Music Review: Luke Bryan "Roller Coaster"

Luke Bryan

Roller Coaster

Album: Crash My Party

Year: 2014

               A summer romance ends too soon in the   nostalgic  “Roller Coaster.”

              An infatuated guitar opens the single, setting a lovestruck tone. He complimented on her necklace.  The necklace, a silver cross, was a gift from her parents for her confirmation. He began to talk to her about his own and asked her what church she attends. She sniffs the sunflower he found and asks if he wants to sit down by the beach and talk some more. He responded sure. She pointed to an empy chair. He sat down on it and tapped his knee. She smiled at him and found a comfortable position. She leaned over to kiss him. He thought they were going to fall over. However, he could feel himself get dizzy from the last of the beer on her lips. The moment was perfect. She was perfect. No one could even compare. (“She had a cross around her neck/And a flower in her hand/That I picked from the side of Thomas Drive/On our way to the sand/We found an old wooden chair/Still warm from the sun/Pushed it back, gave me a kiss with Bacardi on her lips/And I was done.”)

                  In the  chorus, for the entire week, they were together. They made love and had barbecues. They sipped wine on the ocean, cuddled and swam. He tried to remind himself that it was going to end eventually and not to get too attached. On Sunday, he had to pack and catch his flight. They said it was a great time. He looked out of the window of the plane, thinking of her. (“And we spent that week wide open/Upside down beside the ocean/I didn't know where it was goin'/Just tryin' to keep my heart on the tracks/I should've known that kind of feelin'/Would last longer than that week did/Blown away and barely breathin'/Sunday came and it was over/Now she's got me twisted/Like an old beach roller coaster.”)

               The resort parties would often get too crowded. Neither could hear the other. They would walk hand in hand to the promenade. They promised each other to move forward and remember the relationship for it was. But he fell in love with her. He has to find her online. (“The rest of those days/Turned into long crazy nights/When the music got loud/We'd sneak away from the crowd/Under the boardwalk lights/And with all the things we said/What I just can't get past/Is the way we let it end/Now I'm wonderin' where she is/Knowin' I can't get that goodbye back.”)

            The chorus is sung again.

            In the bridge, while at work, he daydreams about her as he’s typing. As he walks to the copier, he wonders if she’s back at work herself. He recalls her meeting up with her parents later for dinner. She was really excited about it. He should’ve said that it was more than a temporary romance. (“She's like a song playin' over and over/In my mind, where I still hold her/I had the chance and I should've told her.”)

                   The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

                Bryan’s  deploring vocals replay every moment, unable to tangle himself from his memories. Their agreement was naïve. Their week together meant something to him. They can’t be together now but what about later?

                    The  moony “Roller Coaster” taps its fingers on the keyboard, wondering whether to send the friend request.