Honky Tonkin' About

"Honky Tonkin' About"
Single by The Reklaws and Drake Milligan
ReleasedJuly 28, 2023 (2023-07-28)
GenreCountry
Length3:05
LabelStarseed
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tawgs Salter
The Reklaws singles chronology
"Good Ol' Days"
(2022) 		"Honky Tonkin' About"
(2023) 		"I Grew Up on a Farm"
(2024)
Drake Milligan singles chronology
"Sounds Like Something I'd Do"
(2022) 		"Honky Tonkin' About"
(2023)
Music video
"Honky Tonkin' About" on YouTube

"Honky Tonkin' About" is a song recorded by Canadian country music duo The Reklaws and American country music artist Drake Milligan. Stuart Walker of the Reklaws wrote the song with Blake Redferrin, Callum Maudsley, and Tawgs Salter, while Salter produced the track.[1]

The song reached number one on the Canadian Country Singles Chart, becoming the fourth chart topper for the duo, and Milligan's first.

Background

Stuart Walker of the Reklaws wrote "Honky Tonkin' About" during the COVID-19 pandemic with his friends and frequent collaborators. The four "sat down and thought about what we would want to party to at a honky tonk on a Friday night with our friends".[2] Jenna Walker remarked that the song is a "little more western than what you might be used to" from the sibling duo. Drake Milligan added that he was "honoured" to join the duo for his first featured appearance on a song.[3]

Critical reception

Madeleine O'Connell of Country Now referred to "Honky Tonkin' About" as a "rowdy tune with the kind of grit that gets country music lovers on their feet and ready for a night out". She also noted the inspiration of western music in the song.[4] Bee Delores of Countrypolitan positively reviewed the track, calling it "an addicting saloon-style track ripe for hot summer nights and late-night drinking".[5] James Daykin of Entertainment Focus favourably reviewed the song, saying it "blends classic country swagger with The Reklaws’ signature rowdy party vibes, creating an irresistibly catchy tune that’s bound to get your feet moving".[6]

Live performances

The Reklaws appeared on Citytv's Breakfast Television shortly after the song's release to promote their recently released live album The Reklaws: Live at History and perform "Honky Tonkin' About" live on air.[7] In September 2023, the duo appeared on television station CHCH's "Music Friday" series to perform the song live.[8] Later that month, Milligan joined the duo to perform the song live at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards in Hamilton, Ontario. The show was broadcast live on CTV in Canada, and their performance was later uploaded to YouTube.[9]

Accolades

Year Association Category Result Ref
2024 Country Music Association of Ontario Music Video of the Year Won [10]
[11]
Single of the Year Nominated
Canadian Country Music Association Music Video of the Year Nominated [12]
[13]
Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won

Music video

The official music video for "Honky Tonkin' About" premiered on CMT in the United States on October 19, 2023.[14] It was filmed on-site in Romania, and features Christopher McDonald, Jonathan Pryce, Robert Knepper, and Mary-Louise Parker.[15] The video was directed by Mac Grant, Chad Tennies, and Ben Knechtel.[14]

Charts

Chart performance for "Honky Tonkin' About"
Chart (2023-2024) Peak
position
Australia Country Hot 50 (The Music)[16] 10
Canada Country (Billboard)[17] 1
Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[18] 35

References

  1. ^ "Honky Tonkin' About - Single by The Reklaws and Drake Milligan". Spotify. Starseed Records. July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. ^ O’Connor, Becky (July 28, 2023). "The Reklaws Release New Single "Honky Tonkin' About" with Drake Milligan". Country Evolution. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "The Reklaws and Drake Milligan Team Up to Give Fans Something to be "Honky Tonkin' About" With Release of Their New Country Anthem". The Country Note. July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ^ O'Connell, Madeleine (July 28, 2023). "New Country Songs You Need To Hear Right Now: The Reklaws with Drake Milligan, Emily Ann Roberts, & More". Country Now.
  5. ^ Delores, Bee (28 July 2023). "Drake Milligan & The Reklaws Do Some 'Honky Tonkin' About' (Review)". Countrypolitan. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  6. ^ Daykin, James (July 28, 2023). "The Reklaws & Drake Milligan team up for infectious new song 'Honky Tonkin' About'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "The Reklaws perform their latest single 'Honky Tonkin' About'". Breakfast Television. Rogers Media. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Brody, Laura (September 8, 2023). "Multi-Platinum duo The Reklaws perform 'Honky Tonkin' About' on Music Friday". CHCH. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "The Reklaws, Drake Milligan - Honky Tonkin' About (Live at the 2023 CCMAs)" (video). YouTube. September 27, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "2024 CMAOntario Awards". CMAOntario. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "2024 CMAOntario Awards Winners Announced". CMAOntario. June 5, 2024. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 CCMA AWARDS NOMINEES". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 CCMA Award Winners". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Watts, Cindy (October 19, 2023). "CMT PREMIERE: THE REKLAWS AND DRAKE MILLIGAN HEADED TO ROMANIA TO GIVE "HONKY TONKIN' ABOUT" A "BACK TO THE FUTURE" VIBE". CMT. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Dagg, Nanci (August 1, 2023). "The Reklaws Share New Single, "Honky Tonkin' About" Ft. Drake Milligan". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  16. ^ "Countrytown Hot 50 – 2024, Week 22". Countrytown. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  17. ^ "Canada Country chart for November 25, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "Canada Digital Song Sales chart for September 30, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2023.