Kristian Bush, ‘Light Me Up’ [Listen]

Kristian Bush is proving himself to be a versatile vocalist. On “Light Me Up,” the second single from his debut solo album Southern Gravity, the bearded half of Sugarland tells of perfect love.

Sonically, it’s a different experience for fans who loved “Trailer Hitch,” but the voice is still familiar. Bush's brand of Georgia grit is unique in that it’s not drenched in country twang. He sings with a bit more metropolitan style than Peach State artists like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.

“Like fireworks, gasoline on bonfires / The flash before a gun fires / No matter what you do / Yeah baby, you light me up / Like an old Hollywood spotlight / A sunset painted just right / With everything you do / Yeah, baby, you light me up,” he sings during the chorus.

Jessie Rice helped Bush write “Light Me Up,” an easy-to-embrace love song. Lyrically, the two don’t stretch a country fan’s imagination. Instead, they keep their car aimed down country Main St.

“Like a lighthouse shining out to the sea / There’s no way you won’t get to me / Cause you light me up / Like a lit fuse burning up a bottle rocket / Whatever you’re doing girl don’t stop it / Cause you light me up.”

“Light Me Up” may serve as a litmus test for how country radio likes Bush as a solo artist. There was a lot of buzz and curiosity around the debut single, which did well. If country fans who aren’t Sugarland diehards want more of his voice, this song will too.

Why Fans Will Love It: "Light Me Up" is a straight-forward love song that uses atypical imagery to make a point.

Key Lyrics: "Like fireworks, gasoline on bonfires / The flash before a gun fires / No matter what you do / Yeah baby, you light me up"

Did You Know?: Bush's Sugarland partner Jennifer Nettles has begun work on her second solo album, meaning the two will remain focused on solo careers for the foreseeable future.

Listen to Kristian Bush, “Light Me Up”