'Cruise' by Florida Georgia Line: Behind The Duo's Smash-Hit Debut

Table Of Content

• Most Popular
• Is Brian Kelley's 'Kiss My Boots' a Tyler Hubbard Diss Track?
• Weekly charts
• 2013: It'z Just What We Do and Here's to the Good Times
• Florida Georgia Line Explain the Magic of the ‘Cruise’ Chorus: ‘It’s Almost Like a Poem’
• Honda Music
• Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley + Brittney Kelley: Inside Their Love Story
• Genius is the world’s biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge

Though there were some conversations inside the label about whether the satellite success of “Cruise” would translate over the terrestrial airwaves, and even whether they should send “Tip It Back” — a slightly more familiar-sounding song off the duo’s second EP — to radio first. Instead, they decided to move ahead with “Cruise,” and it made its way up the country charts. “The very first time we worked in the studio together, it was partially about breaking them of the mentality that going in to record the song doesn’t mean it’s done,” says Moi. “Let’s dig back into these lyrics and make this better.” So they tinkered, “tightening the screws” on the lyrics, as Kelley describes it, for a few hours — distilling the song’s core idea into a pop monolith. "Cruise" kicked off the country career of Florida Georgia Line in a way that is rarely seen in country music — with a worldwide hit.

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In the 1800s, Green Cove Springs attracted a surge of vacationers from the North, drawn to the warm mineral springs reputed to have medicinal qualities and healing powers. Steamboat services brought members of high society, searching for a warm retreat from the winter’s harsh climate. Today, visitors can explore the historic district, which includes vintage homes and gorgeous surroundings. Departing for Green Cove Springs, enjoy an onboard welcome reception as we cruise along the waters of St. Johns River.

Is Brian Kelley's 'Kiss My Boots' a Tyler Hubbard Diss Track?

The song’s catchy hook, infectious melody, and party-oriented lyrics struck a chord with listeners across the United States. And, he continued, "It starts with a chorus. A lot of the old rock songs started with the chorus, and they all went to No. 1. This one was the same way. We started with the chorus that day." It was filmed outside Nashville, and featured the duo driving and performing against an American flag backdrop at a colorful paint party, and showed shots of women as well as a game of strip poker.[21] In the remix, it features the duo, Nelly, and another friend of theirs, driving down a road.

Weekly charts

The song led to Florida Georgia Line becoming one of the biggest country acts to come out of Nashville. The tune was followed by countless more hits, including "H.O.L.Y.," "Meant To Be" with Bebe Rexha and many more. Today, FGL continues to reign among the top male country acts such as Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and more. Beyond its commercial success, “Cruise” has also influenced a new wave of country artists who are embracing a more diverse and experimental sound. Florida Georgia Line themselves have continued to evolve their style, releasing songs like “H.O.L.Y.” and “Meant to Be” that showcase their ability to blend country, pop, and R&B into something truly unique.

Before or after your cruise from Tampa, explore the sprawling national reserves and watch the sunset over Florida's prettiest, least-crowded shorelines along the tranquil Gulf Coast, like Indian Rocks Beach. Relish the electric atmosphere of South Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach, or enjoy the secluded shores of Cape San Blas. Voyage to vacation destinations in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and more with the best deals on cruises out of Florida. Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Florida Georgia Line Explain the Magic of the ‘Cruise’ Chorus: ‘It’s Almost Like a Poem’

Now "Cruise" has been nominated an Academy of Country Music Award for Single of the Year. In addition, the remixed version of the song featuring rapper Nelly has also earned a second nomination for Vocal Event of the Year. Florida Georgia Line has also been nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year, and their debut album Here's to the Good Times is nominated for Album of the Year.

Tyler Hubbard mixes new songs, Florida Georgia Line hits; ends State Fair concert shirtless - Des Moines Register

Tyler Hubbard mixes new songs, Florida Georgia Line hits; ends State Fair concert shirtless.

Posted: Sat, 12 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Old Time Music is proud to have such a passionate and talented team of writers who share their love for music with our readers. The 49th annual ACM Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on Sunday, April 6 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS. Though it sounds adventurous, gator tail actually tastes a little bit like chicken and is quite delicious when cooked right. The tail is typically deep-fried and enjoyed either as an appetizer or an entrée with a spicy or sweet dipping sauce.

Remember to “share” the Florida Georgia Line Cruise song with friends and family that like Country-Pop music. The song was written by group members Brian Kelly, Tyler Hubbard, Joey Moi, Chase Rice and Jesse Rice. A life-changer for all involved, "Cruise" has a relatability to country fans that helped take it to No. 1. Kelley knew the song would be the perfect fit for Florida Georgia Line, and he looks back fondly on that very special day. For our latest installment of Behind the Song, Radio.com talked with FGL's Kelley and Hubbard as well as Chase Rice, a singer and songwriter who also had a hand in turning the catchy song into an unfathomable hit.

Plus, all of the top things to do in Florida take place outdoors, so you'll be catching plenty of rays. From the coast of Maine, to the mighty Mississippi and Pacific Northwest, our Free Cruise Guide provides detailed information about all of our more than 50 U.S. itinerary options. Jax, as locals call it, features miles of beaches, historic neighborhoods, eclectic museums, and a vibrant street arts scene. Led by our local guide, explore all that this vibrant city has to offer, including creative coastal cuisine, delicious craft beer, and so much more. In this sense, “Cruise” serves as an anthem for anyone who has ever needed to take a break from the stresses of daily life and just enjoy the moment.

And as their first single, it’s more than just the catchiness that makes it special to them. "It's really cool to be, from the start of that song on a couch in the house, to the studio, to singing it live and getting an award, to it being No. 1. It's the best feeling in the world and we're really humbled to be a part of such a special song," Kelley said. A smiling country song with veneers, it combined the rabid, over-the-top party spirit of the EDM era with an enviably carefree, breezy backroads affect. Nelly’s verse, in which he rehashes the chorus with characteristic panache, is the cherry on top — the ultimate nostalgic, full-circle moment for an artist whose professional debut centered on touting his country bona fides. “Cruise” would eventually take the top spot on the Hot Country Songs chart from Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” another take on Millennial-friendly country-pop crossover. Immerse in local history at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami during the day followed by the energetic nightlife when planning a short getaway before your vacation.

Whether you prefer to spend your days lounging on secluded beaches, teeing up on award-winning golf courses, kayaking through lush mangroves teeming with wildlife or salsa-stepping from dusk until dawn, cruises from Florida are the perfect opportunity to experience the best things the Sunshine State has to offer. "All of a sudden Brian [Kelley] pops up and strums a chord and starts humming this melody," Chase Rice told Radio.com. "That ended up being the 'Cruise' melody, and we looked at each other, all of us three, and we were like, 'What the hell is that?' He was like, 'I don't know, but we should write it.' As we got more into it, we completely dropped the other song we were writing that day, and I'm glad we did."

But there’s no question that it was the remix that sparked “Cruise” to ubiquity — to the impossible-to-ignore success that made the song the line between one era of country music and another. A week later, the album's title track, "Anything Goes", was released on September 22, 2014. Florida Georgia Line also appeared on the Hot Tours recap.[25] "Confession" was released to country radio on November 3, 2015 as the album's final single, and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in April 2016. The album's second single, "Get Your Shine On", was released to country radio on January 21, 2013, and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in May 2013. "Round Here" was released as the album's third single on June 3, 2013, and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in September 2013. The album's fourth single, "Stay", was released in October 2013.[17] It was co-written and originally recorded by Black Stone Cherry, produced by Joey Moi and the music video featured Josh Henderson.[18] It reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and the Country Airplay chart in December 2013.

The song’s victory, though, was the integration of a Black hip-hop artist into a huge hit that anyone asked would call country, and the destruction, however temporarily, of the fundamental, racist genre divide that has defined American recorded music from the start. The "Cruise (Remix)" was released to iTunes on April 2, 2013 and then to pop radio later. Two music videos exist for the song — one with Hubbard and Kelley for the original version and one with Nelly for the remix. When “Cruise” was released in August 2012, it was an immediate hit with fans of country music.

The original song and the remix with rapper Nelly have sold 7 million copies in the US, leading to "Cruise" becoming the best-selling country digital song of all time and earning Diamond status (11x Platinum). "Cruise" went on to spend three weeks atop the Country Airplay chart—the most weeks at No. 1 on Country Airplay for a new act's first charted title since Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman" in early 2004—and 24 weeks (over three different runs including the Nelly remix) atop the new Hot Country Songs chart. When the song reached its tenth week atop Hot Country Songs on May 18, 2013, it became the second song (Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together") to spend that many weeks at No. 1 since Buck Owens's "Love's Gonna Live Here" (16 weeks between October 1963 and February 1964). On August 24, 2013, it logged its 24th week at No. 1, the longest run at No. 1 in the chart's 69-year history (the previous record was 21 weeks held jointly by three songs, the last of which was Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" from February to June 1955). It certainly makes sense that hip-hop influences felt as intuitive for FGL-generation country artists as for any others who have come of age since hip-hop became mainstream pop. Watching Nelly perform alongside the duo, though, is a stark reminder of how in that exchange of ideas, the money tends to only flow one way; that while it might feel like hip-hop is “in [FGL’s] DNA,” it’s not.

Fall, winter and spring are hands-down the best seasons to visit Florida and the nearby Caribbean islands weather-wise. During these cooler months, temperatures hover in the 80s while the sun is out and dip into the 70s at night. If you can handle the heat, though, June through August are considered off-season in Florida and the Caribbean and see far fewer tourists than the rest of the year. When packing for your Florida cruise or vacation, make sure you don't forget sunscreen, polarized sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. No matter what season you choose to visit, you can typically expect bright and sunny conditions when you vacation in Florida.

Our custom Pre-Cruise Package provides you with a seamless way to experience Jacksonville and easily board the ship. The package includes a 1 night stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located on the riverfront and steps away from the dock. Every hit song has its own unique origin story, but few are as intertwined with serendipity and chance as “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line. The country duo, consisting of Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, first met in 2008 while attending Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Even with the hits Kelley and Hubbard have crafted since, they both admit it’s hard to beat “Cruise” as the best chorus they’ve ever written.