Thompson Square, ‘Trans Am’ [Listen]

There’s no hidden message or deeper meaning to Thompson Square’s “Trans Am.” While there’s a touch of innuendo, the rocker is just a good, old-fashioned car song.

Note to listeners younger than 21 years old: the Trans Am is a style of the Pontiac Firebird, and it was pretty much the car the bad boys dreamed of in the ’80s (Kid Rock drives one in the movie Joe Dirt). The 10th anniversary edition featured the bird on the hood (as seen in T2’s cover art). A modern day equivalent would be a jacked up pickup truck with testicles hanging off the trailer hitch.

“She’s fast, she’s loud, looks pretty damn good with her top off / She’s clean, looks nice, you can still see her shine with the lights off / I’ll bring the wheels, you bring the heat, see how it feels in the shotgun seat,” Keifer Thompson sings during the first verse. Shawna mostly hangs back on this new song from Thompson Square, a role reversal from many of their most recent singles.

“Girl let’s fly, jump inside, take a ride in my Trans Am / Hammer down, cruise around, rock this town in my Trans Am / Everybody wants to ride, hey, everybody wants to ride, hey / Girl, you know you wanna ride, take a ride in my Trans Am,” the married duo sing at each chorus.

While subtle, Shawna Thompson’s harmonies are unique and important. They add an important female touch to a very aggressive, testosterone-driven country rocker. That’s a clever move by producer Dann Huff, as a guy singing about his sexy car isn’t nearly as interesting. As Ronnie Dunn once said, you’ve got to put a girl in it.

Why Fans Will Love it: Summertime is a great time for a fun, upbeat car song.

Key Lyrics: "Everybody wants to ride, hey, everybody wants to ride, hey / Girl, you know you wanna ride, take a ride in my Trans Am."

Did You Know?: Thompson Square tell Billboard their next album won't be as love-centric as their previous two. It will be more aggressive "and very rockin'."

Listen to Thompson Square, “Trans Am”