Mitchell Tenpenny's soft pop influences are overshadowed by dark songwriting and a big any-genre vocal performance. The impressive debut single demands your attention.

The Nashville-raised country newcomer brings a dynamic voice to the genre — one capable of uniting Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton fans. "Drunk Me" is slick with polished, pop-friendly production, but his commanding presence on the microphone brings country credibility. Tenpenny helped write the song, turning a clever, modern idea into something serious, relatable and borderline traumatic. The performance captures not just pain, but fear of pain.

Many artists are accused of trying to be the next Stapleton or the next Hunt, but an honest middle ground might prove to be most satisfying and lucrative. Both fan groups are passionate, and while Tenpenny has only a fraction of their social media presence, his faithful are proving to be equally loyal. "Drunk Me" has no weakness, only strengths (that some people won't care for).

Did You Know?: Tenpenny and "Drunk Me" co-writer Jordan Schmidt also helped write Granger Smith's hit "If the Boot Fits." Andy Albert is the third writer on that song. Justin Wilson is the third writer on "Drunk Me."

Wait! Hold on, Mitchell! We've Got One Last Question! 

Mitchell Tenpenny's "Drunk Me" Lyrics:

Some people don’t know when to quit and that’s why they quit / Some need to hit the bottom to see they got a problem, they can’t handle it / But that ain’t why I started cleaning up my life / Wish it was but, ooh, that would be a lie.

Chorus:
I’ve been sober ‘cause there ain’t no hangover like you girl, no, no, no / Baby can you come over, I always find those words at the bottom of a hundred proof, yeah / Girl, every time you do / I just end up head all messed up like the sheets where we made love / I’ve been sober since you broke my heart in two / ‘Cause drunk me can’t get over you.

All those bottles sitting up on the shelf are just salt on the wound / One sip and I’m picking up the phone trying not to go home without you / And that ain’t nothing but a whole lotta pain / And that kind of hurt, ooh hurts, it ain’t worth another drink.

I’ve been sober ‘cause there ain’t no hangover like you, no, no, no / Can you come over, I always find those words at the bottom of a hundred proof, yeah / Girl, every time you do I just end up head all messed up like the sheets where we made love / I’ve been sober since you broke my heart in two/ ‘Cause drunk me, yeah drunk me, yeah drunk me can’t get over you / Can’t get over, can’t get over, oh, no, no, no.

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