Almost as good as the original, honestly.
Kacey Musgraves kicked off the American leg of her Deeper Well tour, named for her recent fifth studio album, in State College, Pennsylvania, and of course she ran through tons of fan-favorites from her new record.
But one video in particular caught my attention, where she performed a stripped-back, slowed down almost haunting rendition of her 2013 song, “Follow Your Arrow.”
It was included on her major label debut album Same Trailer Different Park, and released as the album’s third single, peaking at #10 on the US Hot Country Songs chart. Written by Kacey along with Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, it was named Song Of The Year at the 2014 CMA Awards too.
Of course, at the time, many country radio stations refused to play it because of the sentiment of some of the lines, and the overall message in general. “Follow Your Arrow” made a splash nonetheless, and has remained a fan-favorite over the last decode or so.
And during the first tour stop, Kacey played it for the first time in about 10 years, telling fans that their “internet bullying” worked and she was finally performing it again:
“You guys came to the party in such a big way, that is way bigger than that will ever be. So thanks, this is for you.
Also, your internet bullying has paid off, because I haven’t played this song live in about, I don’t know, a decade. So you fucking win, okay!”
It was a pretty stark contrast to the original in terms of production, as she delivered an acoustic, striking rendition of it that honestly gives it an entirely new feel and meaning. I absolutely loved the darkness and moody feel here, as opposed to the much more spunky, fun studio cut:
Kacey Musgraves performing “Follow Your Arrow” for the first time in over a decade tonight at the opening of the Deeper Well World Tour! I cannot even explain the atmosphere of everyone singing along 😍🥹🫶🏼
1/2 pic.twitter.com/4IfbgzbRFb— abigail 🩵 (@learnyouracbs) September 5, 2024
FOLLOW YOUR ARROW MARKED SAFE! pic.twitter.com/q1csIiXHxs
— Camille (@camirang) September 5, 2024
Kacey also did a fun cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” and I don’t really know her music at all, but this was fun:
KACEY MUSGRAVES COVERING PINK PONY CLUB BY CHAPPELL ROAN
🎥: @camirang pic.twitter.com/mHQ0YD8d54— 🇲🇽 Kacey Musgraves México (@spaceykaceymx) September 5, 2024
Of course, I have to leave you with “The Architect”:
Saw @KaceyMusgraves last night and she was everything!! #TheArchitect #DeeperWellTour
🌾🩵🪐 pic.twitter.com/MkA9UH01Xn
— Cevion Span (@cevionkspan) September 5, 2024
“Follow Your Arrow”
