Now THIS is how to kick off your Friday.
Cody Johnson is teaming up with legendary Mexican singer and songwriter Carín León for a special duet. Leading up to this week’s New Music Friday, Johnson shared that this song would be dropping, and instantly, fans were stoked to hear about this duet.
Johnosn is not shy about working with other artists, as he recently teamed up with Carrie Underwood for their stunning duet “I’m Gonna Love You.” But Johnson’s teaming up with León blends two styles of music hand in hand, broadcasting the country song with elements of traditional Mexican music to a broader audience.
“Excited to share that “She Hurts Like Tequila” with the incredibly talented Carin León drops this Friday. I can’t wait for y’all to hear how smooth this song is, and it goes down just as nice as your favorite shot of tequila.”
Penned by Cody Johnson, Johan Sotelo, Orlando Aispuro, Carín León, and Trent Willmon, and produced by Willmon, the stunning heartbreak ballad has all the elements for this to be a massive hit. And I have a feeling this collaboration is on its way to being one.
The intoxicating ballad highlights the feeling of a man who loves a woman so deeply that passion and desire take over him just like tequila does when the liquor hits the back of your throat, giving you that warm, fuzzy feeling that, in turn, loosens your inhibitions.
“She’s a feeling like I’ve never known
She’s a fire burning down in my soul
And it takes over my body and mind
Until I’ve lost all control
Every taste of her heavenly lips
Is laced with her wickedness
And no drink from a bottle could get me that high
She hurts like tequila…”
Both men join forces for the chorus, creating heavenly melodies. They switch off doing full Spanish and English verses throughout the verses, but at the beginning and end of the single, they share the verses. The first few lines are in English, which Johnson leads. Then León takes over, further hypnotizing listeners with his stellar vocals.
Ironically, even though Johnson can sing a damn good song about tequila, he shared in promo for the the song that it “hurts” him.”
“Tequila hurts me. So I either like, like a Don Julio 1942, like three cubes of ice and just sip it, or like if I want to make a margarita, I like 1942, a little Grand Marnier, maybe spice it with like some Topo Chico. If we are going to take shots, you might as well grab the cheapest tequila you can and just shoot it because it’s gonna be the salt, lime. You’ve got to have salt and lime.”
León is much more hardcore than Johnson, noting that he drinks tequila straight from the bottle. Johnson bows down to him after that statement, and I would too. Even as a tequila fan, thinking about drinking it straight from the bottle puts a little hair on my chest.
Tequila fan or not, you’ll love “She Hurts Like Tequila,” and if you’re anything like me, you’ll quickly find it on repeat.
Turn it all the way up.
