Anything Goes (Randy Houser song)

"Anything Goes" is a country music song written by Brice Long and John Wiggins, and recorded by American country music singer Randy Houser. It was released in May 2008 as Houser's debut single, as well as the lead-off single to his debut album, also titled Anything Goes.

Content

"Anything Goes" is a mid-tempo ballad, mostly accompanied by piano and Hammond B-3 organ, with pedal steel guitar flourishes. In it, the narrator recalls a one-night stand with a woman whom he has met a bar. He states that he does not feel guilty about the encounter, because his lover has left him.

Music video

A music video was made for the song in October 2008. Directed by Vincenzo Giammanco, the video starts with Houser walking into a bar to drink a beer. Scenes also show him playing guitar in the bar. In the second verse of the song, Houser is seen sitting on a bed, with his ex-lover still asleep. At the end of the video, Houser places his guitar into a fire.

Reception

The song has received mixed reception from music reviewers. Brady Vercher of The 9513, stated in his review of the album, said that Houser "showed a lot of promise" in this song.^[1] He also described it as "similar in theme to Jamey Johnson's 'Mary Go Round', only from a slightly different perspective."^[1] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic described "Anything Goes" as "melodic and tightly constructed, but not quite memorable."^[2] Allen Jacobs of Roughstock gave the song a mixed review: thought that the verses "stumble"d in the verses, but described Houser's vocal performance favorably.^[3]

Chart performance

"Anything Goes" was released in May 2008.^[4] It debuted at #56 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 21, 2008. It reached its peak of #16 on the country chart dated December 6, 2008.

References