Lil Nas X would not take ‘no’ from Billboard after they booted his “Old Town Road” from the country charts.
He got country royalty Billy Ray Cyrus and added him to a remix of the single. Now “Old Town Road” is number on the iTunes POP chart. It’s also number 1 on the iTunes Rap Chart. However, it doesn’t appear so far on the iTunes country chart.
The difference between Billboard and iTunes charts is this: the Billboard editors decided “Old Town Road” wasn’t ‘country enough.’ On iTunes, it’s the buyers/listeners. Either way, it’s racist. “Old Town Road” is a better song than most on any country charts.
Cyrus saw it two days ago. He Tweeted to Lil Nas: “Been watching everything going on with OTR. When I got thrown off the charts, Waylon Jennings said to me “Take this as a compliment” means you’re doing something great! Only Outlaws are outlawed. Welcome to the club!”
Lil Nas X’s original version is number 3 on iTunes, btw. I think it would be funny if more country artists stepped up to make versions. Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, you’re next.
Billy Ray wrote on Twitter: “It was so obvious to me after hearing the song just one time. I was thinking, what’s not country about it? What’s the rudimentary element of a country and western song? Then I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook, and a banjo. What the hell more do ya need?”
“A few days passed and I went to the studio to do vocals.When I finished the pass, I whistled at the end of the song. Thats when the engineer stood up and said, “that shit is fire” We’re keeping that! Glad you gusys are diggin’ the tune, love seeing all your meme’s…. #OTR”
And that is how he got on the record.
Congrats @lilnasx 🤠 I’m always in your corner! #1 #OTR #OldTownRoadREMIX pic.twitter.com/Vm9BrwM3E1
— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 5, 2019
Now the remix is going to be the biggest record of the year. And Billboard looks idiotic. I am very sorry that they’ve done that. White artists have always been allowed on R&B charts (Eagles, Hall & Oates). Charley Pride was a superstar black artist who sang country music. What’s up with these people?
