The Paris, IL, native was visiting Nashville for the first time early in his sophomore year at Chicago's Elmhurst College. He was at the Station Inn, an historic bluegrass/country venue where many of the greats of both worlds have played. His cousin Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton's band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Brett was in the crowd.
"There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing," he says. “What happened next came as a shock.”
"He asked me to come up on stage and told me to pick a song to play with the band," says Brett. I said, 'Amarillo By Morning,' and when I heard that fiddle intro, chills shot up my spine. I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point where I thought, 'This is it. This is something I've got to do.'"
By the start of the next school year, he had transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and begun the round of writers' nights and writing appointments that led him eventually to a record deal.
The talent that let him turn that dream into reality—the depth of his writing and the sheer power of his smoky and expressive baritone—are both apparent in his first single. "Raymond" is the poignant tale of a nursing home employee mistaken by a patient with Alzheimer's for her deceased son, who was killed at war. It is a song whose inspiring reaffirmation of their mutual humanity is affecting listeners deeply. The single rings true for Eldredge as his Grandmother currently struggles through the disease.
"There are a lot of things I'll play live where people will say, 'I like that,' or 'That's a really cool song,'" Brett says, "but when I do this one, I get the chance to tell people how special a thing it's been in my life, and it always touches someone. A lot of people know someone with Alzheimer's and people react in a really emotional way to it."
Brett has earned a reputation as much for the strength of his writing as for his world-class voice. He and co-writer Pat McLaughlin landed a song called "I Think I've Had Enough" on Gary Allan's latest album, Get Off On The Pain, and one of his frequent collaborators is Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry stalwart Bill Anderson.
"He's one of my favorite people to write with," says Brett. "I love the fact that he believes in country music so much, because it's something I really believe in. My dream, as I find my place in country music, is one day to be an Opry member."
Brett heard all kinds of music growing up, and became a particular fan of the classic pop singers he heard in his grandfather's car.
"I heard a lot of Frank Sinatra, who is still a favorite of mine, and Ray Charles and Bobby Darin," he says. "When my mother convinced me to sing 'Mack The Knife' at a talent show, I got hooked on singing in public."
That was in Paris, a town of 9,000 with "cornfields and factories and lake right in the middle." Brett, his older brother and his parents—a traveling grain salesman and a nurse—lived on the lake and, says Brett, "We were on the water every day, from the time I was so little they could pull me on water skis in a paddle boat until I left for college at 18." Sports were a big part of his life, and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school.
He also sang everywhere he could, often the Big Band music of Sinatra, earning spending money and learning to work a stage. His appreciation for country music became a passion when he turned 16 and he and a friend rode around listening to a Brooks & Dunn greatest hits album.
"There was something about it that just struck me," he says. "I couldn't get enough of it. Ronnie Dunn is one of my favorite singers of all time—I love the soul in his voice—and one of the main reasons I got into this in the first place."
Brett spent two years in Chicago, where his older brother lived, performing with a school jazz band and with a Big Band around the region.
"One of the coolest gigs," he says, "was at the Field Museum, I was singing in front of a 12-piece band under this huge Tyrannosaurus Rex statue near some mammoths. It was quite the experience."
Then came that fateful visit to Nashville and his transfer to MTSU. He studied classic country stylists like Ray Price and George Jones, and later Vince Gill, absorbing everything he could.
"I was driving back and forth Nashville every day from Murfreesboro, which is thirty miles away," he says. "I had a guitar Terry had given me, which was originally a gift from Dolly, and I'd pretty much lock myself in my room and make myself learn songs. I would play writers' nights all around Nashville. There might be two people, there might be 40 or 50. I'd go play my songs and see what people liked and what they didn't. I'd screw up royally in front of them, but I learned."
He earned a degree, which, he says, "made Mom and Dad happy, and then I moved on to what I really wanted to do.
A staff writer for hit producer/publisher Byron Gallimore heard him at a writers' night and introduced him to Byron, who signed him.
"I wrote for about two years, developing my craft and writing with everyone I could. In the beginning, Byron just let me kind of find myself, because that takes a while. As you write more you starting homing in on what you sound good on. Eventually, Byron said, 'You've got something here' and we went in and started cutting songs. We did a showcase, and Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Music Nashville said, 'We've gotta sign this kid'. Mobley and Craig Kallman then signed Brett to Atlantic Records, making him the first official signing for the new imprint.
As he worked with his band tightening his show, he was offered a particularly gratifying gig.
"I opened for Blake Shelton at The Ryman and it was the coolest experience. I flew back from this house gig and all of a sudden I'm thrown into playing the Mother Church of Country Music, something I always dreamed of doing. I was operating on almost no sleep, but stepping out on that stage where everybody who's anybody in country music has been meant the world to me."
He remains active in sports, playing basketball and volleyball and playing on an intramural softball team in Nashville, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Meanwhile, he is dedicated to improving his craft.
"As a songwriter," he says, "my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody's heart and soul. We sit down on Music Row every day and write songs and every once in a while a song like ‘Raymond’ comes from such a real place. I hope it's that real to other people and that I can make them feel the way I felt when I wrote it and when I sing it."
Judging from audience reaction, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Beat of the Music
Brett Eldredge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My last night in town, hey wouldn't you know
I get hooked on a girl with blue diamond eyes
Down here in Mexico
Oh
Now you're walking up asking me to dance
Smiling that smile and reaching out your hand
Well there's a move or two, I'd like to show you
You got the soul and you know how to use it
Put your hand on my hip 'cause you know that I'll lose it
You got my heart racing like there's nothing to it
Falling in love to the beat of the music
Oh oh, why wouldn't I wanna stay?
Oh oh, and let that plane fly away, hey hey
'Cause you got the soul and you know how to use it
Put your hand on my hip cause you know that I'll lose it
You got my heart racing like there's nothing to it
Falling in love to the beat of the music
The beat of the music
I think I could get used to that steel drum playing
Waking up on a beach if you know what I'm saying
One more night would be more than alright with me
So hold on baby 'cause
You got the soul and you know how to use it
Put your hand on my hip 'cause you know that I'll lose it
You got my heart racing like there's nothing to it
Falling in love to the beat of the music
We're falling in love to beat of the music
Ooh
The beat of the music
The lyrics to Brett Eldredge's song "Beat of the Music" describe a chance encounter with a girl in Mexico. The singer meets her just a few hours before he's set to leave town, but he quickly falls for her blue diamond eyes. She asks him to dance, and he's taken aback by her soulful moves. As they dance, his heart races and he falls in love "to the beat of the music." The singer expresses reluctance to leave and go back home, knowing that he's found something special.
Overall, the song has a carefree and romantic vibe that captures the excitement of meeting someone new and sharing a moment of passion. The music itself has a tropical feel, which fits with the Mexican beach setting and the lyrics about steel drums and waking up on the sand. The chorus repeats the line "You got the soul and you know how to use it," which emphasizes the physical and emotional connection between the singer and the girl.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I just met you a couple hours ago
I am amazed that I have fallen for someone so quickly
My last night in town, hey wouldn't you know
I can't believe I have found someone that I like so much when I'm leaving town tomorrow
I get hooked on a girl with blue diamond eyes
I am captivated by this girl's stunning blue eyes
Down here in Mexico
I didn't expect to find someone like her in Mexico
Now you're walking up asking me to dance
I am thrilled that she is approaching me to dance
Smiling that smile and reaching out your hand
Her smile and outstretched hand make me feel happy and welcomed
Well there's a move or two, I'd like to show you
I want to impress her with my dance moves
While I still got the chance
I want to make the most of this opportunity to dance with her
You got the soul and you know how to use it
You have an incredible sense of rhythm and know how to move with the music
Put your hand on my hip 'cause you know that I'll lose it
Your touch makes me lose control and become completely immersed in the moment
You got my heart racing like there's nothing to it
You make my heart beat faster with your vivacious energy
Falling in love to the beat of the music
We are experiencing an intense connection as we dance and enjoy the music together
Oh oh, why wouldn't I wanna stay?
I don't want to leave this amazing moment and connection we are experiencing
Oh oh, and let that plane fly away, hey hey
I am tempted to cancel my plans and stay just to spend more time with her
I think I could get used to that steel drum playing
I am enjoying the tropical and laid-back atmosphere of Mexico
Waking up on a beach if you know what I'm saying
I am imagining the possibility of spending more time with her and waking up on a beautiful beach together
One more night would be more than alright with me
I am longing to spend more time with her before I have to leave
So hold on baby 'cause
I want us to continue dancing and enjoying the moment together
We're falling in love to beat of the music
Our connection on the dance floor is turning into something deeper and romantic
Ooh
An expression of excitement and joy
The beat of the music
Our shared love and passion for music is bringing us closer together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ENDURANCE MUSIC GROUP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT ELDREDGE, BRETT ELDRIDGE, HEATHER LYNN MORGAN, ROSS COPPERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dovelygodess4661
I want that connection with someone :( I got butterflies watching this video, it was so cute :)
@beninagonzales4036
Dovely Godess awww have you found your connection?
@AnthonyBarbuto
Benina Gonzales i found a connection to wifi
@brandonbaer4
Were out here :)
@brandonbaer4
We're
@mackenziekabrich2057
Anthony Barbuto's vids 😂😂😂
@pennymcmillan8706
God is the only one flawless🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️
@williamjames6624
Well you make a good point in your comment, Hello how are you doing 👋👋👋👋👋
@marisar9302
Brett Eldredge looks like such a doll. He's always so happy in his videos.
@williamjames6624
Yes you make good point in your comment, Hello how are you doing 👋👋👋👋