A Country Boy That’s A Little Bit Rock & Roll
Laine Hardy may be known as a country boy, but the Louisiana native can rock and roll with the best of them. In fact, Hardy performed just as many rock songs as country during his two seasons on Idol.
He famously showcased a full circle moment on the show when he performed a cover of the Band of Heathens’ “Hurricane” after finding out he earned a spot in the Top 10. The song was the same one he auditioned with for his first season of Idol in 2018.
Hardy didn’t make it far that season due to a lack of confidence. So when he came back and sang “Hurricane” as a member of the Top 10 on his second season, everyone was amazed to see how much difference a year had made.
Other than “Hurricane,” other rock songs Hardy performed on Idol include “The Weight” by The Band and “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen.
Even the non-rock songs that Hardy performed were given a bit of a rock and roll twist. It’s just Hardy’s natural style to sing with a bit of grit. So he incorporates that style into anything he sings…even country legend Roger Miller‘s famous Robin Hood song “Oo-De-Lally.”
Anyone who looks through the videos on Hardy’s personal YouTube channel can tell just how much the young singer loves good rock music. He posted a few cover videos on the channel between Idol seasons, including an outstanding rendition of CCR’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.”
Singing A Little Seger
The Idol favorite kept his account active after returning to the show, and continued to fill it with covers. In March 2019, he posted an audio clip of himself singing rock icon Bob Seger‘s “Turn the Page.”
As Hardy indicated in the video’s description, Seger is “one of [his] music inspirations.”
But that wasn’t the only time that Hardy covered his musical role model. Taking to social media, the Idol standout shared an unplugged rendition of one of Seger’s classic hits…”Night Moves.”
Released in 1976, “Night Moves” climbed as high as the fourth spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. The song’s success helped propel Seger’s career, since he was previously just a popular figure on a local scale, rather than a nationwide star.
How Did Laine Do?
With nothing but his acoustic guitar to back him up, Hardy’s voice was left exposed as he delivered his intimate performance of “Night Moves” that he shared with his followers. The younger Hardy may have never shared this video, since he was so unsure of himself and his talent at the time.
But with a newfound sense of confidence, Hardy flowed through “Night Moves” with effortless ease. This performance not only proves the depth of his talent, but shows just how far he’s come since his first Idol days.
You’re sure to be impressed with what you hear when you watch Hardy sing “Night Moves” below. This performance proves why Hardy went on to win American Idol!