With his swoon-worthy voice and piercing blue eyes, it’s no wonder that country pop artist Brett Young has taken the nation by storm. Young will continue his journey in concert at 8 p.m. tomorrow and again on Saturday night at The Lyric Oxford.
Friday’s show sold out early and inspired the Lyric to add the second show on Saturday to accommodate Young’s local fanbase. Both nights, the crowd can expect to hear songs from his self-titled 2017 LP, which includes hits “Like I Loved You” and “Can’t Sleep Without You.”
Originally from Orange County, California, Young was initially pursuing a career in professional baseball, playing for the Ole Miss Rebels at one point in pursuit of his dream. However, his career was cut short after an elbow injury in 2003. After this, Young began seriously pursuing a career in music, picking back up the guitar and really focusing on making a career out of it.
“I find it really cool that he lived here in Oxford and got to experience student life like we did,” senior art history major Maia Pimperl said. “It’s great to be able to attach a name like Young’s to Ole Miss.”
Pimperl said she often attends concerts at The Lyric, regardless if she is a fan of the artists or not; she said she really enjoys the live music atmosphere in general. She said she is excited to see Young live and expects it to be a hit because of his Ole Miss connection.
Young’s website describes how his career kicked off, gaining the attention of fans with his “honest lyrics and West Coast-meets-Southern sound.”
The California native told The Lyric Oxford that, “Everyone leaves a trail of ‘almosts’ and bittersweet memories behind on the road to ‘the one,’” when describing his lyrics. He uses those memories and experiences to write his lyrics and create songs that everyone can relate to.
Senior IMC major Taylor Oates said she purchased tickets for the show as soon as they came out.
“I am really excited to go see Brett Young,” Oates said. “I have never been to one of his concerts and am excited to see him perform live. I feel like live music is always better and can’t wait to see how he will perform.”
Young’s top songs “In Case You Didn’t Know” and “Sleep Without You” won the hearts of the nation with their relatable lyrics about a love-filled relationship. The tunes have an easy-listening sound, despite one being more of a ballad than the other.
Clearly the nation finds his lyrics relatable, as “In Case You Didn’t Know” reached the No. 1 spot on the Country Airplay Chart, and racked up more than 93 million listens on Spotify. “Sleep Without You” came in at No. 2, while his other single “Like I Loved You” also took the No. 1 spot on the listening charts. He is currently on his first sold-out headlining tour, securing Oxford as one of the stops.
For those who want to hear a former Ole Miss baseball player sing heartfelt, relatable songs, this concert is the one.
