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Southern Accents (song)

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"Southern Accents"
Song

"Southern Accents" is the fourth track from the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album of the same name.[1]

Recording

While this song was recorded there was tension between the bandmates, each having a different vision for what the final versions of the song and the album would sound like. It was during the recording sessions for this album that Petty broke his hand after punching a wall out of frustration.[2] The song, along with the rest of the album was recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Development

The song has a meaning of knowing where one comes from and knowing where one stands. It speaks of taking pride in one's heritage even when it is widely criticized and/or mocked. The third and fourth lines of the song are a prime example:

"The young 'uns call it country, The Yankees call it dumb."

The song also rings with themes such as uncertainty and accepting being different, which doesn't necessarily mean worse.

Release

Being that the song is not a single it was released with the rest of the album. On March 26, 1985 the album was released to the public, the same year recording was finished.

Reception

The song was met with generally positive reviews from several major sources such as Rolling Stone, which called it "a fierce defense of his Southern roots and an ambitious fight for his creative honor." Most reviews for the whole album specifically mentioned this song as a highlight.

Live performances

The song was included on the 2009 collection of live performances of Petty's songs, The Live Anthology. It is the third track on the fourth disc. The featured performance is in the band's Gainesville, Florida show on September 21, 2006. This was the most recent performance of the song. It has been played by the band a total of 21 times, including 13 in 1985.

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ "Southern Accents". tompetty.com. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  2. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (2 May 2012). "Amare Stoudemire's Smashed Hand Recalls 1984 Tom Petty Incident". ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
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