I fell in love with country music back in middle school for many reasons, one of them being the storytelling aspect. Approximately six months after I became a fan of Dan + Shay, I became hooked on a new artist named Sam Hunt. He was iHeart Radio's "On The Verge" artist prior to his debut album Montevallo coming out on October 27, 2014. This was a way to spotlight the new artist who they knew would have a lot of success, starting with spinning his debut single "Leave The Night On" multiple times a day at all iHeart Country Radio stations. I remember hearing this song on the radio for the first time in 2014, finding it incredibly catching and loving the story being told. I also really thought Hunt's voice stood out. I bought his debut project and absolutely loved every single song, including the second single "Take Your Time". Hunt had a variety of tempo songs on this album, upbeat ones like "Leave The Night On" and also slower ones like "Take Your Time".
Fast forward to June 23, 2016 when Dan + Shay posted an acoustic cover of Hunt's love song "Take Your Time" to their YouTube channel. With the combination of listening to Shay Mooney's comforting, smooth vocals, hearing Dan Smyers' stellar guitar playing and stirring harmonies alongside the lead vocalist (Mooney), the duo sang the song's chorus and bridge. As with the other covers the duo have done that I have written about so far, this one also left me wanting a full rendition, whether it is a full YouTube video or a studio version. In the future, I seriously hope that Dan + Shay make a full album with some of their favorite covers they have done over the years. I know that would make me happy as well as their other fans!
Below is the clip of the guys singing "Take Your Time" courtesy of their YouTube channel for you to enjoy!
Here is my seventh Saturday Spotlight that I did via e-mail with my longtime Dan + Shay friend, Jocelyn B from Denver, Colorado. Jocelyn, her husband Brian, and daughter Mackenzie are very loyal, passionate fans of the duo. When I became a fan in 2014, I started following her on Twitter (now X) and I always enjoyed reading, liking, and replying to her tweets. Whether she was rallying support for the duo to help them get their next number one song at country radio or posting pictures and videos of her family at a Dan + Shay concert, I have always appreciated that her family's love for the guys is genuine and real! Now we follow one another on Instagram and our friendship has remained the same!
Mackenzie is now in high school, but I remember seeing pictures and watching videos of her ten years ago when she was in grade school! She was such a cute little girl and has blossomed into such a beautiful young lady from what I have seen in pictures on social media over the last couple of years.
In this seventh session, you will learn about Jocelyn's family's favorite Dan + Shay albums, a few interactions her family has had on social media with the duo over the years, what they would ask the duo if given the opportunity to have dinner with them, what they about their unconventional music videos, and so much more!
She also included an awesome video and a few pictures at the bottom of this post!
Please enjoy reading my seventh Dan + Shay Fan Spotlight with Jocelyn B below!
Stacy (S): When did you become a fan of Dan + Shay? Was it in the beginning or later on in their careers? What was the first song of theirs that you heard on the radio? What was your first impression of hearing them on the radio and then getting to know them through social media?
Jocelyn B (JB) We became fans from their very first single "19 You + Me"! This was also the first song of theirs we ever heard on the radio. They have always been so good to their fans across social media and that started from the start and continues through today! They are the best to their fans!
(S): How many times have you and your family seen the duo in concert? What is your favorite venue that you have seen them play at? Tell me details about a few of their concerts that stand out to you.
(JB): We have seen them at least 12 times. We loved every show where they had a meet and greet because we got to have a chance to say hello, catch up, and hear some songs acoustically!
(S):How many times have you and your family had the opportunity to meet Dan + Shay? What was the first meet + greet like? Did anything they say stick out to you that you still remember today? Tell me about a few of your other meet + greets with the guys that were special. (JB): We have met the guys nine times at least and each one was special! We have made so many memories from sharing stories, previous memories, and new music!
(S): Dan + Shay have a few unconventional music videos that don't follow the actual storyline of the song like "Tequila", "How Not To", and "Steal My Love". They used a completely different storyline from what the song is actually about. Please describe what you think about each of these videos and if you like the guys going outside of the box when it comes to music video concepts.
(JB): We always want the guys to do whatever feels right to them and whatever makes them happy when it comes to writing and putting out music. And we always love when a song has more meaning behind the lyrics.
(S): What is the name of your local country radio station(s) that you listen to? Do they play Dan + Shay's songs often? Which songs do they play the most?
(JB): KYGO 98.5 and yes they do! They usually play whatever there new single is and then any of their big hits like "Tequila" and "From The Ground Up".
(S): If you had to pick your top two favorite Dan + Shay albums and top five overall songs (including from their Christmas album), what would they be? Tell me why those songs and the two albums overall connect with you.
(JB): Where it All Began will always be a favorite album because it was their very first and what brought us together. We also loved the newest album Bigger Houses because it showcased so much growth in their music. But their Christmas album is incredible!! They were absolutely out on this earth to create that album. We love all their songs and can’t pick favorites ha ha!
(S): Dan + Shay have been very active on social media over the years. Are there any special interactions/memories that you have had with them on social media that you would like to share?
(JB): There have been many times we have interacted from getting heart emojis to "love ya guys" to "Happy Birthdays" over the years from them.
(S): If you had the opportunity to have dinner with Dan + Shay and spend quality time with them afterward, what questions would you ask them? What else would you talk about in a conversation with them?
(JB): We would want to know their top three moments since they started on their journey together. And who their favorite people they met along the way are. Lastly, how different they are now compared to the start of their journey and what they would tell themselves back then that they know now.
(S): Is there anything else you would like to add that I did not mention above?
As most of my blog readers and social media followers probably had Thanksgiving leftovers to eat today, here is your second helping of a second Dan + Shay Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade memory!
Ten years after their debut performance on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Dan + Shay were invited back to sing a song on the icon live television broadcast on November 28, 2024. "Flashback Friday" to last year when the duo performed their upbeat Christmas song "Officially Christmas" on the Hallmark Channel's "Heartwarming Holiday Countdown" float.
Behind the guys was a fireplace scene and the mantle was lined with stockings. Dan Smyers' green suit and Shay Mooney's red suit made them blend in perfectly to the festive float. The duo had smiles on their faces and were rocking out while they were shown on TV during the broadcast. It looked like they were having a lot of fun!
Below is a short clip of their performance courtesy of the Shorts page on RoadDwagZ's YouTube Channel for you to enjoy!
Happy Thanksgiving to Dan + Shay and all of my wonderful blog readers and social media followers! I am incredibly grateful for your support every single day! I hope everyone enjoys the holiday today! 🦃💙🎶
Also, Happy "Throwback Thursday"! In honor of today being Thanksgiving, I am going to rewind all the way back to November 27, 2014 when Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney received the huge honor and opportunity to perform their single at the time "Show You Off" on Gibson (Guitar) Brands "It's All Rock & Roll" float! This was my first year being a fan of the duo and I was very excited to see them perform on the largest Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City! I remember waking up early and watching the whole broadcast. When I saw the guys perform on the float, it looked like they were lip syncing, but I was not 100 percent sure. They sound incredible on their albums and performing lives, so I was going to be shocked if they were not actually singing. Later on, I found out that every musical artist lip syncs at this parade due to the moving floats, cold weather, etc.! That made me feel a little bit better, but it was also a huge revelation! Despite the fact that they were not actually singing, the guys put on a great performance and it looked like they enjoyed themselves!
Prior to the parade on November 27th that year, Smyers and Mooney took to the duo Instagram account to post a selfie from the street. They also posted a second selfie with the caption, "Sneakin' a quick selfie on the #MacysParade red carpet. We don't look too excited or anything, right?! Tune in this morning + catch us on the @GibsonGuitar float!"
Screenshot courtesy of Dan + Shay's Instagram account from 11/27/2014
Screenshot courtesy of Dan + Shay's Instagram account from 11/27/2014
Here is a video of Dan + Shay performing "Show You Off" on the "It's All Rock & Roll" Gibson Brands float from November 27, 2024, courtesy of Molly L's YouTube channel for you to enjoy!
Dan + Shay started off their career with love songs "Nothin' Like You" and "From The Ground Up" reaching the number one spot on the Mediabase Country chart in December, 2015 and August 2016 respectively. Early on, some of their other radio-charting love songs that did not hit number one, but were ear candy included the fun, quirky "Show You Off" and their nostalgic storytelling debut single "19 You + Me".
The first single from the duos sophomore album Obsessed was "From The Ground Up". After the success of the song that many couples have danced to at their weddings, the duo decided to show a different side of them for the second single "How Not To". Whether it is one member of the duo, the other, or both of them, they are known to have at least one of their names on each song they have put out, alongside the other prolific co-writers they collaborate with in Nashville. However, "How Not To" is the first song they released that they did not write. The song, which explores the struggles of letting go after a breakup, was written by Adam Hambrick, Paul DiGiovanni, and Kevin Bard. Because I was so used to a combination of Dan + Shay writing all of their songs, I did not know what to expect when they sang a song that they did not have a hand in writing. After hearing "How Not To" for the first time in 2016, the guys absolutely blew me away with their rendition. They pulled from past experiences and put their whole hearts and souls into the song's story and production. Smyers and Mooney made the song their own as if they had written it.
Below is a short clip of the duo performing the end of the first verse and the chorus of "How Not To" from one of their iPhones courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel. The guys posted this video five years after the song was initially released. Listening to Mooney's emotional, passionate vocals alongside Smyers' harmonies with the same emotions and his acoustic guitar playing, the guys took the song to a new level five years later. I can hear the growth in their voices from June, 2016 when the album was released to this clip that was posted on March 30, 2021.
While I love hearing the duo singing backed by Smyers' fresh, innovative production, I think I love hearing them sing even more Acapella, just a guitar, piano, or a combination of the voice. Listening to the pure, rawness of their voices brings me back to why I became a fan of them in the first place. There were a few things that drew me in initially, with their fresh, unique sounding voices grabbing me first, followed by the songwriting, and production.
Happy Dan + Shay Trivia Tuesday to my wonderful blog readers and social media followers!!! 🥳🎉🎶
Below are the Dan + Shay trivia questions that I posted on my Instagram story earlier today! I want to find out if you know the correct lyrics to Dan + Shay's original Christmas songs "Pick Out A Christmas Tree", "Parson Brown", and "Blame It on Santa"! 🎄⛄🎅🎶 I thought I knew all of the lyrics to each song, but when I was looking them up earlier today, I found out that I had been hearing the incorrect word for the last 12+ months! 😁
If you have not participated in my Instagram polls today or tomorrow or will not have time to, I have you covered in the comment section of this post! You can type in what you think the correct answers are at any time in the next week! If you did participate or plan to later today or tomorrow, you can most certainly participate again! I highly encourage as many of my readers and social media followers to have some fun and take a couple of minutes to write in the comment section of this post below what you think the answers are! To give everyone plenty of time, I will make sure to update this post in one week with the correct answers! I will be excited to see what everyone's responses are! Have fun and happy guessing! 😀🎵🎉
Question 1: 🎶"Pick out a Christmas tree, top ______ in aisle three We’ll _____ it to the car, hey, don’t forget the star And when we get back home, plug it in and watch it _____ Been waitin’ all year to _____ __ the living room with you You, with you, you"🎶
Possible Answers #1: row, hitch, shine, glow up Possible Answers #2: shelf, tie, glow, light up Possible Answers #3: rack, bind, gleam, beam up
Question 2: 🎶"Heard it from a friend, he was hangin' on the _____ side But my ______ said he saw him sittin' beachside in Florida I don't think he knows what he's talkin' about Now we're runnin' out of time and _________ too Couldn't have got far when he ain't got shoes Probably sound _____even askin' around Man, I really need him right now"🎶
Possible Answers #1: south, uncle, sunshine, wild
Possible Answers #2:west, grandma, daylight, silly
Possible Answers #3: east, cousin, moonlight, crazy
Question 3: "🎶I came down the stairs at 7 looking kinda just like ______When his family left him behind And I knew I was being accused of a Christmas crime (Christmas crime) _______ said that I was guilty with a look that coulda killed me And I didn't know what to do So I crossed all my fingers and _____, "Was it you-know-who?" (You-know-who)"🎶
Possible Answers #1:Kevin, Grandma, said Possible Answers #2:heaven, Grandpa, screamed Possible Answers #3: Helen, Auntie, yelled
Thank you for all of your support and I cannot wait to see your answers posted in the comment section below in the next week! 😀🎵🎉👍
It is "Music Monday" on my Instagram Story as well as for my blog post!
I truly love every single song (the originals as well as their take on the classics) on Dan + Shay's It's Officially Christmas: The Double Album that was released in 2024. I bet many of my readers and followers feel the same way.
This week, I will post three Dan + Shay classic Christmas cover songs below along with a YouTube video of each one so you can make a decision! I want YOU to tell me which one is your favorite! I will tally the votes from the comment section of this blog post as well as those cast on my @DailyDashOfDanAndShay Instagram Story in the next 24 hours! I will post the winning song at the end of the day tomorrow!
Anyone can comment on my post. You do not need to have a Gmail account to leave your vote. You can also choose if you want to add your name to the comment or post anonymously. It is up to you! And you can vote in my Instagram Story whether you follow my account or not. Between the two accounts, I want to see a lot of participation! I want to see as many votes as possible!!! 😀🎶🎄
Which of these Dan + Shay classic Christmas songs is your favorite?🎄
Song Choice #1: "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" 😀🎶❄
Song Choice #2: "Silent Night" 🩵🎶
Song Choice #3: "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" 😘🎶🎄
All videos courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel!
When Dan + Shay released their Bigger Houses album on September 15, 2023 and I listened to it all the way through for the first time, I felt like they had tailored the album just for me, as I was able to make a connection with every single song on the project in my own way for the first time since becoming a fan. Stay tuned for a future post where I explain my personal connection with each track.
One of those songs that I gravitated toward upon hearing it was "Heaven + Back". The beautiful thing about music is that while you may not be able to what the song was written about, you can find a different way to make a connection. After the first listen, I immediately thought of my grandma who passed away at the end of 2022. Every time I hear this tune, I find myself dancing with her and both of us having a joyous time up in heaven. Hearing it also helps me smile when I look back on all of the fun times we had together over the years.
I was not sure if the duo would include the song on their 2024 Heartbreak On The Map Tour setlist because it was not a radio single. When I heard the song start at their Van Andel Arena stop on March 14, 2024, my heart was extremely happy! My friends and I were seated in the upper bowl of the venue, but despite being far away from the stage, I could feel a connected with Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. Whether you are in front of the stage or in the furthest row in the back, these guys always make you feel like you are in the front row. I found myself dancing with them and my grandma, and singing along while watching the performance! My grandma was there with me mentally that night! 💖🎶💃
It was a real treat to see Mooney playing guitar during this performance. I have seen him play the piano a few times when I have seen them live and in YouTube videos, but not the guitar very much. Being able to witness the guys having so much fun up on that stage and really enjoying themselves during the entire show, including this performance, truly made my heart very happy! Dan + Shay have been incredibly passionate about what they do since day one and, to this day, they still show that in so many ways on social media and at their concerts.
Below is the video I took of the duo performing "Heaven + Back" at Van Andel Arena on March 14, 2024 for my readers and followers to enjoy courtesy of my Daily Dash Of Dan + Shay YouTube channel!
Dan + Shay gave one epic performance of their hit ballad "I Should Probably Go To Bed" at the Country Music Association Awards on November 10, 2021. It was hands down my favorite performance of the night. Below, I will talk about why I loved it so much.
On their previous two arena tours, the duo had a plus sign stage built to represent the mathematical symbol in between their names. It was also used at the CMA Awards.
For this performance, Dan Smyers was seated at the piano and Shay Mooney was standing in front of him. The plus sign was lit up in red to most likely represent the fire and passion of the breakup song. As the guys started singing the first verse of the song, they were surrounded by special effect smoke, and the stage began to rise. Once it stopped, they had a bird's eye view of the audience at Bridgestone Arena. From Mooney showing off the falsetto part of his voice at the beginning and toward the end of the performance, to also hearing his crazy, emotional, passionate vocals throughout the song, and being able to hear Smyers' exquisite harmonies and beautiful piano playing, this will be a performance I will always remember and go back to watch over and over again. I also loved hearing the stringed instruments in the background. The viewer could not see them during the performance, as it was solely focused on Dan + Shay. They received a standing ovation from the crowd after Mooney sang the final note.
Stay tuned for plenty more future posts about this song, including live and acoustic performances of it and behind-the-scenes videos of making the song and music video!
Below is the "I Should Probably Go To Bed" CMA Awards performance video from Dan + Shay's YouTube channel for you to enjoy!
You may remember my post from May 22, 2025 when I gave full commentary on Dan + Shay's fiery performance of their smash hit "Tequila" at the 60th annual Academy Of Country Music Awards that aired on Prime Video earlier in the month on May 8. The duo sang their nostalgic heartbreak song at the end of a "Songs Of The Decade" medley at the beginning of the milestone celebration. In honor of today being "Flashback Friday",
I want to bring this clip back one more time because I cannot get enough of hearing Shay Mooney's emotional, passionate vocals as well as Dan Smyers' flawless harmonies. My favorite part of this performance (and it might be yours too!) is at the very end when Mooney sang the word "yeah" and held the last note for what seemed like an eternity. He showed off his insane vocal range once again. Both members of the duo received a well deserved standing ovation from the audience after Mooney ended the note.
On that account, I truly hope that Dan + Shay receive more of the attention and recognition they deserve at country radio and at award shows once their next batch of new music is released. I have been a fan of these very genuine and talented guys for 11 years now. In my opinion, Mooney is truly the best technical singer I have ever heard while Smyers is the best harmonist I have ever heard. Their voices blend incredibly well together. In addition to their voices, Smyers is the most creative, fresh, innovative producer when it comes to making their records alongside Scott Hendrick. I also know how much hard work, heart, and soul they put into making and performing their music. They make sure every little detail is perfect before the music is released into the world. The duo is in their own lane in country music, and to me, because of that, they deserve to have the spotlight shined on them daily. I hope we see that more in 2026 and beyond!
Below is the clip of the duo performing the first verse, chorus, and bridge of "Tequila" on May 8, 2025 for you to enjoy! It was posted on the ACM Awards YouTube channel later on May 22, 2025.
Happy "Throwback Thursday" to a video that Dan + Shay posted to their YouTube channel on August 15, 2016!
First, here is a little background before I share the duos cover of one of my favorite country female songs in the last nine years!
When I first heard country artist Maren Morris' debut single "My Church" on the radio in early 2016, I remember immediately loving her voice and the heartfelt story she told! I also loved how upbeat the track was! I wanted to get up and dance to it! Shortly after her debut album Hero was released in June, 2016, the second single "80's Mercedes" was released to country radio. A song about a girl (Morris) who was born in the 1990's, but is a fan of objects from the 1980's, including her Mercedes! I loved the quirky lyrics and this song also made me want to get up and dance! I ended up falling in love with her vocals, songwriting, and production on the entire album. It is still one of my favorite country female albums to date. Morris is innovative and in her own lane like Dan + Shay. Because I have always been in love with all of the aspects of the duos music that I mentioned above, those things also made me become a big fan of Morris.
Dan + Shay posted a bunch of covers from their tour bus when they were on the road in 2016. One of the short clips that they uploaded to their YouTube channel was "80's Mercedes" by Morris. Watching Dan Smyers play his acoustic guitar and sing flawless harmony and witnessing Shay Mooney sing with his smooth, laid back vocals, their cover brought a lot of joy to me. I am not a singer, but it seems like it would take a lot of energy to perform this fast-paced song, and Mooney put all of his positive, upbeat energy into singing the first pre-chorus and chorus. I was super impressed! This is yet another one that I want the duo to release a full cover of one day!
Below is the video of the guys singing their acoustic cover of "80's Mercedes" courtesy of their YouTube channel for you to enjoy!
Dan + Shay are up for Vocal Duo of the Year at tonight's Country Music Association Awards (CMA Awards) that will air on ABC at 8/7c. Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney have some stiff competition in this category. The other four duos who fill out the category are current artists Brothers Osborne, Maddie & Tae, and husband-wife team The War and Treaty, with legends Brooks & Dunn rounding out the list.
With the exception of Brooks & Dunn, each of these duos have had songs on the Mediabase Country chart in the past year. However, Smyers and Mooney are the only ones with a number one hit on their hands in the last 12 months, with "Bigger Houses" reaching the top of the chart in January, 2025. I think they have a good chance of taking home the trophy tonight for this reason. However, whether they win or lose, Dan + Shay will always be winners in my heart!
I believe that at next year's show, the guys will have multiple nominations as well as have wins in multiple categories with the new music being released in January that they have hinted about a few times on social media. And I bet they will perform one of their upcoming new songs at the show next year too. 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of the broadcast, so I already know it will be a huge celebration of awards being given out and incredible performances.
Stay tuned for my post-CMA Awards commentary on Friday. I will reveal the results of the Vocal Duo of the Year category, provide any interesting conversations they give in interviews on the red carpet, and comment on what the duo and their respective wives wore on the carpet and to the star-studded event.
Below is a picture of the duo posing with their respective wives at the November 20 ceremony courtesy of Abby Smyers' Instagram account, which she posted on November 21! From left to right, Abby Smyers, Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, and Hannah Mooney.
Screenshot courtesy of Abby Smyers' Instagram account from November 21, 2024
Happy Dan + Shay Trivia Tuesday to my wonderful blog readers and social media followers!!! 🥳🎉🎶
Below are the Dan + Shay trivia questions that I posted on my Instagram story earlier today!
If you have not participated in my Instagram polls today or will not have time to, I have you covered here! If you did participate or plan to later today, you can most certainly participate again! I highly encourage as many of my readers and social media followers to have some fun and take a couple of minutes to write in the comment section of this post below what you think the answers are! To give everyone plenty of time, I will make sure to update this post in one week with the correct answers! I will be excited to see what everyone's responses are! Have fun and happy guessing! 😀🎵🎉
Question 1: ______ is mentioned in the song "Bigger Houses".
Possible Answer #1: Chevy
Possible Answer #2: Ford
Possible Answer #3: Dodge
Question 2: What song was recorded by both Lady A and Dan + Shay?
Possible Answer #1: "Alone Together"
Possible Answer #2: "All To Myself"
Possible Answer #3: "All Nighter"
Question 3: Which Lady Gaga song did Dan + Shay cover in 2018?
Possible Answer #1: "Poker Face"
Possible Answer #2: "Million Reasons"
Possible Answer #3: "Bad Romance"
Thank you for all of your support and I cannot wait to see your answers posted in the comment section below in the next week! 😃
Happy Monday! It is #MusicMonday on my Daily Dash Of Dan + Shay Instagram story! 🥳🎉🎶
Each Monday I post a clip of three Dan + Shay songs and ask my followers and readers which song they want to hear/which one is their favorite! Then I put a poll up and ask everyone to vote! On Tuesday, I share the results of the winning song! I will start sharing this segment on my blog so those of you do not have social media or those of you who do not have time to engage in my 24-hour Instagram story poll can participate!😊
Today, your songs options are "Bigger Houses", "What Took You So Long", and "Can't Say No".
Please take a listen to each song in the YouTube clips below and decide which one is your favorite! Then, cast your vote in the comment section of this post or in my Instagram @dailydashofdanandshay Instagram story! I will calculate all votes and will update this post with the winning song tomorrow! 😊🎵
Song Option #1 🎵
"Bigger Houses" music video courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel
Song Option #2 🎵
"What Took You So Long" audio courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel
Song Option #3 🎵
"Can't Say No" audio courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel
Dan + Shay are able to cover a song from any genre of music. As a massive fan, I can pretty much tell you that they make every single one sound incredible. For the majority of the time, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney were seen together recording the short covers in person. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to follow guidelines and restrictions and could not get together as often.
When it came to singing the chorus of pop rock band Maroon 5's song "Sunday Morning", the duo was able to lean on modern technology to get their cover out into the world. Smyers and Mooney recorded their respective parts on their individual iPhones and then one of them blended the two clips together that you will see in the YouTube video at the end of my post.
From Mooney's warm, smooth vocals while holding his handsome four-year-old son Asher (at the time) who could not stop smiling, to Smyers' heavenly, tight harmonies and watching his curious dog Chief looking around, and seeing the beautiful scenery in Mooney's backyard as he panned his phone around, this a-Capella cover was perfection. It definitely made my day when I saw it for the first time back on April 11, 2021.
This is yet another one of Dan + Shay's way too short covers that I would like a full studio version of one day. Whether it's a cover of another artists song or the guys singing their own songs, I could listen to my favorite duo 24/7 and never get tired of hearing their voices! They are that creative and talented!
Here is Dan + Shay's cover of "Sunday Morning" courtesy of their YouTube channel for you to enjoy!
If you read my part one post about the duos new music video for "Long Live Christmas" from yesterday, it ended with one of the guys at the town meeting asking, "What about Dan + Shay?", if the country music duo would be able to save Christmas in their small town. That was to be continued.
Let's start where I left off yesterday with the question sort of being answered.
"Well, do they still do music?," a women replied. "I think they opened a pub or something."
The beginning of the song starts to play and the duo are seen at the pub. Dan Smyers is seen taking down wreaths around the bar area and singing, while Mooney is at the center of the bar, drying a glass and singing.
In the following scene, the camera goes back to the townspeople at the meeting. They are all talking amongst themselves, trying to figure out if Dan + Shay are too busy at the pub to be able to save Christmas for their town. Later on, they are all seen walking out of the meeting. On their way out, there is a sheet on the wall that reads, "PETITION TO; SAVE CHRISTMAS!" and there are quite a few signatures already.
As the second verse starts playing with Mooney singing the lyrics very fast, the next thing you know, all of the townspeople come running through the doors of the duos new pub! Smyers and Mooney have confused looks on their faces as if they are thinking, "Where did all of these people come from?". Santa hands the producer (Smyers) a guitar. The guys get behind the bar and perform the song's second chorus to all of the happy people who have just arrived. They are all singing, dancing, smiling, and having a good time! Some of them are even having a drink to celebrate!
The duo begin to sing the song's bridge. Out of a fogged-up window at their pub, the mayor is now seen peaking in, with a suspicious look on his face. He walks in and someone hands him a beer. With another coy smile on his face, the mayor still looks confused as to why Christmas seems to be on now in their town.
As the final chorus starts, someone plugs in the lights and all of the trees and decor in the bar are lit up. The town's cranky mayor is finally happy and seen clinking his glass with other peoples glasses in the room.
The song ends and the townspeople are applauding and cheering. The mayor makes his way to the front of the bar. Standing in between Smyers and Mooney, he makes the announcement that everyone had been waiting to hear.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Christmas is not canceled," the mayor said. "I declare it's officially Christmas!" The townspeople cheered again.
If you thought that Dan + Shay would be able to save Christmas for their small town, you were certainly correct! While they may have opened a pub, they did not stop singing and bringing joy to the people who needed it the most!
Below is the full "Long Live Christmas" music video courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel for you to enjoy! That is followed by a picture collage of screenshots courtesy of the music video!
Dan + Shay released the official music video for their new Christmas song "Long Live Christmas" this morning. The clip on YouTube that has been viewed over 10,000 times far, is filled with a range of emotions from start to finish.
The clip begins with a sign outside of the building that reads "CHRISTMAS IT'S OFFICIALLY CANCELED". In the first scene, a small group of townspeople are gathered at a meeting. The mayor heads up to the podium at the front of the room to make an announcement.
"The carolers are too loud, the lights are draining electricity, so Christmas is officially canceled," the mayor of the town tells the people, with a surprisingly coy smile on his face.
The citizens are not happy hearing this news and they are seen talking amongst themselves.
"This is ridiculous," one of them says.
"No cookies and milk," a man comments.
Next, they begin to come up with a solution to this holiday madness. Everyone wants to be able to celebrate the December holiday.
"Who could help us save Christmas?," a woman asks.
"What about Dan + Shay?," a guy replies, hoping the country music duo will be able to breathe joy back into the town.
Do you think Dan + Shay will be able to save Christmas for this town? I encourage you to leave a comment with either "yes" or "no" below! I want to know what you think!
Tomorrow, be on the lookout for part two of this post to find out what actually happens during the remainder of the video! I will post the YouTube video then as well!
*Screenshots courtesy of Dan + Shay's "Long Live Christmas" music video on their YouTube channel*
Dan + Shay released their highly anticipated It's Officially Christmas: The Double Album on October 19, 2024. Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney sat down with Shannon Ella from Pure Country Radio on November 19, the day prior to the Country Music Association Awards to dish some behind-the scenes information when it came to filming their "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town music video and share some details on how the project came to life.
First, they discussed the hilarious, fun music video for the sing-along-track.
"Did anything go wrong when that happened?", Ella asked the duo.
"Clearly," Mooney said, breaking out in laughter.
"Honestly, a lot of things went wrong," Smyers chimed in. "There were no spills, like nothing too crazy."
He revealed what happened unexpectedly during the final scene, as they had to film each one in a single take.
"The very last one, we're about to finish the song," Smyers started. "We're in East Nashville, right, on Holly Street. This lady comes out on the front porch, "We live here!", and I was like shaking, going "Keep going", we had to finish this. And I don't know where she is today today, she's in that video somewhere."
Ella transitioned and asked the guys why they decided to put out a double Christmas album.
"That wasn't like the plan originally," Mooney told her. "But it was like, I think it was January, we had a snowfall here in Nashville. I went over to Dan's house and we ended up writing a Christmas song, one of the first originals that were, new originals that were on the Christmas album. And that was just kind of the first domino of creating this Christmas album. We got really inspired."
Mooney then told the Pure Country Radio reporter how the project turned into a double album. This happened after they had all of the original songs completed.
"Dan was like, 'Dude, I think, I think I could pull this off if we could do a double album'," Mooney told Ella.
Now, he (Mooney) talked about part of the process when it came to recording the project.
"I did the vocals and that was kind of...that was my contribution. I was like 'Cool, Dan, I'll see you in about six months'," Mooney said with sarcasm in his voice.
Up next, the Natural Dam, Arkansas native gave kudos to Smyers and commented on the impact this album will always have on him and his musical partner, their families, as well as their fans who will continue to listen to it for years to come.
"The production...Dan absolutely just crushed it," Mooney said. "This Christmas album is going to live on for the rest of our lives, you know. This is one of those legacy things that we're very, very proud of. I hope that, you know, kids now that are like five years old hear it in like ten years, and this is the album that they're listening to, you know, and grew up on. That's the dream."
The clip ended with Mooney talking what song his son had on repeat a few days prior to doing this interview.
"My son is like, he gets hooked on songs. Literally, for the like the last three nights, he has had on repeat "Officially Christmas" and I hear it in his room. And even I'm getting, I'm like, 'Alright buddy, maybe, would you try "Save The Snowman?" Try something else'," Mooney told Ella, chuckling.
I love watching Dan + Shay being interviewed because they are so real and honest with the hosts and reporters, but they can also be funny. Below is the clip of the entire interview with Shannon Ella courtesy of Pure Country Radio's YouTube Channel for you to enjoy!
Dan + Shay have performed in every type of environment for television appearances and while on tour. They have performed on stages inside TV studios, outdoors on their platforms, inside small venues and now in arenas as well as amphitheaters when they are on tour. The duo have also performed in very warm temperatures and also in rainy weather. And in the morning or at night. But no matter the circumstances, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney always give it their all and then some.
The guys performed a a few of their hits, which included the heartbreak anthem "Save Me The Trouble" in the rain at "The Today Show" Citi Concert Series on July 21, 2023. Although it was raining, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney did not mind getting wet, as they were dressed in short sleeve shirts and jeans ready to sing their hits. However, many of the people in attendance were draped in rain gear and under umbrellas. They braved the weather as well to come out and enjoy the duos performances.
Despite the rain and it being early in the morning, the guys did not hold back on this specific performance. Passionate, powerful vocals filled with frustrated and aggravation are required when the song is about a guy who is frustrated with his partner because she keeps leaving him and does not want it to happen again. Mooney delivered with the vocals and then some. In addition, while he was moving around on stage, the lead vocalist also showed aggravation and frustration with his body language. Smyers delivered with his flawless harmonies and he also showed the same negative emotions with his body language as he played the guitar. The duo received a large ovation from the crowd after they sang the last note.
In my opinion, with the exception of their earlier number one "I Should Probably Go To Bed", I think overall that "Save Me The Trouble" is Dan + Shay's most epic, massive, theatrical hit to date. From watching "The Today Show" performance of it today to seeing them do it on award shows, and getting to experience it live in person last March. While Smyers was there to play his guitar and sing harmony, he wanted to be in the background. He always let Mooney shine in the spotlight. Every time I have seen a live performance of this track, my jaw has dropped. Their talent is truly out of this world.
They keep getting better and better, which I did not think was possible. I feel incredibly lucky to be a fan of these two guys who also happen to be the most genuine, humble, kind celebrities that I have ever met.
You can check out the previous posts that I have written about their past performances of this song. Also, please stay tuned for a post where I run down the song's lyrics, vocals, and production.
Below is the video of Dan + Shay performing "Save Me The Trouble" on "The Today Show" for you to to enjoy courtesy of Pepsi8583's YouTube Channel. It was posted on August 6, 2023.
Happy Dan + Shay Trivia Tuesday to my wonderful blog readers and social media followers!!! 🥳🎉🎶
Below are the Dan + Shay trivia questions that I posted on my Instagram story earlier today! These questions test your knowledge on the duos first original Christmas song they released in 2020, Shay's siblings, and which song Dan wrote solo!
If you have not participated in my Instagram polls today or will not have time to, I have you covered here! If you did participate or plan to later today, you can most certainly participate again! I highly encourage as many of my readers and social media followers to have some fun and take a couple of minutes to write in the comment section of this post below what you think the answers are! To give everyone plenty of time, I will make sure to update this post in one week with the correct answers! I will be excited to see what everyone's responses are! Have fun and happy guessing! 😀🎵🎉
Question 1: Dan + Shay's first original Christmas song is called?
Possible Answer #1: "Officially Christmas" 😍🎶🎄
Possible Answer #2: "Christmas Isn't Christmas" 🎄🎶❤️
Possible Answer #3: "Take Me Home For Christmas" 🎄🎶🏠
Question 2: Shay has what combination of the following?
Possible Answer #1: Two younger sisters 🧍♀️🧍♀️
Possible Answer #2: Two older sisters 🧍🧍
Possible Answer #3: One older brother and a younger sister 🧍♂️🧍♀️
Possible Answer #4: One younger sister and an older brother 🧍♀️🧍
Question 3: Dan wrote which song by himself?
Possible Answer #1: "All To Myself" 😍🎶
Possible Answer #2: "Blame It On Santa" 🎅🏻🎶
Possible Answer #3: "Good Things" 😀🎶
Thank you for all of your support and I cannot wait to see your answers posted in the comment section below in the next week! 😃
If you are looking for a holiday song that will make you want to get up and dance, Dan + Shay have you covered with their new tune "Long Live Christmas" that was released on November 7. The happy, positive, up-tempo track was penned by Dan Smyers of the duo. According to the credits on Spotify, he also produced it alongside Scott Hendricks. He also was a solo writer on "Happy New Year", "Break Up On Christmas", and "Blame It On Santa" from the duos 2024 It's Officially Christmas: The Double Album. I cannot get over his talents in producing, harmonizing, and songwriting.
The song, which gives me folk band Mumford & Sons "I Will Wait For You" vibes, is about having annual Christmas traditions that will last a lifetime. These include listening to Dan + Shay's Christmas music, building a snowman, sitting in front of the fireplace, putting up a Christmas tree and stringing colorful lights on it, and drinking a cinnamon latte. Smyers even gives both of their respective wives a special shout-out in the last chorus of the song. Shay Mooney sings the song with his crisp, cheery vocals backed by Smyers' beautiful harmonies.
Before the two members of the duo met, The Dan + Shay lead vocalist was signed to rap, hip hop, and R&B artist T-Pain's Nappy Boy Entertainment record label. Stay tuned for some throwback posts when I review the solo songs he put out as well as one for a song called "Let You Go" by T-Pain that Mooney was featured on.
Since Dan + Shay debuted on the country music scene in 2013, we had not heard the front man use his rapping skills in the genre until last Friday. The entire second verse of "Long Live Christmas" features Mooney rapping the lyrics backed by the upbeat instrumentation. On my first listen, I only caught a handful of the word he was rapping. I have paused it multiple times and now I think I have most of them down. I am super impressed by his rapping skills, but not surprised because the Natural Dam, Arkansas native can sing anything and make it sound amazing.
From my first listen to the new tune at midnight on November 7 to my most recent listen tonight, I can tell that Smyers put his whole heart into all of the lyrics as well as the production, and that Mooney put his whole heart into telling the story with his beautiful vocals. This song feels like a big warm hug to me. 🩷I am so grateful for all of the special traditions my family and I have around the holidays and I will treasure them forever. The newest one as of last Christmas is listening to Dan + Shay's double holiday album on repeat! 😃🎄🎵
Below is the "Long Live Christmas" (Visualizer) video courtesy of Dan + Shay's YouTube channel for you to enjoy! Put your cowgirl or cowboy boots on, dance around your house, turn it up loud, and sing this song at the top of your lungs! 👢💃🕺🎵
Last Sunday at the end of my blog post and yesterday in my Instagram story, I posted a poll asking my readers and followers which song Dan + Shay covered in the past that they wanted me to write about in my blog post today. Thomas Rhett's "Marry Me" got one vote via my Instagram story and there were two votes for Cam's "Burning House" (one on my Instagram story and one in the comments of my blog post from last Sunday). The first number one song for the curly-hair California native is the winner.
Early on in their career, the guys were openers for artists like Hunter Hayes and Blake Shelton. In between performing on their respective tours, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney were fortunate to be able to headline their own tours at small venues, as they were building their fanbase at the time. I went to see them on their Where It All Began Tour, their first solo tour, on October 12, 2014 at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
While they were still new at the time, they also brought new artists on the road with them, which is something I truly appreciated. On this tour, a new country artist who goes by Cam as an artist (Camaron Ochs is her full name) filled the opening slot before the duo came out to perform their set. Wearing a sunshine-infused dress, she sang a handful of songs, including the rising track "Burning House" that night and I was absolutely blown away by her unique vocals and bubbly personality onstage. I also got to meet her after the show and she was very kind and welcoming. We took a picture together that I will post below!
A couple of years after that tour on June 23, 2016, Smyers and Mooney performed the chorus of her Grammy-nominated hit "Burning House" while on the road in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Seated on a couch in a dressing room for their show that night, both guys came together with Mooney's undeniable vocals, showing off his range, and Smyers' flawless harmonies. This is another one that I want the duo to release a full studio version of because I cannot get enough of their voice qualities that I mentioned above and their ability to tell the story.
Below the picture is Dan + Shay's rendition of the chorus from "Burning House" for you to enjoy!
My picture with Cam after the Dan + Shay concert on October 12, 2014.
