Music Review: Little Big Town "Pontoon"

Little Big Town

Pontoon

Album: Tornado

Year: 2012

Karen Fairchild and her friends spend a day on the water in the breezy “Pontoon.”

          A casual synth opens the single, setting a calm tone.  Once they arrive at the dock, Fairchild and her friends start getting the boat ready, preparing for the day. One of her friends suggest getting the jet ski out, too. She nixes the idea, saying she wants to relax and enjoy the stillness. She motions towards the ladder, telling him he can hang out there while she grills hot dogs and hamburgers. (“Back this hitch up into the water/Untie all the cables and rop/Step onto the Astro Turf/Get yourself a coozie/Let's go/Who said anything about skiin'?/Floatin' is all I wanna do/You can climb the ladder/Just don't rock the boat while I barbecue.”)

          In the chorus, she loves the motorboat. It gives her time in the summer air. Time slows down while she’s on the water.  She sees her friends loitering around the water slide and says they can take a dip in the water. They are there to be silly. (“On the pontoon/Makin' waves and catchin' rays up on the roof/Jumpin' out the back, don't act like you don't want to/Party in slow motion/Out here in the open/Mmmmmmm...motorboatin'”)

           She makes sure there is watercooler filled with beer and pop. Sometimes, her friends can get motion sickness and she tells them to be careful, taking notice of the color of their faces.  A couple of her friends brought their inner tubes with them. They chat on the water, their drinks spilling a little from the waves. (“Reach your hand down into the cooler/Don't drink it if the mountains aren't blue/Try to keep it steady as you recline on your black inner tube.”)

             The chorus is sung again.

     In the bridge, the boat is modest. When she bought it, she wanted a water slide and made sure to have it added.  Once the temperature starts heading into the late 80s, early 90s, all she can think about doing is going on the boat. The summer is her favorite time of year. (“5 mile an hour with aluminum side/Wood panelin' with a water slide/Can't beat the heat, so let's take a ride.”)

      The chorus is sung again.

     Fairchild alternates “on the pontoon” with “whoo hoos” for about three times to end the single.

     Fairchild’s easygoing, carefree vocals take the lead, organizing what’s needed for the day and help with the set up. Her main concern is for everyone to  forget their problems for a little while.

    The  nonchalant  “Pontoon” unwinds, sweating off any worries and stress.