Josh Turner, a prominent figure in contemporary country music, released “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and it quickly garnered attention. This song, with its laid-back groove and romantic undertones, sparked diverse reactions from music critics, revealing a multifaceted perception of its appeal and depth. Exploring these reviews provides a comprehensive understanding of the song’s strengths and weaknesses, and why it resonates with some while falling short for others.
The initial positive reception of “Why Don’t We Just Dance” highlighted its undeniable charm and infectious rhythm. Michaelangelo Matos praised the track for its focus on “dancing,” emphasizing the word “tunes” in the lyrics as capturing a “courtly and friendly” scenario. He noted the song’s “loose and spacious and hard-kicking rockabilly groove,” appreciating how the lyrics served the music’s rhythm. Alex Ostroff echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the song’s escapist nature as attractive, especially given Turner’s “deep tones.” He pointed out the “lilting fiddle and honky-tonk piano” that enhance the song’s funkiness and Turner’s smooth voice, making the idea of dancing seem less self-conscious. John Seroff further lauded Turner’s “robust bass-to-baritone voice” for its “genuine heart and rustic charm,” elevating the song beyond a typical honky-tonk tune to something “grown-up, lovely and memorable.” He appreciated the contrast between the song’s tempo and its joyful energy, defining it as a “the world’s fucked, let’s fuck party ballad” done right.
However, not all critics were entirely swayed by the song’s simple premise. Matt Cibula offered a mixed perspective, acknowledging the “old-timey goodness” but also labeling it as a “typical nu-country selfish-ass ‘let’s ignore the problems of the world and have sex’ message.” He found the song tinged with “recession terror” subtext, and while he appreciated Turner’s vocal range, he found it slightly over-emphasized. Chuck Eddy observed that despite being about dancing, the song felt “almost too relaxed to imagine people dancing to,” even in a country line-dance context. He perceived a “sweet lightness-of-touch,” describing it as “courtly” and suitable for “dancing around your parlor.” Martin Skidmore appreciated the “nicely bluesy old country feel” and Turner’s deep lower register. However, he found Turner’s higher register “ordinary” and felt this “pleasantly bouncy number” wasn’t his strongest style, preferring his “darker and weightier” material. Iain Mew was more critical, arguing that the justification for dancing – “315 channels of nothing but bad news” – was unpersuasive, questioning the depth of the song’s escapism.
Anthony Easton offered a more nuanced interpretation of the song’s video and underlying themes. He viewed Turner’s work as transforming “hetero-normative, bourgeoisie monogamous innocence into narratives of complete erotic capitulation.” Easton suggested the song hints at “tension about boredom, and needing to connect, and how hot married sex can be,” even if it only culminates in dancing. Alfred Soto noted the song’s “bass” and its “irresistible” and “ingratiating” hook, describing it as effective “bait.” However, he implied its appeal might be fleeting, suggesting it might not hold up beyond a single listen without causing embarrassment later. Edward Okulicz praised the pre-chorus as “fantastic, sweet, hooky, folksy, charming, glorious.” Yet, he felt the titular line underdelivered, lacking the “celebratory declaration” it needed, leaving the song as a “charming trinket” rather than something truly exceptional. Ian Mathers initially viewed the video with skepticism, interpreting it as nostalgic “weren’t things better in the 50s?” sentiment. However, he reconsidered, seeing it as a timeless expression of stress relief. He appreciated the song’s “effortless sweetness and light,” understanding its genre appeal, and commended the vague “world has gone crazy” lyric for its universal relatability, concluding it was a “trifle, in the very best sense.”
In conclusion, “Why Don’t We Just Dance” by Josh Turner is a song that elicits a range of opinions, from praise for its catchy groove and comforting escapism to critiques of its lyrical simplicity and perceived lack of depth. While some critics find it a charming and enjoyable country tune perfect for a lighthearted dance, others see it as somewhat superficial or underwhelming. Ultimately, the song’s appeal lies in its ability to offer a momentary escape from the world’s troubles, inviting listeners to embrace simple joys like dancing, even if just for a little while.
