Dierks Bentley Says Elle King Reminds Him of Miranda Lambert
Dierks Bentley's new single "Different for Girls" is a reflection of where he is in life, as a father of two little girls. The singer says he knew the track needed a female voice, and knew he wanted Elle King.
Bentley is a fan, and at this stage in his life and career, he's learning there's no harm in asking. He recently told Taste of Country he likes King's music, funny tweets and fiery personality — she reminds him of Miranda Lambert — so he reached out. She said yes, and soon they were recording together in Austin, texas.
King admits she was honored when Bentley asked her to be on a song, but that she gets shy collaborating. Bentley brought out her best. "Since I often write from the male perspective, I was really excited to be a part of someone else’s story that is jumping outside of the norm for a relationship song," she says in a statement issued on Thursday. "The lyrics are really smart and I love that he is bringing a lot of attitude to modern country music.”
Shane McAnally and J.T. Harding wrote "Different for Girls," the second single from Bentley's Black album (May 27). Before a recent concert in Clarkson, Mich., he talked about "Freedom" as being another potential single, but the depth of "Different for Girls" really attracted him.
“It’s different for girls, when their hearts get broke / They can’t tape it back together, with a whiskey and Coke / They don’t take someone home and act like it’s nothing / They can’t switch it off every time they feel something," Bentley and King sing during the chorus. "A guy gets drunk with his friends and he might hook up / Fast forward through the pain, push ‘em back when the tears come up / But it’s different for girls.”
King is a rocker that brings a country sound to many of her songs. The banjo-playing 26-year-old's hits include "Ex's and Oh's" and "America's Sweetheart."
Dierks Talks About His Best Friend of 15 Years Who "Can't Be Replaced"
The Best Songs of 2016 So Far? See Our Picks