Jason Aldean’s New Single “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” Reminds Fans Of His Old Music & They’re Hoping Old Aldean Is Back

Are we getting old school Jason Aldean back? Sign me up.

I know he gets his fair share of criticism over his politics from those who disagree with him, but I think even Jason Aldean’s biggest haters would agree that he had some absolute heaters in his catalog earlier in his career.

From singles like “Why” and “Laughed Until We Cried” from his earlier albums to “Tattoos On This Town,” “Fly Over States,” “Any Ol’ Barstool”… sure, his music may not be straight up traditional country, but it’s hard to deny that he has some great songs. And many of his deep cuts, songs like “Don’t Give Up On Me,” “All Out Of Beer,” “Too Fast,” “Water Tower,” “Texas Was You,” are all way better than any of his singles that he’s released over the past few years.

Jason Aldean was a big part of the soundtrack to my last couple years of high school and my college years, and I feel like he really had his moment during the “bro country” era. But as country moved away from it, and with the emergence of artists like Morgan Wallen who are mixing even more pop and rap into their music, it seems like Jason kinda struggled to find his footing in the changing country landscape.

The albums that he released between 2018-2022 were largely…well, a disaster. It was like Jason was trying to chase the new trends instead of going back to what was working so well, and what made fans fall in love with him in the first place, back at the beginning of his career.

But it seems like starting with his last album, Highway Desperado, we finally started getting glimpses of the old Aldean again.

And after dropping his latest single, “How Far Does A Goodbye Go,” last Friday, fans are fully convinced that Jason is ready to go back to the good stuff.

If you haven’t heard it, the new single is far and away better than pretty much anything Aldean has released in the last half decade or so. And sure, it’s still got the electronic drum track on it during the intro, which is completely unnecessary and distracting, but when the actual drums kick in there’s no doubt that the heartbreaker takes you right back to early in Aldean’s career:

“She said she was headed over to see her mama
To try to clear her head, she needed a little time
Said, “We could talk more about it later if you wanna”
Walked out the door, swore everything was gonna be alright
But it’s been four days and three nights of whiskey
And I ain’t heard a word from her and that’s what gets me

So tell me, how far does a goodbye go?
Is it down to a corner bar?
Or out of town in a getaway car?
If it’s on a map, this cowboy’s gotta know
Is it a couple miles away coming up the road
Or on a midnight train on a runaway track?
How far does a goodbye go ’til it don’t come back?”

And judging by the reaction on social media, it’s pretty clear that I’m not the only one excited about the possibility of getting old Aldean back:

@that.boycory

WHO’S READY FOR THIS ONE?! #countrytok #countrymusic #countrytiktok #jasonaldean #newmusic

♬ How Far Does A Goodbye Go – Jason Aldean

@victoryaa.m

Old Jason is my 90 in a 35 #jasonaldean #oldcountry

♬ How Far Does A Goodbye Go – Jason Aldean

@the.lukekelley

#countrymusic #jasonaldean

♬ How Far Does A Goodbye Go – Jason Aldean

@thehannahmorrow

JASON!!!! You’re bringing back some nostalgic heartbreak feelings w this one!!!!! I WILL BE PRE-PURCHASING THIS WHOLE ALBUM #jasonaldean #jasonaldeanmusic

♬ How Far Does A Goodbye Go – Jason Aldean

Now, does that mean Jason Aldean is ready to fully embrace his old sound again? I’ve been in this business long enough not to get my hopes up, because time and time again we’ve seen artists drop something that sounds different than what we’ve been doing, and when everybody starts talking about how good it is, they go right back to the same crap they were making anyway.

But if we can get more of that old Aldean song? I definitely wouldn’t be mad at it.

The post Jason Aldean’s New Single “How Far Does A Goodbye Go” Reminds Fans Of His Old Music & They’re Hoping Old Aldean Is Back first appeared on Whiskey Riff.