Levon on ‘Ms. Mariane': ‘It’s About a Cougar Experience’ [Exclusive Premiere]
New country trio Levon have released "Ms. Marianne" as their debut single and yes, it's based on a true story. Singer Michael David Hall isn't shy to admit it's about a cougar experience, as you'll see in this story of the song video, premiering exclusively on Taste of Country.
Hall was a waiter at a restaurant when the woman who inspired "Ms. Marianne" strolled in and started chatting him up because, as he explains, she had no one else to talk to. "She asked me out for some bourbon the next day," he says in this video. "I would have been stupid to say no."
Ryan Holladay and Jake Singleton explain that the song is very representative of who Levon is, and no matter who they're performing to, their debut single elicits laughter.
"It's about a cougar experience," Hall says. "And I think there's a lot of young gentleman out there, middle age gentleman, whatever gentleman you are, you appreciate a cougar."
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So, who is Marianne? The trio don't divulge if that's her real name or an alias crafted to protect her bourbon and 20-something-loving identity. But beware of impostors.
"It never fails," Holladay says, "after the show going out and meeting some of the people in the crowd there's always a lady that's like 'I'm Marianne' and we're like 'Oh, are you really?'"
"And she's like, 'No, but I can be.'"
Levon are three friends from Northbrook, Ill. (Hall), Sumter, S.C. (Singleton) and Camden, Tenn. (Holladay). Their name pays homage to two influences, the Band singer and drummer Levon Helm and Elton John, who has a song called "Levon."
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