You've all heard it. I'm not going to embed the music video because literally every single man, woman, child, and crustacean reading this article has heard the song. I don't even need to say the name of the song again because it's already in the title as well as the chorus of the song that was already in your head before you even entered the website. I'm going to talk about Andy Grammer's song now.
I first heard this song from a close friend who told me of its popularity and the dark underside that most people choose to ignore. It is fortunate that the first person to tell me about this song had already determined its disturbing nature. At first listen, the song seems to be a standard pop song with a particularly catchy hook, which led to its rapid rise to popularity. There is nothing wrong with this, and in fact, I support more songs that are actually fun and catchy rather than repetitive; even a repetitive chorus is less grating than the constant influx of songs that repeat the same words ten times in a row. This article is not about how the song is undeserving of its fame.
This article about how this song is undeserving of its standing as an "anthem for fidelity." I heard that shocking description when Grammer played on the Today Show to cheering crowds in the middle of New York. I knew the song was famous and catchy, but the fact that people looked to it as an inspiration for moral behavior was a surprising development. As my friend pointed out to me, the song spends most of its duration describing a random party girl in great detail, while scarcely speaking about the "somebody at home." Looking at the lyrics, the primary focus of the song becomes clear; from "long long legs" to "that ass," Mr. Grammer is far more concerned with the girls in his immediate vicinity than he is for anyone that might be waiting for him. It is important to note that Andy Grammer has been married for several years.
As much as the little details of the song reveal the true desires of its creators, just as much can be revealed by merely looking at the title of the song. Although "Honey I'm Good" seems to refer to the songwriter's deep satisfaction with his current relationship, it actually refers to alcohol. This in itself is not a grand reveal, the consequence of this simple sentence changes the entire tone of the song. This is not the proud anthem of a married man who does not need the company of other women to be happy, but rather the shameful admission of a drunken flirt in a moment of weakness. The chorus brightly declares:
"Nah, nah, honey I'm good. I could have another but I probably should not.
I got somebody at home, and if I stay I might not leave alone."
These lines plainly say that the writer is so drunk that one more drink will snatch him from the arms of a stable, faithful marriage and into the arms of...someone. This "anthem for fidelity" is little more than the death rattle of a happy marriage before it's husband is swept away in a sea of women. Being one drink away from cheating is not a good position for a husband, nor is it a moral position for any person ever. The thousands of fans singing along to the "anthem" are ignoring the reality of fidelity, meaning that a good husband would not only not cheat but also not come within a few ounces of alcohol of it. Openly declaring that there is a specific BAC that will inevitably lead to unfaithful behavior does not a good marriage make. So can we all agree to stop worshiping this damn song?
