Dwight Yoakam Releases His First Album In Eight Years – Introducing Brighter Days
Brighter Days are ahead, because Dwight Yoakam just released his first new album in eight years. His last release, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars, came out in 2016.
Fans learned about Yoakam’s new album, Brighter Days, in early September. That’s also when he released his new song, “I Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom).” The track features his longtime friend, Post Malone.
Yoakam and Malone later released a music video to accompany the catchy track. The clip also stars Vampire Diaries actress Nina Dobrev and Trophy Wife actress Malin Akerman.
The video has generated over 423,000 views on YouTube since it was posted on October 10.
How Dwight Yoakam’s Family Inspired His New Album
Yoakam spoke with Billboard about Brighter Days and what inspired the album’s creation. His family served as a huge source of inspiration.
Since releasing his last album, Yoakam married photographer Emily Joyce, and they welcomed a son, Dalton Loren, in August 2020.
Some of Yoakam’s new songs, such as “I Spell Love” and “Brighter Days,” were inspired by his wife and son. Billboard reports the latter track “developed from a tender moment” with Yoakam’s young son, who receives a co-writing credit.
“He had a little Fender Telecaster-shaped ukulele he would wear,” Yoakam said. “He came bouncing in the room one day and said, ‘Get your guitar.’ I picked it up and he would attempt to answer what I would play and I looked at him and said, ‘You know what? The future is you,’ and I started singing ‘Brighter Days,’ and he kind of sang it back to me. I came up with the first verse just watching him and singing and having him sing back to me.“
RELATED: DWIGHT YOAKAM SINGS MERLE HAGGARD’S “SILVER WINGS”
In addition to its original songs, Brighter Days also contains Yoakam’s covers of Cake’s “Bound Away,” the Byrds’ “Time Between,” and The Carter Family’s “Keep on the Sunny Side.”
See the full tracklist for Brighter Days below.
- “Wide Open Heart”
- “I’ll Pay the Price”
- “Bound Away”
- “California Sky”
- “Can’t Be Wrong”
- “I Spell Love”
- “A Dream That Never Ends”
- “Brighter Days”
- “I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)” (Feat. Post Malone)
- “If Only”
- “Hand Me Down Heart”
- “Time Between”
- “Keep on the Sunny Side”
- “Every Night”
Enjoy listening to a few more tracks from Dwight Yoakam’s new album, Brighter Days, in the following audio clips. Which song is your favorite?