not see the extra meanings that are in things. What great music does, I think, is allow you to do that, especially in a revisit. To go back and hear something that comes to life for you in a new way because you see circumstances in a new way and it gives you a new perspective on things. And I think that that’s what this has all done, is given us a new perspective on what life is and what life’s gonna be, and how we need to be as people. And music can really light you up that way.”
Tim McGraw might see it in other artist’s music, but his tender “I Called Mama” speaks into the sentiment as well, and it’s been connecting with fans in a big way. The track just hit Number One at country radio, and is included on his Here On Earth album.
